Any Automotive Engineers?
Discussion
I've taken a year out after secondary school to repeat a few exams, I'll be applying to uni for 2010/11 entry, and am considering applying for 'Automotive Engineering', or Mechanical and 'Automotive Engineering'.
Anyone here have an Automotive Engineering Degree?
I have a few questions!
Anyone here have an Automotive Engineering Degree?
I have a few questions!
I'm just really curious about wether or not there are many jobs in it? What sort of companies employ automotive engineers; obviously Motorsport and Car Manufacturers.. But any else?
Also, when it comes to applying for a job, will the employer really look at 'how' you got the qualifications.. Like, where you studied, or if you went to an accademy etc?
Is it a good job? And what do you be doing on a day-to-day basis?
Cheers
Also, when it comes to applying for a job, will the employer really look at 'how' you got the qualifications.. Like, where you studied, or if you went to an accademy etc?
Is it a good job? And what do you be doing on a day-to-day basis?
Cheers
T89 Callan said:
I have always worked as an Automotive engineer but have a degree in Motorsport engineering. Feel free to ask away.
Also, how did you obtain your degree?EDIT: I had never heard of a Motorsport Engineering Degree until now.. Turns out a few universitys do it.
Edited by PapaHett on Wednesday 30th September 01:07
Most people graduating with a motorsport degree don't get into motorsports, so before you sign up make sure it's where you really want to be and that you have the enthusiasm, love and dedication to do well in your studies and to get yourself noticed afterwards.
Lots of guys want to get into motorsport engineering; the money isn't great til you get further up the promotion ladder and the hours can be very antisocial. Therefore the ones who can demonstrate their love for the sport are more likely to get in, all other things being equal.
While you're studying, help a race team / join a local car club / get some hands-on experience of a racing paddock and how teams work etc.
If that doesn't sound like you, be aware that the non-motorsport car industry in the UK is on the decline from an engineering perspective. There are opportunities, but many companies are relocating their manufacturing and development to other countries and I don't see that slowing or reversing. I honestly couldn't tell you there's a stable working environment and a 40-year career in automotive engineering in the UK.
Don't want to be overly pessimistic but you should be aware that the options are becoming gradually more limited over time.
Also think about the likely future of motorsport - as green issues come to the fore, how long do you think before motorsport is no longer socially acceptable and the "ban everything" brigade get their way?
An alternative is aerospace engineering focussing on aerodynamics - that lends itself perfectly to race car design but remains important to the mainstream car industry and the aerospace industry. Neither of those is going to die for the forseeable future and it gives you more options than motorsport would.
Hope some of that's useful.
Lots of guys want to get into motorsport engineering; the money isn't great til you get further up the promotion ladder and the hours can be very antisocial. Therefore the ones who can demonstrate their love for the sport are more likely to get in, all other things being equal.
While you're studying, help a race team / join a local car club / get some hands-on experience of a racing paddock and how teams work etc.
If that doesn't sound like you, be aware that the non-motorsport car industry in the UK is on the decline from an engineering perspective. There are opportunities, but many companies are relocating their manufacturing and development to other countries and I don't see that slowing or reversing. I honestly couldn't tell you there's a stable working environment and a 40-year career in automotive engineering in the UK.
Don't want to be overly pessimistic but you should be aware that the options are becoming gradually more limited over time.
Also think about the likely future of motorsport - as green issues come to the fore, how long do you think before motorsport is no longer socially acceptable and the "ban everything" brigade get their way?
An alternative is aerospace engineering focussing on aerodynamics - that lends itself perfectly to race car design but remains important to the mainstream car industry and the aerospace industry. Neither of those is going to die for the forseeable future and it gives you more options than motorsport would.
Hope some of that's useful.
Yep I have an automotive engineering degree and only by accident am I now working in this field.
I admit I enjoy what I do - selling tools to garages, workshops and even some of the manufacturers, but I'm slightly miffed that I spent 3 years studying for something I don't need for my current role. I'm able to do my current role simply because I service my own cars and my dad's an ex mechanic who has been showing me how to do everything car related.
