Sarah Perera
Civil Engineer at Mott MacDonald
Do not let anyone deter you from doing what you want to do. Do not listen to people to try put you off engineering (or any other STEM career) by saying It’s a man's world because we need women in engineering. Yes there are more men than women, but that shouldn't stop you pursuing something you are passionate about. Women can sometimes think differently to men and this is an incredibly valuable asset that this industry is lacking! Subjects that will help you at A level are Maths and Physics. If you don't have these subjects or don't quite meet the grades, there are foundation years you can do at some universities which will get you up to the level required for the degree. So don't let that put you off if you are passionate about the subject and are a driven individual. Studying engineering is not easy, it is difficult, but it is also very fulfilling. You will have more hours in lectures than some of your friends and you will have hard coursework and a lot of exams, but it will be rewarding in the end.
About Sarah...
Who am I?
"My top 3 personality types (Influencer, Coordinator and Developer) all suggest jobs in engineering or flood and coastal risk management which is the industry I am working in. In my role as a Civil Engineer, I need to be creative and practical – both traits that fit with the Developer personality type. I also fit well will the Developer trait because I need to use my practical skills to design and build better things!"
What do I do?
"I am a civil engineer working for an engineering consultancy. Currently I am working on the management, design and delivery of flood and coastal risk management schemes in the UK. It is fun watching all the different aspects of a project I have been working on for almost 2 years come together. I will hopefully watch it be constructed next year! To date I have only travelled around the UK, however there are a lot of opportunities available. I have a potential opportunity to travel to Poland next year!"
How did I get here?
"I took Maths, Physics and Spanish at A Level. I then went to Cardiff University where I studied Civil Engineering and achieved a Masters in Engineering (MEng). I was then successful in getting a job as a graduate civil engineer at the company I am currently working at.Since a young age I have been strong willed and always wanted to prove that a girl can do anything a boy can do. However, my main motivation was always to do something I wanted to do and to succeed for myself. I don't think anyone in particular inspired me to pursue a career in a STEM subject. However the built environment always inspired me. I used to find construction, how things were made and how they benefited society fascinating. I think what inspires me most is the positive impacts that the things we build have on the world around us."
The life I live
"I enjoy spending time with my friends and socialising, reading, snowboarding and travelling."
My typical day
"Most of my tasks are related to project management at the moment. I need to make sure we are meeting all of our deadlines and staying within budget, whilst ensuring we are delivering something that the Client is going to be happy with. I enjoy that each and every day I learn something new."
My qualifications
"Post secondary education (College, A-levels, NVQ3 or equivalent) Maths, Physics and Spanish at A LevelUndergraduate degree (BSc, BA, etc.) Civil EngineeringPost-graduate degree (MSc, MA, etc.) MEng Civil Engineering"