Keep an open mind
Advice from a British Airways engineering graduate.
There's often a lot of pressure to know exactly what you want to do after school, college or university.
But, if there's one thing Alishah, a Technical Engineering graduate at British Airways, wishes to share with fellow graduates it's this: that you don't need to have everything figured out from day one.
You don't need all the answers
Looking back, Alishah says there’s one piece of advice she would give her younger self and others who are interested in following her career journey.
"I would say to put less pressure on myself in knowing what I want to do in the future." "If you just focus on the present and what you do and don't enjoy, this will guide you in the right direction."
Instead of focusing on having a perfect plan, she believes it's more valuable to pay attention to what interests you, what challenges you and what you enjoy doing.
Careers don't always follow a straight line
One of the benefits of joining a graduate programme at British Airways is the opportunity to experience different parts of a business before deciding where you'd like to focus.
During her first year at British Airways, Alishah rotated across multiple placements, including Cabin Performance, Planning and Supply Chain, Terminal 5B and Operations.
"Stay open minded and continue to learn and push yourself out of your comfort zone regularly. There is no age limit on trying something new. You never know… it may lead you to the career path that is meant for you."
Growth comes from experience
Alishah learnt early on was that development isn't about doing everything. It's about understanding what matters most to you.
"It is very important to say yes to opportunities, but it is also useful to know what is important to you. The grad scheme is all about learning and getting the best experience. You don’t have to be an expert at anything, but you must remain curious and open minded."
British Airways offers graduates the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of projects, initiatives and experiences. Learning where to focus your time can be just as important as embracing new opportunities.
Explore our Emerging Talent programmes and discover where your own journey could begin.