Miss our live Q+A on a career in engineering? Catch up with the best of the advice to your questions from our expert panel.

Five industry experts from the engineering and recruitment sectors took part in a two-hour session answering all of your questions. Here’s what they had to say:

Masters or no masters?

Louise Ebrey, GB Building Solutions: “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 individual and depends on your interests and appetite for study.”

Dr Tarsem Singh Sihra, Principal Lecturer, Engineering and Technology, Wolverhampton University, added: “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.”

How to get an interview

Sebastian asked the panel:

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.

Jason Guy, Managing Director, First4Staff, said: “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.”

Malcolm Hindle of EEF added: “Indicate any engineering work experience you may have taken prior to your current studies i.e. work experience during school/college years”

Dr Tarsem Singh Sihra suggested this: “Are you a graduate member 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.”

Construction: Apprenticeship or degree?

In response to a question about whether it would be better to do a degree or start as a trainee in construction, given the recent downturn, Jason Guy answered:

“It will just be a matter of time before the construction industry turns around so don’t 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”

Louise Ebrey added: “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.”

Work experience

Is work experience necessary? Rachel Eade, of MAS-WM Auto, said: “All employers look for enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Being able to demonstrate team work and flexibility with project/placement experience always helps.”

Louise Ebrey said: “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.”

Women in engineering

Jason Guy: “In today’s world of equal opportunity and political correctness, I am amazed that only 1 in 10 graduates are female. This is the 21st century, Engineering will suffer if this trend continues.”

Louise Ebrey: “I think part of the problem is that women are not encouraged when in school.

“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.”

• Read the full discussion and all the answers here
• Search for engineering jobs on our Home of Jobs site