Nuala Ledward
Graduate Scheme at Energus
Key Details:
| Current industry | Public Sector & Defence |
|---|---|
| School attended | William Howard School |
| University attended | University of Strathclyde |
| Year completed GCSEs | 2017 |
| Favourite lessons at school | Psychology, English Language, Maths |
Q&A
— Give a short overview of your career journey after school
After leaving school, I chose to take a year out of education to take a break following intensity of school exams. During this time, I became full time employed at Rheged Discovery Centre in Penrith. This role was a great experience which helped me develop interpersonal skills. I then went on to study Psychology at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, where I completed a 4 year degree. Following university, I successfully applied and was accepted onto the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) 2-year graduate scheme. With 6 months left of the scheme, this opportunity has brought me back to Cumbria where I continue to develop my skills and gain experience.
— What do you love about your job?
The graduate scheme has offered me a chance to work with lots of different teams, try different roles, live in different locations and visit some incredible sites such as Sellafield! As someone who wasn’t entirely sure what career path i wanted to follow initially, this graduate scheme has provided me the flexibility to explore different areas of work and continue developing in a supportive and dynamic environment.
— What piece of advice would you give to young people about finding their best next step?
The best piece of advice is to reach out to people!! If you have a LinkedIn page and see a job you are interested in learning more about, send that person a message!
Speaking to people and building networks with people has been the best thing I’ve done in terms of asking for opportunities, trying things out and even just knowing a bit more about what that job entails. Usually I’ve found if one person doesn’t have the answer, they know someone who does who can support. You don’t have to have everything mapped out but I believe starting with conversations and seeing where that leads you is a good step!
— What three essential skills do you think have helped you to be successful in your job?
Speaking, Aiming High, Teamwork.
— What advice would you give to someone considering working in your industry?
If you are interested, I would say reach out to people who are in the role you are interested in! The best place I find is LinkedIn. This shows proactiveness on your half and a willingness to know more! Something I did when applying for the graduate scheme was found other graduates who were currently on the scheme. I set up calls with them to ask what role they were in, how they find the scheme, any tips they could offer me in terms of the application process etc. I think you can look at job profiles on websites but you really find out about the industry and work that is being delivered through having conversations with people.
— What is the best piece of advice you have been given that has helped you on your career journey?
A great piece of advice someone told me was “value what you bring to the table”! The graduate scheme offers incredible opportunities for development and learning, but also remember you bring a host of skills, attributes and experiences with you that are equally needed within the Nuclear sector.