Career Area
ENGINEERING
Engineering has a considerable impact on every part of modern life, and includes many different career areas that can take you all over the world. Not all engineering jobs involve heavy or dirty work – there is an increasing emphasis on design and electronics. Engineering skills are in great demand.Engineers work in several other sectors such as IT, Construction and Manufacturing
Engineering careers generally follow a similar pattern, whatever the job area.
There are four different levels of engineering job:
- Operative (Level 1/2)
- Craftsperson (Level 3)
- Engineering Technician (Level 3/4)
- Incorporated/Chartered Engineer (Level 6 and above)
This area looks at just four different job areas in Engineering, with three possible career routes for each:
Click above to go to the Diplomas
- Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineer
- Automotive/Motorsports Engineer
- Electrical & Electronic Engineer
- Marine Engineer
You can get your qualifications by taking vocational courses or studying while in employment as well as by the more traditional full time education route. The important thing is to choose a route that suits you.
Remember these are career pathways, and you can get on or off the pathway at any point!
Mature students without formal qualifications are advised to talk to their local nextstep provider www.nextstep.org.uk One year Access to Higher Education courses give adults without formal qualifications the chance to study at degree level. Contact individual colleges and universities to discuss their entry requirements.
Additional sources of information
The Sector Skills Council for Engineering is SEMTA www.semta.org.uk
SummitSkills is the Sector Skills Council for Building Services Engineering www.summitskills.org.uk
Scenta careers has general information on science and engineering www.scenta.co.uk/careers/general.cfm
The Engineering Council UK www.engc.org.uk sets and maintains recognised standards of professional competence
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board www.ecitb.org.uk focuses on improving the skills of craft and technician personnel and supervisors, as well office based staff such as designers and project managers.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) accredits programmes for Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer or Engineering Technician www.theiet.org
The WISE Campaign (Women Into Science, Engineering and Construction) promotes science, engineering and construction as career options for women www.wisecampaign.org.uk
Other useful engineering sites include:
EAL (engineering qualifications)www.eal.org.uk
EEF (the employers’ organisation)www.eef.org.uk
What else should I be doing?
There’s a lot you can do to help your career in Engineering outside formal learning:
- find part time work/holiday jobs/work experience involving engineering
- plan for a working Gap Year with Year in Industry www.yini.org.uk
- take part in Aimhigher activities, such as summer schools and taster days
- take part in engineering challenges and competitions
- improve your teamwork and personal skills – especially communication and presentation
- develop your problem solving and thinking skills
- visit industrial heritage museums and attractions
- take part in National Science Week activities
- develop your IT skills
- learn a foreign language if you want to work abroad
- join a Young Engineers Club if there is one in your area www.youngeng.org
- contact your local Setpoint for resources www.setnet.org.uk
- become a Student Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (undergraduates)