Congratulations! Final exam sat. Last essay posted. Concluding dissertation signed-off. You’ve made the grade.

That’s it. Full time education over. So … what now?

There’s the obvious allure of world travel, of course, or the undeniable fun that should accompany a season’s service in a ski resort.

Yet, setting these short-term distractions aside, most (sensible) post-education attention will turn obviously towards the prospective jobs market. And to thoughts on which organisations offer the best chance for fulfilling career ambitions – whatever they may be.

Whatever, and equally relevant in our modern mobile world, wherever they may be.

Why choose to work in your hometown, after all, when the gleaming lights of great cities or exotic charms of far-flung countries shine brightly out as possible places of employment?

Why, in particular, should recently qualified young people consider choosing the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey as locations to start a career when other locations may appear to offer so much more.

Career-minded choices

It’s a question that’s been admittedly vexing CI-based T&G Structural Engineers.

‘We’re an organisation with a solid track record of recruiting students and graduates, training them comprehensively in engineering skills, and offering exciting development paths into senior roles,’ explains T&G director Tom McCarthy.

‘Yet we’re aware that many young people considering careers today have other things in mind than just long-term prospects. Thinking may be more short-term focused and see one job as a stepping stone to the next. In these circumstances, local engineering roles may not be seen as attractive.

‘What we know, however, is that the Channel Islands’ nature makes them one of the firmest steps on the path to any future career success.’

Small but perfectly formed

Why do Guernsey or Jersey present such great locations for starting a career in civil or structural engineering?

Well, whereas in many walks of life, size constraints may be considered less than a virtue, when it comes to gaining engineering experience, the Channel Islands are near peerless starting points. That’s because while local construction industries may be small, comparatively speaking, they are perfectly formed.

This provides anyone setting out to gain or improve their engineering skills and experience with a breadth of learning and development opportunities hard to match elsewhere.

‘Larger locations such as London or Manchester may seem better prospects on the surface,’ Mr McCarthy picks up, ‘but the scale and lifespan of construction projects in these places can narrow opportunities to gain an early breadth of engineering competencies and understanding.

‘Your whole training or initial development phase may be limited to one large development, for example, which may, in turn, constrain the diversity of any future career path.’

The nature of construction in the Channel Islands, by contrast, makes their industries wide in scope, varied in size, but as equally demanding in engineering terms as within any large city or even global location. And the discerning character of island clients and demanding expectations of local industry and government further drives the highest of specifications and sophistication.

Perfect stepping stones to career success

T&G have recently received important confirmation that local market conditions help produce engineering skills and experience of the highest quality.

‘Through connections, we understand how highly the Institute of Civil Engineers rate experience gained working in the Channel Islands compared to most areas of the UK,’ Mr McCarthy reveals.

‘To the Institute it’s clear the breadth of work here helps develop an impressive range of competencies – which undoubtedly provides an important stepping stone to future career success, whether that’s within T&G, a big city or on the other side of the world.’