My job
I work as a consulting engineer at DIS (Danish Engineering Service), and I am currently assigned to a project with one of the large international wind turbine manufacturers.
On this project, I work, among other things, with the mechanical frameworks and platforms surrounding the various components located inside the wind turbine towers.
My primary area of involvement is structural work. We work on the solutions from the very early concept phase right through to the completed prototype where we must verify that all the elements function exactly as intended before they go into production.
Strong professional expertise and a unique team spirit
Just as you can purchase optional extras for a car, you can also choose extra equipment for a wind turbine. These optional extras and customisations are part of what I work with.
I collaborate with several other colleagues from DIS on the project, which means I always have someone to discuss solutions with and that we can seek advice from one another throughout the different processes.
I am very pleased to have such a versatile job, where I get the opportunity to try many different tasks. Even though I have been employed here for less than a year as a graduate, I have already been involved in both small and large projects, which has given me valuable experience.
Many of the projects are interdisciplinary, which means I work closely with other types of engineers. This gives me insight into, and experience with, other engineering disciplines.
From intern to student assistant – and now permanent employee
Already during my studies, when I was looking for an internship, I contacted DIS because I knew it was a company I wanted to work for.
That is why I worked hard during my internship, both to learn as much as possible and to make myself stand out. This resulted in being offered a position as a student assistant afterwards, and following my graduation, I was employed in a permanent position.
My advice
Based on my experience, companies do not focus solely on high grades when hiring engineers – they also place great emphasis on practical experience. That is why it is important to find a good internship placement and to demonstrate your skills and willingness to put in effort during your internship period. That is a very effective way to create opportunities for future employment.
It is also a good idea to start thinking about what you would like to work with early in your studies and what type of company you would like to work for. This allows you to contact potential companies well ahead of your internship, find out which competences they are looking for and consider what you yourself can contribute.
One of the key skills I have taken with me from my education is the ability to work in a team. This is certainly not always easy, especially at the beginning. However, once you enter the labour market, you quickly realise that being able to make collaboration work is essential.