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Engineering & Technology

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2 Introduction

Publication team

Editor Anna Kirkham

Design Ascend Creative Ltd Bandbox Design

Photography Simon Allen Phil Clarke-Hill Chris O’Donovan

Acknowledgments

Inside Careers would like to thank all the companies, authors and anyone who has contributed to the magazine in any way.

Special thanks go to the following institutes:

BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT

Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers

Energy Institute

Engineering Council UK

Institution of Chemical Engineers

Institution of Civil Engineers

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Institution of Structural Engineers

Copyright in individual articles © 2011 the authors, who have asserted their right to be identified as the author under s.7 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The compilation © 2011 Cambridge Market Intelligence Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright owner. While every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, no responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication can be accepted by the publisher or authors.

Publisher

Cambridge Market Intelligence LtdThe Quadrangle49 Atalanta StreetLondon SW6 6TU

020 7565 7900

[email protected]


Inside Careers is an associate member of the Association of Graduate Recruiters

contributors

AECOM

AkzoNobel

Engineering Council

Engineering Council

Eurostar

Dstl

GlaxoSmithKline

Imagination Technologies

Mott MacDonald

National Grid

NHS

Red Gate Software Ltd

RPS Group

TfL

The Write Stuff

Nathaniel

Buckingham

Sarah Rivers

Jon Prichard

Richard Shearman

Louise Bell

David Shirley

Mohammed

Robert

Tom Cardy

Susan McDonald

Radhika

Robin Anderson

Wendy Tipper

Maryam Shakiba

Peter Panayotou

8

38

3 & 54

52

45

16

26

31

10

23

25

32

7

46

56

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Introduction 3

IntroductionIf you are commencing a career in engineering then, whichever discipline that you have chosen, you have made an excellent choice. Even within your discipline, the breadth of opportunity that will be open to you is truly exceptional, and the satisfaction that can be gained from making a positive contribution to society over a career lifetime should not be taken for granted. Those entering many other professions will not have the same opportunity to affect the lives of others on anywhere near like the same scale that you can as an engineer.

You will find yourself working in an exciting profession, which can be credited with being responsible for shaping the world around us. That’s because engineers use their knowledge and skills to solve problems and make things work and this extends to almost any walk of life. Virtually anything you can think of will have been designed or produced by engineers – from your mobile phone, make-up or games console to buildings, bridges or barrages.

The engineering profession today is also key to tackling many of the global challenges we face, such as climate change or the need to become a low carbon economy through better use of resources and energy. It plays a part in the health of mankind, such as ensuring a good supply of clean water is available to those living in underdeveloped countries. Engineers will play a central role in revitalising our manufacturing base in the UK, and are at the forefront of developing new medical solutions and new communications technologies. These are just a few examples of how engineers really do make a difference to the world we live in.

From my own point of view, I have not only found my engineering career to be exciting, but also incredibly rewarding. What else can be as rewarding as working on a complex project to solve a real problem for society? Every time that I drive to see my parents in Wales, I pass the first structure that I built. A river retaining wall made from reinforced earth that is designed to last over 120 years and will protect the residents of Swansea from flooding throughout its life.

You have probably already achieved, or are on your way to completing, your degree. If so, congratulations. However, to become a competent engineer there are now certain skills you will need to develop further, which amongst others includes

problem-solving. As a graduate, I was once tasked with developing a solution that would prevent the pollutants found on airport runways in winter from getting in to the surrounding water courses.

If I hadn’t developed the right solution, then in addition to my employer receiving a multi-million pound fine, we would have done lasting damage to the local ecology.

If you haven’t already decided which discipline of engineering is likely to be of most interest to you, this magazine should help you to gain more in-depth knowledge about some of the options available. There are also 36 professional engineering institutions that between them cover every sector of the profession and also offer a huge amount of support and information, not to mention invaluable networking opportunities.

Whichever path you choose to take, if you’re serious about a career in engineering, aspiring to become professionally qualified as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) should feature highly on your agenda and will mark an important milestone in your career development.

My advice for anyone entering the profession today is make sure you keep a record of what you learn at work each week. Then every three or four months, check that what you are learning is either contributing to your career development or personal goals. If it isn’t, then do something about it.

If you do carve a career for yourself in the profession I’m sure you won’t regret it. As an engineer of the future so long as you manage your career, then you will have some exciting opportunities and challenging projects ahead of you, and I wish you all the very best for the future.

Jon PrichardChartered Engineer Jon Prichard joined the Engineering Council as CEO in 2010. He was previously Director of Resources at High-Point Rendel and Executive Director at the Institution of Civil Engineers. Prior to that, Jon was a commissioned officer in the Royal Engineers for 19 years.



on Focus

5

built Environment 6

Defence 14

Energy & utilities 18

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals 24

it 28

Manufacturing 36

transport 42



The staging of the London Olympic Games is a typical example of how the need is generated for stadia, accommodation, transport and other facilities.

Many projects start with consultancy firms. Architects develop designs and builders have the task of interpreting these into reality. Structural and civil engineers design buildings, bridges and other structures that can cope with the demands of the pressures they will face.

Civil engineers work on everything from airports to oil terminals, including motorways and buildings. Employed by one of the largest engineering consultancies you could work internationally and be just as likely to be providing a transport system in the Far East as in the UK.

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6 Built Environment

Built Environment




Built Environment 7

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Shaping the world around you

Civil engineersGraduates in this field will design, build and maintain major infrastructure projects. Closely aligned with town planning, civil engineers are involved in all stages of a project, from feasibility studies, through construction, all the way to completion. Major civil engineering projects in the news at the moment include the Olympic Games sites in Stratford, and the London Crossrail project.

What to expect...“Civil engineers can either be in the office, working on designs at a computer or ensuring the client is kept up to date, or on site, leading teams and solving problems.”Tom Foulkes, Director General, Institution of Civil Engineers.

Structural engineersStructural engineers also have a huge role to play in the built environment. Their main function is to assess the safety of a project, making sure everything is structurally sound. They will work

with architects in the initial design stages of a project, so the scope for creativity is huge. They must ensure foundation structures are properly calculated and that the floors, stairs and ceilings do not collapse. Projects could include a new pedestrian bridge, a high-rise apartment building or a new theatre. Work on the renovation of older structures can also be involved.

ArchitectsArchitecture is still a relatively small profession, so opportunities to work on diverse projects are readily available. An architect makes the initial plans for a project and works with civil and structural engineers to ensure these designs are achievable. One of the main challenges of the role is balancing aesthetic considerations with safety, sustainability and cost issues. For instance, you may create an incredibly beautiful building, but it may cost a fortune to light and heat or have hazardous glass staircases that could cause accidents.

SurveyingA general surveyor will plan renovation, repair and maintenance work and a quantity surveyor will monitor costs and check amounts of materials needed etc. They are a hugely important part of the construction and renovation process.

Building Services Engineers Imagine yourself in the most fabulous building in the world. Now take away the lighting, heating and ventilation, the lifts and escalators, acoustics, plumbing, power supply and energy management systems, the security and safety systems...and you are left with a cold, dark, uninhabitable shell.

Everything inside a building which makes it safe and comfortable to be in comes under the title of ‘building services’. A building must do what it was designed to do – not just provide shelter but also be an environment where people can live, work and achieve.

Lighting Engineering graduates sometimes decide to join the light and lighting industry – helping to promote the benefits of good lighting through work as consultants, designers, installers, lighting entertainment specialists and more.

name: Wendy Tippertitle: Civil Engineercompany: RPS Group

“Working as a civil engineer you may find yourself working for a firm of consulting engineers, who tend to get involved at the early design stage, or for a contracting engineer in the construction phase.

“Civil engineering appealed to me, as the nature of the work is very creative and you can play a major role in providing a better quality of life for the public. I studied maths, physics and chemistry A levels. Maths is an important subject for all engineers as we use it to help us solve problems. Other A levels that may be useful are languages, especially if you want to travel, or art, as being able to draw is a very useful skill.”

“A general surveyor will plan renovation, repair and maintenance work and a quantity surveyor will monitor costs and check amounts of materials needed.”


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8 Built Environment

What to expect...“As a lighting designer, no two days are the same. One day you might be designing a school, the next performing a site trial on one of the country’s landmark buildings. It’s an exhilarating job!”Liz Peck, Director LPA Lighting, Secretary, Society of Light & Lighting

Façade engineeringFaçade engineering is the ‘art of resolving aesthetic, environmental and structural issues to achieve the enclosure of habitable space’. For buildings to achieve a high energy efficiency and create a comfortable environment for occupants, there must be appropriate dialogue between architects, façade engineers, building services engineers, structural engineers and contractors.

What to expect...“The design of the building envelope impacts on building performance and architectural expression. Façade engineering is an exciting new discipline, which is increasingly important as façade technology develops in response to the need for architectural solutions for a sustainable future.”Dr Mikkel Kragh, Associate, Arup, Chairman, Society of Façade Engineering

Public health engineers Public health engineering affects us all. Clean drinking water supplies and adequate

sanitary/drainage provisions are of the highest importance in terms of human health and wellbeing. Many challenges lie ahead in meeting and maintaining good public health engineering design standards within the built environment. Are you prepared to become involved in the challenge that lies ahead?

What to expect…“As a key member of the building services engineering design team you will be challenged on a daily basis to provide both water efficient designs along with effective drainage systems to meet with current legislation requirements. During your career progression you will use both technical and practical knowledge-based engineering solutions in order to provide the highest levels of public health engineering design for all projects.”Chris Northey, Honorary Secretary, Society of Public Health Engineers

Facilities Management Effective facilities management, combining resources and activities, is vital to the success of any organisation. At a corporate level, it contributes to the delivery of strategic and operational objectives. On a day to day level, effective facilities management provides a safe and efficient working environment, which is essential to the performance of any business – whatever its size and scope. See www.bifm.org.uk for more details.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) is the major source of industry agreed good practice guidance on building services engineering. CIBSE promotes the career of building services engineers by accrediting courses of study, by approving work based training programmes and providing routes to full professional registration and membership. Once qualified, CIBSE offers support through a range of services all focused on maintaining and enhancing professional excellence. CIBSE publishes building services guides together with technical publications on all aspects of building services engineering. The Institution is one of the best known organisations in the building services sector and with around 20,000 members in the UK and overseas, CIBSE has a wide influence with engineers working in building services. Membership benefits include:• Free subscription to the monthly CIBSE Journal.• Substantial discounts from CIBSE publications.• Valuable discounts on CIBSE events, conferences and training• Access to the CIBSE regional network, special interest groups and ‘members only’ area of the CIBSE website competent.

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Name: Nathanial BuckinghamTitle: Senior EngineerCompany: AECOM

“Every day needs to be flexible because, especially when a project is on site, questions and challenges can crop up at anytime often needing immediate solutions. Time management is therefore very important to balance the competing demands on your time and still get everything done at the end of the day.

“A day will often contain some form of meeting, perhaps with the client, design team or contractors. Buildings are so complex that close coordination is essential and usually the only way of achieving this is through face to face discussions with other people, to talk through challenges and agree solutions. Outside of meetings, you are also continuously on the phone to other members of the team, clarifying design items or talking through issues.

“Some days end with important documents needing to be issued, such as a specialist report, specification or a package of drawings for an element of work. Those days tend to be very hectic as it is the culmination of lots of work and pulling everything together in a couple of drawings or one report is never an easy task. It is always a good feeling getting physical packages of work out the door and finishing off something that has probably been worked on for weeks or months before hand and taken lots of time, meetings and phone calls to conclude.”


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www.cibse.org



Built Environment 9

What to expect…‘Building Services provides a great opportunity for designing and managing buildings. Services are at the forefront of facilities management especially with the future challenges of energy, sustainability and ongoing life cycle cost associated with buildings moving forward. There has never been a better time to get involved.’Geoff Prudence, Chairman, CIBSE Facilities Management Group

Energy Assessors Engineering professionals can be trained and accredited to become Energy Assessors – carrying out and producing Energy Performance Certificates, Display Energy Certificates and Air Conditioning Inspections as required under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

What to expect…Experience is vital so this can be a long–term career aim for graduates, but is a great addition to the skillset of a building services engineer and adds the potential for increased earnings and a wider client base.

The Institution of Structural Engineers is the world’s leading international membership organisation for professional structural engineers. The Institution sets high standards, defines quality and promotes high levels of structural engineering design internationally.There are many different ways that your career can benefit from becoming a member. Employers worldwide value membership as it confirms a high level of competence. Membership is often recognised by employers through promotion, salary increase or extra responsibility. It also means you are well positioned to work in many countries. A professional body provides support, networking and access to the training which will take you through your career. Services and products provided• Fortnightly magazine, The Structural Engineer• Electronic newsletter• Technical publications • The library • Technical meetings• Networking opportunities • Training courses • Awards and prizes.

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10 Built Environment




building for the future >>

Built Environment 11

“Architects want to make outlandish award winning fancy buildings, and building services engineers are in the background making their ambitions come true.”

This is how I started to explain my job to friends and family, but that’s not entirely true, there is a bit more to it than that. Due to the increase in environmental awareness, there is a big drive in creating greener buildings. Therefore large scale developments can only be successful if clients, architects and project managers work closely with the engineers, understanding what each other requires during the design period and share the same ambition for the finished result.

