Jim M.
About me
| Jim M. | |
| Computer Science | |
| Safety Critical Systems Engineering | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| 2015 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Director System Safety SQEP Ltd | |
| SQEP Ltd | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Digital and IT services |
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A day in the life of a Director System Safety SQEP Ltd in the United Kingdom
Enthusiasm is everything. Be enthusiastic in your studies, about your research projects, about your chosen profession and with others around you.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
We provide subject matter experts to support clients with their system safety and airworthiness endeavours.
What do you do?
As part of our team I engage with our clients to provide support and guidance to their airworthiness and system safety endeavours. In addition I work with other organisations to shape safety and airworthiness cultures, standards and policy etc.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I started my career as an aircraft technician in a heavily regulated safety critical environment. My career progressed into the management of aviation operations and engineering. Safety is an intrinsic element of aviation engineering so for me system safety was a natural progression.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
I was already in the aviation sector when I elected to undertake degree and masters level study as a mature student.
Describe your most memorable day at work
Over more than 30 years of employment I have had numerous memorable days. But what motivates me is working in a well engaged team to support customers to achieve. When they achieve we achieve. The greatest achievements have been those with the greatest challenges.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Challenges are an everyday part of a great job. If you are not overcoming challenges you are in your comfort zone and not growing.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
Mainly our work is office based, predominantly working with clients within their work environments. However, safety should not be a desk top activity and its essential to understand where risk impact is actually realised, i.e. the operations end of the business. We work with clients in Europe and the USA and face to face interaction is often essential. In addition we also provide training which allows us to interact with groups of people keen to learn new skills. Our culture is one based upon a mature professional attitude, but safety can be a dry subject and humour is always allowed and indeed essential in facing the more stressful challenges.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I was a mature student and have a lifetime of extracurricular activities; sporting, adventure training and creative. It's an essential element of life and builds personal diversity and resilience. All-in-all making you a more rounded, balanced and objective individual.
What would you like to do next with your career?
Wow that's a difficult one. My goals within my career are to engage more with the safety community to help shape safety thinking to meet the challenges of an ever changing technological landscape.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Enthusiasm is everything. Be enthusiastic in your studies, about your research projects, about your chosen profession and with others around you. As an employer I value a candidate's enthusiasm and drive, these are key personal attributes. I'm looking for people that will naturally engage with others in a team and with customers and those that are self aware, knowing their own limitations and with a keen desire to grow.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
I am happy to engage in any topic, whether that's general work related themes or specific to my specialisation of safety and airworthiness. If I don't know the answer then I'll endeavour to point someone in the right direction.
Next steps...
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