Identification of a placement or internship role that you would like to apply to or a role you wish to undertake after graduating

Assignment Brief

The following module learning outcome is tested in this assessment:

Reflect on your acquisition of employment related skills

This is an individual Assignment made up of three main activities

• Identification of a placement or internship role that you would like to apply to or a role you wish to undertake after graduating
• Develop a plan for the future to maximise your prospects for competing for this role.

Identification of the role

Depending on your specific engineering discipline select a role from the appropriate job description:

• Civils – https://www.project-resource.co.uk/graduate-hub/graduate-job-descriptions (Links to an external site.)

The role identified should be clearly referenced and included as an Appendix to the reflection report.

Reflection

You should reflect on the activities that you have undertaken within EG5014 that would make you suitable for the role citing one example that went well and one that did not go well.

Your diary and progress report from your EG5014 Project should be used to provide the factual basis for your reflection.

Examples of activities to be used for reflection include:

• Managing risk
• Assisting in preparing schedules of work
• Evaluation of designs
• Defending decisions
• Problem solving
• Influenced others with well-structured arguments
• Consideration of the implications of cost, safety and time constraints.

A structure for this reflection report that you may consider to be useful is included below:

• What are you going to reflect on?
• What were your reactions and feelings?
• What was good and bad about the experience? Make value judgements.
• What sense can you make of the situation? Bring in ideas from outside the experience to help you. What was really going on?
• What can be concluded, in a general sense, from these experiences and the analyses you have undertaken?
• What can be concluded about your own specific, unique, personal situation or ways of working?

Plan

Based on your reflection, provide a plan of actions indicating what are you going to do differently in this type of situation next time? What steps are you going to take on the basis of what you have learnt? Are you going to seek out any specific experiences or opportunities to maximise your strengths or address your development areas?

Specifically you should provide details about how:

• Good practice, the example that went well, can be embedded into your work
• Areas for improvement that are required for your role, where it did not go well, are developed and improved.

Word count

The word count for this assignment submission is 1000 words.

The report should follow the Kingston University report standards, including layout, formatting, referencing, etc. You have to cite relevant sources properly, in order to avoid plagiarism.

Where appropriate, you may quote passages from a published text or a website, but you must clearly indicate you are doing so and give a reference to the source. A good introduction to searching literature and how to cite references properly is given in the Library Services section of the Kingston University web site.

If two assignments are submitted with identical passages of text, or if an assignment contains text from another source without proper acknowledgement, it will receive 0 marks.  This is considered plagiarism and may be subject to further penalties, including expulsion. Electronic copy of the report will be required for submission via CANVAS.

Sample Answer

Reflection Report: Preparing for a Graduate Civil Engineering Role

Introduction

This report reflects on the development of my employment-related skills during the EG5014 module and evaluates how these skills align with a Graduate Civil Engineer role I wish to pursue after graduation. I have chosen this role based on my interest in infrastructure development and project management. My reflection is supported by examples drawn from my diary and progress report within EG5014, and I will develop an action plan to improve my readiness for this career path.

Role Identification

The role I have selected is that of a Graduate Civil Engineer, advertised on Project Resource’s Graduate Hub (Project Resource, 2025). The role includes key tasks such as managing construction projects, preparing work schedules, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. The full job description is attached as Appendix A.

This role requires strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and an understanding of cost, safety, and time constraints. My reflection will focus on how I have developed these skills and how I can continue to improve.

Reflection on Skills Developed

Activity That Went Well: Problem Solving in Risk Management

One task that went well during EG5014 was managing risk in the early planning stages of our group project. We identified potential risks such as delays in material delivery and weather-related disruptions. I led the development of a risk register, which helped the team prepare mitigation plans. My ability to analyse complex problems, suggest practical solutions, and communicate them effectively was well-received by the group.

My initial reaction was positive and confident. I felt that I contributed meaningfully to the project and gained a better understanding of real-world challenges. According to Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle (1988), my effective response to the risk management task allowed me to learn from experience and build confidence.

The value of this experience lies in its realism and practical application. In civil engineering, risk management is critical for ensuring safety and staying within budget. My actions contributed to smooth project planning, and we experienced fewer disruptions as a result.

From this situation, I learned that being proactive and organised can greatly reduce project risks. I also realised that collaboration and communication are essential when managing risks that affect multiple stakeholders. I now understand the importance of planning for uncertainty and using structured tools like risk matrices.

Activity That Did Not Go Well: Defending a Design Decision

One activity that did not go as well involved defending a design decision during a progress meeting. I proposed a change to the design of a retaining wall, suggesting a different material to reduce costs. However, I struggled to clearly explain the technical benefits and justify the long-term implications.

My initial reaction was frustration and disappointment. I had confidence in my idea, but my presentation lacked structure, and I failed to consider all the technical and safety factors. The feedback I received was that I needed to improve my technical argumentation and presentation skills.

Looking back, I realise that I was not fully prepared to answer critical questions. I also neglected to consider how my proposal would affect cost, safety, and project timelines, all of which are crucial in civil engineering. As Schön’s Reflective Practice Theory (1983) suggests, reflection-in-action is vital, yet I struggled to adapt in real time during that discussion.

From this experience, I learned that good ideas must be backed by clear data, structured reasoning, and an awareness of wider project goals. It also highlighted the need for better presentation skills, especially when discussing technical matters with stakeholders.

Future Action Plan

Embedding Good Practice

To build on the positive experience of risk management, I plan to use structured tools such as risk registers and project planning software in future roles. I will continue practising team communication and taking the lead in planning tasks, as this has proven to be a strength.

I will seek opportunities during future internships or coursework to manage risk and apply problem-solving skills. I also intend to document risks and mitigation plans more systematically, using feedback from supervisors to improve.

Addressing Areas for Improvement

To improve my ability to defend technical decisions, I will focus on enhancing my technical knowledge in structural materials and design principles. I plan to attend extra workshops and make use of online resources such as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) learning portal.

In addition, I will practise presenting technical ideas through mock presentations, recording myself to identify areas for improvement in clarity, confidence, and delivery. I also intend to join a student engineering society where I can take part in design competitions, which will give me more chances to present and defend ideas.

I will also request feedback from peers and mentors when presenting ideas, which will help me refine my approach and become more effective in real-world discussions.

Continued...