The building services team at Mott MacDonald consists of electrical and mechanical engineers. We work as engineering consultants, using our shared experience and knowledge to advise clients and architects on the best solution to make sure their development is efficient, economic and comfortable for the occupier. Mechanical engineers cover a broad spectrum of services, from heating and ventilation to water supply and drainage. My main interest is the use of low to zero carbon technologies and ensuring that developments meet various energy standards beyond what’s mandatory in the Building Regulations such as BREEAM or the Code for Sustainable Homes.

What do Mott MacDonald do? Mott MacDonald is a global management, engineering and development consultancy, although I only understand a handful of the disciplines that our engineers and other multiskilled staff cover. This diversity really attracted me to Mott MacDonald, as I found that my degree gave me a broad understanding and if I want to pursue a different aspect of engineering, this is a good place to understand your options.

How did you get your job at Mott MacDonald? Like a typical student, I decided that graduating after years of hard work

is best celebrated by spending time traveling and forgetting all that I learnt. A few of my friends had started work with engineering consultants, some in building services. I was impressed by the variety of work that they were faced with everyday and the scale of the projects they were involved with. Friends who worked for Mott MacDonald encouraged me to apply. What do you enjoy most about your job? I enjoy working out of the office on site and with design teams, providing variety in my work. In a day I could be number crunching with various engineering calculations, problem solving when faced with an issue on a project, creating computer models of buildings or CAD drawings, or writing a report advising a client or architect about our proposals.

What are the most stressful parts of the job? The importance and quality of my report writing has increased dramatically since leaving university. We are being paid to make conclusions about designs and research, therefore these have to be accurate as developments often have multimillion pound budgets. Good time management skills are also vital to keep on top of all these projects.

What would you like to achieve in the future? Chartership is the next big step for majority of engineers, which takes at least three years. Mott MacDonald offers help on finding the engineering association best suited to your discipline and the best course of learning to take (CIBSE is the renowned association for building services). I will continue to strive to gain knowledge

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By using his Mechanical Systems Engineering degree Tom Cardy is helping the UK to achieve higher environmental standards in new developments. He discusses some of his projects and what it’s like to work at Mott MacDonald.

“I found the interview with Mott MacDonald was almost relaxed, rather than picking holes in my CV and testing knowledge it was more important for them to learn about me and my desire and inform me exactly what the building services and my job role entails.”

Chester Balmore residential and retail development


www.mottmac.com



12 Built Environment

from my colleagues and talk with representatives from various companies that we deal with. I enjoy traveling to various countries, learning about different cultures and stunning environments, so the possibility in the future of working abroad with Mott MacDonald is very appealing.

What was the interview process like? I found the interview with Mott MacDonald in Cambridge was almost relaxed, rather than picking holes in my CV and testing knowledge it was more important for them to learn about me and my desire and inform me exactly what building services and the role entailed.

Any advice for the interview process? Learn about what the company does currently, including a brief overview on all the different areas of consultancy, no need to go into the many years of history. Knowledge of the particular job and division you are being interviewed for goes without saying, but it is very important that you demonstrate a personal interest in the aspects concerning the job.

What ‘soft skills’ have you found useful? Communication skills are very important, from talking to sales reps chasing an order to talking to architects. I feel that through university and previous employment I have learnt how to communicate professionally and carefully choose my language when talking to people with varying levels of knowledge on the topic. Also through my education I have developed strong skills with Microsoft Excel, which have been very useful for engineering calculations and analysis of results.

Projects

Despite the fact that I have only been working for Mott MacDonald for under six months, I have been involved in a number of interesting and fairly big projects. To give you an idea of the variety of projects that Mott MacDonald covers, here are some examples.

Chester Balmore residential and retail development

This is a very interesting project in London where a new build of residential flats are being designed to meet the German high efficiency standard of PassivHaus. I assisted with the ventilation layouts for the flats which are each heated by a mechanical ventilation system. By making the infiltration to the flats very low, almost air tight and increasing the thermal insulation, very little energy is required to heat the dwellings.

Norwich University College of the Arts

This project is the refurbishment of a University College building as a design faculty, with space for subjects as diverse as graphic design and fashion. To ensure minimum disturbance to staff and students, each floor of the five storey building is being refurbished as a stand-alone project within a five year master plan. Again, the building is highly efficient due to the use of natural ventilation design. The entire heating system is being replaced, but the old system is running in parallel on all other floors, only to be replaced at the final stage.

Norwich University College of the Arts - Guntons Building





Civil Engineering






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Graduates that enter the defence sector tend to come from backgrounds in electrical, mechanical, aeronautical and civil engineering, but opportunities are available for anyone who is committed and motivated about the industry.

The main employers for engineers in this area are, of course, the Armed Forces and defence contractors. Both offer a broad range of roles, but you may find yourself in very different environments.

snapshot

14 Defence

Defence




Defence >>

Protecting and innovating

Many engineers are employed on defence work for the government, the Armed Forces and defence equipment suppliers. Currently, although our defence sector is slimming down each defence sector but some have vacancies.

The Government recruits engineers through the Defence Engineering and Science Group into eight different areas that it calls Engineering Systems Anchors. These are: Maritime, Aerospace, Nuclear, Combat and Information Systems, Land Systems, Weapons, Operational Analysis and Estates.

Recruits are encouraged to work towards professional status with their relevant engineering institution and can move from one area of defence expertise to another as their career develops.

The Army recruits engineers into three distinct areas. Some are responsible for maintaining all equipment in readiness for use, including tanks and armoured vehicles plus rocket launchers.

A second area of employment is work on information technology and telecommunications, ensuring that staff can communicate securely and immediately, providing command and control in warfare situations.

Others build bridges and accommodation and deal with explosives. To join you will need be physically fit and pass intensive selection procedures.

The Navy and the RAF are also important recruiters of engineers. They work on the maintenance of aircraft and ships, including their propulsion, navigation equipment and weaponry plus their control and communication systems. Equipment must be kept in a state of readiness, both in peacetime and warfare action situations.

Modern warfare uses the latest technology to stay ahead of the enemy and this provides ample opportunities for engineers.

You might be employed on the maintenance and development of Britain’s nuclear defence or collecting intelligence using sophisticated electronics interception systems and information technology.

If you choose a career in defence research and development you could be investigating counter measures, sensors and numerous other aspects of defence. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is the UK’s key defence research organisation recruiting researchers from a broad range of technical disciplines.

The defence equipment industry is vast. There are numerous employers such as BAE Systems and Rolls Royce recruiting engineers to provide services and military equipment too.

You could be designing, producing and commissioning the next aircraft carriers, frigates or military aircraft.

Defence 15

About the author

Dr Neil Harris was a careers counsellor and trainer at Lifelines Personal Development Ltd.

He has written many books on engineering careers and has a PhD in Materials Science.

Before becoming a careers counsellor he worked in the metal and turbine industries.

The IMechE is the fastest growing professional engineering institution in the UK. Their 98,000 members work at the heart of the country’s most important and dynamic industries and are committed to improving the world through engineering. Every year they give educational scholarships and awards in excess of £400,000 to help nurture the UK’s engineering talent. These are celebrated annually through the Vision Awards which identifies three exceptional engineers who are bringing the IMechE vision of ‘improving the world through engineering’ to life. The Institution is committed to providing the best possible service for its members, ensuring that they have the skills, knowledge, support and development advice they need at every stage of their career. Throughout the year, they organise events, a dedicated programmes of professional development training and helps engineers to retain their competencies and keep their skills up to date. In

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16 Defence

cutting edge technology >>David Shirley works for Dstl as a Strategic Analysis Group Leader within their Policy & Capability Studies department. He talks to us about about what his job entails and why he enjoys his work.

Dstl is a trading fund of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), employing approximately 3,500 staff over three core sites in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Kent. Dstl leads the formulation, design and delivery of MoD’s science and technology programme and its purpose is to maximise the impact of science and technology for the defence and security of the UK. To do this, Dstl employs graduates in many different areas. Dave Shirley works in Strategic Analysis and talks more about his experiences in Dstl.

What led you to a career in science and technology?I’d always been interested in science and technology ever since school, helped by the fact that I found science and technology topics easier than humanities subjects. I spent many an hour as a teenager taking apart bits of equipment (such as computers/TV’s/radios) to salvage components to then build various things. I also was fascinated about understanding how

the world around us works and, in some ways more importantly, the cause and effect of phenomena on the real world.

How has your career led you to the role you’re in now?My career has been a little unconventional in some respects, I graduated from Imperial College with a Physics degree and at that time was very interested in medical physics. However, due to a number of circumstances, found myself working in the retail trade. I spent five years working for a well-known frozen-food retailer on their management development programme, gaining lots of leadership and management experience before returning to the science and technology arena. I joined Defence Evaluation Research Agency (Dstl’s forerunner) in 1998 as an operational analyst, and have since worked my way through a number of roles, both technical and management, which has led to my current role as a group leader of 50 multi-disciplinary staff.

Did you always want to work in the defence industry?I have always considered the defence industry to be a good application area for science and technology, and therefore it was always a possibility that I would work within it. Being on the cutting edge of science and technology application is a big draw.

What made you choose working for Government over other parts of the defence sector?I have always wanted to feel that I am contributing to the UK’s defence and working within the government just makes it feel that much closer to the key decision making.

What is a typical day like for you? First, I cycle to work (up a hill), turn on computer and have a cup of tea. Then the first thing to do is check what’s up and coming for the day and see if there are any immediate problems that need addressing since going home yesterday. Checking email and addressing questions from both my team leaders, staff and my immediate line manager is a regular activity. Then it’s off to a group management meeting to discuss a range of topics from business risk, development of staff, succession planning and high level technical issues with my group’s projects. This takes most of the morning followed up with a brief

“I have always considered the defence industry to be a good application area for science and technology, and therefore it was always a possibility that I would work within it. Being on the cutting edge of science and technology application is a big draw.”


www.dstl.gov.uk



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chat with one of my group leader colleagues on resourcing options for a new high profile and complex project, accompanied with a cup of tea.

Lunch, normally at my desk catching up on the world at large, but occasionally I join the staff who tend to decamp en masse to the canteen for their sustenance.

Early afternoon is more technically based. First, a review of a customer deliverable, in this case a presentation, to check it for quality and to ensure that we have carried out the analysis to support the customer with his decision making. I ask a few questions and with some modifications, the presentation is good to go.

This is followed by a review of a current project to ensure that it is progressing to plan both technically and financially, this integrated review covers everything from project plans, health and safety, commercial aspects, security and quality. The project is in good shape and, other than a few actions for the project manager to take away to mitigate future issues on the project, it gets a green light.

Next up is a review of the plan for a new piece of work; in this case it’s not for the MoD but for another government department. After ensuring that we understand the customer requirement and that we have the resources to complete the work in the necessary time frame, I have a discussion with my principal analyst to ensure that the technical approach is suitable in this case. Having signed off the work its back to the check the email (oh, and a cup of tea) before the last activity of the day.

I spend the rest of the afternoon in one to one meetings with my team leaders discussing their performance so far this year, their career aspirations and their development needs. We do this regularly throughout the year as part of our performance management process.

One final check of the email and what’s happening tomorrow, then it’s time to don the Lycra and get back on my bike for the downhill ride home to my family and another cup of tea.

What do you enjoy most about your job?Leading and managing the staff, seeing them deliver good high impact analysis to support UK defence and security issues.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?Prioritising my efforts effectively and balancing the need of solving today’s problems with the research required to answer future questions. Someone, who is unfortunately no longer with us, once said to me that “There no such thing as not enough time, you just need to decide how to use the time you have.”

What has been key to your success and getting you to where you are today?There are a number of things that have contributed to both success and getting to my current role; one is being in the right place at the right time and grabbing opportunities, the other is having really good managers and mentors to help me maximise my personal effectiveness.

So what happens next? What would you like to achieve in the future?My next aspiration is to take on a Department Manager role and make a real contribution to the delivery and direction of the organisation at a more strategic level.

With the benefit of hindsight, what advice would you give to this year’s new graduates?Grab opportunities, challenge the status quo and don’t be afraid of making wrong decisions; that’s how you learn.


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18 Energy & Utilities

The industry employs many people from electrical and mechanical engineers to chemical and nuclear engineers to design, manufacture, test, install and operate equipment. The future holds a strong movement towards renewable energy from the sun, wind, waves and tides plus more nuclear energy that does not increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Currently, while there are some jobs developing renewable energy, most of our needs are met by gas and oil.

Energy is a highly competitive international business that is playing an increasingly responsible and significant part in reducing the emission of gases that are resulting in climate change. It’s a big challenge, which could be a part of your career.

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Providing the power

Whether working on oil and gas exploration or discovering new sources of power, working in the Energy and Utilities field will provide you with huge intellectual challenges.

The energy industry is wide and varied and so critical to our everyday lives that it offers an interesting career choice to anyone. Whether your interest is in the arts or the sciences, a job in the energy industry can cater for everyone.

It is an area that continues to make rapid technological advances all the time and can offer exciting prospects to the most highly skilled and qualified engineers, scientists and technicians.

