| Personal details |
|---|
| Degree: | Geography MA |
|
| School(s): | School of Geography and Geosciences |
| Year of Graduation: | Jun-2013 |
| LinkedIn: | http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=108099952&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile |
| National of: | United Kingdom |
| Employment details |
|---|
| Organisation: | Building Research Establishment |
| Job title: | Quality Auditor |
| Occupational Sector: | Sustainability Consultancy |
| What has been your route to getting your current position? |
|---|
| I graduated with a Geography degree and some professional experience in environmental policy, awareness and research. Following a three and a half month internship at the Energy Saving Trust Scotland, I was appointed as Quality Auditor at the BRE. |
| What does your job involve ? |
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| I audit assessments of BREEAM rated developments. Following my audit I either certify the development or suggest ways in which the assessment might satisfy the criteria of the relevant BREEAM scheme. |
| What are the best bits of your job ? |
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| Working in a centre of sustainable innovation is particularly inspiring while engaging with the technical specifications of sustainable design is interesting and satisfying in equal measure. |
| Why were you successful? |
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| Work experience at the Energy Saving Trust and experience of working with BREEAM developments. Also having a contact who worked in the office. |
| What skills/ knowledge from your degree have you found particularly helpful in this role? |
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| Environmental knowledge (climate science, environmental management etc.)
- An ability to deal with quantitative data
- The drive to complete a task to the best of my abilities. |
| What advice would you give to students wishing to follow the same path? |
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| Get unpaid experience. Paid internships in the environmental sector are very competitive. Offering your services for free, if only for a few days, can not only make your CV stand out but will show you are willing to take the initiative to get a breadth of experience in the environmental sector. Maybe even combine this with a holiday. For example, if you manage to get some shadowing experience at the EU, why not do this in the holidays and use it as an opportunity to enjoy Brussels? |
