The former intern who has progressed from Design Engineer to Head of Production Realisation
Meet Aurelija, a Civil Engineer whose career has gone from strength to strength at Staticus. And it all started with an internship while she was still a student. That internship turned into a position as a Design Engineer, and she then progressed to roles as a Production Planning Engineer and Production Project Manager before becoming Head of Production Realisation in 2021.
We chatted with Aurelija about her internship, Staticus’ culture, and why she likes to always focus on the present when it comes to her career.
When did you do your internship at Staticus, and why did you decide to apply?
I did my internship when I was a 2nd year civil engineering student at college, so that was roughly 7 or 8 years ago. As students, we were required to do practical internships, and I was very keen to do mine at Staticus – I was impressed by its uniqueness and global reach.
What were your responsibilities and duties during the internship?
Well, the first stage was onboarding, and I was very impressed by the fact that I received the same onboarding as a normal member of staff. HR presented the company in detail, explaining its vision and purpose. It was interesting to me that they paid attention to interns and treated them in a similar way to regular employees.
In terms of the actual tasks, over two months I had the opportunity to work with engineers and perform tasks related to some of the more simple production processes. I worked on a range of different production projects, not just one big task. So this gave me a chance to broaden my knowledge.
Before the internship I didn’t have much knowledge of façades. But from the first day I understood that a façade isn’t only a sheet of glass, but a very complex construction. It is like a piece of art. I saw how many components there are for a façade and it was a surprise.
Do you feel that the team provided you with support during the internship?
Yes, they did. And this was especially impressive considering the fact that I was doing my internship with experienced professionals. These were busy senior engineers, but they still found time for me. Despite the fact that they really lacked time, they made it clear that it was OK for me to ask questions and I shouldn’t feel bad about that.
I continued my studies after completing my internship, and when I graduated I wanted to come back to Staticus. The number one reason for this was the colleagues I had worked with during my internship.
You’ve now been at Staticus for many years. How would you define our company culture?
I don’t think my answer will surprise you. I would classify it as supportive and challenging at the same time. It is a very good place to discover fresh perspectives and to grow professionally. For example, I have learned a lot about how important processes are from my work here.
Would you recommend an internship at Staticus to others? Why?
Yes, I definitely would. There are a few reasons why.
Firstly, the value chain is very wide. Everything starts from the concept and is taken right through to the construction site. For students, it’s a great opportunity to see the whole process and find out for yourself what you are interested in.
Another reason is that the company itself is always growing, and the teams improve together. Staticus is not afraid to embrace innovation. So, this is a place where you can make suggestions and contribute, because they are always looking for ways to improve.
And it is also a place where you will grow. My Internship helped me realise that I really want to work in engineering, to work with buildings and production.
How do you see your future in Staticus?
Well, I like to focus on the present first – I mean that dealing with your current tasks and figuring out how to do them in a smarter way can move you forward to more efficient work in the future. So the short answer is, I’ll do my best now to make it easier in the future.
What would you wish for students who are hesitant to apply for an internship at Staticus?
I would say just apply. As I mentioned before, the value chain here is really wide and there is a culture that encourages growth.
We have great team leads, and amazing mentors, so you will get the support you need.
You can create good possibilities for your career and also contribute to Staticus’ purpose of going “beyond façades.”