The diversity of jobs is endless and opportunities exist to work pretty much anywhere in the world. All sectors of the industry have a part to play in providing us with secure and sustainable supplies of energy in the future. New ways to make existing supplies last longer, as well as research and development into new ones, must combine in our long-term move to a world less dependent on carbon-based fuels. Utility companies, who supply electricity, gas, water and sewerage services, are at the forefront of technological research. They are constantly striving to find ways of supplying their customers more efficiently and within budget. Some of the biggest names in the utilities sector include, National Grid, Thames Water and British Gas.

RenewablesThe renewables sector offers a variety of job opportunities. Many are office based, but may include travelling to sites and dealing with clients. There are engineers designing wind turbines, researching how to optimise production. There are also geologists who check the sites and ground for wind turbines, ensuring they are put in the best place possible.

Oil & gasWith demand for oil and gas increasing, and greater care being taken of our natural resources, the oil industry faces a challenging and exciting

The Energy Institute (EI) is the leading chartered professional membership body for the international energy industry. Supporting almost 15,000 individuals and 250 companies in membership, it offers learning and networking opportunities to support career development.

The EI offers, via the Engineering Council, Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Engineering Technician (EngTech) status; as well as that of Chartered Scientist (CSci) via the Science Council; Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) status via the Society for the Environment; and its own titles, Chartered Energy Engineer, Chartered Petroleum Engineer, and Chartered Energy Manager. This recognition, along with professional membership, provides independent verification and validation of your skills, knowledge and experience. Delivering professionalism and good practice, the EI addresses the depth and breadth of energy in all its forms and applications, providing a network for anyone working in energy, and a scientific and technical bank of knowledge to support industry.

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• Energy Conservation Officer

• Wind Turbine Design Engineer

• Wind Forecasting Manager

• Project Manager for Offshore

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• Energy and Ecodesign Specialist

• Wind Resource Analyst.

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future – one that is going to test its ingenuity and expertise to the full. There are scientists in laboratories researching into the uses of oil, and roustabouts on platforms in the North Sea, struggling to repair a drill while a gale rages around them. There are engineers at refineries, ensuring the safety of this volatile product, and sales people discussing the latest oil products with customers.

NuclearThe nuclear industry is currently made up of ten operational power stations, nine decommissioned ones and several other civil and defence sites around the UK. The industry also includes a wide variety of contractor companies such as engineering and construction companies, makers of specialist equipment and providers of expert services. There are scientists in power plants helping to ensure that the plant works efficiently and helping in the production, reprocessing and storage of nuclear fuel and in waste handling in the UK. There are engineers to ensure that the plants runs productively and safely, they even work with the Royal Navy helping to construct nuclear powered submarines.

Power to the peopleOne of the great challenges facing engineers in the energy sector is how to ensure that new technology and renewable power can be cost-efficient and sustainable. Making these new sources of energy available on a large scale, so that they can impact on the lives of the public and be affordable to everyone, is something that engineers are constantly striving towards.

Be a part of this innovative area of engineering and you really could change the world.

Jobs in nuclear

• Technologist

• Nuclear Scientist

• Design Engineer

• Safety Case Engineer

• Lifetime Extension Engineer

• Graphite Core Engineer

• Operational Research Analyst

• Nuclear Engineer

• Plant Engineer.

Jobs in oil & Gas

• Geophysicist

• Petroleum Engineer

• Hydrologist

• Process Engineer

• Geochemist

• Chemical Engineer

• Civil Engineer

• Design Engineer

• Drilling Engineer

• Engineering Geologist

• Mechanical Engineer

• Mining Engineer

• Electrical Engineer

• Oil Broker.






Civil Engineering






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“National Grid as a company offers a great work/life balance. At our Warwick HQ we have a gym which I go to with other graduates.”

Susan McDonald, National Grid






supply and demand >>Working for a large company like National Grid presents both opportunities and challenges. Susan McDonald talks us through some of her experiences and what she has learnt from it all.

What do Power System Engineers do?I am currently working as a Power System Engineer within System Development in National Grid. In my role, I have been responsible for developing the electricity system to accommodate increases in demand.

This involves analysing demand data and identifying any reinforcement works that may be needed on the network. This is to ensure the electricity flows on the network will remain secure and compliant with the electricity security standards. This role also requires me to work closely with our Commercial department and our transmission customers, for example a company building a wind farm who is looking to connect to the electricity grid.

I am currently working as part of a team that is designing a system to connect an offshore wind farm to the national grid. As a result, in my role I would look at the overall network to identify where the generator could connect to the grid.

To identify how the generator will connect to the system, I will carry out analysis of the various options, carrying out simulation power flow analysis to identify technical issues, and identify any environmental impact and the financial cost.

As a Power System Engineer you have a varied role that allows you not only to work in a technical role but manage the overall process to connect a new generator.

How did you get your job at National Grid?At present, I am on the National Grid Graduate scheme which involves three placements over 18-months. As part of the scheme I also have a very well structured training programme to develop my awareness of the company, technical and soft skills.

Prior to the start of the graduate scheme, I studied a MEng in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Strathclyde University. In my first year of my course I was awarded an IET National Grid Power Academy sponsorship.

Every summer, throughout my time as a university student, I worked with National Grid for two months. This gave me the opportunity to

take the lead and work as part of a team on projects within Asset Health, Asset Policy, Electricity Network Control Centre (ENCC), and Construction.

During my time at the ENCC I worked on ‘Reactive and Voltage Control’ and ‘Best practice of Special Actions’. Both projects gave me the opportunity to spend a lot of time in the control room and also the chance to do some circuit breaker switching on the electricity network.

Having already been through a selection process for the Power Academy scholarship and been with the company over a few summers. I was then invited to go to the assessment centre where they would decide who to take on full time. I was very pleased that I got the opportunity to continue to work for National Grid.

What ‘soft skills’ have you found useful?The main ‘soft skills’ that will serve you well in any work role is communication, organisation, how you manage and work within a team and punctuality.

I would recommend thinking of examples where you worked as part of a team, how you managed a project that wasn’t working successfully and a time when you led a team. Just try and remember the interviewers want you to do well and if you are unsure of what they are asking you, ask for clarification.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get into the industry?If possible gain industrial experience during your degree. You will see how your studies apply to real life projects, be part of something that makes a difference to the company and help you figure out where your interests lie. It is also a great way to meet other people in that sector.

Being proactive and keeping up to date with what’s happening in the industry through the news and lecture events that are offered through institute bodies, such as the Institute of Electricity and Technology (IET) is also very helpful.

“I found the interview process at my assessment centre fair, it allowed me to show my knowledge of the company and how I worked in a team.”

“Do your homework; you should have an appreciation of what the company does and who their stakeholders are.”

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24 Healthcare

The healthcare and pharmaceutical industry offers a wide range of opportunities to graduates, particularly from degree backgrounds in the sciences and chemical, electronic, mechanical and materials engineering.

Within a pharmaceuticals company, you may be working alongside chemists and pharmacists to develop the latest pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medicines.

Alternatively, you could be leading a team in developing the manufacturing processes which will make these innovations available to a mass market. Another area you could be involved in is the development of healthcare ‘hardware’. Think of all the equipment you’d find in a hospital. From digital radiography machines, MRI scanners and the defibrillators in ambulances, to hearing aids, crutches and wheelchairs.

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There are several options...Some engineers are employed to design, develop, produce and maintain equipment that is used in the monitoring of health. It includes x-ray machines, sonic scanning equipment and numerous other devices used by healthcare professionals in the diagnosis of disease. Most are mechanical engineers but sometimes, such as in pacemakers, there is also an electronic component. These are employed by manufacturers such as Siemens.

Others are responsible for the design and manufacture of implants such as hip and knee joints and metal implants used to strengthen backbones or assist the healing of fractures. Smith and Nephew is an example of an employer in this sector.

Patients, especially those with a disability, need a host of devices to help them to live as near to normal as is possible. These include wheelchairs, callipers, false legs, equipment

that enables them to manipulate things and much more. Often engineers work directly with patients, especially at orthopaedic hospitals and sometimes for firms that mass produce such equipment. They design something that will enhance people’s lives and make them easier to live.

The pharmaceutical industry provides a quite different set of challenges, which usually involve chemical engineers and biochemical engineers. Some of these design and install the plant to manufacture the relevant chemicals, while others run the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and maintain production equipment. Mechanical engineers provide the parts while electrical and electronic engineers provide the power and control systems.

About the author

Dr Neil Harris was a careers counsellor and trainer at Lifelines Personal Development Ltd.

He has written many books on engineering careers and has a PhD in Materials Science.

Before becoming a careers counsellor he worked in the metal and turbine industries.

“Often engineers work directly with patients, especially at orthopaedic hospitals and sometimes for firms that mass produce such equipment. They design something that will enhance people’s lives and make them easier to live.”

name: Radhikatitle: Marketing & Information Analystcompany: NHS

“A public sector organisation offers a rich and diverse culture with plenty of opportunity to learn. The satisfaction you get when seeing improvement in quality of life for the public, as a direct result of work you have done, is immense. The work/life balance offered by the public sector is also a great benefit. Above all I think it is a great place to discipline your business mind to innovate, to provide better quality more efficiently and with limited resources.”

What does your role involve?“This is a very difficult question, as I have been involved in so many different things. In my current placement I am a project manager for a Connecting for Health Clinical Dashboard Project. I also work as part of the Business Information Specialists team to support different directorates in the hospital. I am also involved in providing marketing, contracting and performance information and support to the business development and finance departments of the trust.”


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“The other main draw for me is that there is big emphasis on people development. I’m always being supported in pursuing my chartership and developing my management skills.”

Mohammed, GSK

26 Healthcare




the right remedy >>A passion for technology led Mohammed to a role at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). He tells us about the excitement of working in a huge team and achievement amazing results that can improve the lives of millions.

Why did you decide upon a career in engineering?I’ve always been interested in science and technology from a young age. Engineering encompasses so much in our day to day life and I always wanted to understand how things worked. Whether travelling on a plane, crossing a bridge or using a mobile phone, these are all engineering achievements. I also believe that my choice was influenced by my father being an engineer.

What does GSK do and why is it a good place to work?GSK is a research based pharmaceutical and healthcare company that discovers, develops, and markets medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products.

There are a number of reasons why I enjoy working here. Firstly, it’s a great feeling to be working in an environment where the end product has a direct effect on the wellbeing of millions of people. From a career point of view, GSK has such a wide range of manufacturing operations that there’s always the opportunity to learn new skills and further develop as an engineer.

The other main draw for me is that there is big emphasis on people development. I’m always being supported in pursuing my chartership and developing my management skills.

What is a typical day like for you?On a typical day, I will be in the office for 08.30. I’ll go through my emails and calendar to organise my day. The majority of the time I will split my day up between two or three projects. Currently, I’m working on a project to validate newly installed equipment and as such I spend a large part of the day testing on plant.

Throughout the day, I’ll also go and check on contractors working on jobs for me. This is to ensure that there are no issues hindering their work and to check on progress. The time spent in the office is usually on documentation, reports, project plans and for communication. I will usually finish work between 17.00 and 18.00.

What’s the most challenging part of the job?The challenges I face vary from day to day; some are of a technical nature but those are there to be overcome and are part of the job. The other challenge is working on a big site with over 1,000 employees. As a project engineer, my work involves planning and coordinating activities involving staff from many different departments, getting the relevant people together at the same time and place can sometimes be a real challenge.

What has been your biggest achievement so far?Last year, I worked on a large project as part of a multidisciplinary team taksed with improving packaging line efficiencies. It was a great experience for me as the team included very experiences and skilled colleagues and I learnt a lot. It was also great to be part of a project from the very start, to plan and set the strategy for implementation.

The success of the project required us to technically improve the production lines, but more importantly to introduce better ways of working for the operators of the lines. The project achieved a high level of success.

What qualities do you need ti succeed in your sector?I think attention to detail is an important quality to have in the pharmaceutical sector. We are a highly regulated industry and the safety of patients depends on our products, so it’s vital to follow good manufacturing practices.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned since graduation?The most important lesson I have picked up is that learning really doesn’t end as you leave university. University will hopefully equip you with a good foundation and, as you start your career, you need to continue building your technical knowledge and further developing your personal skills. The combination of technical and personal skills will allow you to progress in your career and achieve success.

What does the future hold for you?In the near future, I plan to complete my three years on the GSK Technical Development Scheme and obtain my chartership. In the next five years, I would like to take on roles with increased responsibility and the opportunity to manage others.

“I enjoy doing the problem solving. Whether it’s a broken down production line or a leaking valve, it’s always a great feeling to fix a problem and get production back up and running.”

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28 IT

IT is one of the most diverse and hybrid engineering disciplines and one that affects every one of us in our everyday life, from the computer on our desktop to the complex safety-critical systems used in the transportation and power generation systems. This complexity means that the industry can offer a wide range of job opportunities across a number of disciplines.

There are, however, some generalisations that can be made as to the sorts of employment you could encounter. There are two main types of IT employer: those who are systems developers or manufacturers and those who use the technology. There are also two types of each employer: large and small-to-medium enterprises.

