Gemma Andrews, Graduate Civil Engineer, Skanska

I am a Civil Engineer working on the upgrade of Waterloo Station International Terminal. My job involves going out on site and supervising works, using computer software packages to do construction drawings and solving problems with calculations. 

My favourite thing about being an engineer is that you don't have to sit at a desk all day - it's really creative and interactive. I get to work with all kinds of people, from clients and designers to electricians and carpenters. I'm a really sociable person so this kind of job suits me well. Generating and sharing ideas is a lot of fun, and most of all I love seeing designs on paper come to life.

Some of my hobbies include dance and boxing. I absolutely love to travel and I've done a lot of things abroad for charity, like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and teaching English in Cambodia. I'm hoping to get the chance to travel in my career as well, as there are opportunities for engineers all over the world!

1) Be brave - you are smarter than you think 

2) Develop skills outside of the classroom - e.g. teach yourself to code with YouTube videos, take your microwave apart (with parent’s permission of course) or go to STEM club!

3) Work experience - gaining a variety of experiences, no matter how relevant, will show employers your dedication and interests. More importantly, it’ll help you find out what you love.