Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Dave Burrows
Live Q+A – Careers in engineering – Thursday 2 December – 12-2pm
Wednesday 1st December 2010, 9:52AM GMT.
This discussion has now finished. Read all of the advice in the comments section of this post.
“We are definitely in the business of making things – high-end manufacturing, aerospace, green technology, science-based businesses.
“We are not going to compete on the basis of cheap, low-cost, mass produced goods, but skills, science, engineering, aerospace, green-technology – the industries of the future.”
This is what David Cameron told us in an interview with the Shropshire Star and his words echo the need for skilled engineers in this country.
So if you need some advice on a career in engineering or are interested in retraining, learning new skills or how to move up the chain then leave your question for the discussion in the comments below.
Our experts will be online between 12 and 2pm on Thursday 2 December to answer all of your questions.
Our panel includes:
Rachel Eade, Head of MAS-WM Auto
With over thirteen years’ experience in automotive supply chain development, Rachel Eade is one of the most respected business support professionals in the UK.
In her role as Operations Manager of Accelerate and now as head of MAS-WM Auto, she has played a pivotal role in evolving the component support offer, which has assisted more than 5000 companies and safeguarded in excess of 65,000 jobs.
Dr Tarsem Singh Sihra, Principal Lecturer, Engineering and Technology, Wolverhampton University
Dr Tarsem Singh Sihra graduated with an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering and has vast experience in the field of mechanical and aerospace engineering.
He joined the University of Wolverhampton in the year of 2001, where he now provides expertise in the Engineering and Technology department
Louise Ebrey, GB Building Solutions
Louise has worked in the construction industry since graduating as an Civil Engineer in 1994 and has designed bridges, repaired houses with subsidence, maintained property on a large country house and worked on Heathrow Terminal 5.
She is currently the Business Improvement Manager for GB Building Solutions, where she concentrates on effective and efficient ways of working.
Jason Guy, Managing Director, First4Staff
Born in Wolverhampton, Jason started his career in recruitment in 1997 and has amassed over a decade of experience in various sectors, including industrial.
He became a founder director of First4Staff in 2001 and the company has since recieved ISO9001 and REC accreditation.
Malcolm Hindle, EEF, The Manufacturers’ OrganisationMalcolm is an apprentice-trained technical engineer who has held a number of training positions and is currently a programme leader managing a team of NVQ Monitoring Officers/Assessors.
For this, he looks after a number of learners nationally through their apprenticeship frameworks.
This discussion has now finished. Read all of the advice in the comments section of this post.
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I’m coming to end of my mechanical engineering degree and am thinking of doing a masters next year. Do you think its worth doing something like this or is it better to go straight into work? Wld appreciate your advice. Thanks.
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Steve
I didn’t do a Masters and didn’t miss it. My collegue did a Civil Engineering Masters and a Doctorate in Systems Thinking and wouldn’t change it for the world.
I think a big part of the decision is indvidual and depends on your interets and appetite for study
Louis
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I agree with Louise Steve, it really is down to the individual. As engineering is such a diverse and wide area there is no set path and it will be best to choose what suits your personally, you need to enjoy it too…its a long road!!
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Hi Steve,
If you are doing a BEng(Hons) doing an MEng would be worth as the professional bodies are pushing the bar higher when it comes to applications for chartership.
If you are thinking of an MSc or an MPhil, then perhaps you would be better off waiting a few years. You will be in more demand with real engineering experience under your belt.
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I am a recent civil engineering graduate and have been applying for jobs but never seem to get an interview. What do employers prioritise – your degree, experience or other skills? I must have applied for about 20 posts.
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Hi Sebastian, that is a good question. Each interviewer looks at things differently dependant upon the vacancy related criteria. Although most interviewers focus on your academic qualifications some can look for experience which creates a ‘chicken and egg’ syndrome. Please feel free to view our website http://www.first4staff.net and view the download area for free interview guidance, this will increase your chances of securing a position. When applying for the job initially simply ‘ask’ for the interview. Aim to get an interview from your letter, a second interview from the first interview, and the job from the second interview. Good luck!
