Institute of Geonics, Ostrava:Ami
From CareersWiki
| Degree | Geoscience with Spanish |
| Graduation date | 2011 |
| Company | Institute of Geonics, Ostrava |
| Job Title | Research Assistant |
| Finding the opportunity - How did you find out about it? |
I found the placement through the IAESTE programme (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience). I heard about the programme from a lecturer at the university and found out more through the IAESTE website before applying. |
| Application Process |
Firstly I completed an initial application form to register my interest in the programme. In February I was sent a list of placements throughout the world and completed a full application form noting the 5 placements which I was interested in. Among these were placements in research institutes, universities and the mining industry in Switzerland, Tajikistan, Brazil, Sierra Leone and the Czech Republic. The full application involved sending 2 CV’s, an academic reference and cover letters which were specific to each placement. |
| Selection Process | The selection is based purely on the application form. IAESTE nominate students for placements based on their suitability for the placement and reasons for applying. IAESTE is a reciprocal programme so there is one placement in Britain for each student that is sent abroad. IAESTE finds many of the placements within Britain but if a student can provide a placement for an incoming student then their place abroad is guaranteed. I asked in the Geoscience department at the university and they were able to provide a job to a foreign student for the summer which guaranteed my place in the Czech Republic. |
| Why you were successful |
I had done previous work experience related to Geoscience during the summer holidays. During the summer between my 1st and 2nd year I worked voluntarily for 2 weeks for the British Geological Survey. The following summer this experience helped me to get a 7 week placement with BGS. Both experiences contributed to my success in getting the placement abroad through the IAESTE programme and it shows that even 2 weeks of voluntary work can lead to other things which are maybe more relevant to your interests. |
| What skills/knowledge from your degree have you found particularly helpful in this role? | During my time in the Czech Republic I helped in different departments of the research institute which was mainly focused on the environmental impacts of coal mining in the area. I used many of the skills which I have learned as part of my degree but a lot of the work was based on skills which I learnt during the placement. |
| What have you been doing? | I was working with various people from different departments. I worked from 8-4 Monday- Friday but it was very relaxed and if I had finished the day’s tasks then I was able to enjoy a free afternoon. The people in the Czech Republic were very friendly and I was taken on all the fieldtrips so that I could see more of the country during my time there. I visited seismic stations, went down coal mines, mapped land use in the area, and carried out lab work using various pieces of equipment. I was also transferred for a week to another department in Brno, a city in the south of the Czech Republic. |
| What are the main things you have gained from this experience? | I have gained a lot more confidence in my ability to work in jobs requiring knowledge of geoscience. I have a better understanding of how such institutes work abroad and the types of jobs available in the research field.
It is invaluable to spend a period of time working abroad to gain awareness of different cultures and to learn to communicate effectively where there is a language barrier. I still keep in touch with people who I met during my placement and they keep me informed of what they are currently working on. It is always useful to have contacts in the field which I hope will be related to my career in the future.
|
