Why did you decide to apply to Mott MacDonald?
I was
originally drawn to Mott MacDonald as I wanted to work for an
organisation whose projects had a large social impact, both in the UK
and globally. However, after more research, I decided to apply due to
the emphasis Mott MacDonald places on their people, as opposed to solely
focussing on commercial objectives. I loved the focus on Equality,
Diversity, and Inclusion, and the push for promoting ethical practice.
In short, I was keen to work for an organisation comparable to The Big
Four, but who conduct themselves in a different, more sustainable
What did your friends and family think when you accepted the position?
Both
my mum and brother also work for engineering consultancy companies, so
my family had a strong understanding of the sector. While Mott MacDonald
may not be as large as some of our competitors such as AECOM, our
reputation for maximising economic and social impact is unquestionable.
A point repeated by both my friends and family.
What has been your favourite moment since joining?
While I
have loved my project work, my favourite moments must relate to the
fantastic people I have met and am lucky enough to now call my friends.
Mott MacDonald places such emphasis on ensuring their open, friendly,
and diverse culture is sustained and demonstrated by their new starters.
The graduate scheme is also set up in such a way that we are encouraged
to network outside of our immediate teams and develop a cohort of our
own. I am also lucky enough to have been involved in the recruitment
process for the 2018 graduate intake, providing me with a unique view of
what is looked for on an application, or at an assessment centre.
What has been the most exciting project you’ve contributed to?
My
most exciting project is 30 Hours for the Department for Education.
Since September 2017, all three- and four-year-olds in England are
eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare. The policy aim is to reengage
parents with the workforce, with a specific focus on families from
disadvantaged backgrounds. My role within this project is running the
project management office, liaising between local authorities, our
delivery partners, and the government.
My favourite part of this project involved designing a data collection
form to be sent to and populated by all 152 local authorities in
England. It is then my responsibility to analyse this data, establish
how the policy roll out is going, and identify any emerging themes. We
then present these findings back to the client at a one-day workshop
held in Westminster. I love the ability to shape our future work and see
the tangible impact of an increase in the number of children in funded
places.
Was the role what you expected, or was there anything unexpected that
you really enjoy?
Yes and no. As my family already work in the
sector, I understood the sort of work I would be doing, for example:
stakeholder engagement, project management, data analysis etc. However,
I was not prepared for the level of responsibility which I would be
given.
For example, by the end of week two, I was producing reports to be
shared with the Minster for Children. By the end of my first month, I
was visiting Westminster, meeting with the client, and providing local
authority updates regarding the progress of the policy roll out. And by
end of my first quarter, I was actively shaping the future of our work,
through my data analysis activity. While this was difficult at times, I
had plenty of support from my team, and have developed immeasurably as a
result.
What is your work/life balance like?
Mott MacDonald place a
strong emphasis on ensuring wellbeing and a healthy work/life balance.
For example, I will rarely stay in the office past 5pm. Also, due to the
nature of our work, working remotely from home occasionally is a huge
benefit. Having said that, all the graduates are happy to work late
occasionally to meet a deadline, if and when our projects require it.
Tell us a bit more about you. Do you have an interesting fun fact
about yourself/party trick?
Just before I started university, I
was part of the Young Magic Circle (YMC). During my time in this club, I
won the YMC’s Stage Magician of the Year at their one-day convention,
along with YMC Member of the Year. As a result, I then toured around the
UK performing for ever growing crowds in numerous different shows and
events. While this hobby has now subsided, the presentation skills it
taught me will prove invaluable in my future career.
What advice would you give to someone applying to Mott MacDonald?
Be
yourself and think wider. That is, when I interviewed I was the only
graduate without a master’s degree. I was sure that I would be refused
the job as a result which evidently was not the case. Mott MacDonald are
not solely focused on academic achievements and professional experience.
Rather, they want you to think wider and understand what you bring to
the table. This could be in terms of your extracurricular work,
volunteering, hobbies (such as magic), and the competences these have
equipped you with. You are the best and only version of you, so stop
trying to be the person you think the interviewer is looking for, just
be you.
