Simran Bassan is a graduate of the University of Auckland who joined Woods in February 2022 as a graduate 3 Waters Engineer. We sat down with Simran to talk about what it’s like to be a graduate engineer here at Woods and how his experience has been so far.

Entering the workforce

Starting as a fresh graduate, it was quite daunting to be entering the workforce. It’s like you are starting your life as a functioning adult. I wish I had known the virtue of Woods beforehand - it would have made it much less daunting.

From the moment I started, I was made to feel comfortable. Woods is a really friendly and supportive environment; I was allowed to ask questions and get things wrong. It made the transition into the workforce a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.

Happiness comes from making a positive change in the community

One of the things I like most about my job at Woods is the work itself. I'm constantly challenged and exposed to new ideas, and it's comforting to know that I'm making a positive change or contribution to the community, that I’m making a difference in society. But it’s also the people at Woods that make it enjoyable. It’s really easy to have a conversation with anyone and foster genuine relationships.

Being surrounded by people who are at the top of their respective fields

They say you’re a product of your environment and I believe it’s true. When everyone around you is working hard, it's quite easy to remain productive. Here at Woods, everyone around me is really hard-working, driven, and passionate. I'm constantly surrounded by people who are at the top of their respective fields, and it makes me want to be more driven. I also genuinely enjoy the work that I'm doing, it's intellectually stimulating, so I want to continue doing it.

There is no such thing as a stupid question

In the short period that I've been at Woods, I've been lucky enough to be exposed to quite a variety of work. I'm not often doing repetitive tasks or jobs so there is always the ability to ask questions and learn something new. I’ve found that everyone around me is willing to answer my questions, no matter how ‘stupid’ the question may be in my eyes. That's been quite comforting and helped me learn a lot more.

Finding that work-life balance

There is always the opportunity to complete work but then there is also a large emphasis at Woods on maintaining and enjoying your time outside of work. It’s a really good balance. For example, there are monthly Social Club events (which unfortunately I haven't been able to attend yet just because of timing) but just that in itself shows there is an emphasis on developing a relationship with your co-workers that isn't just work-related. Everyone is also really understanding of your situation which is always nice.

Final thoughts

I’ve really enjoyed my time here. It's only been a short two months so far, but I don’t regret it at all.

If you are interested in working at Woods after you graduate, please visit our careers page for more information.

Simran Bassan - Graduate Engineer