BP Discovery Day Review

Was a very enjoyable day dut to the many things to do during the day. There was also no pressure to know acedemic content and so great for someone who did not have an engineering background. The range of activities kept the day exciting and the final energy challenge was particularly fun.

During talks and the networking lunch with staff, all employees at BP seemed to appreciate the effort people had put in to apply. They also commented on how well they are treated in regards to holidays and unexpected circumstances, suggesting that a job role at this company would result in you being highly valued.

Despite many people attending the event being in their second year or above, the talks and demonstrations were made easy to understand for people who just wanted to learn more about life at BP. Questions were also encouraged throughout, meaning I left with a much deeper understanding of many topics I previously has little knowledge on.

All the talks provided useful information in relation to engineering and what it is like to work at BP. I found the application talk particularly useful as this highlighted the best ways to get recognised when applying. I also learnt some useful interview tips which can be applied when applying to any industrial placement.

The insight day was very well put together and everything seemed to run on time. The day was fully used, with even the option to network with current BP employees during lunch. Despite the busy day, there was also time to make notes and have a break to reflect on what had been said.

The atmosphere was pleasant all day long, with many attendees being students on similar courses, making it easy to talk to others. Visiting simulators during the day added an extra layer of fun to the day and all the demonstrators seemed happy to talk and enthusiastic. They were also on hand to answer any questions people had.

The day provides an insight as to how to tackle interviews and job applications so was a great way of training you for when applying for a placement or graduate position. If successful at the company, BP invests heavily and trusts you to complete tasks, as shared by recent graduates.

The insight day gave examples of a few of the many roles at the company, with talks from recent graduates about their roles all the way up to the engineering director. This talk was particularly interesting as it highlighted the variation in roles that BP has to offer, with many exciting and challenging projects.

As well during the talks by recent graduates and senior members, the networking lunch provided an excellent insight into the company’s values and culture. For instance, whilst talking to LGBT officers, it was clear that the company encourages equal opportunities for everyone and takes mental health seriously, highlighting the postive culture of the company

The day provided a very good idea as to what an engineer at BP would be doing and I feel this can be applied to many other energy companies, helping me to realise that this was a career path I was genuinely interested in. Also, during the day the application process for engineering roles was revealed, helping people decide whether this was the type of role they would like to apply for.

Travel was reimbursed up to £100, with the option to reimburse up to £150 for hotel and travel if you live more than a 3 hour journey away. This was ideal as people were able to travel from all over the country to the event to ensure they did not miss out.

The networking lunch provided a very good opportunity to speak to current employees. These ranged from graduate engineers to senior finance roles and so it was a great time to explore how these people got into their career as well as if it would be something you would be interested in.

There were many opportunities to ask questions and talk to current employees during the day. However, it wasn’t made too clear as to social events employees have access to, although I’m sure had I have asked a staff memeber they would be happy to share their experiences in terms of social events.

Despite not explicitly finding out about the activities employees can get involved in outside work, it appeared that most employees had a close connection and worked together well, and therefore I am sure there are many activities to get involved in. I’m also confident that staff members would answer this question had it been asked.

The day was overall extremely useful as well as a fun and enjoyable day. I would highly recommend people who are interested in engineering or just want to find out more about the company and the roles available to apply as it is an excellent way to find out whether it could be the right career path for you.