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What would help with your application to employers; have you through your degree course been able to take a year out in industry? So that this will indicate to the employers that you are being proactive with developing your engineering skills and knowledge. Also, indicate any engineering work experience you may have taken prior to your current studies i.e. work experience during school/college years?
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Hi Malcolm, it would certainly stand you in good stead if you were equipped with experience and a strong academic background. It is unfortunately a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario, how do you get experience if people wont give it to you?? .. A year out is certainly a good option and will demonstrate to the employer that you were willing to gain ‘hands-on’ experience too. There is always the voluntary option, but dont sell yourself too short for too long! Good luck!
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Hi Malcolm,
If you can get work experince for a year this will definitely help you when you graduate and thereafter are looking for a job.
Are you a graduate meember of the IMechE or IET?. They tend to have a good range of placements advertised, ones that give you really meaningful experience where you end up using bits of your degree to solve problems.
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Sebastian
My experience when applying for Civil Engineering jobs 16 years ago was similar to yours. My advice would be to get someone to review your CV who looks at CVs all the time – this could be someone from a careers service or someone you know who takes on staff. It’s easy to hide the points you want to make in amongst the detail – so clear, concise and bullet pointed. If people have a lot of CVs they only take a few minutes looking at them – make sure they can see what makes you stand out.
If you can get some work experience, that also helps make you stand out. If the jobs you have done aren’t in engineering – work out what makes that relevant and point it out.
Louise
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Thanks for all the answers. I didn’t expect such a detailed set of responses.
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I am considering a civil engineering degree, but given the downturn in the construction industry, and the apparent difficulty in finding a job as a graduate, wonder if I might be better off considering a more general engineering degree or perhaps trying to get on the ground floor as a trainee and then not have a massive student loan. What are your thoughts?
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Hi Paul, it will just be a matter of time before the construction industry turns around so dont give up all hope just yet! It is wise to consider a trainee position with the market the way it is but it may take you longer to climb the ladder, bear this in mind.
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Paul
Jason is right, the construction industry is cyclical and tends to have booms and downturns, by the time you graduate we will hopefully have picked up again.
You could look at getting work experience now, through placements, sponsorship etc. Some degrees do 6 months in University, 6 months working or year out placements. Doing this will make you much more employable – you will be a known quantity for the people you have worked for and they will know what you can do. In addition other companies will be able to see you have worked and get references which will make you stand out from the crowd.
The last option is to get a job and do your degree on day release. I’m not sure how many Civils degrees there are that do this, but if you know it’s construction that interests you there are other options such as Project Management and Quantity Surveying which definitely do. As Jason says, this will take much longer
Louise
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Welcome to this live Q+A on careers in engineering. Our panel of experts are now online and waiting to answer your questions.
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Can I ask the panel what advice they would give to engineering students to make themselves as employable as possible?
Is it easy to get work experience and how useful would that be for their future job applications/interviews?
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Work experience is vital Todd, and the point I touched upon earlier was the voluntary option. Although nobody wants to sell themselves short, if you were to work voluntary for a short period within a progressive company it would stand you out from the crowd in firstly gaining an opportunity and also demonstrate that you are willing to give your all to gain what could be invaluable experience.
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Louise
Work experience isn’t that easy to find and perseverance is certainly required. Make use of the contacts you, your family and friends have – they may know someone who can help.
Louise
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Todd
All employers look for enthausim and a willingness to learn. Being able to demonstrate team work and flexibility with project/placement expereince always helps.
It is always useful to practise interview questions and have prepared practical examples of work you have undertaken to give the interviewer topics to discuss with you.
Rachel
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If you haven’t got obviously relevant work experience, it can be worth looking at the other things you have done and drawing out skills from that.
One graduate I recurited had been organising a local play for several years. she could demonstrate planning, organising, communictaion, dealing with difficult people and dealing with a crisis.
It can also be worth working with someone who knows you well to help draw out your skills and abilities – most of us are sjy at singing our own praises, but if we don’t do it noone else at the interview will
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What do you guys know about pulse engine technology? the military are currently using it.
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Darren
Thank you for your question. I have been hoping that someone else would answer it as I’m not that kind of engineer.
