Stephanie Wood
Current Employer/Organisation Name
AECOM
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Since leaving Exeter I have been working as a Civil Engineer, firstly in the sustainability sector, and eventually settling into a water engineering role where my projects can range from designing drainage systems for power stations, to realigning rivers, and advising on flood risk (and everything in between). I undertook an MSc in Civil Engineering on a part time basis to boost my career prospects and help me work towards chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
This career wasn’t intentional, but I had strong ideas about what I didn’t want to do when I left Exeter. I Struggled to find something particularly aligned to by degree in Biological Sciences, and entering the construction industry, with it being a huge sector in the UK, seemed logical at the time as I was aware construction wasn’t just for builders and engineers.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
A campus university was a big bonus, and its proximity to the sea! More so, the people I met; they are friends for life.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
Exeter was my second choice based on the School of Biosciences reputation.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Numeracy is hugely important, as is written English. A huge part of my job is translating a design into words, and explaining complex engineering solutions in a language that all can understand.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Go for it! It’s varied, you get to work on interesting schemes, no two projects are the same, there’s lots of site visits and site work available if that is what you want to do. I’ve travelled all over the UK and gained a wealth of knowledge from meeting clients, contractors, stakeholders other engineers.
What are your plans for the future?
I recently sat chartered review, so fingers crossed I’ve passed. I intend to keep working my way up, and seek more projects which are in the construction phase, as they are always more exciting and require quick thinking.
