Jian is a Civil Engineering student from Newcastle University. He secured a Bridges and Structural internship at COWI in York through Bright Network. 
First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
“I’ve always been a hard worker and am motivated by working in a sector that changes lives for the better and leaves a positive impact on society, which is why I’ve decided to pursue a career in engineering.”
What motivated you to apply for your role?
“I was motivated to apply for the bridges and structural role as I love problem solving and the challenge of completing complicated calculations.”
How did you prepare for your application?
“I prepared by thoroughly researching the company, so that I had a good understanding of what they do, the projects they’re working on and the financial aspects of the company.
As I got further and further into the application process, I practiced interview questions. I was very nervous for interviews, so wanted to have a bank of responses I could lean on to help reduce my nervousness.”
What are you most proud of about your journey?
“I have a speech impediment of stuttering which causes me to be very nervous about interviews, so I’m very proud of the fact I was able to face and overcome being shy and nervous during interviews.”
What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
“I’d recommend researching the company before you apply for them. Make sure you’re familiar with who they are, what they do and ensure that you can talk about how that aligns with your goals.”
Tell us about the future. What’s next?
“I’m hoping this internship bridges the gap between academic theory and real-life industrial practices, to help me gain more of an understanding of the discipline I want to pursue in my career.”
Find insight schemes, graduate jobs, internships and more at Bright Network.
