Aaron Soriano - Cumbria Talent Force

Q&A

— Give a short overview of your career journey after school

I stayed at St. Benedict's to do 4 A-Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Product Design and Physics. However, I ended up dropping Product Design after Year 12 to focus on the other A-Levels. After sixth form, I undertook a Masters degree in Mathematics at Durham University and graduated in 2023. Now, I'm a second year on a graduate scheme which allows me to do three placements all over the country in the civil nuclear sector. Currently, I'm about to start my third placement in Oxford until the end of the scheme in September 2025.

— What do you love about your job?

I love the varied experience and amount of travelling I have to do. My job takes me all over the country for training and various site visits. I've even had the opportunity to attend a week-long conference in the South of France.

There is also a lot of learning on the job and the work is unique and non-repetitive which keeps it interesting as I hate doing the same thing for too long.

— What piece of advice would you give to young people about finding their best next step?

It's very rare for someone at the age of 16 to know what path they want to take, especially in West Cumbria where opportunities may be more limited than other places. If you're like me and you're unsure, just stay keen, keep trying to learn about something you're passionate about, and with a bit of luck, a career suited for you may just pop up at the time you least expect.

— What three essential skills do you think have helped you to be successful in your job?

Speaking, Staying Positive, Teamwork.

— What advice would you give to someone considering working in your industry?

If you're STEM-minded, there is no more exciting time to join the nuclear industry than now. With all the new developments going on in reactor technology, more and more scientists are needed to progress the current landscape of nuclear. Attend all the careers fairs, listen out for all opportunities, and if there's a chance to do work experience then you should definitely go for it! Use your connections too, there is no shortage of nuclear professionals where we live, and any one of them can help open the door for you too.

— What is the best piece of advice you have been given that has helped you on your career journey?

Stay curious in your field. Maintain a good work-life balance.

Staying curious helps you keep learning and actively finding development opportunities. It stops your day job becoming mundane and it will also help increase your network. I wouldn't be where I am now if I stopped pursuing knowledge I didn't have before.

I value my time outside of work, and by ensuring I'm doing the things I love doing, like football, volleyball, travelling to all my friends around the country, I can switch off from my job which relaxes me and stops burnout from happening.