A local college student is benefiting from first-hand work experience with local engineers and project managers.

"Recently we have had a local Tauranga Boys College student, Alex Padfield, come and undertake some work experience on the Cameron Road construction project," says a Tauranga City Council spokesperson.

"Alex was considering undertaking a civil engineering degree when he leaves school at the end of the year and wanted to get an inside look on what the job is all about."

Ales spent time with the project manager and site engineers on Cameron Road to understand the challenges and tasks, and was put to work on some of the tools to get some first-hand experience.

'Before I came into this work placement I wasn't too sure if engineering was the thing I wanted to do, as I had always said to myself I want to be a civil engineer without actually knowing what the job is like in day to day life," says Alex.

"After doing those few days it has given me an idea of what the job is actually like and has helped me decide this is what I want to study next year and go down the contracting route so I have a good mix of working at desk and outdoors."

Alex says that the Cameron Road project was interesting in seeing why it's taking so long with the construction around his college.

"I can actually see the amount of work that goes into that. That means I am no longer as frustrated with the sheer amount of road works around the city now as I see the challenges you guys have come across on the way," says Alex.

"I found it interesting talking to the STMS [Site Traffic Management] then doing the site traffic management walk through with Tauranga City Council.

"I was also with the site engineer for a few days who gave me some good advice on what the job is really like and what hall to apply to at university," says Alex.

Construction, infrastructure and engineering are fantastic career pathways, says a Tauranga City Council spokesperson.

"Contractors work closely with local schools and iwi to encourage young people into the industry, share the opportunities available, and offer graduate and cadetship placements for rangitahi to enter the industry."

Alex is now applying for a Fulton Hogan scholarship, to assist in funding his civil engineering studies.