- Joanna Duck
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What did you do after you graduated? I am a Graduate Consultant in the transportation business line of AECOM. Day to day working can be quite varied – since starting with the company in July 2015, I have been involved in a number of transport feasibility studies and this often involves extensive consultation with members of the public and key stakeholders. Since the beginning of 2016, I have been working on the signing strategy for the new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route – this has been a very rewarding experience because I know that I will be able to see the results of my efforts for many years to come!
What did you enjoy about your Geography degree? I have many highlights during the four years I spent studying at Aberdeen. The Transport Geography course that I took in my final year was one of them, and I probably wouldn’t be in the job I am in now without it. Another highlight was carrying out my dissertation – I investigated the acculturation of Polish migrants in Aberdeen, which gave me the opportunity to use many of the skills I had acquired in my time at the University, from field work to statistics. The main highlights from my four years are the two field trips that I went on to the Isle of Skye and Boston. Both fieldtrips involved a group project, which gave us the opportunity to carry out fieldwork in differing environments, and a presentation was given at the end of the week followed by a write-up of results after the trip. The social aspect of these trips was very important, and I feel that my classmates were a lot closer as a result in comparison to a lot of other degrees.
I gained a lot socially and academically from my time studying Geography at Aberdeen and could not recommend it more.
How did your Geography degree from Aberdeen University help you in your career? My time studying Geography at the University of Aberdeen gave me a perfect base to begin a career in Transport Planning. Throughout my time at the University, I developed a number of skills that I use in day to day life at AECOM. The majority of these skills are widely transferable and would have benefited me regardless of the career I chose to pursue.