Figuring out what’s next after leaving school can sometimes be daunting to think about. That’s why Go Construct has been asking our STEM Ambassadors and some apprentices who currently work within our industry to share what advice they wish they had when they left school and why a career in construction could be the right path for you.
Meet Karyn Sansom, Senior Consultant
Hi, I’m Karyn, a Senior Consultant specialising in business transformation, with a background in engineering and telecommunications. Alongside my career, I’m passionate about mentoring and volunteering to help young people explore the wide range of opportunities available across STEM.
What advice would you give to your younger self leaving school?
If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to stay curious and keep an open mind. When we leave school, it’s easy to think we need to have everything figured out, but many of us discover our careers by exploring opportunities we didn’t even know existed. That’s exactly what happened to me.
Why should you consider a career in construction?
One of the reasons I’d encourage school leavers to consider construction and the wider built environment is the incredible variety of careers available. Whether your interests are in design, engineering, digital technology, sustainability, project management or problem solving, there are so many different pathways to build a rewarding career. It’s an industry that continues to evolve, embraces innovation and offers the chance to work on projects that have a real impact on the world around us.
What has been the most rewarding part of your role as a STEM Ambassador?
One of the reasons I continue to volunteer is because I’ve seen the difference a single conversation can make. Sometimes all it takes is meeting someone, hearing about a career you’d never considered, or seeing people from different backgrounds and experiences working in STEM and construction, to help those careers feel more real and achievable. If this encourages just one young person to stay curious, explore their options and believe there’s a place for them, then it’s been worthwhile.
Learn more about careers and apprenticeships with Go Construct
Find out more about the 180 different careers available in construction: