Didnt get an engineering apprenticeship. Gutted.
Discussion
So, since March ive had various applications going through for engineering apprenticeships.
It started with the OPITO one, which i majorly messed up the aptitude test for.
I then applied for another with Perenco at Wytch Farm, Dorset, the studying for which would have been at Southampton Engineering Training Academy. I passed the aptitude test with very good results (ive since found out).
My mums partner then put me forward for an oil and gas apprenticeship with the company that he works for (and is quite high up in) but for this one i was a week too late applying.
I then attended the Perenco interview, which i felt went well.
In the mean time, whilst awaiting results i heard from SETA (mentioned above) who asked whether id like to attend an interview for Southampton General Hospital, as an engineering apprentice. I attended and again, it felt like it went well.
There was then the possibility of an interview with a very specialist defense company, but it turned out that they wanted someone who lived locally (i live 1.5 hours away, but was intending to move closer.
And then i got rejected by Perenco.
And then, today i got rejected by Southampton Hospital, although they did say i interviewed very well.
So now i am moderately down. So many hopeful possibilities and i didnt get a single one. Damn.
I guess the industry is crying out for engineers, not engineering apprentices?
What do i do next? Train at college paid for by my self? Keep applying?
Does any one know of an easier and less well know route to get my foot in the door and get some qualifications?
I know for sure that this is what i want.
My grades are 6 B's 1 D and the rest are C. I have a B in Maths and Science, C in English.
There are 3 plus sides. Plus side one is that the defense and hospital apprenticeships really opened my mind to careers i hadnt considered.
Plus side 2 is that i am still in a stable warehousing job that i enjoy and that pays ok for my age.
Plus side 3 is that i can now begin car hunting! (was going to get a motorbike if id got one)
It started with the OPITO one, which i majorly messed up the aptitude test for.
I then applied for another with Perenco at Wytch Farm, Dorset, the studying for which would have been at Southampton Engineering Training Academy. I passed the aptitude test with very good results (ive since found out).
My mums partner then put me forward for an oil and gas apprenticeship with the company that he works for (and is quite high up in) but for this one i was a week too late applying.
I then attended the Perenco interview, which i felt went well.
In the mean time, whilst awaiting results i heard from SETA (mentioned above) who asked whether id like to attend an interview for Southampton General Hospital, as an engineering apprentice. I attended and again, it felt like it went well.
There was then the possibility of an interview with a very specialist defense company, but it turned out that they wanted someone who lived locally (i live 1.5 hours away, but was intending to move closer.
And then i got rejected by Perenco.
And then, today i got rejected by Southampton Hospital, although they did say i interviewed very well.
So now i am moderately down. So many hopeful possibilities and i didnt get a single one. Damn.
I guess the industry is crying out for engineers, not engineering apprentices?
What do i do next? Train at college paid for by my self? Keep applying?
Does any one know of an easier and less well know route to get my foot in the door and get some qualifications?
I know for sure that this is what i want.
My grades are 6 B's 1 D and the rest are C. I have a B in Maths and Science, C in English.
There are 3 plus sides. Plus side one is that the defense and hospital apprenticeships really opened my mind to careers i hadnt considered.
Plus side 2 is that i am still in a stable warehousing job that i enjoy and that pays ok for my age.
Plus side 3 is that i can now begin car hunting! (was going to get a motorbike if id got one)
Thank you.
The issue i have is i get very nervous on the phone when ive had time to think about making the call. Im as calm as the next person when in interview. Im as calm as the next person when I receive an important call unexpectedly.
The car i am thinking of buying is a TVR, so i guess this would pass for an "engineering project"?
Im thinking that maybe i could do evening classes once a week, and maybe learn how to weld or basic car mechanics? Although i have absolutely no idea how much this sort of thing costs.
The issue i have is i get very nervous on the phone when ive had time to think about making the call. Im as calm as the next person when in interview. Im as calm as the next person when I receive an important call unexpectedly.
The car i am thinking of buying is a TVR, so i guess this would pass for an "engineering project"?
Im thinking that maybe i could do evening classes once a week, and maybe learn how to weld or basic car mechanics? Although i have absolutely no idea how much this sort of thing costs.
I received an email yesterday, again from SETA. They have put me forward to another company.
They didnt tell me what they do.
Thank you for the advice.
I sent an email off to my local college to enquire about a part time motor mechanics course that they run. Again, not engineering, but they didn't offer anything more relevant on a part time basis. It also experience, and knowing your way around the mechanics of a car, has got to relate to the mechanics of any drive system.
They didnt tell me what they do.
Thank you for the advice.
I sent an email off to my local college to enquire about a part time motor mechanics course that they run. Again, not engineering, but they didn't offer anything more relevant on a part time basis. It also experience, and knowing your way around the mechanics of a car, has got to relate to the mechanics of any drive system.
Im 22 (as of Friday just gone).
Im looking at mechanical engineering.
The oil and gas apprenticeship i looked at involved repairing gearboxes and pumps. I just assumed that a basic mechanics course would be a start and give me a good back ground to engineering. I used CAD at work experience. I thought CAD was used more for design than for engineering.
Im looking at mechanical engineering.
The oil and gas apprenticeship i looked at involved repairing gearboxes and pumps. I just assumed that a basic mechanics course would be a start and give me a good back ground to engineering. I used CAD at work experience. I thought CAD was used more for design than for engineering.
Fotic said:
You've had 3 interviews, one of which you say you messed up so 2 actual chances.
You need a sense of reality I'm afraid - it's going to take more effort than that to get the job you want.
I also only applied for 2 apprenticeships.You need a sense of reality I'm afraid - it's going to take more effort than that to get the job you want.
I realise now, that next year i will need to apply for loads. I wasnt aware how difficult it would be, or how many people would be going for these positions.
My local college doesnt really have any decent engineering courses (CAD or similar) that are part time. Id consider my self competent with Sketchup, so i feel a basic course in CAD would be showing me stuff i already know. Giving up work is not an option, even if just for a year.
My mechanical knowledge is currently very limited. I know the basics of almost everything, but i dont know anything in much more detail.
Id consider my self competent with Sketchup, so i feel a basic course in CAD would be showing me stuff i already know.
My mechanical knowledge is currently very limited. I know the basics of almost everything, but i dont know anything in much more detail.
Id consider my self competent with Sketchup, so i feel a basic course in CAD would be showing me stuff i already know.
dingg said:
to the OP , have you considered a merchant navy cadetship ?
worth a look at IMO
Yes. worth a look at IMO
I just assumed it would be massively over subscribed.
I also found all the options baffling.
To everyone else. Ive taken everything on board.
Going to get this final interview out the way (if im offered it) and then start applying for courses. Studying full time is simply not an option. I have a mental block to the idea of giving up employment.
Regarding what ive been doing since leaving school.
3 year at college not studying hard at all and studying subjects that i now dont need.
2 years working for my mum.
The last year ive spent working in a warehouse. Ive recently got my forklift licences.
Just a quick update.
This year i was successful.
I applied for about 15 apprenticeships and got interviews for all of them and got offered a position at the second company i had an interview for, which was luckily the best id applied for.
Ill be working in defence electronics in Southampton.
I cleared SC last week and I got my welcome letter this morning.
I start on the 7th September.
Thank you to everyone who gave me advice on this thread last year.
Ben
This year i was successful.
I applied for about 15 apprenticeships and got interviews for all of them and got offered a position at the second company i had an interview for, which was luckily the best id applied for.
Ill be working in defence electronics in Southampton.
I cleared SC last week and I got my welcome letter this morning.
I start on the 7th September.
Thank you to everyone who gave me advice on this thread last year.
Ben
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