My Mentor

As part of my course I was asked to find a 'significant other', or more commonly known as a mentor. An ideal mentor would be someone from work, as they would be able to give me support and advice that would be relevant to what I am studying. I have chosen my supervisor from work in the hardware department Neil Kempson, I hope to follow a career in hardware and during my placement he was keen to help me to develop my skills. 

Learning Line

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

• I am good at dealing with problems and usually take lead on most projects.
• Hard working… but only with topics I am passionate about!
• Quick to learn and am very inquisitive.
• Good at applying logical thinking to a plethora of situations.
• I have experience within the workplace, helping me in my field of study.
• If I do not know something or have a challenge to overcome, I’ll use all of my resources to ensure I do so. 

Weaknesses

• I can be disorganised at times.
• Find it difficult to balance my social/work life, I am the type or person to put 100% into one thing rather than spread myself.
• Although I’m experienced, I have a lot more to learn about applying my knowledge.
• Lack confidence at times and sometimes doubt myself.
• I easily forget things unless the knowledge is used or noted down so I can go back to it (I am a fan of lists!)

Opportunities

• University will help me to organise myself, especially since my course is part time and will involve a lot of home study
• It will give me the knowledge to improve myself and also the qualifications to get a better job
• The chance to a fresh start within a new environment.

Threats

• The university worries me; I foresee problems that may require a great deal more effort from myself.
• My ability to adapt to university style learning.
• How I will overcome my weakness of not being very organised. 

About Me

Hi

My names Dan and I'm 18 years old, I currently work for a company called Selex Galileo in Basildon as a technical apprentice. I have been there 2 years already and have another 2 to go, we make sensors and cameras for the military as well as some guidance systems for missiles such as the Javelin missile system.

My current position in the company sees me working in all the areas such as hardware engineering, test engineering, mechanical design as well as many other departments. I hope to eventually become a full time hardware engineering or operations manager. At the moment I am doing my HNC in engineering part time at Anglia Ruskin and hope to carry on to do my full degree in engineering.