Wesley's decision to study Mechanical Engineering at Queen's was influenced by his passion for science and problem-solving. "I really like science and problem solving. So, during A levels I did three sciences - biology, physics, chemistry, and math. This is also how I knew that I would get into STEM major and Mechanical Engineering seemed a broad subject which would provide with soft skills and skills that I could use for different jobs and occupations after university," he explains.

The breadth of the Mechanical Engineering programme at Queen's particularly appealed to Wesley. He notes, "We learn a lot of different things such as thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, statics and material science, which can all be applied to different areas of Engineering after university. Therefore, I believe it's a very good foundation that prepares you for any Engineering Master's programme afterwards because Mechanical Engineering gives you more options instead of specialising too early on."

Wesley's experience at Queen's has been enhanced by the university's approach to learning. "Queen's excel at a very holistic approach to Engineering where we learn a lot of practical skills such as CNC, using the laser, using the mailing machine and all these practical skills are covered in Engineering Design and Manufacturing module," he shares.

From a personal point of view, coming from Malaysia as an international student, Wesley really enjoys being able to learn about new country and culture. “There's a lot of people from different cultures, especially here at Queen’s we have people from all over the world and that allows me to learn more about every culture, which is an eye-opening experience!”

When it came to deciding on a placement year, Wesley found inspiration from his seniors and the Careers Fair at Queen's. "The main factor that made me decide to do placement was speaking to the seniors at Queen's University and the Careers Fair where I got to speak to other students that were on placement as well," he recalls. However, he soon realised placement provides experience that would be valuable in the future, especially after speaking to those who came back from their industry experience year.

Wesley's placement journey led him to Martin Baker, a company he discovered at a Careers Fair at Queen's. "When I first went to speak to the representatives of Martin Baker, there were a few students that were doing placement at Martin Baker at that time. So, I had a chance to chat with them directly and they were telling me about how they were from Queen's as well. They explained how they have been working in London for Martin Baker for the past few months, and dived into all details of what Martin Baker does and what I could gain from the placement opportunity," he shares.

Securing the placement was not without its challenges. Wesley advises, "My first few interviews when I was trying to get into a placement were quite tough for me because they were asking questions that were specific to working experience which made me realised, they weren't prepared for a university student, especially when all that we know of is the theory and science behind things." His advice? "Be honest about what you know and what you don’t know. Most interviewers are asking you all the questions to understand your level of competence rather than catch you on something you don’t know."

Another important advice Wesley gives is to share all your university projects and other team-based activity that you did during the studies. “Most of engineering work consists of team projects, and once you start your placement year, you will collaborate with various people and teams, so companies want to ensure that you have this ability to communicate effectively with others,” he adds.

Wesley's placement at Martin Baker as a Product Safety Design engineer has been eye-opening. "My job consists of looking at error reports and things that malfunction in our design and then trying to fix it, whether by changing the design or changing the manual or instructions or improving the manufacturing process. What I like the most is that there is a large variety of things that could be done to fix a problem," he explains.

The transition from university life to placement has been a learning experience in itself. Wesley notes, "There are a lot of differences between being a student at university versus being a placement student. Because the moment I went on placement I realised that working life is different from what I imagined it to be. For example, there are less hard deadlines that are set for you, so you need to be able to effectively schedule your own time and stay disciplined to get your work done."

Reflecting on his placement experience, Wesley is enthusiastic about recommending it to other students. "My main advice for anyone who's considering doing a placement year is to just go for it because a placement year for me has been one of the most helpful and important experiences of my time at Queen's. I have learned about myself, my future job and what I am interest in the most. Now I feel so much more prepared for starting work after university, "he concludes.

Wesley's journey from Malaysia to Belfast, and now to his placement in London, highlights the transformative power of international education and work experience. His story serves as an inspiration for students considering their own placement opportunities, highlighting the personal growth, professional development, and cultural experiences that await.

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For enquiries please contact Daria Pudovkina at: d.pudovkina@qub.ac.uk