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Large versus smallThe smaller company will give the employee a greater involvement in the organisation. It is likely that you will encounter a more varied remit than those who work within larger organisations. You can become part of a closely formed team where there will normally be less formality related to procedures and reporting. This can foster a feeling of being an integral part of the company, meaning that your efforts and contributions can be quickly rewarded.

Large companies will have a different way of working. They will have a more formal structure because of their size and number of employees, with separate departments dealing with product development, support, marketing and so on. This can provide a great deal of flexibility so that the employee can find the right niche in which to forge a career. Employees can often move between departments and there can be a clearer career path through the chain of management.

Generally, there is no way to say that working for a large company is better than working for a smaller one. You need to weigh up the pros and cons and decide whether you prefer the close-knit environment of the smaller company or the more structured approach of the larger organisation.

The developer versus the user Next you need to consider the scope of a potential employer’s work. You may wish to be involved with development or with a user-based perspective.

Development companies will generally have a range of products and they will be responsible for their lifecycle, not just the coding and programming, but the analysis and design testing, implementation, maintenance and support.

User-based companies are the other side of this equation. They will use the developers’ systems and IT staff will be responsible for the implementation, installation, use and support of those products. There are also the essential services required to keep a computer system

running efficiently as well as reviewing security, maintenance and so on.

You are likely to be dealing with users on a daily basis, solving problems and looking for solutions. Generally there are many more user-based organisations than there are developers and you could be involved in virtually any industry.

Career opportunitiesSome roles have a large technical element such as ethical hacking, programming, software testing and systems analysis. Others have a greater business emphasis, for example project management, quality assurance and client relationship management.

To widen career choices further, IT professionals are found in almost all industries due to the all-pervasive nature of computers. They are used for tasks as diverse as positioning cargo on ships, measuring patients’ heartbeats at hospitals, controlling lifts and ordering stock in supermarkets.

Some of these user organisations (so-called because they use IT to meet their business needs) look after their IT needs in-house while others employ specialist IT service providers. Almost any role could be outsourced in this way, for instance a market research company may develop their own specialist software to track results or it may commission a software development firm to do so.

Development rolesProgramming, also known as software development or software engineering, is a function required by most industries and many organisations, and one where many IT professionals start out. Programming includes very high-profile roles such as designing computer-generated characters for Hollywood films. Less glamorous (but also less competitive) jobs could be developing specialist trading software for investment banks or writing programmes to control the running of a steel plant.

Development work is not restricted to programming; there are also opportunities to develop hardware, databases, networks, systems and websites. There are fewer jobs developing hardware than software as organisations often buy computer equipment as standard and then adapt software to meet their needs. Examples of hardware development could be to make more robust computers to be used in schools or to design computers that could withstand forces when taken into space.

Website designers, a well-known role, continue to be in demand as companies embrace the use

“You are likely to be dealing with users on a daily basis, solving problems and looking for solutions. Generally there are many more user-based organisations than there are developers and you could be involved in virtually any industry.”




of websites and the internet to conduct their business. With computers and ecommerce becoming increasingly sophisticated and part of daily life, the role of ergonomics is also growing in status. There are an increasing number of people specialising in the ease of using IT, be that systems, software, databases or websites.

Once software or hardware has been developed, testers check that everything is working correctly before it is handed over to the installation team and the customer. An up-and-coming role in testing is that of ethical hacking, where IT professionals see whether they can breach organisations’ systems to check the level of their security.

The next step, installation, can be a straightforward task or an enormous one, depending of course on what is being installed. For example, integrating new hardware across a chain of supermarkets would be a very time-consuming and complex procedure.

Service provision: keep everything ticking Once hardware, programmes, databases, systems, networks and so on are installed, a team usually takes on the role of supporting them. There are a large variety of roles in this

area of service provision: supporting users, operations or infrastructure. Most large companies will have a helpdesk, which staff can contact for help with computer problems and queries. Behind the scenes, other IT professionals are ensuring the organisation’s network is functioning correctly.

Business change: where technology meets strategic needs There are numerous other roles where the focus is in varying degrees less on using technical know-how and more on strategy, communication, or finance.

Project management is an example of where some technical knowledge is combined with financial and communications skills. Project management is about working out timescales and resources needed for a project, for example installing all the IT necessary for a new oil rig and then making sure the project keeps to budget and meets the deadline.

People in strategy and planning roles are likely to have good technical knowledge but not be using it hands-on. They tend to be in more senior roles, which, for example, a programmer could progress into. A continuity manager, for example looks at how IT services would continue to

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is a membership organisation for people who work in IT. It has over 70,000 members worldwide, which includes students all the way up to CIOs and CEOs of major companies. With IT touching almost every element of modern life, the Institute’s aim is to aid the information society by working with education establishments, industry and government and also by providing the Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP) standard. In order to achieve this a person has to meet a set of standards after which they are tested to prove their competency, experience, ability and breadth of knowledge in IT.By becoming a member you have access to qualifications in a range of areas as well as special member benefits and events. There are several grades of membership, depending on experience, from affiliate right up to fellow.

T: 01793 417 417 www.bcs.org

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run in case of an emergency such as a fire destroying an organisation’s infrastructure.

Architect roles, one of the industry’s current buzzwords, also come under this category. Architects give guidance and direction-setting on large products, including writing policy documents, managing contracts and advising on the technical elements of a project.

A decision now is not for life One important thing to remember is that your first job need not be your role for life. There will be opportunities to move into different roles and, as IT is a fast-moving area, new opportunities are always appearing.

name: Roberttitle: Design Engineercompany: Imagination Technologies

“My company designs multimedia and communications hardware intellectual property and accompanying software. This is licensed by semiconductor companies to be used in mobile phones and other embedded hardware.

“I work in a team that’s writing an OpenCL driver to allow programs that use OpenCL to run on devices that use our hardware. There’s a good mixture of team and individual work. The whole of the driver is written as a team but it is possible to split it into reasonably large, distinct sections.

“The day to day work therefore is fairly independent but we often discuss what we have been working on and pull together to solve some larger problem if it arises.”


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“Within a few years I would like to run my own project team and manage a new product. This is possible for anyone with the potential, as the job exposes you to all aspects of product development and management.”

Robin Anderson, Red Gate Software Ltd




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Ensuring robustness >>Working for an IT company like Red Gate Software Ltd presents both opportunities and challenges. Robin Anderson talks us through his role as a Test Engineer.

Causing problems is something most people avoid. Test engineers on the other hand, get paid to make a science of it. It’s not just mindless button-bashing; to be effective requires an academic approach to analysing the software you’re working on. Testers will need to employ lateral thinking as well as traditional logic, as it’s more than just programming. You’ll be working against the mind-set of the software developer, trying to catch him out and challenge his assumptions.

It’s a rewarding career for a technical individual with plenty of opportunity to learn a great deal.

What do tester engineers do?Testers examine software for any type of defect. This is our core role and involves writing programs and creating environments to simulate the load and abuse that real users will place on the product. However, the job invariably involves considerably more than just finding bugs. Modern development practices mean that all members of the development team are involved in project planning, specification and other related discussions.

How did you get your job at Red Gate Software?I found out about the company through a friend and submitted my CV and a covering letter online. At Red Gate, candidates normally go through a two stage interview process that covers technical ability and team fit.

What is a typical day like for you?The day starts with a quick stand-up meeting with my immediate colleagues. We brief each other on yesterday’s work and mention what today’s work will be. Throughout the rest of the day, project work will fit in-between lunch and meetings. Interruptions can be frequent. These could be support cases that have been escalated to the development team, marketing campaigns or internal projects that require IT work – or any other ad hoc technical work as testers generally double up as excellent IT personnel.

What do you enjoy most about your job?Being able to play with computers all day and learning from the people around me.

What are the most stressful parts of the job?A tester can never be completely sure that a product is defect free. Taking responsibility for saying “yes, we can ship this product” means working very hard when the release date is close – a time when developers will stop work and allow testers to work on a single version. It’s a time when testers are particularly valuable, but also when they’re least amenable to distractions and side projects.

What would you like to achieve in the future?Within a few years I would like to run my own project team and manage a new product. This is possible for anyone with the potential, as the job exposes you to all aspects of product development and management.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get into the industry?Get a numerate degree, 2.1 or First; maths, science, computer science and engineering are the usual backgrounds of tester candidates. However, experience trumps qualifications – so related work that demonstrates intelligence and technical ability will get you an interview.

What was the interview process like?The interview process was designed to be as stress free as possible. There were two interviewers: one person I would ultimately be working with and the other is a manager who was previously a tester. The second interview was less technical and more personal and conducted by two people (in rare cases a candidate may be rejected if they wouldn’t fit into the company culture, or the second interview can be used for more technical questions). I was contacted within a

“A tester can never be completely sure that a product is defect free. Taking responsibility for saying ‘yes, we can ship this product’ means working very hard when the release date is close – a time when developers will stop work and allow testers to work on a single version.”

“I found out about the company through a friend and submitted my CV and a covering letter online. At Red Gate, candidates normally go through a two stage interview process that covers technical ability and team fit.”

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34 IT

day or so with a confirmation. The whole process was quick and efficient and having now conducted many interviews myself, know how much effort goes in to make the process as quick and pain-free as possible.

Any advice for the interview process?Read through your own CV carefully as you’ll almost certainly be asked to elaborate on any claims you make. If you know that the company you’re applying to uses particular technologies or programming languages, spend a few evenings or so brushing up on the fundamentals, as this can make any worked examples more relevant.

Is there a work/life balance?Definitely. On rare occasions you may be responsible for something out of usual office hours, but with flexitime and a relaxed office atmosphere you can work around your other interests in life. For example, many people at Red Gate play sports during lunch and work later to compensate. Some work only four days to give them more time with their families.

What challenges have you come across and how did you overcome these? Learning about the necessary technologies used at Red Gate was the first challenge. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information online to aid learning and new starters are given inductions by experienced colleagues who they can later quiz if required. This helped me become a valuable team member more quickly.

What ‘soft skills’ have you found useful? Being able to work efficiently with a variety of personalities requires good communication skills. In general, interpersonal skills are vital in any job where you are relied upon by others. Tester engineers will find themselves working closely with developers, designers, technical authors, managers and customers.

Another important ‘soft skill’ that can dramatically affect productivity relates to the fact that technical workers work best with large contiguous blocks of time that they can use to really focus on a particular task. However, managers are very fond of meetings and other things which interrupt the workers preferred schedule. Discussions with other colleagues will also disrupt someone who’s ‘in the zone’. Understanding how you work best and managing time accordingly makes a big difference.

“Being able to work efficiently with a variety of personalities requires good communication skills. In general, interpersonal skills are vital in any job where you are relied upon by others.”





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36 Manufacturing

From oil and pharmaceuticals to food and drink, from hygiene products to electronic equipment, there are numerous possibilities in manufacturing for engineers of many disciplines.

As a mechanical engineer you might be involved in designing a moving production line or the product that will be manufactured on it. Electronic and electrical engineers often work in teams with mechanical engineers for firms that design and build production and control equipment.

Whenever there are chemicals, fluids or gases involved, chemical engineers are usually responsible. Some of these engineers work for consultants who design, install and commission new plants, often working internationally. Others are employed in the pharmaceuticals, beverages, chemicals and oil industries, where they operate plants at optimum conditions.

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The UK has a grand tradition of manufacturing that stretches back over centuries. Times have changed, as the industry becomes more competitive, international and technologicallyadvanced. It affects every corner of life, from areas as diverse as fashion, construction, toiletries and submarines.

Your environmentIdeas of dark mills and burning furnaces linger in the minds of some when they think about this sector. This couldn’t be further from the truth in today’s highly advanced manufacturing plants.

Huge machinery obviously has its place in theprocess, but they are no longer hulking oily structures. Design and technology are now key, making manufacturing a world leader in innovation. And don’t think that you will spend your days staring at an endless production line getting bored. Great creativity is required in order to make products that push technological boundaries and make a big impact on the marketplace.

SectorsThe options are endless, but can be broadly broken down into the following key sectors:

• Aerospace – commercial, industrial and military

• Automotive• Chemicals and pharmaceuticals• Electronics – household goods and

components for larger equipment• Environmental – building wind turbines

and developing cleaner ways of processing oil and gas are just two ways manufacturers contribute to the green issue

• Fast-moving consumer goods – think about what’s in a supermarket (Toiletries, household cleaning products and food and drink etc)

• Marine – military and commercial ship building, developing machinery to help with global logistics

• Materials and metals – e.g. steel• Textiles.

Career optionsThe roles within manufacturing are as varied as the sectors you can work in.

• Design• Finance and IT• Logistics• Production• Research and development• Sales and marketing.

Show me the moneyMany years ago, salaries in the industry were relatively low, due to the workplace being dominated by unskilled labourers. This is no longer the case. Of course it depends on which sector you choose, but renumeration can be highly competitive compared with engineering roles in other industries. Imagine working in aerospace or on the latest F1 car – salaries and benefits in these areas can be particularly attractive.

Don’t forget qualifications. A degree or postgraduate qualification will increase your value in the marketplace, as will membership of a professional institute. However, the career highlight of many engineering professionals is achieving chartered status and this can have a huge impact on what you are worth to a company.

