Can a graduate data scientist really use AI to unlock insights?

Hi! My name is Chukwume, pronounced Chu-ku-meh, and I'm a Graduate Data Scientist at AtkinsRéalis. I joined in July 2023, and so far, it's been a meaningful and rewarding journey!

What has been your favorite experience?

Some of my scheme highlights include brilliant training courses, hanging out with the team and volunteering at a career fair at Imperial College London—my alma mater, bringing on the nostalgia!

What work do you do as a graduate at AtkinsRéalis?

My projects cover internal initiatives using Large Language Models (LLMs) to unlock insights from legacy data, as well as external client projects where I've built dashboards to support strategic decision-making. I've also taken on administrative tasks like running team meetings, engaging stakeholders, and communicating expectations—experiences that have broadened my skills and deepened my understanding of collaborative work.

How has your role as a graduate data scientist at AtkinsRéalis helped you grow?

From my first day, I began working on real-world client challenges using real-world data. AtkinsRéalis is passionate about employee development , offering a structured learning curriculum with development items for graduates—including consultancy and resilience courses— and a flexible training plan to develop technical skills to ensure well-rounded development. As graduates, a given percentage of our time is set aside for training. My team also has a Datacamp licence, gwhich gives me access to thousands of resources. My technical development is driven by myself, but the organization ensures the foundation is there through safety, security, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) training.

AtkinsRéalis encourages chartership, and the high standard of excellence that comes with it, providing us with resources to achieve it. Mentorship is another key support, with hundreds of staff ready to guide you in areas you're actively developing. Finally, the people make the organization—our team is incredibly supportive and collaborative and always willing to help and share knowledge.

What is your top tip for new graduates?

Remain authentic throughout the application process and even after joining. Put a personable spin on your contributions to the team, stay curious, and be open to learning and development. These qualities will keep you motivated and help you thrive.

How has the culture at AtkinsRéalis shaped your experience?

I would describe the culture at AtkinsRéalis as collaborative, high in integrity, and focused on excellence. The flexible working culture supports a great work/life balance. It's also sociable, with teams, offices, and graduates organizing hangouts like trips to the Christmas markets, after-work drinks, and team dinners to bond, relax, and build cohesion. Based on this culture, my experience has been one where I feel safe to grow, interact and learn.

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