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A career in engineering

Engineers are at the centre of almost everything around us - cars, bridges, medicine and computers. They design, manufacture and maintain the technology and products that enable the everyday running of our lives.

Perhaps unsurprisingly then, engineering is a vast field, which can see an individual working in fields ranging from electronics to biochemistry and construction. These roles tend to be extremely technical, often relying on industry-specific computer systems, and are more often than not filled by university graduates.

The good news is, there is a high demand for graduate engineers. A number of large companies run graduate schemes, where the brightest recruits will be taken on and trained in their chosen field.

Most engineers will specialise as their career develops and some people make their choice early on, by opting to read mechanical engineering at university. This may make them more employable upon graduating as they will already have a specific skills set, which will more obviously relate to a certain type of job and employer.

Engineering graduates hoping to secure a job after finishing their degree would be well-advised to undertake at least one extended work placement. Many degree courses incorporate a year in industry into the structure of the courses.

Universities will often help students secure good placements. If you are a student and your course does not include a year in industry, try to spend your summer breaks with an engineering firm, or undertake part-time work, even if it is voluntary, to demonstrate on your CV that your academic knowledge is underpinned by sound practical experience.

Getting a job with a big company is an ambitious task. When breaking into the industry, it may be a better idea to target small engineering firms with entry-level roles. Graduates taking up positions with these firms may also find they get more attention in a smaller organisation, which could help progress.

Candidates applying for an engineering job should ensure their CV clearly communicates their achievements and allows a prospective employer to get an idea of their professional interests and needs.

Employers recruiting engineers are typically looking for a candidate with a relevant engineering degree, the appropriate technical skills and preferably some interest or knowledge in the area of engineering the job lies in.

Some employers also take on graduates from BEng and MEng degrees, although increasingly apprenticeships in engineering are being shelved in favour of taking oven-ready university graduates.

If you are looking at a specialist job opportunity it is still worth looking at job centre options when thinking about you’re a new career; you may want to search for several related vacancies in different locations before applying.