Jessica Bird

How have your technical skills developed throughout SYSTRA’s graduate programme?

Being part of the Data Science team, my technical skills have progressed significantly, allowing me to refine existing skills, as well as introducing me to new and innovative software and techniques. Working alongside individuals who have both the technical expertise and the willingness to help progress my learning and development has meant I have benefitted enormously from the experience of my colleagues.

How have you grown personally since embarking on a graduate programme?

My confidence has definitely grown since starting the graduate programme. Feeling more assured in my abilities is something that has been cemented through the challenging nature of the work I’ve undertaken. I’ve also been able to communicate more effectively by not shying away from questions and not being afraid to say “I don’t know”.

What advice would you offer to someone who’s unsure if a graduate programme is right for them?

Research, research, research. If you’re unsure whether it’s the right fit for you, explore different graduate programmes and become as informed as possible on the options you have. Then ask yourself: “Do I like learning?”

A graduate programme has a real focus on structured and supported learning, alongside professional and personal development, to allow you to start your career in the most fulfilled and reassured way possible. If that sounds like a good fit for you, then a graduate programme is the way to go.

How does SYSTRA stand out as a great place to work?

The people at SYSTRA are really what makes it a truly great place to work. There’s a real sense of connection, not just in the collaborative work we do, but in the way we support and celebrate each other’s achievements. We take an interest in one another beyond project work and commitments.

From my first week on the role, I was astonished at just how welcoming and reassuring everyone is, both within my team and in the wider SYSTRA network. Especially as a graduate, where everything feels very unfamiliar and daunting, I found that support from your colleagues can make all the difference.   

What’s your favourite thing about your job right now?

The variety and consistent challenge in the work I do. Each project differs in terms of the data science tools and approaches used, so I am constantly learning and enhancing my technical skills. The diversity in projects also allows me to continuously expand my transport knowledge and actively deepen my understanding of the industry.

Diversity is powerful. What unique perspective do you offer as a graduate at SYSTRA?

As someone who has not come from an academic background in transport or a related field, I have the unique perspective of starting as a graduate at SYSTRA with very little knowledge of the transport industry, how it operates and the nature of the work. The ease at which I was able to become assimilated into SYSTRA and the industry is due to the sharing of knowledge and project work across consultancy through presentations and discussions, and the informative nature of the graduate programme in facilitating introductions to the different business sectors and the project work involved.

What would an entirely green future look like? How should our industry contribute?

A move to zero emission transport and engineering is vital for a green future, encouraging walking and cycling schemes and improving systems through decarbonisation. The key to achieving this is to consistently factor in sustainability and the social and environmental impacts of project work within the transport industry. We must measure project success using these parameters to encourage a real drive towards making a positive change.

You can spend your lunchbreak with anyone you admire – who would you choose?

Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, Katherine Johnson. Any woman who was a pioneer of their field during an historic time in which women had to work that much harder just to participate. To excel and achieve when the tide is against you is, in my opinion, phenomenal.

Personally, working in both an industry and STEM field in which women are significantly underrepresented has elicited a real desire to appreciate those who have fought for female inclusion. I want to help facilitate a growing female presence in the transport industry and the field of data science.

What is your next big career goal?

The completion of the Graduate Development Programme is my next goal. I am also keen to progress my knowledge of the industry and business sectors within SYSTRA, as well as gain even more project experience and technical expertise.

A combination of these learning elements and the personal and professional development nurtured throughout the graduate programme should allow me to curate a strong personal brand backed up by experience and confidence. I hope this will present me as someone that others not only trust to perform well and succeed in projects, but also as someone they will enjoy working with.

What excites you about your career future?

I’m excited to grow more confident and comfortable in the work I do, to continue developing and honing my technical skills. I hope to create a vast network of individuals both internally in SYSTRA and externally in the wider transport industry.

Meeting and working with new people is something I enjoy, so the more I can establish connections and seek out project opportunities, the more I can grow a substantial and meaningful network to immerse myself in.