Rafeea

Graduate – Graphic Designer

Abu Dhabi – UAE

What is your role at AECOM?  

I started as a Graduate Sustainability Consultant, and now I am a Graduate Graphics Designer supporting the Marketing team with my creative skills. I enhance proposal layouts, presentations, and engage in various creative activities.

How long have you worked for AECOM?

I have been with AECOM for exactly one year and one month.

Why did you choose to join AECOM’s Graduate Program?

I joined AECOM’s Graduate Program because, as a recent graduate, it’s a great starting point for my career. The program not only gives me a solid foundation but also trains me on all the essential skills any professional should possess to excel at their career.

How has AECOM helped you in your career development?

AECOM helped me discover my passion and provided the opportunity to pursue it. Starting as a sustainability consultant with a background in mechanical engineering, I never expected my artistic and graphic design talents to be recognized and encouraged. With guidance from my manager, supervisors, and mentors, I received the support needed to follow my desired career path and excel in it.

What motivated you, as a UAE National, to pursue a career in the private sector?

I have seen many friends who chose the private sector path as a start for their career, and I have seen the skills they have acquired in a short time. Hearing all about the passionate and fast-paced working environments they have been in and seeing how it impacted their character to the better, I wanted a similar type of growth – this led me to choose the private sector.

What has been your favourite project to work on at AECOM?

All AECOM Projects are special to me, in each one, I was exposed to different type of information, faced different challenges and got the chance to improve my problem-solving skills with many different approaches. Mainly, I loved working on a large mall project when I was working with the Sustainability team, supporting energy modelling work. As for my work with the Marketing Team, I am finding each project fulfilling as I engage in activities that I love, delivering impressive results and creative artworks.

What’s your proudest moment at AECOM?

During my time with the Sustainability team, managing a substantial submission with a tight timeline was a proud moment. Taking on a significant workload and contributing to completing the task on time, receiving positive feedback, was a highlight. Reflecting on my growth from a new graduate to a contributor reminded me of my early days at AECOM, especially my first month. This realization highlighted the substantial personal and professional development I’ve experienced in a short amount of time which I’m very proud of.