Interview: Student Structural Engineer – Gajanan Kirupakaran

In this month’s article, student structural engineer Gajanan Kirupakaran discusses his time at LSY over the summer.  

I had the privilege of joining LSY Engineering Consultants Ltd through a summer internship programme tailored for first-year university students at my university. As a civil engineering student, my knowledge had been primarily confined to theoretical concepts, textbooks, and lectures. I had yet to experience the practical side of civil engineering — the day-to-day work that professionals in the industry engage in. Eager to bridge this gap, I embraced the opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on experience at an engineering firm just before starting my second year. 

Reflecting on my time at LSY, I can confidently say that the experience exceeded my expectations. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and thrilled that I chose to participate in the programme. During my time at LSY, I honed a wide range of skills, from enhancing my communication abilities to deepening my technical knowledge in civil engineering. I also had the unique opportunity to be involved in the ISO 9001:2015 audit, which provided valuable insights into the rigorous standards and procedures that ensure quality management within the company. This entire experience gave me a genuine understanding of the daily life of an engineer and the extra effort that goes into excelling at the job, even beyond the required tasks. 

My passion for civil engineering only grew during my time at LSY. It was incredible to witness the evolution of projects, from initial sketches to completed structures. Visiting active construction sites and observing live projects in progress offered insights far beyond what can be learnt in a classroom. Working at a structural engineering firm and participating in site visits as a student is an opportunity that is rare among my peers. 

My role at LSY was diverse, encompassing tasks in marketing, administration, and business operations, as well as more technical responsibilities such as making mark-ups and edits to sketches for live projects. I also had the chance to contribute to company events, including a charity football match, and support colleagues on various projects, whether it involved preparing documents or reviewing CVs for future roles. The guidance I received from senior engineers was invaluable, expanding my knowledge and skill set across all aspects of the business. Each day at LSY brought new learning experiences, further igniting my interest in pursuing a career in engineering. Contributing to the company, no matter how small the task, made the experience, and the career path, exceptionally rewarding and fulfilling. 

This internship at LSY was not only my first professional experience in engineering but also my first job. I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to the entire LSY team, especially the director, Seán, for welcoming me, guiding me, and involving me throughout my time there. The team’s encouragement and support fostered a relaxed and enjoyable work environment, making my time at LSY a phenomenal experience. I now feel much more confident and prepared to tackle similar challenges in the future.