I'll also add that I shot myself in the foot so to speak by doing an exchange year out in the USA as part of my degree - I couldn't make any of the interviewers at the big engineering companies understand why I did it, and in this industry I don't think being brave and different is necessarily a good thing.
Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't want to go into a engineering degree again, I don't think Aerospace is good either based on BAE making a load of redundancies recently. But thats just me, you might be different and exactly what the big engineering companies are looking for. My cousins husband has a similar degree from loughborough and he now works for a company that develop hydraulic lifters for swimming pools!
And while I hate to admit it, it does seem there are a lot of people that think the choice of university is important. I didn't realise this beforehand, but unfortunately HR people will be the ones that make the decision and they're the biggest bunch of upthemselves b
ds you could hope to meet. (apologies to anyone in HR including my new next door neighbour who is a really nice guy but looked down his nose at the university I went to - University of Hertfordshire is really good for engineering but nobody believes me as it used to be a poly and its in hatfield!)
I admit I enjoy what I do - selling tools to garages, workshops and even some of the manufacturers, but I'm slightly miffed that I spent 3 years studying for something I don't need for my current role. I'm able to do my current role simply because I service my own cars and my dad's an ex mechanic who has been showing me how to do everything car related.
I'll also add that I shot myself in the foot so to speak by doing an exchange year out in the USA as part of my degree - I couldn't make any of the interviewers at the big engineering companies understand why I did it, and in this industry I don't think being brave and different is necessarily a good thing.
Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't want to go into a engineering degree again, I don't think Aerospace is good either based on BAE making a load of redundancies recently. But thats just me, you might be different and exactly what the big engineering companies are looking for. My cousins husband has a similar degree from loughborough and he now works for a company that develop hydraulic lifters for swimming pools!
And while I hate to admit it, it does seem there are a lot of people that think the choice of university is important. I didn't realise this beforehand, but unfortunately HR people will be the ones that make the decision and they're the biggest bunch of upthemselves b
ds you could hope to meet. (apologies to anyone in HR including my new next door neighbour who is a really nice guy but looked down his nose at the university I went to - University of Hertfordshire is really good for engineering but nobody believes me as it used to be a poly and its in hatfield!)PapaHett said:
I'm just really curious about wether or not there are many jobs in it?
Cheers
No.Cheers
ETA: Sorry to be so blunt, I have been out of work for 7 months. Just one interview (and that was for Network Rail), the industry is f
ked at present. maybe in 4-5 years when you graduate it will be better.FYI I loved my job, last role was at JLR as a PMST leader, enjoyed the whole thing. trying to describe what I did would take pages.
Edited by T89 Callan on Wednesday 30th September 14:06
I studied Automotive Engineering at Loughborough. I must admit, most people from my year did not stay in the industry, I am one of the few who did. I started working in the Diesel Engine industry in the UK, then transferred to the USA just over a year ago. I love what I do (working mainly with industrial machinery) but echo what some have said here - right now is a tough time to be looking for work in this industry, although it will of course pick up again.
A GOOD engineering degree from a good university will allow you to do almost anything - people in my year went on to do banking, became lawyers (with extra training), marketing, etc etc (and of course they earn more than me!)
Maybe look around and see what sort of jobs are around at the moment, and whether any of the bigger companies are taking graduates right now?
A GOOD engineering degree from a good university will allow you to do almost anything - people in my year went on to do banking, became lawyers (with extra training), marketing, etc etc (and of course they earn more than me!)
Maybe look around and see what sort of jobs are around at the moment, and whether any of the bigger companies are taking graduates right now?
Otto said:
A GOOD engineering degree from a good university will allow you to do almost anything - people in my year went on to do banking, became lawyers (with extra training), marketing, etc etc (and of course they earn more than me!)
True, a freind who I went to uni with really struggled to complete our engineering degree, he barely got a third.He then decided that he wanted to do business as a masters, went to the open day of a very respected Uni' and spoke to the course leader who tried to discourage him by saying how hard it was, when he revealed what degree (and mark) he had the course leader said something like "oh you've done an Engineering degree? You'll be fine then", got accepted on the course and has now completed a PhD (or something) in business advancement.
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