Rose Mahdavi, a Degree Apprentice at Siemens and alum of City of Bristol College recently returned for the day to deliver inspiring talks to current engineering students. Rose, who graduated in 2023 after completing a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering, shared her educational journey, career aspirations and practical advice for securing a degree apprenticeship.
During her time at the college, Rose completed both the Foundation Level and Extended Diploma over two years. Her academic success and determination led her to secure a degree apprenticeship at Siemens, where she continues her Electrical Mechanical Engineering studies. This five-year programme is a stepping stone towards her dream of working in Formula 1.
In her interactive session, Rose walked students through key topics including:
- Organising assignments and her strategies for managing academic workload effectively
- Crafting job applications and how to tailor CVs and cover letters to specific roles
- Highlighting the importance of LinkedIn in professional networking
- Navigating degree apprenticeships; how to apply for them, the significance of UCAS points and DDM grades etc
Rose commented: “I work at Siemens as a Degree Apprentice studying Electrical Mechanical Engineering. Our workplace requires us to do volunteering days and I decided to use mine here. I wanted to help students who are interested in non-routine routes like degree apprenticeships but don’t necessarily know much about them.”
She also noted the importance of reaching out to students early in their journey. She said: “I hope it’s useful for them because I think it would’ve been useful for myself back at college. That’s why I’m so eager to help out. It’s good for them to know in preparation for next year, so they know what they’re looking for.”
Talking of her experience delivering the sessions, Rose said: “It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm and curiosity of the students and I hope the insights shared will help them take confident steps toward their goals.
“A huge thank you to Siemens for supporting initiatives like these and to my college for welcoming me back.
“To anyone considering apprenticeships or starting their professional journey, remember that every great career starts with a single step. Tailor your approach, showcase your unique skills and don’t be afraid to ask for guidance. Everyone had to do this procedure at some point right!”
To discover Engineering courses at City of Bristol College, click here.
