She spent two placements at Vinci Construction UK and has been working at the company since she graduated two years ago.
Virtue recalls her time at Southampton as: “Amazing, truly the best university experience that has allowed me to grow into the best engineer I can be.”
Virtue chose to study her civil engineering degree at Southampton due to its state-of-the-art engineering campus at Boldrewood Innovation Campus and its strong reputation as one of the top civil engineering schools in the country.
She said: “I had a wonderful experience during the open day and knew that the University of Southampton was the right fit for me.
“What I loved about the way Southampton taught engineering is the amount of site exposure that you get early in your university journey. During my first year, we went to Constructionarium where constructed scaled versions of real-life structures. I lead a team of 16 students, and we constructed a 10m version of the Millau Viaduct in France. It was a great experience as it confirmed how much I enjoy being on site and project managing.”
She was also impressed by the variety of modules available with the extensive range allowing her to choose the subjects she was truly interested in such as renewable energy and human factors.
Virtue highly recommends gaining work experience while at university, particularly in the industry you want to work in, as it often paves the way to a graduate job. In her case, it led directly to her graduate job.
She said: “I knew how important it was to have practical experience as well as studying the course and this was the best way of getting it.
“I loved seeing the things I learned at university being put to practice and it helps you understand why certain things are done the way they are. In addition to enhancing my engineering skills, it also improved my soft skills, such as presenting, writing, people management and time management.”
The work experience has given her confidence in her abilities and made her realise that even though something may be hard, with the right effort and willingness to learn you can solve any problem.
She added: “The SUCCESS scholarship opens the opportunity for your employer to give you a job after graduation. It gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills and highlight the reasons why they should keep me on."
Seize every opportunity that comes your way is the advice that Virtue has for potential students.
She said: “It’s a fantastic time to explore new experiences through societies and take advantage of opportunities related to your degree. I thoroughly enjoyed my university experience, learning and growing immensely.”
She also says not to be afraid about asking questions as these expand your knowledge by making the most of the renowned professors and resources available; and to consider graduate schemes as a pathway for personal growth and an opportunity to learn from seasoned industry professionals.
Virtue said: “Graduate schemes provide an excellent opportunity to explore various facets of different sectors. In my current role, I’ve worked as a design consultant, quantity surveyor, site engineer, and supervisor — all within the framework of a graduate scheme. This has enabled me to identify the aspects of the industry I enjoy and those that I find less appealing.”