Navigating the first year: The graduate perspective

Investing in our graduates is a key part of what we do as a business. We recognise the importance of investing in early careers professionals, welcoming them into the industry and providing them a place to grow. Across our global business, young professionals can build experience in technical and non-technical roles across a range of disciplines and sectors. Last year, four of these young professionals joined our team in Edinburgh and are reflecting on their first year with us.

More than calculations: Catherine Murray, Graduate Mechanical Engineer

Catherine Murray discovered that the role extended far beyond technical calculations.

“After graduating, I expected that much of my career would involve carrying out engineering calculations and applying technical knowledge. Although this remains an important aspect of my role, I have learned that building services engineering equally involves teamwork and collaboration to effectively develop the technical designs.

Throughout my first year, I have been exposed to a range of different projects across various sectors including defence and workplace, where I have undertaken design calculations, produced technical drawings, attended site visits and participated in project meetings. This experience has developed both my technical expertise and soft skills, allowing me to learn how to produce high-quality designs, whilst effectively communicating with clients, contractors and other project stakeholders.

Whenever I needed assistance with a task, my team was willing to share their knowledge and experience. Some of them have over 20 years of industry expertise, and their insights have been invaluable to my learning. This knowledge sharing has given me the confidence to step outside of my comfort zone and become more proactive in my work.”

Taking responsibility early: Lucy McCoy, Graduate Structural Engineer

Lucy McCoy also expected calculations to dominate her working day. Instead, early responsibility, collaboration and communication have become central to her development.

“Like Catherine, I too imagined spending most of my time working independently with design software and calculations. While technical skills are certainly a core part of the job, what surprised me most during my first year was just how collaborative the role is and how much communication influences successful project delivery.

Over the year, I have developed a range of technical skills through exposure to different structural systems, software, and design challenges. However, I think the biggest area of growth has been in my communication skills. I've learnt that adapting your communication style is essential to ensuring everyone understands the project requirements and objectives.

Another highlight of my first year has been meeting and working with a wide range of people across the global business. The support from colleagues has played a huge part in my development, and I've found that learning from more experienced engineers has accelerated my understanding far more than I anticipated.

Looking back, my first year at Cundall has been both challenging and rewarding. It has reinforced the importance of technical excellence while showing me that collaboration, communication, and continuous learning are equally important parts of being a successful engineer

Moving from electronics to building services: Sojan Gurung, Graduate Electrical Engineer

Unlike Lucy and Catherine, Sojan Gurung had no expectations of his role and was keen to see where the journey took him having come from a slightly different background studying electronics instead of building services.

“To be completely honest, I was unsure of what to expect from a career in building services as my degree was predominantly electronics based. Despite this, I said to myself “if I can make it through all those years of electronic theory and practicals, I can do anything I put my heart to”. Every step was a learning opportunity, and I would not have learnt nearly as much as I have if it wasn’t for the amazing support of not only everyone in the Edinburgh office, but company-wide also.

I have learnt how an effective and efficient electrical engineer works, what is expected of me, and how to communicate to clients and contractors to make everyone’s lives easier. These invaluable skills have made me a more confident person, not only in my manner of speaking and presenting, but as a working engineer. My peers push me to be a better and more knowledgeable person than I was yesterday, and vice versa.

I think Cundall is a great fit for any graduate engineer; you have to be practical and knowledgeable about the projects you work in, and often you get to see all your hard work come into fruition and see how it benefits people for the better! You can see every percent of effort you put in return tenfold at the finish line.”

From summer placement to graduate engineer: Yuill Petrie, Graduate Mechanical Engineer

Yuill Petrie had a unique perspective compared to our other graduates, having undertaken a placement in our Edinburgh office during his studies.

“Having already completed a summer internship with Cundall, I had some idea of what to expect when I joined. My internship had shown me that graduates are trusted to get involved and make a meaningful contribution, so I was excited to build on that experience.

The past year has accelerated both my professional and personal development. Since starting, I have become more confident in asking questions, challenging decisions, and using difficult situations as opportunities to learn and improve. One of my biggest areas of growth has been learning to manage ambiguity. At university, success was often based on studying specific information and achieving the correct answer. In industry, I have learned that there is rarely a single answer, and that initiative, research, and professional judgement are essential.

The welcoming culture has been great. Not only have I had the opportunity to work alongside talented colleagues, but I have also built lasting friendships that make the workplace feel genuinely supportive and enjoyable. This has helped me achieve a healthier work-life balance. While studying at university, I often found myself focused almost entirely on academic work and deadlines. Through things like team-building initiatives and regular office social events, I have learned the importance of balancing professional responsibilities with personal wellbeing, which has had a positive impact on both my work and personal life.

I have also learned the value of getting involved beyond project work. Through the encouragement of my colleagues, I have entered competitions and become a member of the CIBSE YEN Scotland committee, experiences that have broadened my professional network and contributed significantly to my development during my first year at Cundall.”

Although their routes into engineering and expectations of the profession differed, all four graduates highlight the same foundations for development: early responsibility, practical project experience, collaboration and support from colleagues. If you are interested in joining Cundall as a young professional, please visit our early careers page.