My placement with Swindon Borough Council via Jon Harris

Placement experience  After filling out the Student Experience Agreement and Placement Information Form then my unpaid placement was approved through the University and with the Swindon Borough Council. I then started this placement on the 5 th of February 2024 until the 8 th of April 2024. The initial scope was split into 5 tasks where I would, first, conduct research into the Swindon Travel Choices website and then determine the most suitable way to develop the green routes walking map structure. I investigated existing GIS data layers such as magic maps to identify these green areas and found maps on the Swindon Travel Choices website of cycle and walking routes. Secondly, I was to carry out a desktop audit of other local authority approaches to green corridor mapping, most predominantly the London green ground map (Appendix C) which was the main inspiration for this project. The green ground map by Helen Ilius was inspired by the London tube map as an alternative to the susta...

Application Processes and Interviews  My steps for applying for placements involved finding the placement and then going through each unique application process as early as possible when they become available. For Atkins Realis’s Management Consultancy Scheme, I found their job listing through Gradcracker and was intrigued by the company's values and sector, the role being in their Aerospace Defence Security & Technology (ADS&T) sector which appeals to my interests. I applied through their web portal and submitted my CV alongside a quick quiz. Within a week, I received an invite to do an hour-long questionnaire where at the end I had to record myself answering the questions provided. Around 2 months later, I received an invite to a formal online Interview where I had to prepare a 10-minute presentation and then have a proper interview for over an hour. This process was very demanding in comparison to my quick in-person meeting with Jon Harris which was very easy-going since...

Reflecting on my CV and formative interview  I had to edit my Curriculum Vitae (CV) so that it was up to date and looked professional when I was applying for these placement opportunities to stand out and secure an interview. Utilising CV360 on the Your Future Plan site was especially useful as you gain instant feedback, so it is easy to make alterations. After getting my CV checked by the module tutor and making alterations, my CV scored 84% (Appendix E) which is nearly in the ‘green zone’, however I have noticed that it’s not 100% accurate all the time as, for example, in the feedback section ‘contact details’, it is saying there is contact information somewhere other than the top of the CV whereas, upon analysis, it is all on the top. However, identified sections such as including my LinkedIn profile, white space and page usage have been very useful in making my CV seem more professional and fit within 2 pages maximum. This is important as many online job applications use AI to ...

Choosing to do a Work Placement My decision to study a Human Geography degree was rooted in the fact that I want to work in the field of consultancy. I have never been set on a specific career, preferring to keep as many quality options open as possible. Throughout my life, I have been a part of groups such as the Scouting Organization which has undoubtedly influenced my career interests. However, due to my limited knowledge of the various sectors of consultancy, I knew actual work experience would be hugely beneficial to identify my areas of interest. Via the University of Gloucestershire, choosing the Internship module has allowed me to explore a variety of career options and work placements alongside my university degree. According to Study UK (British Council, 2024) , work placements help build academic expertise as well as gain real-world experience. This is because on top of mastering a field of study, doing a fully self-assessed placement develops leadership, problem-solving and...

An introduction to my project While waiting for the result of the interview, one of my lecturers, Kenny Lynch, recommended a lecturer and placement coordinator called Jon Harris who had connections to the Swindon Borough Council, which is looking for a student to do an unpaid placement GIS project for the Swindon Travel Choices website over a few weeks. This was intriguing as I live in Swindon and am currently doing the NS5307 GIS module, so decided to pursue it. As a result, I have found that networking as a form of job searching is less formal, however is highly beneficial for creating connections and finding unlisted work opportunities. I had some limited existing knowledge of some of the schemes the Swindon Borough Council do, all targeted towards sustainability and developments within the local Swindon area. Swindon Travel Choices (Swindon Borough Council, n.d) focuses on making travel simple and helping find ways to travel to save time, money well-being and the local environment...