Have you ever wondered about going to space? Or perhaps just sending up a satellite to gather some info for you?
Fynn Opperman is aiming to do just that. Fynn and his team at the Melbourne Space Program are designing a satellite they hope to launch into the skies to join the other 2787 human-made satellites currently whirling around the Earth.
Fynn is studying a Bachelor of Science majoring in Mechanical Systems alongside a Diploma in Applied Maths. When he graduates, Fynn has a Master of Mechanical Engineering focussing on Aerospace on his horizon.
Clearly, Fynn likes learning about space. He’s not a total space nerd though. He has other hobbies like reading, exercising and meeting new people. Fynn has also been involved with the Science Students Society, the Peer Mentoring Program, and the Job Ready employability short course.
Although Fynn already had some experience in CV writing and job applications, he was keen to increase his employability and prepare for his career with the help of Job Ready.
During Job Ready, Fynn seized on another opportunity, applying for a position in the engineering team of the Melbourne Space Program (it all comes back to space!).
The skills Fynn was learning in Job Ready helped him shoot through the application process and land an interview. Before taking the program, Fynn was hesitant in marketing himself to employers in job interviews. Putting yourself forward for a job or “selling yourself” without tooting your own horn is a challenge, and often extremely uncomfortable for many of us.
“I was hesitant in marketing myself because I wasn't comfortable talking about my experiences and skills, thinking it could be misconstrued as bragging.”
However, as he learnt about the employment process, Fynn realised that a job application can be viewed as an exchange opportunity where you can show an employer what you can offer them in return for the perks of the job. This mindset helped Fynn prepare better for his interview and increased his confidence in talking about his skills and experiences.
As well changing his mindset, Job Ready allowed Fynn to practice talking about his job experiences through a mock interview. The mock interview gave Fynn a chance to employ many of the skills he had learnt throughout Job Ready and boost his confidence for his real interview.
“I was lucky enough to be able to have my mock interview shortly before my actual interview. It was very useful practice for the actual application process.”
The Melbourne Space Program welcomed Fynn into the ACRUX-2 engineering team with open arms. Fynn and his team are in the early phases of designing a satellite to be launched into space, so Fynn and his team are literally shooting for the stars!
During the early design phase, Fynn’s team has been researching the different subsystems of the satellite function, how these subsystems interact and what the key requirements are for the satellite to achieve its mission. In the next phase, Fynn’s team will start to construct the satellite components.
Fynn and his fellow space enthusiasts work on a 2-week sprint cycle, changing groups and tasks with each rotation. The teams allocate small tasks, communicate with each other, and manage their time efficiently so they can successfully meet their 2-week deadline.
The project has allowed Fynn to develop skills working in an engineering team on a highly technical project while still in university. Despite the difficulties of interacting purely online in 2020, Fynn has made friends with his team mates, and even taken the chance to engage with professionals in the Aerospace Industry and build his network. All whilst still studying!
Fynn is looking forward to working with his team in person in the MSP offices and, of course, the launch of their satellite!
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