The overseas challengeMany companies have chosen to relocate part, or all, of their production processes abroad. They often struggle to compete with low-wage economies that can produce goods at a fraction of the cost.

The challenge for engineers is to come up with methods and processes that will allow the UK to retain their position as one of the great manufacturing nations. India and the Far East have witnessed a phenomenal rise in manufacturing in the last ten years, particularly in the fields of textiles and electronics. Graduate engineers will now have to use all their powers of enterprise and ingenuity to make manufacturing in the UK an attractive option again.

“Don’t forget qualifications. A degree or postgraduate qualification will increase your value in the marketplace, as will membership of a professional institute.”

other useful stuff

For more information about this industry, visit the Manufacturing Institute’s website.

www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk





38 Manufacturing

I have had to work hard during my time on the graduate scheme, but my managers have always promoted a healthy work/life balance.

Sarah Rivers, AkzoNobel




Manufacturing 39

Designing robots >>Taking part in the graduate scheme with AkzoNobel enabled Sarah Rivers to have a go at a number of different roles, in addition to offering opportunities to work overseas. We’ve asked her to discuss some of her experiences...

IntroductionDesigning robots, managing a team of ten, commissioning cutting edge technology and a new product launch = my time so far on the AkzoNobel Graduate scheme.

My name is Sarah Rivers and I graduated in July 2009 with a Masters in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from Warwick University.

The graduate scheme for engineering graduates at AkzoNobel is made up of four six month placements in different areas of Supply Chain. So far, I have worked around the UK and further afield:

• Slough on a paint manufacturing site as a Continuous Improvement Engineer

• Newcastle as a Warehouse Supervisor• Netherlands as a Project Leader • Slough Headquarters as a Logistics Analyst.

What does AkzoNobel do?AkzoNobel is the largest global paints and Coatings Company and a major producer of speciality chemicals. I work for a sub-business unit AkzoNobel Decorative Paints, who make and sell brands such as Dulux, Cuprinol and Hammerite in the UK and beyond.

How I got startedI first started out at AkzoNobel as a young enthusiastic summer intern between my third and fourth years at university. I had applied to them as I had always heard goods things about ICI (taken over by AkzoNobel in 2008) and I wanted to work for a UK manufacturing company. After the summer internship I had to give a presentation on what I had learned, and a few interviews later I was offered a place on the graduate scheme!

I have really enjoyed being able to try out the different roles, as when I left university I was still unsure about what I wanted to do! I love being able to use my engineering skills in some placements, while in others I have developing my people management, or even customer service skills!

An example dayWhilst in the Netherlands my morning would consist of doing prep and attending daily meetings about the current project as well as talking to the staff in order to make sure everybody knew what had to be done. The rest of the day I might be updating plans and drawings, talking to contractors about quotes or stakeholders about

the plans going head, as well as running tests and making sure notes are up to date.

What the interview process involvedThe interview process involves an assessment centre with group exercises, presentations and one to one interviews. I was nervous going into the day however, everyone was very friendly and tried to help me relax. My biggest tip for an assessment centre is to speak up and have discussions with the other interviewees – don’t be afraid to agree (or disagree!) with their points of view.

Remember to look out for any resources available to you – is there a flipchart you can use to aid group discussion?

Stressful parts of my roleThe most stressful part of the job has been being away from friends and my partner while living in Newcastle and in the Netherlands! However I have had lots of support from AkzoNobel during this time – with them paying for trips home and for accommodation whilst I have been away.

Case study – Warehouse Supervisor in Newcastle Manufacturing PlantI was working on a key project for the site which was the implementation of SAP, as well as the daily running of warehouse and dispatch teams.

SAP is a new process control software for the plant, and I had to get up to speed quickly in order to resolve issues. I led the redesign of processes for several warehouse areas and to improve efficiency.

The work/life balanceI have had to work hard during my time on the graduate scheme, but my managers have always promoted a healthy work/life balance. I

“The interview process involves an assessment centre with group exercises, presentations and one-to-one interviews. I was nervous going into the day however, everyone was very friendly and tried to help me relax.”

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have had support and extra time off when I’m away from home, been able to work from home and been encouraged to join in socials with colleagues such as badminton and a book club.

What I want to do in the futureI would love to be a member of the Supply Chain Leadership Team in the future, and be able to shape the way that the business works. As a graduate, when finishing on the scheme you are considered as ‘high potential’ – this means hard work but great rewards!

Some career adviceWork experience whilst at university is key to getting into the UK manufacturing industry. Many companies offer summer and year placements– it’s a great chance to learn a bit about working life, and also a good opportunity for the company to get to know you.

CV boosting skills include ‘lean’ techniques such as Value-Stream-Mapping (VSM) and 5S and, essential for an engineer and project management skills.

Communication and time-management skills are also essential, I have often been given a range of projects to complete whilst in a placement and being organised has helped me prioritise my work.

Projects

Placement One – Continuous Improvement

Engineer in Slough Manufacturing Plant

• Commissioning of a measuring system for

an important site metric – ‘overall equipment

effectiveness’ (OEE). I led a ‘launch’ day

for the operators to get their buy in (which

included branded t-shirts and cakes), as well

as organising the technical commissioning

side of the project.

• Planning and Implementation of projects

to improve OEE – I was responsible for

identifying and starting projects, my favourite

was a robot re-design which prevented spills

on the filling lines.

• Leading and Implementing ‘Lean’ training

days with the operators – this included

running events for changeover improvements

with teams of eight operators at a time.

Placement Four – Logistics in UK Headquarters

• Launching a new product into the market

– I had to organise the logistics side which

included trials and supply route planning.

• Implementing Value-Stream-Mapping

(VSM) events – I led events with members

of different departments to help identify

opportunities for improvement and then put

some actions into place.

• Designing and promoting a new Intranet site

– I was able to include many different areas

into this to help streamline communication

between our third party warehouses and

other AkzoNobel departments.

• Customer service On Time-In Full (OTIF) – a

key metric for any business, I am responsible

for driving improvement activities.

40 Manufacturing





Civil Engineering






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xxxSnapshot


42 Transport

Transport

We all use it, but for some of us transport provides an excellent career. High among the problems to be tackled are the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and protecting the public against terrorist activity.

Employers include plane manufacturers, air forces around the world and airlines and with 34 million cars, vans, trucks, buses, motorbikes and other vehicles on our roads, many engineers are employed by manufacturers, repairers and driver assistance organisations (e.g. RAC).

Network Rail continues to improve the lines, tunnels, signals, bridges and communication along the railway, providing work for civil, electrical and mechanical engineers and Naval ships are also providing much activity.

Snapshot




Transport 43

Transpo

rt >>Secure your future

One of the things about transport is that it’s so universal. The transport system is something which almost everyone uses every day – even if it’s only walking down the street. This is great in one sense because it’s something that everyone knows about and can relate to – even if it’s only complaining about traffic jams. However, it also means everyone is an expert – or thinks they are!

Graduates can be involved in the planning and design of transport networks or in implementing those plans from an operational perspective. Transport planning and freight management, specialist logistics operators, shipping and aviation are all areas with bright career prospects.

Freight and shippingIt is not a high-profile industry but arguably every time a consumer picks a British-made item off a foreign shelf or a UK manufacturer presses the start button on the machine brought from the US, one of the 3,000 or so freight forwarders in the UK has made that possible.

Freight forwarders operate throughout the UK and abroad. Those who handle airfreight shipments will have offices at any of the UK’s commercial airports that handle cargo. Likewise, those who handle sea freight will have offices at any of the 40 or so main cargo ocean gateways. Away from these locations, forwarders offices can be found on industrial estates and business parks in any major town or city. There is also the

opportunity to relocate abroad. Multinational forwarders have branches in almost every trading country. This could be an attractive option for those who have studied a foreign language and want to use it in a commercial situation while living abroad.

Logistics service providersWho makes sure that the supermarkets don’t run out of your favourite crisps and they are never past their sell-by date? Who organises it so that the photocopiers always have enough paper and that the engineer sent to fix it has the right components?

Who delivers the parts – in the right order, at precisely the right time – to the assembly lines, so that your car can be manufactured?

Kick start your civil engineer career!Membership and professional qualifications with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) are internationally recognised and highly valued. Attainments of these indicate a significant personal achievement and are a benchmark of a civil engineer’s competences and professional standing. ICE offers a range of membership grades that supports you at every stage of your professional career. By joining ICE as a graduate member, you are taking the first step towards becoming a professionally qualified civil engineer. Graduate membership features loads of benefits including:• Magazines and discounted subscriptions to journals (eg Civil Engineering, New

Civil Engineer UK and international editions).• Eligibility for a wide range of exclusive bursaries and scholarships.• Opportunity to join an ICE accredited employer’s training scheme where you learn in the workplace.• Networking with peers and senior members through events, seminars and committees.

For more information and to join today visit ice.org.uk/graduates.

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“Graduates can be involved in the planning and design of transport networks or in implementing those plans from an operational perspective. Transport planning and freight management, specialist logistics operators, shipping and aviation are all areas with bright career prospects.”


www.ice.org/graduates



FOCUS ON44 Transport

The main providers of these services are known as logistics service providers (LSPs) – specialist companies that organise the supply of the products needed for industry, commerce and all aspects of everyday life. You will also see them referred to as supply chain specialists and logistics companies.

Transport planningIn general terms, consultancies are perhaps the most common career in transport, followed by the public sector. All the main engineering consultancies have transport teams or have transport as a core market. These are global consultancies with offices around the world, so there are opportunities to work outside the UK. Atkins is one of the largest consultancies, with over 16,000 staff globally generating fees in excess of £1.4 billion (Source: New Civil Engineer Consultants File 2010).

Many of these firms run internship schemes. Most have a formal graduate training programme, often involving a period rotating around the different aspects of the business or varying areas of transport. Of course consultancies come in all shapes and sizes, including smaller niche ones that can offer more scope to specialise in an area of particular interest.

Public sector roles can be found in places such as local/central government and quangos. Transport for London (TfL) and Department for Transport (DfT) are two examples of large public sector employers, but all local authorities have transport staff/teams.

Large scale operators, such as bus and train companies, also offer fantastic career paths to graduates.

Key issuesTransport is a hot topic in the media, partly because transport decisions affect almost everyone. How do we balance climate change with the need for a new runway at

an overcrowded airport? Why do we have speed limits on our roads and what’s the best way to enforce them?

Increasingly, as the sustainability agenda has become mainstream, so the opportunities in ‘green’ or ‘low carbon’ transport have grown. At one end there are the campaign groups and at the other are commercial business who want/need to align their governance, policy and practice with more environmentally sound approaches. The recent government drive to make the UK a leader in low carbon technologies is having a huge impact on these issues.

At the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) at Leeds University, they’re actively

other useful stuff

• Chartered Institute of

Logistics & Transport (UK)

www.ciltuk.org.uk

• Inside Careers

www.insidecareers.co.uk/log

• Transport Planning Society

www.tps.org.uk

• Universities Transport

Partnership

www.utp.org.uk

“Increasingly, as the sustainability agenda has become mainstream, so the opportunities in ‘green’ or ‘low carbon’ transport have grown.”


www.ciltuk.org.uk

www.insidecareers.co.uk/log

www.tps.org.uk

www.utp.org.uk


Transport 45

name: Louisa Bell title: Head of Environment & Energycompany: Eurostar

“My current role combines a number of my interests and passions. I lead the Environment & Energy team in Eurostar developing and managing the ongoing improvement of Eurostar in these areas, under the banner of our Tread Lightly initiative.

“It is a role that involves working with all areas of the business to improve our environmental performance.

“As a company we are hugely committed to being leaders on these issues in the travel and transport sector and it is an area where the opportunity to make a real difference is huge. We have around 1,500 employees in total, so the commitment to have four full-time positions dedicated to environmental improvement, and 40 champions from across the business is significant.

How i got started“My first plan was to become an academic. I loved the problem solving of my undergraduate degree in Theoretical Physics and working out how things worked. On graduation it was therefore a natural step to begin a PhD in the subject. Within the research group, I was the first female student they had had in some years. I think it was more of a shock to them than it was to me, although it taught me some valuable lessons about getting to know different cultures! Something that would stand me in good stead later on.”

involved in research into all aspects of transport and it really is a multi-disciplinary field – they bring together experts from the fields of the environment, geography, economics, engineering, mathematics, psychology and public policy, to name just a few.

This means that their courses and modules cover a wide variety of ways of looking at transport issues. This gives variety and can open students’ eyes to different disciplinary approaches ranging from the economic justification for road pricing to the nature of crime and transport.

Your time at university really can give you an insight into the issues currently facing the industry and there is nothing more impressive to a recruiter than a graduate who is informed and passionate about current issues. Find out about societies, events, lectures and initiatives happening at your university.

QualificationsAlthough firms do recruit undergraduates, its increasingly common for them to look for those with a postgraduate qualification, such as the Masters courses offered by the ITS.

Consultancies often directly recruit staff from these university courses (Leeds facilitates these initial interviews on campus) and salaries are comparable to other engineering graduates. Those without a Masters will often find that their employer will sponsor them to do one part-time.

A recent initiative, aimed at graduates, has been the launch of the Transport Planning Professional (TPP) qualification. This is comparable to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, so may be of interest to those who might want an alternative to the traditional engineering path.

