Case studies: Structural engineer: Armin Kakavand

Armin completed an MEng in Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Newcastle in 2010 and now works as a structural engineer for Amec.

I got my job at Amec  after applying for it through the company’s website. I prepared my CV and then shared it with my lecturers at university to make sure they were happy with it too. I was successful with my application and secured the job.
 
I always knew I wanted to become a structural engineer, which is why I picked to study civil and structural engineering. It’s directly linked to my work and I use skills from my Masters all the time.

After a year of designing various structural parts for a new oil platform in the North Sea, I am currently working at the fabrication yard as the structural engineer providing help to the fabrication contractor to make sure the platform is built within budget and on time in a safe manner.

Since I joined Amec, my responsibilities have increased progressively. I started as a graduate engineer helping other senior members of my team and now I mainly originate documents or design various scopes.

The most exciting part of my job is the innovative designs that I get involved with, for example the type of design that we have been involved with for the past year is one of the only ones in the world. Learning new things as you go along certainly helps your career.

The most challenging part of my job is to be able to increase my level of knowledge and experience to the industry standard. This will help me achieve my development goals and brings proficiency to my employer.

Working in the oil and gas industry gives you a different view of structural aspects. In terms of technical ability I get to work with various international standards, i.e. British and American codes. The opportunities within natural resources are limitless and growing further every year.

I would advise all students who are currently looking for a graduate career to plan ahead. Start from the first year of your degree and apply for summer placement jobs. You may even have to work in a role that you may not have expected, but in this challenging economical era, I would advise to get as much experience as possible before your graduate career begins. Be prepared to sell yourself at your job interviews and...good luck.