Meet Megan Crossen Auckland North Opus Cadet CREATING OUR ...

Meet Albie FordInvercargill Opus CadetI chose to apply for the Opus Cadetship because I likedthe idea of working while I study. After completing theDiploma in Engineering(Civil) and Applied Diploma Icontinued my studies and am in my final semester of aBachelor of Engineering Technology (Highways).Work-Life Balance and study support... I have found it relatively easy to balance school andwork. It is important to ensure you allocate time to study and complete assignments. I findthe block course format easy to learn from. Learning is also easier when you are surrounded bypeople who have experience in that field.We would often hold after work study sessions where both cadets and mentors would attend.The mentors would help us out with anything that we were struggling with and always madethemselves available if you needed advice.Advantages of small offices... Small offices offer great opportunities for advancement if youare dedicated and work hard. The Opus Invercargill office is quite small with only 32 staff, soyou do not get lost in a crowd. It makes for a close knit team, who are friends outside of theworkplace. In each department I worked for, the Team Leaders took me under their wing toensure I was gaining knowledge and experience. I was also assigned a mentor who was not mydirect supervisor that I would sit down with and talk about any issues I had and where my careerwas headed.Favourite part of job... The problem solving and with engineering the great combination ofindoor and outdoor work. Being involved in the construction of infrastructure is very rewarding.Driving over a section of road or seeing a safety improvement that you designed or supervisedmakes you feel as you are contributing to society.Enjoys most about Opus... The variety of work and the people I work with. The great support notjust from within my local office but throughout the whole company. I enjoy the PIN networkwhere knowledge is shared worldwide.Future goals... I would like to be a Chartered Professional Engineer and travelled.CREATING OUR TOMORROW