Isabelle Gessey

University of Sheffield

MPhys Physics and Astrophysics

The Big Picture

Isabelle did a Year in Industry with the STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) where she got to work on a particle accelerator, utilising not only her particle physics knowledge but also relativity and electromagnetism.

“I’m getting to use several bits of specialist software so that’s kind of really useful to take elsewhere as well, and every day my supervisor sits down with me and he kind of talks me through a new concept that truly is, you know, really crazy and out there like it is really really new stuff for me.”

The Application Process

Isabelle hadn’t considered doing a Year in Industry until her academic supervisor recommended it to her, where she then looked into it, applied to some places, and, in her own words, just rolled with it. She went to one of her lecturers for advice and to talk through the physics that she expected would come up in the interview and found that invaluable, and would encourage other students to do the same.

“You want to sell yourself so why not get as much help to do that as you can.”

After passing the interview and receiving the job offer, Isabelle was in disbelief.

“Before starting my I was concerned that I wasn’t going to be good enough I felt like ‘Have they really picked me? Why have they really picked me? This can’t be right.’ but you just have to go in with confidence.”

In Isabelle’s Own Words…

Full video transcription

I’m Isabelle Gessey and I’ve just finished my third year of my physics and astro integrated Master’s course at Sheffield University. I’m currently on placement with a company called STFC. Every day I’m learning something new to do with physics. So I’m working on the particle accelerator and it’s not just particle physics that I’m using, there’s also relativity and electromagnetism. I’m getting to use several bits of specialist software so that’s kind of really useful to take elsewhere as well, and every day my supervisor sits down with me and he kind of talks me through a new concept that truly is, you know, really crazy and out there like it is really really new stuff for me.

I wasn’t really aware that you could just take a year out to do like the year in industry type thing. My personal tutor suggested to me “why don’t you look at other placements? There are other options available to you.” After his suggestion I just did a bit of Googling, went on gradcracker and so on. Found a couple of things that seemed really exciting to me and just rolled with it basically.

When I found out I’d got an interview, I went to one of my lecturers. So I went to him and just said “I’ve got this interview tomorrow, can you talk me through bits of that physics that might be useful?” and he spent half an hour or so just talking through all of the important bits of physics which was so incredibly useful and really really helpful for my interview. If you want to go into something sciencey or something related to your degree, make a note of things that you do that might be useful. “Oh I developed my skills to do titrations in chemistry because I did this” that is so helpful for your CV or application. Talk to lecturers as well because they want what’s best for you too and if they can offer extra support a lot of them will happily do that, and you’ve got to just go for it. You want to sell yourself so why not get as much help to do that as you can.

Before starting my placement I was concerned that I wasn’t going to be good enough I felt like “Have they really picked me? Why have they really picked me this can’t be right” but you just have to go in with confidence. Everything you do at university you really can turn it so that you can sell yourself, you know. Everything you do you can relate to a job and why you’re a better candidate and everything. So everything you can do is useful.

The Next Step

Isabelle graduated from the University of Sheffield in July 2016. She now works as a Systems Engineer for MBDA where she uses her lab and computer simulation skills in the defence industry.

“Everything you do at university you really can turn it so that you can sell yourself, you know. Everything you do you can relate to a job and why you’re a better candidate and everything. So everything you can do is is useful.”