Catherine Teague, senior executive for careers, at the Engineering and Technology Board
University isn't the only route into engineering: You can find out more about different types of engineering at Enginuity. Also look directly to the relevant engineering institutions, listed on this site. It also has information about apprenticeships — university not being the only route to engineering. Work experience is very important and the more you can get the better to differentiate yourself. Things are very competitive in the current climate so if you can demonstrate commitment that can only benefit you for university and beyond.
The methods you use for research are valuable for both academic posts and industry: You need to play up these strengths when you are applying for jobs so that employers can see how they are of benefit. As a general rule if you are thinking about doing a masters then employers will recognise the importance and value of this. But even more so if it is in the field that you plan to work.
Antonio Espingardeiro, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) member and MSc in Robotics and Automation graduate, currently conducting independent research on robotics management
Being prepared to relocate will enhance your employability: Produce a good CV then register yourself in a high number of recruitment agencies and apply directly via company websites. Another step is being prepared to hear no from any employers (don't stress; you are fine, the market is usually the problem). Try to locate key companies where you would like to work and be prepared for relocate, if necessary, it will enhance your employability.
Be an expert in your area of engineering: Whatever your engineering background is, you should be aware of the state-of-the-art applications and processes used in a particular sector. What are the best companies? What are they doing in your area and do how they do it? Make sure you do online research about your future employer, impress them by talking about successful projects they did in the past and make suggestions for the future — you have nothing to lose.
Completing an engineering PhD doesn't mean academia is your only option: There are many opportunities for researchers in companies where the real implementation takes place. However this depends on your aspirations, whether you want to become a professor in the university or to become a researcher in industry. I think PhDs are important in many areas of science and engineering, as we are in a market where specific knowledge is more and more valuable.
Claire Machin, senior engineer, BAE Systems at Submarine Solutions
Talk to as many engineers as you can about working in the industry: Talk to as many people as possible and if there is an engineering recruitment fair near by go to it. Go dressed to impress with copies of your CV, talk to companies, find out what they do and what they are looking for. It's a great way to get information on what is out there and for them to see you and talk to you.
A degree is one of many routes into engineering: There are many different routes into engineering and getting a degree is only one of them. There are other options, one of them is an apprenticeship which allows you to build up a set of hands-on skills, get an academic qualification and get paid. I work with a number of people who started out as apprentices in various disciplines and have worked their way through. It gives a wealth of experience and knowledge which you may not get if you do a straight academic route. My route was via a HND which had a more practical element and then I went on to a degree and I'm now looking at doing a masters part time (company sponsored). As a business we recruit on ability not a specific university or school, we are usually at recruitment events or there are details on the website about careers advice and if you are a graduate have a look at the graduate web page.
Sarah Beacock, professional affairs director at the Energy Institute
There are plenty of opportunities for young people to try out engineering: Work experience is certainly very valuable but quite difficult to get in engineering as a school student. The Smallpeice Trust courses are very good in that they give a taster of different engineering disciplines and it's worth doing some jobs research (for salaries, for example) and possibly viewing some of the websites of the 36 engineering institutions to see the sorts of jobs their members do. Another very good scheme which takes school leavers and university undergraduates is Year in Industry.
Engineering employers value flexibility: Make yourself as multi-skilled and broadly-educated as you possibly can. Employers tell us that they value flexibility in employees, so the more adaptable you make yourself — with practical experience in different operational areas and supplementing your educational qualifications with further learning and experience throughout your professional development, for example — the better your chances of career progression.
Many employers will take skilled and highly-qualified graduates from other disciplines and offer retraining: Mechanical engineers are always valued in most fields of industry and it should be possible to move into other fields or retrain where necessary. When looking at other sectors or particular vacancies it is worth identifying the transferable skills that you have from your engineering degree. Many employers will take skilled and highly-qualified graduates from other disciplines and offer retraining. Most industries that employ engineers are still experiencing shortages of skilled staff, even in popular areas like energy, so it is worth scanning the job ads for the sectors that are more buoyant and seeing how your qualification matches up to the skills required for them.
Jonathan Lee, chairman of Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a specialist engineering recruitment company
Many major engineering companies continue to invest in graduate and post graduate training, despite making redundancies: I believe the best route for anyone who wishes to proceed to post-graduate education is to gain work experience in between. Ideally the work will capitalise on the knowledge gained from the first degree but lead to a specialisation that can be focussed on with the masters degree. The perfect scenario is finding an employer that will consider sponsoring your masters (may need to prove yourself for a year or two first). Obviously this is a big ask in the current climate but most of the major companies I know have been keen to continue investing in graduate and post graduate training even though they have been making redundancies elsewhere.
Don't drop out — employers like to see courses successfully completed: You should complete your MSc. Employers like to see courses successfully completed and in the last few months the job market has become particularly competitive with fewer jobs and far more applicants. This scenario is not going to improve before you are able to complete your MSc but it may improve shortly afterwards. Being able to differentiate yourself from other candidates is always a good thing and an MSc will help.
Project planning skills are valued by engineering employers: What most employers will be looking for to compliment this capability are qualities such as interpersonal and communication skills, teamworking, project planning and ability to work to tight timescales and to influence others.
Heather Hawthorne, project director, HE STEM Programme (engineering) within the Education Team at the Royal Academy of Engineering
I was the only girl in my class but now have a great job in engineering education: When I was at school my passion was for making things. I almost did a college course in manufacturing engineering (I was put off by the engineering lecturer who said I ws likely to be the only girl) however I went to sixth form to do A Levels in graphics, biology and design andtechnology (and was the only girl in my design class). I went to uni and got my degree in industrial product design and then went into teaching and now have a great job in engineering education.
Graduates often qualify for free membership to their professional bodies: You may already know of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering. If you don't know of it, I would suggest you become a member, they have a very good affiliate membership which is free for undergraduate engineers and associate membership (free for the first year) for graduates with a mechanical engineering degree. This may give you the insight into mechanical engineering in the UK you are looking for.
