Starting a career in engineering is always a learning curve, but experiencing it through the eyes of an apprentice brings a fresh perspective on growth, challenge and opportunity.
Ovidui Tibuleac, one of our talented apprentices at the JPP Group, reflects on his journey so far — from stepping into the industry for the first time to gaining hands‑on experience that’s shaping his future.
“Technical Skills & Learning – Understanding drawings: from confusion to confidence
When I first started in the Highways team, I didn’t really understand what I was looking at when I opened an engineering drawing. A lot of the symbols, abbreviations and information were unfamiliar, and it took time to understand what everything represented. I found that the best way to develop this was through constant exposure to drawings on live projects and not being afraid to refer back to the drawing key whenever I came across something I didn’t recognise. Over time, I started to recognise more of the information without needing to check, and I became much more confident in understanding how the different elements of a drawing relate to one another and the wider project. I also learnt that understanding a drawing is about much more than knowing how to use CAD; it’s about being able to interpret the information, understand what needs to be communicated and recognise when something needs further investigation. It’s something I’m still developing, but looking back at the drawings I struggled to understand when I first started compared to the ones I can now confidently work with, it’s one of the areas where I can really see my progress.”
A big thank you to Ov for sharing such an open and thoughtful insight into his development so far. It is great to hear, in his own words, how his confidence and technical understanding have grown through hands-on experience.
