Automotive Design Placements

[Gio G]

I would very much appreciate anyone on here in the industry for some feedback please. My son is in his second year of Automotive and Transport Design (Coventry) and is very keen to secure a placement in his 3rd year, be it 6 or 12 months to get some meaningful experience.

Would there be any advantages to start looking early? and apart from the usual large manufacturers, any niche/interesting upcoming players he should approach? He clearly wants to avoid the mass spring applications. Also, would it be better to contact the employer directly for a placement, rather than using the University? Any special techniques that would help with a placement?

Thanks G

[TheFinners]

It is best to do both, Uni Careers Centre is usually helpful (would definitely recommend getting an appointment there booked), but a big chunk of it is applying to places directly. Make sure he has practised some of the generic/tedious HR based questions (tell us about a time when you did xyz...) and also has a good basic technical grasp - understands basic materials/manufacturing/design principles and can explain them. It is common to be handed and vehicle component and be quizzed on it until you run out of knowledge, the employer is looking to how you would approach the questions as much as if everything answered is 100% correct.

I'm a recent graduate currently involved with engine testing and development, and I got my job as a result of my 1 year placement at the same company which I did during my degree, so I can't recommend doing them enough to people. Large companies are good for the CV and you could get some really interesting work, or have the chance to move around departments a bit, but there is always the risk you could end up stuck on something mundane. There's quite a lot of choices though here of various sizes (this is just scratching the surface):

-Aston Martin
-Bentley
-Cosworth
-BMW Group (RR and Mini)
-Mclaren
-Ricardo
-Intertek
-Ford
-Mira
-Millbrook Proving Ground
-Lotus
-Triumph

The 'third party' companies (Mira, Millbrook, Cosworth, Ricardo etc) can be very interesting as they tend to do work for a variety of manufacturers and vehicles of all kinds.

[chris-fm270]

Add to the above list any tire 2 suppliers.

Faurecia.
Magna International.
Gestamp.
Visteon.
Lear Corporation
etc etc...

then there are agencies that also hire designers

Envisage Group
CGI
etc etc...

Lots of opportunities to get your foot in the industry door. I would network as much as possible, enter competitions ASAP. The design industry is extremely competitive, especially automotive so you really need to put in all of the hours your can.

End of year show is a must, Coventry do one internally and in London (New Designers), make sure they work towards the London show as this is where all of the top companies will send people to scout and they usually take interest in Cov uni.

Make a portfolio, publish it online (lots of places, find an automotive or industrial design specific one) and keep it updated and relevant.

Hope that all helps and best of luck!

[Gio G]

Many thanks for the advice so far..

G