Get movingThere are significant job opportunities in the transport sector, not least because there is a recognised shortage of people with the right skills and training. Studying transport is not about being a trainspotter! It gives you an insight into real problems that transport throws up, from climate change to road accidents. As a society we need good people to address these problems – problems which aren’t going to go away and which can lead to a highly rewarding career.

The Institution of Structural Engineers is the world’s leading international membership organisation for professional structural engineers. The Institution sets high standards, defines quality and promotes high levels of structural engineering design internationally.There are many different ways that your career can benefit from becoming a member. Employers worldwide value membership as it confirms a high level of competence. Membership is often recognised by employers through promotion, salary increase or extra responsibility. It also means you are well positioned to work in many countries. A professional body provides support, networking and access to the training which will take you through your career. Services and products provided• Fortnightly magazine, The Structural Engineer• Electronic newsletter• Technical publications • The library • Technical meetings• Networking opportunities • Training courses • Awards and prizes.

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http://www.insidecareers.co.uk/__802574D80054B660.nsf/idlive/7qme6ftden!opendocument


46 Transport


“I have learnt about the challenges of operating a metro system in one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, as well as gaining experience in the operational elements of the business. ”

Maryam Shakiba, TfL




Transport 47

Moving towards management >>

Joining TfL on their graduate managment team has been varied, challenging and exciting, Maryam Shakiba tells us more...

“I love my job” is always a good reflection to have on your workplace. And that is something I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to say about being part of Transport for London (TfL).

Having started on the London Underground General Management Graduate Scheme (one of the schemes TfL offers) in 2009, I have learnt about the challenges of operating a metro system in one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, as well as gaining experience in the operational elements of the business. The scheme runs over two years and consists of a series of placements around the business, giving you insights and opportunities to deliver work in a range of areas.

How did you get your job at TfL?The Graduate TfL website outlines all the graduate schemes on offer, and after reading about the various options and getting a flavour of what each one involved, I made my pick – the London Underground General Management scheme. At the time that I applied one of the streams available was Service Development. This would focus on the longer term picture and strategy around how London Underground delivered its vision.

The first step for applying was to fill in the online application. Its main focus was around my motivations for applying. I then carried out a situational judgement online test, where various example situations were explained and I had to say what my action would be in each one. A competency based telephone interview was next and the final stage was an assessment day. The assessment day had a number of elements including a group exercise, a presentation and an interview. It was quite exhausting as assessment days can often be, but I definitely came out feeling positive.

The application process does change from year to year though, so make sure you ask to find out what the process if you decide to apply.

What do you enjoy most about your job?I love the fact that the organisation provides an essential service for London that everyone can relate to. For me it is important to feel like the organisation I work for is useful and adds value to society, as clichéd as

that might sound. Another element I love is that it also has very tangible outputs – you can’t get much more real than trains and moving millions of people around London every day.

It is great working with people who are passionate about the organisation and what they do – it is not unusual to meet people with 20 years of service. Before you know it you develop a sometimes unexpected (but positive) fascination with public transport.

Having had placements in the operational environment was also brilliant. I was able to not only develop a solid understanding of what it is involved working on the stations and trains, but also holding genuine responsibility in managing stations on my own and understanding the unique workplace culture. Ticking off ‘driving trains’ from your life to-do list is also very satisfying (whether it was on your to-do list to start off with or not!).

What are the most stressful parts of the job?Since the graduate scheme consists of a series of three month placements, it can be challenging starting in a new team every few months and developing new relationships and learning new skills that the team specialises in.

However, this does also work very strongly in your favour as you develop a large network throughout the business over the course of the scheme, as well as developing a strong base of skills.

I also found shift work when I was doing my operational placement very difficult as you can end up working very unsociable hours. On the other hand, you do get rest days during the week where you can actually get useful things done, like going shopping without the crowds.

Any advice for the interview process?As always, prepare as much as possible! For the telephone interview, make sure you have good examples of things you have done that demonstrate various competencies. Keep the STAR framework in mind when answering questions – Situation, Task, Action, Results. It is valuable for making sure everything you say is useful and relevant to why it is being asked.

For the assessment day, practice your presentation enough beforehand. It is incredible what a difference it makes having practiced it (out loud to a real/imaginary audience) a few times the night before. Confidence is key.But most of all make sure you have a good understanding of TfL and London Underground (if you are applying for a London Underground scheme) and can demonstrate a genuine passion and interest for the organisation. And of course, let your personality shine through.

“For the telephone interview, make sure you have good examples of things you have done that demonstrate various competencies. Keep the STAR framework in mind when answering questions – Situation, Task, Action, Results. ”

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six steps to...

success

49

researching your future industry 50

Finding your way to the ideal job 52

Get taken seriously, get qualified 54

Writing the perfect cV 56

interview tips: How to get that job offer 60

How to tackle assessment centres 62


1Researching your future industry

As the old saying goes... if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. Never is this truer than for a job application. Arming yourself with the right information is vital and could make all the difference.

There are three main areas that you should get an insight into – the role, the company and the industry. Having knowledge about these

areas will show any employer that you are committed and enthusiastic.

The roleThis is probably the easiest part, as a brief job remit should have been included in the job advertisement. Companies will usually give some sort of idea of the skills and level of experience they’re looking for. However, there are some other things you can find out about. What will the interview process be like – how many people will interview you and what positions do they hold in the company? There may be some sort of test involved or you could be interviewed in a group. The more you know about what to expect, the more you can practice and the less nervous you’ll be on the day.

The companyWhat?Try to think about their products and services (especially new areas they’re looking to break into), the markets/industries they’re in and who their competitors are. Find out how long the company has been around and how is it structured. What are the key objectives for the firm and what can you offer to help achieve them? Has the company won any awards recently, joined with a key business partner or done some charity fundraising? All these pieces of information will familiarise you with the company.

How?The company’s website is always the best place to start. Most will feature an ‘about us’ section, which will have lots of information – perhaps a mission statement or a breakdown of the company structure. An annual report may even be available, which will give an insight into the company’s background, future plans and financial status.

Check out the events calendar at your careers centre or at www.insidecareers.co.uk to find out which companies will be visiting your university to hold workshops and seminars. Also go along to as many careers fairs and information days as possible – talk to the staff on the stall and find out as much as you can about the companies you like. Ask them how they got their job and why they like working there.

Public records will be another great source of information. Get along to the public or university library and see what you can find out. You can often find trade journals, research papers and press cuttings about your chosen company.“Companies will usually give some sort of idea

of the skills and level of experience they’re looking for. However, there are some other things you can find out about.”

checklist

Researched the company, who their competitors are, market information and how you fit in.

Looked at industry press to understand current affairs.

Found out what the application process and entails and prepared for these.

Formed an opinion.

q

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50 Career Advice




Finally, when you have an interview set up, ask your contact if they can send you any of their in house publications. This is a great way of learning about projects they’re working on.

When you’ve established a good understanding of the company, make a list of the things that interest you – a ‘top five’ reasons why you want to work there.

“Always research the company you are applying to - there is nothing worse for a recruiter to either read an application form or conduct an interview where the candidate doesn’t understand what the company does or worse mixed it up with a company of a similar name. Our common one is people thinking we are Lloyds TSB - it is very frustrating,” says Victoria Payne, Graduate Recruitment and Development Executive at Lloyd’s of London.

The industryDuring an interview it’s essential that you show an awareness of industry news and developments. This will highlight an added level of commitment to the profession that your competitors may not have. Keep up to date with the national media as well as trade press. Go to our website at www.insidecareers.co.uk for more information.

Ensure you know what is going on within the financial markets. Reading The Economist and becoming aware of deals or mergers that are occurring in the business environment is essential.

Find out which professional body represents the industry you’re interested in – most will have business news on their websites and you may even be able to sign up to their mailing lists.

Most importantly, find out where your prospective employer fits into the industry and how your potential job relates to it.

“You need to demonstrate that you have taken the time to research the industry, key bodies, qualifications available and major industry players,” advises Sarah Bergin McCarthy, Director at Sammons Pensions Recruitment Consultancy.

“Like with any other interview you need to show that you have researched your prospective employer thoroughly,” continues Sarah. “Statistics indicate worryingly that entry level candidates frequently do not bother with this key stage of their job search, yet you need to know that your employer will be able to support you in your ambitious career path.”



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• New graduate jobs, internships & placements• Deadline reminders• Employer presentations at your uni• Further study options• Industry news

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Career Advice 51








Engineering is not one subject or one career opportunity. Professional engineers are vitally important in most areas of employment and economic life, without them society would cease to function.

There is no single way to qualify as an engineer. While all routes into the profession involve a mixture of study and on-the-job training and experience, there are crucial differences between them. But whichever path you choose, you can have a career that offers attractive salaries, good employment prospects, intellectual challenges, travel opportunities and the chance to benefit society. One of the most important functions of the Engineering Council, in its role as the UK regulatory body for the profession, is setting and maintaining standards in the education, training and development of professional engineers. It produces the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC), which illustrates the flexibility of routes to attaining professional status, reflecting a progressive registration structure for life-long learning and career development.

Getting professionally qualifiedThere are two types of graduate engineer: 1. Incorporated Engineer (IEng) 2. Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Incorporated Engineers tend to maintain and manage applications of today’s technology to achieve maximum efficiency. They need a detailed understanding of their particular field of technology so that they can exercise independent judgement and often work in key management roles in their organisations. Graduates who register as Incorporated Engineers may well move on to Chartered status as their career progresses.

Chartered Engineers tend to deal with the progress of technology through innovation, creativity and change. They develop and apply new technologies, promote advanced designs and design methods, introduce new and more efficient production techniques and construction

concepts, and pioneer new engineering services and management methods. They are quite likely to lead projects and to play a significant role in the management of their organisations.

Advanced apprenticeships Going on to higher education is not the only way into an engineering career. If you are between 16 and 25 you can do an Advanced Apprenticeship, something that is available in many different engineering-related employment sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, transport and the electricity and gas industries. It provides a mixture of on-the-job training (usually leading to a level three National or Scottish Vocational Qualification) and vocational education (leading to a Technical Certificate such as an Edexcel National Certificate or Diploma).

There are a huge variety of ways to enter the world of engineering. Richard Shearman discusses some of your options.

2Finding your way to the ideal job

52 Career Advice




These qualifications can be the basis for registration with the Engineering Council as an Engineering Technician (EngTech). This shows that you have the knowledge and competence to apply technology and to contribute to the design, development, manufacture, operation and maintenance of products, systems and services. It also demonstrates that you can exercise some technical and management leadership. An Advanced Apprenticeship can be a route into higher education, either onto an honours degree course or one of the newer forms of work-related programme like a foundation degree or Higher Apprenticeship.

What sort of degree?If you are looking to become an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer, the quickest route is to first obtain a degree that is accredited to Engineering Council standards by one of the professional engineering institutions.

Accredited BEng (Hons) degrees meet the educational requirements for Incorporated Engineer registration. There are also BEng or BSc degrees which emphasise practical applications of technology rather than advanced theoretical analysis. It is possible to go into one of these via a Foundation degree or a Higher National Diploma, often done while working or following an apprenticeship.

The most common starting point to become a Chartered Engineer is also an accredited BEng (Hons) degree. However, you will also need to do further learning to Master’s level, either through an accredited Master’s degree or an employer’s work-based learning scheme. This further learning can be spread out over several years while you are working, rather than studying full-time. A number of universities are also developing work-based Masters degrees using the Engineering Gateways model developed by the Engineering Council. If it is a fast track route to CEng that you’re looking for, this can be provided by taking an accredited MEng degree - a four or five year course which takes you straight to Master’s level.

Sponsorship and sandwich coursesSome employers will sponsor engineering undergraduates. Sponsorship provides not only financial benefits, but also industrial training and experience, as most sponsors expect you to work for them in your summer vacations, during which time you will receive a salary.

Some engineering degrees are offered as sandwich courses, of which there are several different types. The 1:3:1 and 1:4:1 varieties include a year in industry before starting a degree course and another one after completing your academic studies.

So is that it?Obtaining your degree only gets you part of the way towards becoming a professional engineer. You will also need to undertake a period of initial professional development, during which you will apply your knowledge and understanding of engineering to solving real problems in a working environment and develop the competence and commitment you need to perform the duties of a professional engineer.

In today’s tough job market graduates need to look for ways to stand out from the competition when seeking employment. As well as helping you to build up your CV and initial professional development, internships offer valuable hands-on work experience and can provide that all important foot in the door. They are typically offered for between two to 12 months and also allow you to gain a first insight of a particular sector. Many employers are now realising the benefits of employing interns, which means that these opportunities are becoming more widely available. It is worth noting that there is a code of best practice for internships supported by the Government and the profession, which employers are encouraged to follow. These can be found in the Common best practice code for high-quality internships document at www.bis.gov.uk.

Once you have built up the necessary experience you can apply to a professional engineering institution for a review, where you will have to show that you have indeed got the necessary competence and commitment. If you succeed, you’ll then be able to call yourself an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer. More information about these requirements can be found at the Engineering Council website, www.engc.org.uk where there is a searchable database of accredited courses and a list of professional engineering institutions. Details of work-based Masters degree programmes can be found at: www.engc.org.uk/engineering-gateways.

