I started as an environment student at RMIT in 2019 straight out of high school. In 2020, after just one urban design lecture I attended as part of an elective, I made the switch to planning.
From then on, it was two years of online learning, attending lectures from bed, and one year of trying to make up for all the missed in-person time at Uni by going to lunch, coffee, and drinks every time I was on campus.
I started at Ratio at the beginning of 2022 as part of RMIT’s placement program and was eventually offered a full-time position toward the end of my placement in September. For the remainder of the year, I worked casually at Ratio and then started full-time at the end of January 2023.
Balancing studying and working was nothing new to me but stepping into the workforce definitely reiterated the importance of time management. Making sure I fit in social time amongst everything else was super important too!
I was pleasantly surprised by Ratio’s culture – during my first couple of days of placement, I believe I attended three company social events/lunches! The company’s culture is great and is something that made me feel really comfortable early on in my placement.
I’m looking forward to becoming more confident in my work as a planning graduate and finding my feet in the workplace. I’m also really looking forward to having downtime in the evenings and on weekends – I’m keen to be able to go home after work without needing to work on an essay!
My advice is to ask as many questions as possible. It sounds cliché but it is true, especially during your placement. Ratio is full of knowledgeable professionals with incredibly varied experiences, many of whom supported me during my placement and continue to do so – definitely pick their brains!
