Fast track to a new career in rail, with Sofia-Maria Angelara
These are great times to be working in rail: with hugely ambitious projects under way, and train passenger numbers set to double over the next 30 years, the future of Britain’s railway is looking better than ever.
The sector offers a world of endless possibilities to those with the passion and drive to succeed in this career; and, if you thought only an engineering degree can get your foot in the door, think again. With the rise of seamless travel, smart ticketing and advanced control signalling systems, companies are now placing a premium on candidates with other skills including data and technology.
Curiosity, skills, good mentoring and training can go a long way; and Sofia-Maria Angelara, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff signalling design assistant, provides a striking example. Her job is to make sure that we stop hearing “severe delays on the line due to signal failure” and instead enjoy faster, more frequent and reliable journeys.
After a degree in Greek Literature and an MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature from the University of York, Sofia-Maria was offered a work placement at a rail recruitment company as an office administrator, and fell in love with the industry. In 2014, she joined WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff and is currently working in its Manchester team on high-profile projects including high-speed rail. Sofia-Maria has recently been shortlisted for the 2015 Young Rail Professional of the Year award.
Sofia-Maria explores the different steps that can help you progress in your career:
First things first, find a great mentor
Having a great mentor is essential in your career development. My line-manager and mentor, Mark Holden, shared his knowledge and experience which helped me build my technical skills, and gave me the confidence and security a young professional like me craves.
Learn by doing
The best training is on the job itself and I get to work as part of a close-knit team. Every morning first thing I catch up with colleagues in the office and then head straight to my planned tasks. I always discuss all my work with the team and we maintain a very close relationship.
What’s really satisfying about a career in rail is that you work on infrastructure projects that can really make a difference to people’s daily lives. My role involves designing signalling systems that will improve rail performance and passengers’ journey. If a signalling system fails, it will have a huge impact on someone’s commute, so it’s my job to make sure that they travel safely and fast.
Find some training courses
As I didn’t come from an engineering background, my mentor has been really helpful in directing me towards the right training courses; the basic and intermediate signalling technology courses offered internally. They have helped me to become a more skilful scheme plan designer and begin to form networks with other professionals. Meeting like-minded colleagues is a great way to learn about what others are doing, and what their jobs are like in comparison to your own. It’s the perfect way to pick up important skills from other parts of the business.
Get accredited with a professional institution
My assistant designer’s license application for the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) has been a key step in my career progression. Working towards accreditation gave me a broader perspective of the sector, and provided another great opportunity to improve technically and get industry recognition. At the moment, I am now looking to go one step further and complete the IRSE’s signalling designer’s license.
Get involved in the industry as much as possible
I learn a great deal from activities outside work. For instance, I am the north-west networking and development manager for the Young Rail Professionals group, where I organise the “welcome to rail” learning events, which really helps newcomers get to grips with industry quickly and in a friendly setting.
Make the bold decision
Rail Signalling was the best decision I‘ve ever made in my life, and I don’t regret giving up my literature career path for it. It’s worth it every single day! Sometimes you have to make a bold decision, and if you have a passion for transport and the nation’s infrastructure then it is perfect for you. You will also need lots of enthusiasm, determination and be unafraid to ask questions or work hard, so if you have these then have a career that gets Britain moving!
Click here to see WSP | PB’s current opportunities.
Content produced and paid for by WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
