Network Rail Work Experience Day
Seun Onile-ere, City of London Academy (Southwark)
At 9:35 I arrived, eager to meet with the other ambitious students who had been accepted to the Network Rail event. This was easier than expected — an icebreaker task to find attendees with characteristics that matched a sheet given shortly after entering meant I was able to speak with people I had never met early on and formally introduce myself.
We were then given an exciting team task to plan the development of infrastructure connecting two new train stations in the local area, considering the expenses of materials out of the taxpayer’s money, and weighing both the potential costs and benefits of say, a bridge compared to a crossing. Technically, our team did end up winning — but we all won because each team had presented such a strong case that the judges couldn’t decide — but it was still really fascinating to see how the other 4 teams tackled the same issues we were faced with, and the reasoning behind their decisions. The pizza was also served between planning and presenting, and you just can’t go wrong with pizza.
After the team task, 2 presentations were given by Network Rail employees which I found provided lessons outside of engineering. The first outlined the idea of cultural capital and widening our worldview through diversifying our skillsets and experiences (e.g. by travelling). The second speaker showcased firsthand the effect of having simple yet effective slides which (in addition to massive enthusiasm) demonstrated how we could provide a compelling talk.
The speed networking session that followed was a really fascinating (and somewhat personal) way to delve deeper into what to expect from a career at Network Rail — in addition to the abundance of discounts staff could expect across stores in London!
Overall, the Network Rail work experience day proved itself to be a considerably smart investment of my time, and I hope to apply the above points not only to my higher education but whatever avenue I decide to pursue.
