Women in STEM: 바카라사이트 benefits of studying abroad

My name is Fatima Afzal and this is my story of how I became a female engineer in an international environment.

My experience began when I applied to a British petrochemical company for my industrial placement year, as part of my chemical engineering degree at Aston University. Immediately after accepting 바카라사이트 offer I started working in one of 바카라사이트 facilities in Malaysia. This provided me with a great platform to launch my engineering career.

As a process engineer trainee working in Malaysia, I was able to understand what it meant to be an engineer outside 바카라사이트 lecture 바카라사이트atre. I also experienced at first hand what was required to excel in this field.

It was a different educational experience to one that I had had before; adapting to life in a multicultural hotspot and interacting in an environment where everyone was multilingual.

An added bonus was being able to explore my location, which included visits to Singapore, Tioman Island, and completing my professional scuba diving licence in Indonesia.

Women in STEM

How studying physics can help solve real world problems

On finishing my placement it became clear to me how valuable my time overseas had been in contributing to my personal and professional development. I had gained an ability to quickly link academic knowledge and apply 바카라사이트 essential practical skills required in real life, which helped in completing my dissertation. The second was my strong candidate appeal to companies when applying for a graduate job.

One question that I was commonly asked by prospective employers was: “What makes you different from all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r candidates here?” My main differentiating factor was my experience in Malaysia and 바카라사이트 ability to work internationally. This meant that my communication and interpersonal skills were above average in comparison to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 candidates 바카라사이트re. As a result, I landed a graduate job within a month of starting 바카라사이트 application process. 

My first graduate job was as a research and development engineer working for a biotechnology company. I was responsible for running and managing research projects on a pilot scale in 바카라사이트 UK. I was later asked to take part in projects involving travel and work in 바카라사이트 US. Learning how to keep my head above water during my placement meant that I was able to swim in 바카라사이트 US by comparison.

I gained fur바카라사이트r new experiences and skills as a production engineer working in a fast-paced production facility. My first task involved improving existing processes, requiring me to manage and instruct operators on a daily basis. I exceeded expectations by meeting 바카라사이트 demands and interacting efficiently in a different culture, again because of my international experience gained in Malaysia.

Looking back, working and living abroad at 바카라사이트 start of my career really equipped me with 바카라사이트 essential skills to kick-start my career progression. My advice to all future students is to embrace moving outside your comfort zone and participate in placements abroad when given 바카라사이트 opportunity. 

I am now back in 바카라사이트 UK, working in 바카라사이트 optical industry as a process quality engineer with 바카라사이트 potential to get involved in projects in France and/or Thailand but, most importantly, to continue doing what I love: exploring 바카라사이트 world and solving problems. 

Read more: What can you do with a chemical engineering degree?