Engineering is rapidly becoming one of the most popular career paths available to young people in the UK as of 2018. With multiple benefits in terms of salary, transferable skills, variety of opportunities and the overall need for qualified engineers in 2019, the industry itself is becoming increasingly competitive. Young engineers are required to learn more, adapt faster and have a much broader knowledge base to be successful in their field, with more skills than ever in demand from high profile companies.
So what exactly do you need to get a job in engineering?
A wide variety of hands-on experience
Engineering as a role comes in many different forms, from vehicle maintenance to structural design. This means that as a potential candidate, you will need to understand as many different types of engineering as possible – or at least have a detailed awareness of their requirements – to find the right role for you. You will need to be able to get your hands dirty, interact with clients and business owners, deliver to deadlines and understand the aesthetic qualities of high-quality engineering to impress your potential bosses. Over 40% of employers believe that engineering students lack the practical experience to succeed in their field, so it’s crucial that you gain as much hands-on practice as you can.
Good quality training
Where you trained and how you learnt your engineering skills could be the deciding factor when it comes to interviewing for the job you want. Companies and industries are looking for reputable training courses, with a high turnover of successful and skilled graduates, so make sure you choose your path wisely during your training period. Big name academies, specialised training schools and colleges are likely to provide you with a detailed and practical experience of engineering that can seriously impress a recruiter. They can also help you to describe in detail some of the skills you gained there, the techniques and modules you excelled in and the benefits you found from studying there – illustrating your learning ability and enthusiasm for engineering.
Excellent relationships and references
Whilst engineering is not typically considered a high profile client-facing role, there are certain requirements of the profession that require good relationship management and interacting with your peers. Being able to cite teachers with a great reputation in their field, deliver glowing references and describing the lessons you learned from an independent one-on-one tutor is bound to help you make a great impression on your interviewer. It can also help you to mention some of the engineers who inspired you throughout your training, whether it be through their attention to detail, innovative thinking or professionalism in a tough situation – demonstrating not only humility but respect for colleagues as well.
An organic demonstration of technical knowledge
Most companies and industries will prefer their candidates to feel comfortable and confident in their own abilities when it comes to talking shop. It’s important to understand your trade and the requirements expected of you, but also to deliver a demonstration of it organically and authentically. Candidates who repeat their latest textbook or lecture slide word for word can appear under confident and overly rehearsed, giving the impression that they only learnt their skills in time for the interview. Being able to have a natural and thoughtful conversation about your chosen field of engineering will benefit you greatly when it comes to impressing interviews, particularly if you can drop in a few references to skills you picked up during training.
Beginning a career in engineering can be an exciting and life-changing journey, and where you trained can have a serious impact on your future career path. So why not choose a certified, independent and experienced academy like CEATA, and do some good for your future.