Louise
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Hi Darren, although my skills do not encompass that area neither did you know that to date, no practical PDE has ever been put into production?!? .. It is obviously a field that can certainly be developed, is that a sector you are currently looking to get involved in?
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Some of the uni’s I’ve been looking at have an extra year in that you do a work placement on. Do you think this is a good idea?
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In the current employement market, it’s an excellent idea as you get real experience which makes you more employable.
If the company you do the work experience with is employing graduates they are likely to consider you as they know your skills and abilities.
it also gives you chance to try one or more differnt types of engineering job and decide whether you like them or not. this will help you decide what sort of ob to apply for when you graduate
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Robbie, its a great idea. It gives the future employer the peace of mind that not only have you got the academic knowledge behind you but you are also equipped with hands-on, practical experience enabling you to be more of an ‘all rounder’ as opposed to a walking certificate. Universities should do this for all students in all dsciplines. It will stand you in a stronger position when you enter the working marketplace and the job search begins. Good question!
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Hi Robbie,
I am a bit biased on this one for two reasons.
1. I promote our Industrial placements module here at the university. The students end up in really good companies with good projects to work on. I see returning students more developed and more committed to their studies which is great. Some students are asked if they would like to work for the company after they have graduated – what else could you want after your studies.
2. I did an industrial placement as part of my degree and have never looked back since. It was my foot in to professional engineering and promoting what I could do for a company at interviews just became easier after that.
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Would any graduates considering using a Recruitment Agency to find them suitable employment? …if not, why not? I will dispell all myths!
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I have used recruitment agencies in the past, but all but one jobs I have found had have been through contacts.
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It is always useful when you can recruit through contacts as they often come with ‘recommendation’. We currently recruit for 2 large Engineering manufacturers within the West Midlands so our experienced consultants are fully versed with the expectations and demands that these positions require. Please keep us in mind for any future recruitment as we have 1000s of CVs available of people within all skill disciplines. Now, with the economy as it is is the best time to recruit ever!
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The benefit I have had from recruitment consultants when looking for work has been that they know what the employer is looking for and can help focus a Cv which would be pages long if I included everything
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Something that I’ve been reading about today is the lack of women in engineering. Apparently, only one in ten engineering graduates is female.
So do we have enough women in engineering and, if not, what can we do to encourage more women to take it up as a career choice?
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In todays world of equal opportunity and political correctness, I am amazed that only 1 in 10 graduates are female when we having women refereeing and running the line at a professional football match! This is the 21st century, Engineering will suffer if this trend continues, this needs to be recognised as a great opportunity for all and not an industry dominated by one sex.
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I think part of the problem is that women are not encouraged when in school. I decided I was going to do an engineering degree when I was 15 and spent most of the following years having people tell me that I really wanted to be a ….. (fill in the blank with whatever job they considered more suitable)
There are programmes for Women in Construction and Women in Engineering which offer training and networking, but if we don’t get people in the door, these will only go so far
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For women considering the industry, it’s worth saying that it’s certainly changed in the 16 years I’ve been working in it.
When I started, people did treat me differntly and there were girly calendars on the walls – no more.
You will need to be able to stand up for yourself and fight your corner, but that’s true for the lads too – many of whom don’t want a macho culture either.
I love it and would recommend it to anyone
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I’d be interested to know what the young women of today need to know to encourage them into engineering and what those of us who have been here for a while can do to help?
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Don’t forget to check out the discussion running concurrently to this one at expressandstar.com.
We’re talking about greener technologies and the need for foundry courses over there. Take a look!
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It is now 2pm and this discussion has now finished
A massive thank you to our panel of experts for agreeing to take part and sharing their advice today. We hope that you enjoyed it and found it useful.
Take a look at Shropshire Star careers for more careers advice and keep an eye out for future live Q+As.
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Great to be involved, some very good questions and great responses from the experts on the panel. Thoroughly enjoyable!
Jason
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Great idea, Shropshire Star.
It’s great to see a SS forum being used with such a constructive outcome in mind.
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Thanks Huw,
You can see previous ones that we’ve done here and keep an eye out for future ones – we intend to keep doing them for different areas.
http://www.shropshirestar.com/money/careers/live-q-a/
Hopefully they are proving useful to people!
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