Richard Shearman is the Engineering Council‘s Director of Formation and Deputy CEO.

“If you are between 16 and 25 you can do an Advanced Apprenticeship, something that is available in many different engineering-related employment sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, transport and the electricity and gas industries.”

Career Advice 53




You’re about to complete your engineering degree and half a dozen employers are interested in you. But you’ve also got a student loan to pay off, so why waste scarce money on joining an institution you may never use?

Here’s why. You have invested a big chunk of your intellectual development in a subject that is not only stimulating and rewarding, but could also be vital to the future of mankind. But be warned – nobody owes you a living, nor is anyone else as committed to your development as a professional as you are.

Membership of a professional engineering institution that has been licensed by the Engineering Council is a first visible step towards securing your professional standing. As your career progresses you should aspire to become professionally qualified with one of the 36 licensed institutions and obtain registration with the Engineering Council as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). The institutions cover all disciplines of engineering, so there will definitely be one to cover your area of interest.

If you are already a student member (which most institutions offer to you for free), then you will know if your degree provides you with a fast-track path to graduate membership of your chosen institution. If you have not yet joined, then you should enquire as to whether your degree is fully accredited, or whether you need to undertake further learning, which you can carry out in the workplace. Completing your education is only the first step towards becoming professionally qualified; you now need to know what else is required. Only a licensed institution can tell you this.

Secondly, an employer will expect you to be familiar with the issues, technologies and employment prospects in your chosen discipline in order to do this you will need to read an appropriate magazine and maintain at least a watching interest in related web-based discussions. Each of the licensed institutions publishes magazines in hard copy and on the web, with material written for the practitioner, which is full of useful detail and contacts. They are a vital means of staying up-to-date with developments.

Thirdly, you need to persuade your employer to provide you with a range of work experiences in your early years. It is surprising how easy it is to become trapped in an interesting but narrow niche. The world moves on and one day you could be replaced by a cheaper young graduate with your own prospects becoming limited. Good employers will help to structure your development. But how do you know that you have found a good employer? Many will offer graduate training schemes that have been accredited as meeting professional standards required by the institutions. Your institution will be able to tell you whether an employer has an approved scheme.

Without a foundation of broad experience you will find that as you move up the career ladder it becomes progressively more difficult to gain the basic understanding of new concepts and methods in your chosen sector, without making significant sacrifices in terms of either time or salary. Those with a solid grounding as a graduate will be able to draw on this knowledge reservoir repeatedly, shaping their confidence as a designer, contractor, manager and perhaps eventually in the boardroom, conference room, or at the negotiating table – wherever your career leads.

How can you make yourself a more attractive candidate in the engineering job market? Jon Prichard explores why joining a professional institution can brighten your career prospects.

3Get taken seriously, get qualified

54 Career Advice




Your professional institution will give you detailed advice on what you need to experience, who can provide it, how to exploit it and, best of all, a basis for negotiation with your employer. Let’s face it – no employer wants to be seen blocking the career of an ambitious new graduate.

Those with IEng or CEng status generally find it easier than non-registrants to gain promotion or a new job. Many employers place such high importance on registration that they are happy to pay the fees on their employees’ behalf. This is because contracts are often only awarded to companies with registered engineers.

Of course, membership provides many more benefits – not all of which are immediate. They all provide advice and support services. Some have club facilities and most have job pages or career-finder services. The conferences, meetings and seminars they organise, many of them free to attend, open up opportunities to meet and network with professionals in your field. And some institutions run graduate and student groups – a good way to make friends and keep in touch with others in your new discipline. But perhaps most importantly, they provide a means for demonstrating your professional commitment to your career, your employer and society at large. Why wouldn’t you do it?

To get started, please complete the enquiry form on the Engineering Council website, www.engc.org.uk/RegistrationEnquiry and we’ll put you in touch with the institution which is right for you.

Find out more about related sectors on

pg 28


pg 6


pg 18


pg 24


pg 6 & 42


pg 14, 24 & 36


pg 6 & 42


pg 36

BCS - The Chartered Institute for ITwww.bcs.orgT: 01793 417 417

CIBSE - The Chartered Institution of Building Services EngineersFor more details about membership and how CIBSE can help you please visit: www.cibse.org/membership

EI - Energy Institute61 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7ART: 020 7467 [email protected]

IChemE - Institution of Chemical Engineerswww.icheme.org

ICE - Institution of Civil EngineersFor more information and to join today visit www.ice.org.uk/graduates

IMechE - Institution of Mechanical Engineerswww.imeche.org

IStructE - Institution of Structural Engineers11 Upper Belgrave Street, London, SW1X 8BHT: 020 7235 4535Visit www.istructe.org/membership to see the different membership options available.

The Manufacturing Institutewww.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk

About the Engineering council

The Engineering Council is the UK regulatory body for the engineering profession. It holds the national registers of 235,000 Engineering Technicians (EngTech), Information and Communications Technology Technicians (ICTTech), Incorporated Engineers (IEng) and Chartered Engineers (CEng). In addition, the Engineering Council sets and maintains the internationally recognised standards of professional competence and ethics that govern the award and retention of these titles. This ensures that employers, government and wider society - both in the UK and overseas - can have confidence in the knowledge, experience and commitment of registrants.

contact detailsEngineering Council246 High HolbornLondon WC1V 7EXT: 020 3206 0500www.engc.org.uk

Career Advice 55



www.engc.org.uk

www.bcs.org

www.cibse.org/membership

www.energyinst.org

www.icheme.org

www.ice.org.uk/graduates

www.imeche.org

www.istructe.org/membership


www.endc.org.uk/RegistrationEnquiry


Honing your CV to perfection is the most important (if a little tedious and time consuming) element to the job process.

Employers will receive hundreds of CVs for every position and you must take the chance to make this document 100% perfect. To be a distinctive CV, it must be both well written and appealing to the eye.

The importance of a professional CV cannot be overemphasised. This is a sales pitch and needs to be a well-crafted, individually tailored and stunning looking document that portrays you in the best possible light.

For a prospective employer, a nicely formatted, neat and professional looking document, which demonstrates that it has been prepared with care and attention, is paramount to ensure that it passes the initial ‘30 second test’. This is the amount of time it may take for an employer to decide whether to read through the CV in detail.

After that, there are a number of criteria to avoid. They are, in order of importance:

1. Incorrect spelling/grammar2. Irrelevant content3. Poor or vague descriptions4. Unattractive layout5. Length (too long/short).

Instant brownie pointsA CV is remarkably important. It is usually all an employer will see

before deciding to call you for an interview, so it is essential that your CV stands out. It can do this by being clear, concise, well presented and error free. You can make an instant impression by:

• Keeping your CV short – no more than two pages, any longer could be detrimental.

• Using good quality paper – for example a light pastel coloured paper could make your CV stand out from the crowd. (Although as applications becomes more an online process, this becomes less relevant.)

• Lay out information using clear section headings to make it easier to navigate.

• Use bullet points to describe things like duties, responsibilities and achievements.

Essential CV tipsClear as daylightGenerally, the format of a CV is up to the individual, as long as it is easily understood. However, content is relatively standard from one CV to the next: personal details, profile/summary, educational details, work history, leisure interests, additional information, references. The amount of space you allocate to these areas in your CV suggests the importance you want employers to attach to them.

Up close and personalYour personal profile is the section that normally appears first on a CV. This paragraph is very important and it allows you to provide

Writing the perfect CVA CV is your first impression, getting it right can be the difference between being asked for an interview and hearing nothing. Peter Panayotou of The Write Stuff offers some tips to get to that vital next stage.

456 Career Advice




Positive action words

• Achieved, Acquired, Analysed, Assigned, Assisted.

• Broadened, Budgeted.• Collaborated, Communicated, Conducted,

Consulted, Controlled, Coordinated.• Demonstrated, Designed, Developed,

Devised, Directed.• Enabled, Established, Evaluated, Executed,

Expedited.• Facilitated, Formulated.• Generated.• Harmonised.• Identified, Implemented, Improved, Increased,

Initiated, Installed, Instigated.• Launched.• Maintained, Managed, Marketed,

Monitored.• Negotiated.• Organised, Oversaw.• Participated, Performed, Pioneered,

Presented, Promoted, Proposed, Provided.• Reorganised, Researched, Resolved,

Restructured, Reviewed.• Scheduled, Secured, Selected, Set up,

Shaped.• Tested, Trained.• Upgraded, Utilised.• Visualised.• Won, Wrote.

employers with details about yourself that do not appear in any other part of the document. This is your opportunity to sell yourself and describe what you have to offer the employer in terms of personal skills and attributes.

Short and sweetDetailing your work history is quite difficult. Concentrate on providing just enough information to give an accurate portrayal of your role. Many people have a tendency to go into complicated detail about their previous responsibilities, but this should be avoided – simple and straightforward explanations will suffice.

Paint a pictureAlways try to be specific about what you have done (managed two staff, responsible for a budget, completed a project, used Excel, PowerPoint and Photoshop, etc). Vague generalities do little to sell your skills to employers. Where possible, use positive action words to describe your work duties.

Out of hoursAlthough leisure interests are not as important as the main body of your CV, they do provide an insight into what you are like out of work.

Last wordReferences always appear last on the CV and can be dealt with by ‘available on request’ rather than listing individual contact details. You will find that if you adhere to these basic rules when compiling your CV, you should be well on your way to gaining that all important interview. Good luck!

When writing hobbies and interests on my cV, how much is too much?Too much would be where this section is longer or more detailed than any other section of the CV. You should write no more than a brief paragraph between two and six lines.

is it worth making changes to ensure each cover letter is unique?It is worth taking the trouble to tailor each one to the individual role. Look at the criteria in the specification and use that as a guide to adjust the letter accordingly. If you keep your cover letter relatively short, there should not be too much to amend.

should i make my cV look more attractive by using different colours and fonts?This should definitely be avoided. Use of colours will look like a gimmick and detract from the content. They may be seen as a novelty and will probably not be taken seriously.

How much detail should I include about qualifications? Should I include GcsEs and all the courses i have taken?Yes, if the space on the CV allows and your education was not too long ago, then put everything in. On the other hand, if an employer is more likely to be focusing on your degree or recent experience, then you could safely leave out the GCSEs.

Answers to your queries

Career Advice 57




Different CV layoutsChronological CVThis is the most commonly used format, which lists all employment and education. Usually this will be in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent and working backwards.

Order of information:1. Personal details2. Qualifications3. Training4. Employment5. Interests6. References.

Functional CVThis format of CV abandons the traditional chronological format and instead emphasises the skills and achievements. This is useful if there are no formal qualifications, if there have been numerous jobs with no clearly defined career path, or if there have been a lot of gaps.

Order of information:1. Personal details2. Summary of qualifications3. Skills, knowledge, attributes, abilities4. Summary of employment5. Interests6. References.

Hybrid CVThis type of CV layout is becoming more popular. It combines the Chronological CV and the Functional CV by retaining the fixed order of the Chronological CV, but also emphasising skills and achievements.

Order of information:1. Personal details2. Summary of qualifications3. Skills, knowledge, attributes, abilities4. Employment history5. Professional development6. Interests7. References.

On first sight, does it pass the ‘30 second test’?What is your first impression of the document, good or bad?Does it make you want to read the whole thing?Does it look attractive?Is it neat and well laid out?Is it user friendly and look easy to read?

things that can be off-putting are:Too much text on the page (looks busy)Too much information crammed in (no empty space)Lines too close together (bad planning)Small typeface (too hard to read)Large typeface (childish)Text too close to the edge of the page (non-existent margins)Pages stapled/clipped together (a hindrance)Bad print quality (ink smudged/faded)Poor quality paper (too thin/crinkled/torn/folded).

What is the overall length of the document?Too many pages with too much information?Too many pages with information too spaced out?Too few pages with information crammed in?

order of informationIf a school/college/university leaver, is that given prominence and listed first?If work experience is the most recent/main selling point, is it listed before education?

General rules

58 Career Advice




PAUL WILKINSON

Personal DetailsAddress: ...Telephone: ...Mobile: ...Email: ...

Professional Profile An accomplished undergraduate, currently completing a BA degree in Marketing Management. A highly motivated and responsible individual who enjoys a challenge, seeking a dynamic trainee or graduate position with a forward thinking company in the marketing field, offering room to grow and good opportunities for development and career progression.

Key Skills• Excellent organisation and time management developed from working three

part-time jobs whilst at college and keeping up to date with college work.• Leadership skills acquired from managing a team of 30 people at a road show

in Birmingham, covering a sports event over two days.• Ability to work well on own initiative developed through saving enough money

for tuition fees from working three part-time jobs whilst at college.• A committed team player and leader, as proven through researching topics at

university and fitting into different roles within a group.• An accomplished communicator with excellent presentation skills as shown

in fulfilling a role as course representative, conducting presentations to over 100 students.

• Empathy, tact and diplomacy developed through various customer service roles, with extensive experience in dealing with a demanding clientele.

