Anna Smith

"After taking the My Skills My Life questionnaire, my personality types were Coach, Influencer, and Manager.I believe these personality types fit quite closely with who I am, as I am very focused on positive team dynamics, showing people that they are capable, and being an honest, trustworthy, and polite member of the team. The Influencer personality type is helpful in my work environment as I have to work well in both teams and by myself, and I need to have a focus on detail, especially in the software I create.I also have to understand what people want, getting them what they need, and being a problem solver. These are highlighted by the Coach personality type, and they're important in my job as I have to figure out issues, both in software and with instruments on the plant, fix them, and sometimes modify them to follow a new process.My final personality type was Manager, and being open minded is very important for me at work as I need to be willing to try new and different things, both to further improve and modernise our systems, but also to solve difficult problems."

"I work in both the Process Control Department (PCD) and the Engineering Department. At the end of my apprenticeship, my main role will be as a Process Control Engineer.When working in the PCD I create software to control the processes (which create the products) on the plant, create HMIs (Human Machine Interfaces) or \"screens\" for the Operators on the plant to control and monitor these processes, and help those leading and operating the processes with any issues they may have with the software. This is mainly a desk job.When working in the Engineering Department, I carry out electrical and instrumentation maintenance and installations, including calibrating instruments and fault finding. This mainly involves a lot of walking around and working on the plants and liaising with different departments.As I am most interested in computers and coding, I enjoy working in the PCD most, but I do enjoy walking around and working on the plant on my engineering days. However, due to how closely linked the software and instruments are, I still have reason to go onto the plant and work on the plant with the instrument engineers and other departments when working in the PCD.My starting apprenticeship salary was approximately £9,000 and once I complete my apprenticeship I will be on approximately £34,000."

"I wasn't inspired by anyone to begin my career in STEM, however seeing the range of job roles women are in on this site has inspired me and has solidified my belief that STEM is a great option for women. During my apprenticeship I have undertaken PEO training and I should soon have a BTEC in Engineering. In September I will begin my HNC course. All of this training has been funded by my employer and the government.In the future I see myself continuing to develop my skills at my current employer. However, with my job role and the skills I will develop, if I ever became unhappy I could have many opportunities to work at different companies or in different countries. This is a great thing about STEM jobs."

"Most of my spare time is spent with my friends and family (including Florence, our dog), playing video games, watching shows and films, going to the cinema or doing more active things like paintball, walks, and of course nights out! I'm also partial to wrestling, and on occasion you'll find me in a sports bar watching live wrestling events at ungodly hours. I also love getting my lash lift and acrylic nails done."

"In the PCD I will check my emails in the morning, and then continue any unfinished work from the day/week before. If I'm not partway through anything, I'll ask my manager or colleague if there is anything they need help with or anything I should begin working on myself. Throughout the shift I may need to go onto the plant to view a problem or assist an electrician, and I may also need to visit other departments for information. In the Engineering Department, I start the day with a department meeting where we all get \"jobbed\" (our manager gives us each jobs to look at, either by ourselves or in a team). If I have other jobs on the go I'll ask what takes priority, and carry out the work accordingly. These jobs could be a breakdown, for example an instrument not working, or carrying out PPMs (planned preventative maintenance). "

"GCSEs - Science AA, Performing Arts BTEC Distinction*, Art & Design BTEC Distinction*, English Literature B, Maths B, Spanish B, Geography B, Business B, Sport BTEC Level 2 Pass, Functional Skills ICT BTEC Level 2 PassA Levels - Government and Politics BD, Performing Arts BC, English Language B, Psychology DApprenticeship - Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) NVQ Level 2, BTEC Level 3 in EngineeringWhen I finished sixth form I didn't go to university, I was working at a takeaway and didn't have a real plan for what I wanted to do. I had originally thought I'd try to become an actor, and had a couple auditions here and there, but nothing came of it. I decided I'd never change anything if I was comfortable, so quit my job and had a few months of floundering and trying different things, including being a runner for a popular YouTuber's charity livestream.My dad is currently the Process Control Manager, and he mentioned they were looking for an apprentice to join the department, due to him being soon to retire and they needed someone else learning the ropes. I had been in the department 3 times before: twice for work experience and once as a contractor helping out with paperwork.I weighed up the idea, seeing it related to my interest in computers, and finally decided that I would apply for the apprenticeship and leave my dream of acting behind... I am joking. Acting may have been a dream but working in STEM is also a dream, it just took a while longer to realise it's value in my life. It was worth it."