Placement Experience: Geophysicist at Gardline Ltd - River Stewart

What motivated you to pursue an optional placement year?

As I wanted to go into offshore long-term, the ideal outcome would be getting a placement in the offshore – or adjacent -  industry to give myself a competitive edge over other candidates. I was aware of the struggles that many post-grads faced when job-hunting and wanted to have a better working CV, and a better understanding of the current working industry.

 Additionally, I wanted a break from academia instead of going straight into my final year of study. Taking a year to recharge and pursue a different pace of life would offer a better perspective academically and put more of my wants/needs into perspective. It was emphasised that many students returned from placement with a higher work ethic and performed better in assessments, I wanted to achieve that for myself.

How many placement applications did you make? 

At the beginning of the academic year, I explored what industries I was interested in and what roles I would be happy doing. I reached out to nearly 80 companies in total, with a total list of approximately 250. I had a traffic-light system on a spreadsheet that visually represented the stage of contact & application I had with each company, including important notes or extra info.

Did you get support with your applications?

I sought some words of encouragement from lecturers that I knew had extensive industry experience, and made contacts with external groups via LinkedIn to gain advice from industry professionals. I found it valuable travelling to socials & industry career events that weren’t necessarily geared towards students to gain a better appreciation of what’s expected of a standard employee – not just students/post grads.

What tips would you give to students about balancing placement applications with university studies?

I would advise taking it each day at a time. The search for a placement can feel fruitless, especially when many companies operate on an internal schedule that does not reflect the university & housing deadlines. Remain hopeful & humble and never stop putting themselves “out there”. Even if you are unsuccessful finding a placement, the experience gained through attending careers events, socials, and making connections through interviews will likely be good reference to fall back on when the post-graduate job hunt begins. 

What were your main concerns about taking a placement year?

The main concern was the timeline of the applications compared to student housing. I was lucky in that my student accommodation was very understanding and allowed me to reserve my room without signing, which gave me the flexibility to back out when my placement was confirmed.

Be realistic with your placement timeline & financial position, and know when to commit to one decision over another.

Any challenges have you faced during your placement, and how have you overcome them?

Unlike the brief 10-minute walk into lectures, my commute this year is approximately 50 minutes driving. In the colder months, this drive can be sketchy - especially during rush hours or adverse weather conditions. After a progress conversation with my manager, I was able to adjust the times I come in/leave work to avoid the worst times.

 Learning new software has been challenging but rewarding. Thankfully experience with GIS and other software’s through academia was able to initially support the transition, but could not fully translate to the in-house software. Gardline encourages self-learning and understanding, over being gifted knowledge and shortcuts. I was initially hesitant to ask for help but I soon realised that sometimes the only way forward is to ask for advice or a pointer in the right direction.

What has been the most rewarding part of your placement so far?

Seeing the vessel for the first time was one of the most rewarding experiences of my placement. My lecturers will recall that even before I arrived at the University of Portsmouth, my overarching career goal has been working offshore. It felt extremely rewarding when all my academic and external efforts culminated in the moment, when I first saw the vessel that would fulfil that ambition.

Has your placement experience influenced your perspective on your chosen career path or field of study?

My placement has reinforced my passion for the offshore industry and has helped contribute to a better understanding of all the factors involved in getting things done. It has made me aware critically aware of the areas where my university degree was able to aid me, and notably where my degree falls short in the working world. 

Would you recommend the placement year to other students?

I would recommend it to students who are interested in going into work, over immediate further academia (e.g. Masters, PhD). The working environment has many benefits over remaining in academia (e.g. independence, income), but also a few drawbacks (e.g. longer contact hours, commuting). If a student doesn’t quite feel ready to leave the familiarity & community at university they may prefer to remain in academia until they are, but equally this may be an excellent exposure to the working world without fully committing just yet.