Skip to main content
search results
Sorry, but nothing matched your search terms. Sorry, but nothing matched your search terms. Sorry, but nothing matched your search terms. Désolé, mais rien ne correspond à vos critères de recherche. Désolé, mais rien ne correspond à vos critères de recherche. Entschuldigung, wir haben nichts zu diesem Suchbegriff gefunden.
Sorry, but we cannot handle your search query now. Please, try again later! Sorry, but we cannot handle your search query now. Please, try again later! Sorry, but we cannot handle your search query now. Please, try again later! Désolé, mais nous ne pouvons pas traiter votre demande. Veuillez réessayer plus tard ! Désolé, mais nous ne pouvons pas traiter votre demande. Veuillez réessayer plus tard ! Entschuldigung, wir können Ihre Suchanfrage zurzeit nicht bearbeiten. Bitte versuchen Sie es später noch einmal.

Lihle Inga

Talent acquisition intern

employee-stories-lihle
Scroll

Tell us about your role and department

I work in Talent Acquisition within the People Services – Recruitment team, supporting recruitment in the marine and defence industry, primarily for engineering roles.

My role is particularly interesting because many of the positions I support have strict security requirements, making the sourcing and placement process more complex than standard recruitment.

What has been your most exciting project?

The defence project has been the most exciting for me. I have particularly enjoyed learning about the processes the government follows to ensure the safety and protection of its citizens.

What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges has been engaging with candidates, as some do not fully understand the recruitment processes involved.

I have learned to be patient, communicate clearly and recognise that some procedures naturally take longer than others.

What is it like experiencing your first corporate job

I value the level of independence I have in my role and am grateful to Expleo for giving me this opportunity.

The positive and supportive working environment has made my experience enjoyable and has helped me feel comfortable in the workplace.

Any advice for future interns at Expleo?

Be a sponge: absorb, grow and reflect continuously.

How has this internship helped you grow professionally?

This internship has placed me in situations that have tested my patience and confidence. I have learned how to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds, build rapport and make people feel comfortable.

My confidence has also grown significantly, particularly because I have been encouraged to use my strengths, including my communication skills, to support my performance and delivery at work.

Employee Stories

Related Stories

Advocate

HR & Talent acquisition intern in South Africa, UK, Ireland and Switzerland

Nhlanhla

HR & Payroll Intern in the UK

Leigh

Head of Business Management in the UK

Robert Matthews

What is your name and your role and how long have you been working at Expleo?

This year I’m celebrating my 12th year at Expleo. I started my career at Expleo as a Quality Auditor contractor, and then was offered a Staff position in the Life Cycle Management team, where I became a Deputy Team Lead, after which there was another promotion opportunity to an Engineering Manager, and later I was able to join our Marine division where I currently work.

Where and how long did you serve in the armed forces?

I served in the Air Force just shy of 25 years. I started my career as an Aero Engines Mechanic. My first posting was at Brize Norton working on VC 10s, Tri Stars & Hercules Aircraft. Then I went on to a technician’s course and became a Junior Technician, and then progressed into a leadership position as a Sergeant. I left the Air Force as a Senior Non-commissioned Officer.  

Robert Mathews
Rob in 2022 post remembrance parade in his local village. Remembrance day is very important to serving and veterans of the forces as it gives a chance to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country

What challenges did you have after leaving the Armed Forces?

My main challenge was worrying about Job Security. My manager was very supportive when I was still a contractor at Expleo and he transferred me over from contractor to permanent staff. I remember the conversation I had with him about the opportunities for secure job security and promotion.

And he said: “At Expleo, opportunities are out there for you, so go and get them”. And he was right, there are plenty of opportunities at Expleo. You just have to seize them. And every time I saw an opportunity at Expleo, I just went for it. 

I transferred a lot of my skills over to Expleo. For instance, the aircraft and engine experience, experience in fault diagnosis, and more in-depth engineering project management and of course my leadership & Management Skills 

How did Expleo help you to transition into your civilian job?

I found it quite an easy transition, as there were a lot of ex-forces colleagues within Expleo when I joined, some of which I knew already. For those that didn’t have a military background they were equally as welcoming.

How do you feel Expleo allows you to use your expertise you gained during your service?

Expleo gave me the freedom to use my transferable skills that I gained in the Air Force. My manager and colleagues had an open mindset for my ideas. I could bring those ideas into the office and illustrate how they could be implemented within a business setting They very much welcomed my ideas about improvements, and there is always an open environment for sharing ideas and previous knowledge. I also completed an Expleo Leadership Management course, which differed to the one I had in the Air Force. Combining the two gave me a much more rounded leadership and management mindset.

How do you connect with other members of the Armed Forces Community at Expleo?

I participate in careers transition workshops supporting recruiters. When Ex-Forces are looking for a new career, I attend the workshops chatting to the Armed Forces community sharing my experience and what I have learned.

What advice would you give to other members of the Armed Forces Community who are planning to join Expleo?

Expleo has many different opportunities, whether it be leadership management, various jobs in engineering, project management etc. Don’t think that you don’t have the skill set to join Expleo. It is within you; you do have those skills and Expleo can bring out these skills in people.