• Question: have you ever made any hard decisions that u now think on and think you could have improved your methods?

    Asked by whop536carr94 to Spencer C, megandonald, James W, Hannah G, Alex T, Alan J on 3 Dec 2025.
    • Photo: Hannah Gow

      Hannah Gow answered on 3 Dec 2025:

      This is such a great question! but the answer is yes. Along any career there are always hard decisions and as you grow and become more confident and experienced, you realise that you could have done things differently. I think it is important to know that we are not all perfect and reflection is key. During geological modelling, I made decisions on what geology to map under the ground, even though it could not be seen! This was based on evidence, such as landforms and boreholes but now I may have done something different as we have much more data and evidence.

    • Photo: Alan Jones

      Alan Jones answered on 9 Dec 2025:

      I have to be very careful in the decisions I make as I always have to justify why I made those decisions or the methods I took to solve a problem. I have to follow operational instructions written by my organisation. If I take a polluter to Court I may be cross examined by lawyers who will try and pick holes in why I made certain decisions so I also have to have to make the right decision at the time and stand by it.

    • Photo: James Ward

      James Ward answered on 10 Dec 2025:

      The key thing is to make the decision in the first place. And by doing that you weigh up the available information for that moment. Reflecting will always bring up alternatives but stay confident and make an informed decision.

Comments

  • Photo: Paul P

    Paul P commented on :

    Love this question! Yes, I faced a really tough decision once. I was made redundant in my 30s when the company I worked for had to close down. At that point, I didn’t have many qualifications (two c’s in gcse) or formal skills, so I was worried about finding another job I would enjoy. On top of that, I had a young child and a mortgage to pay, and I wasn’t earning any money.

    That’s when I decided it was now or never: I would train in something I truly love and turn it into a career. I’ve always loved the outdoors, wildlife, and science, so I applied to university, even though I had few formal qualifications. Luckily, they accepted me as a mature student because my personal and life experiences counted in my favour.

    I went to university later in life with no idea what to expect. I graduated, and now I have a degree, a master’s, and a PhD in environmental science. If I could change anything, it would be to believe in myself more and to ask for opportunities, you never know what’s possible!