Education and Qualifications Manchester Metropolitan University September 2008 – Present

BA in Marketing Management (Sandwich)

Subjects: Principles of Marketing, Fundamentals of Business Accounting, Marketing Practice, Consumer Behaviour, Business Environment, Introduction to Quantitative Methods of Business Analysis, Advertising Theory, Brand Management, Business to Business Marketing, Consumers and Society, Marketing Research and Analysis, Personal Aspects of Management

Park Lane College September 2006 – July 2008Leeds

A Levels: Media (B), Business (A) and ICT (B)AS Levels: Film Studies (B)

Crofton High School September 2001 – July 2006Leeds

10 GCSEs grade A-B, including: Business, Maths and English

Professional Memberships Member of The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Student Chapter

Additional Skills Familiar with the use of Windows applications and software, and use of the internet and email.

Page 1

Ensure that the name is at the top of ALL pages. First name and surname is enough.

Ensure the profile states current situation and future aspirations (i.e. career objectives).

Ensure that skills are qualified by real examples listing accomplishments and achievements, not just random or generic statements.

Use bullet points for any large sections of text. This breaks up the text into manageable sentences. It is easier to read and more attractive.

Don’t forget to list professional memberships (if any).

Make sure all pages are numbered.

PAUL WILKINSON

Employment History Bar Supervisor October 2007 – PresentESSENTIAL NIGHTCLUBS LTD• Providing table service during the day and assisting in the kitchen when required• Dealing with deliveries and orders, providing change for tills and assisting in safe

checks• Carrying out end of day reconciliation and cashing up tills at the end of the night• Supervising and directing staff, staff rostering and task allocation• Overseeing the smooth daily running of the bar and ensuring all tasks are completed

to the correct standard• Providing feedback on staff performance and contributing to meetings

Sales Administrator December 2005 – September 2008COMET• Working behind the cash desk, serving customers when they approach• Processing suspended sales from sales people• Dealing with customer queries and resolving and problems or complaints such as

refunds, exchanges and processing credit refunds• Conducting all the drawer balances, counting previous day’s money and preparing it

for collection• Filing paperwork and alerting managers to incorrectly processed sales or refunds• Also checking sundry transactions and processing weekly payroll

Bar Staff, Waiter, Box Office Assistant April 2007 – September 2007WAKEFIELD THEATRE• Working behind the bar and café during performances and in the theatre café during

the day• Serving customers, taking orders for food and beverages• Also working in box office, using databox to sell and reserve tickets for shows in person

and over the phone• Preparing advance tickets for despatch and creating displays for future shows

Bar Staff, Front of House September 2006 – August 2007QUEST• Working on front of house as a box office assistant, taking money from customers

on arrival• Remaining aware of applicable discounts and different entrance fees for different

flyers/guests• Dealing with up to 1,200 people within a 5 hour shift and cashing up tills in the venue• Also working in the cloakroom and behind the bar, serving customers• Assisting in ticketing to promote the club

Interests and Activities In my spare time I enjoy snowboarding. I am keen on cinema and the movies.

References

Available upon request.Page 2

Give priority to the job title – employers want to know WHAT you were doing, more than anything else.

Describe actual tasks, duties and responsibilities, so the reader can have a picture of what the job entailed.

Include month and year for all dates.

Not necessary to list actual contact details. The CV is only to get you to the interview stage.

A few words about spare time interests. Not too much!

List degree subjects to give prominence to the degree (if indeed it is a big selling point).

Make sure your bullets are aligned and that you consistently use the same format throughout the document and down the page.

Separate sections with headings, and use lines to emphasise the headings, making it easier for the reader to navigate down the page.

Career Advice 59




So, your polished CV has got you within sight of your dream job and the only thing left to face is the interview. Make sure you don’t fall at the final hurdle.

1. Do your homework. Always research the company beforehand. Find out what they do and how they do it, who their competitors are and what their company philosophy is. Most of this information should be available on the company’s website. Also try to take a look at any of their in house publications.

2. Do you fit? We all have strengths and weaknesses. Make a list of what they’ve mentioned they’re looking for in the job advert and how your experience and skills reflects this.

3. Nothing but the truth. Don’t be tempted to tell white lies on your CV or application form to make it sound more impressive. Only write things that you can back up in person or you may end up looking very silly indeed!

4. Practice with a friend. Think of some potential questions like ‘why do you think you are suitable for this role?’ or ‘why do you want to work for us?’ and practice your answers. It may help to get rid of your nerves.

5. Refresh your memory. Read through your CV or application form beforehand. Interviewers will nearly always ask you to elaborate on it and will ask how your experience will benefit you in the new role.

6. Get the when and where right. It may sound simple, but make sure you know exactly where you’re going, the name of the person you’re meeting and what time you have to be there. Always make a note of the phone number of the company, so you can call ahead if you’re going to be late.

7. Perfect timing. Plan your journey beforehand and set off a little earlier than you need to – it will look really bad to a potential employer if you arrive late. Also, try not to arrive more than 15 minutes early – if you do, take the time to get a coffee nearby and read over your CV.

1. Carry a spare CV. Take along a few extra copies of your CV or application form in case the interviewer asks for one.

2. Dress to impress. First impressions are all important, so make sure you look neat and professional. This is no time for making fashion statements, so keep your hair, jewellery and make-up discreet. Be approachable. Introduce yourself with a firm handshake and keep good eye contact throughout the meeting. Try not to fidget when you talk and remember to smile!

3. Be polite to everyone you meet. From the receptionist to the MD, you never know who may have influence over who gets hired. You could also soon be working with these people.

4. Don’t rush. Take time to consider how you’re going to answer a question. Think about your past experience and use it to back up any skills you claim to have.

5. Grab the chance to shine. Feel free to move the conversation into favourable areas. If you know you’re great at leading a team and have an eye for detail, talk about a project you’ve worked on where those strengths have played an important role.

Before the day

On the day

5Interview tips:How to get that job offer

60 Career Advice




6. Jabber, jabber. When you answer questions in your interview be friendly and open, but also concise. Try to avoid long, rambling answers that don’t have a point. Stay focused on what you’ve just been asked.

7. Don’t evade the question. It’s no good talking about your impressive IT skills if someone has just asked you about whether you can work to tight deadlines. If you’re not sure how to answer something, don’t be afraid to ask for time to think about the question. Simply say ‘That’s an interesting question, may I take a moment to think about that please?’ then answer as promptly and concisely as possible.

8. Weaknesses. Don’t claim to be perfect at everything – no one is. Admitting to a few minor flaws will show that you are honest and open to development. For example, if you’ve always struggled with giving presentations, suggest that this is something you’d like to practice and improve upon.

9. Positivity. Don’t be negative about past employers or colleagues – this will only show you in a bad light. Even if you hate your current job, just focus on things you have learnt or skills you’ve picked up.

10. Sell yourself. This is not a time to be modest about your abilities. Make sure the interviewer knows just how you can add value to the company.

11. Money talks. Try to avoid bringing up the issue of salary, particularly in your first interview. Your first thought should be about the role and not about how much you’re going to earn. The interviewer will usually bring up the subject when they feel it’s appropriate.

12. Q&As. Have a few questions prepared for the end of the interview, as this will show you are really interested in the role. Perhaps ask what the team are working on at the moment, or what

opportunities are available for training. You might even want to ask the interviewer how they got started in the industry or what is the best thing about the profession.

13. Phone interviews. More and more companies are conducting interviews over the phone and these should be treated just as seriously as a face-to-face meeting. Pick a quiet place and if possible use a landline instead of a mobile – the last thing you want is for your battery or signal to fail halfway through. Have your CV and cover letter in front of you and write a list of points you want to cover. You may even want to dress smartly for the occasion, as this will help you get in the right frame of mind.

14. Be yourself! This is probably the most important thing you can do. Try to relax and be friendly. They will be looking for someone they really want to work with and who will fit into their team.

1. Be accessible. Make yourself available for a call back – some companies will hold second and even third interviews, as well as assessment centres or psychometric tests. Some companies may ask you to put together a presentation, so be prepared for this.

2. Email. Follow up your interview with a short email, thanking them for their time and expressing your continued interest in the role.

3. Face facts. If you are unsuccessful, make sure you collect feedback from the interviewer. They may highlight weaknesses that you can work on in the future. You could also ask if they have any other positions available that you may be more suitable for.

4. Always remember that an interview should be a two-way exchange. This is your best opportunity to find out about the company and whether you really want the job.

After the day

Career Advice 61




Here we talk about how to prepare for this stage of the application process and perform to the best of your ability.

What is an assessment centre?Many companies run a series of extended selection procedures, often called assessment centres. These centres allow organisations to assess the candidate’s ability and whether they possess the skills to join their organisation. Also referred to as selection centres, they present candidates with a mixture of online tests, group/individual exercises, case studies and presentation exercises.

This type of process usually lasts a day or two. They take place following the first round of interviews and before the final selection. They are commonly held either on employers’ premises or in a hotel and for many companies they prove a successful way of selecting the right graduates to join their schemes.

Psychometric testsEmployers today are using psychometric tests more than ever in the graduate selection process. They can involve the following:

Online aptitude testsAptitude tests are a perfect way for an employer to assess your overall intelligence through numerical, verbal and reasoning exercises. You will be required to answer a number of questions under exam conditions, usually within a 30-minute period. The tests normally occur before the first interview as a way of measuring whether you can continue the application process.

Personality tests These assess your personal qualities through your responses to a number of questions or statements. They can aid the employer

in measuring your ability to handle situations, your emotions, motivations and gauge your overall outlook to work.

PresentationsYou may be expected to prepare a small presentation on the day. Introduce yourself at the start of the presentation (even if you have already been introduced to your audience) and use notes as a prompt, not a script. Brushing up on PowerPoint skills prior to the assessment day is a must.

In-tray exercisesWith this kind of exercise a candidate will be asked to handle a typical pile of papers that simulate what you might encounter in the role. These papers may include letters, internal memos or emails, reports, ‘junk mail’ and so on, and it is up to the candidate to deal with and prioritise them accordingly.

Group assessments These are the part within an assessment day that most candidates worry and ask questions about.

What are they?They are usually conducted with three to six people in a team, though sometimes firms will have larger groups. There are often assessors in the room who tend to makes notes on what people say within the group, rather than assessing them there and then.

In these situations, it is not advisable for participants to ask for advice from the assessors. They should greet them, but not interact any further than this.

Some firms opt to have the assessors absent from the room. Instead the candidate is filmed and assessed in a separate room. This form of assessment is well received by attendees as they tend to be more relaxed when they are not face-to-face with the assessors - although there are also stories of people becoming too relaxed so forgetting they are being assessed. Candidates are always told about the cameras – there are no secrets! It’s all very open and geared towards helping the prospective employees perform to the best of their abilities. With regards to the content of group assessments, they can range from directly

“Many companies run a series of extended selection procedures, often called assessment centres. These centres allow organisations to assess the candidate’s ability and whether they possess the skills to join their organisation.”

6How to tackle assessment centres

62 Career Advice




relevant to not at all. Relevant examples may be candidates being asked to read through a pile of information/research and prepare a pitch to present in their interview. The idea here is to simulate a real working environment where they would have lots of information available and limited time to prepare.

Another example is a team being asked to solve a business solution. Roles are assigned, such as the finance director, marketing director, HR director, etc, and as a ‘leadership board’ graduates must decide their corporate strategy. Examples often relate to hot topics in the market – so a sun cream company would need to account for factors such as skin cancer, and a beer company would need to discuss whether to sell strong, varied or non-alcoholic beverages. Subjects such as these are given to encourage teamwork, discussion and debate.

The less obviously relevant examples could be something as simple as using paper, scissors and tape to make a paper chain. This may appear trivial as it seemingly has no relevance to the job, but these tasks are set to see how people organise themselves, communicate, hit the deadline and work together - whilst needing no technical knowledge to complete the task.

What are recruiters looking for?Mainly for teamworking and communication skills. However, some firms may look for business acumen, problem-solving and drive as well.

It is key to strike a balance in showing these skills in the session. Companies do not always necessarily look to employ the leader, instead anyone who shows drive, problem-solving and

communication skills. It is important to also add creative and constructive ideas to this. Other desired qualities are negotiation skills and proof that you can work in a team by combining to complete the task successfully.

The following are good things to do/say which may show these competencies:

Teamwork• ‘Does anyone have any experience of this market at all that

they can bring to the team?’• Clarify any time constraints and team goals.• Suggest how to structure the team to complete the task in

time.• Acknowledge the contributions of others and build on them.

Communication• Try to get quieter members involved. Using their names is

excellent as it personalises the questions and makes them more likely to contribute.

• Clarify any points or decisions made.• State points clearly and concisely, using facts/evidence to

validate thoughts.• Defend your ideas but be flexible and willing to accept when

others put good arguments forward.• Don’t dominate the conversation.• Be tactful and respectful when challenging suggestions.• Talk and engage – if you don’t contribute very much or cannot

be heard you cannot score well.

Problem-solving• Identify the problem/factors, and try to think of wider

implications.• Take reasonable logical steps to resolve the issue.• Use facts/evidence to validate arguments and solutions.• Ensure the chosen solution is practical.

“The idea here is to simulate a real working environment where they would have lots of information available and limited time to prepare.”

Career Advice 63



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