ADVICE FOR MECH ENGINEER STUDENT

[stoop44rio]

Hi, so just as I’m nearing the end of my second year mech engineering course and applying for year out placements it’s slowly dawning on me that I may not be all that into mech engineering after all. All the jobs on offer seem to me to be desk bound types, or CAD (which I dislike alot) focused. I’m after a real hands on type of role so what sort of direction should I be looking in? What type of companies/roles would be more in tune with me? Any advice would be great because at the minute as I’m in limbo land. BTW although working with cars etc is one of my hobbies any suggestions of working in bigger companies like Rolls Royce won’t do as I’m in N. Ireland and stuck here for family reasons. Thanks.

[MajorMantra]

Not being able to relocate will drastically limit your options. If you could leave, what about something like marine engineering? A friend of mine trained to be an engineer on cruise ships and it's pretty hands on stuff. (Fancy clambering inside crankcases and whatnot?) It's not ideal from a family life point of view though.

(Side note: I found myself in a similar position and ultimately dropped out of my mech eng course. If you can stick it out your degree will give you plenty of options but a great many of them will be desk bound.)

[Evanivitch]

Depends, there's a few avenues you can take if you want to avoid the desk job.

- Change career path. Engineering is a strong degree, you just need to think laterally when you start applying.

- Get a job at a test facility. Probably spend more time in the lab environment, but you'll still be expected to write reports.

- Technical sales. Hopefully on the road seeing customers and doing demonstrations.

- Join the military.

- Join an airline, providing sign off at maintenance facilities. You won't be doing spanner work though.

[rog007]

Echo military if you don't want to be deskbound once you've graduated. In the meantime look at UOTC.

You might be able to get in to a defence contractor for your placement year.

[edc]

If you want to be hands on then just go downstairs to the shop floor.

[voicey]

I found myself in a not dissimilar position when I came to the end of my first Mech Eng degree (many years ago).

First of all I would encourage you to finish the course. As mentioned, the degree is very strong and will allow you to go into many other fields. My top tip for Mech Eng students is to turn up to all the lectures - I didn't until my final year but it was a revelation when I did. I think the course is so hard that they tell you everything you need to know in the lectures so the first hurdle is to be there to listen!

I didn't start looking for a job until I finished the last exam which was a mistake as all the schemes had closed. I ended up doing a MSc in Advanced Mech Eng just to fill in a year whilst I applied for graduate schemes. I didn't know what I wanted to do so applied for a broad range of different careers. I ended up in the City and had a good career in banking. However my love of engineering never died so last year I "retired" from banking at 40 and now have my own company messing around with cars.

Whatever you decide, good luck with it!

[pikeyboy]

Most people do a degree so they don't have to be on the tools and can earn a decent wage. I did materials at Loughborough, I had sponsorship from rr aero, I worked there since graduating, I left after 12 years of working in engine test and development and worked in a consultancy who designed and reverse engineered industrial gearboxes, this took me travelling and working off shore and all over the world. I'm now a self employed contractor in engineering. There are lots of CAD monkey jobs out there both contract and perm, however its boring like you say. There are also lots of test and development certification type jobs available - this is more my area. There is a much smaller pool of people in this area, be it automotive, aero etc. finish your Mech eng degree find a job that interests you and get as much experience as you can, a large company grad scheme is ideal for this.

[w1bbles]

I did Mechanical Engineering and landed a job on British Rail's grad engineering scheme. The first couple of years were a mix of fun and boredom, but the first couple of years post the scheme were great fun with some international travel to manufacturers in the USA. I then left for a job in manufacturing where I got to build machinery and deal with customers. At that point, 5 years post grad, I got chartered engineer status. I then went back to uni for a second degree and went to work for a big management consultancy, working on transport and manufacturing projects. Great fun and much better paid. I've done consultancy and interim management for the last 17 years, many of which have only been possible with an engineering degree and chartered status (I've been a Fellow of the IMechE for 5 years or so). My tip would be not to give it up - an engineering degree is tough and has the reputation to go with that. I've never regretted it.

[w1bbles]

To add - if I ever meet new clients who are sceptical about my ability to understand their business, saying I'm a Chartered Engineer usually opens loads of doors.

[stoop44rio]

Thanks for the replies. I get the gist of what everybody seems to be telling me..finish the degree. I suppose I'm that far into it (2 yrs night class, 2 yrs uni) it would be stupid not to finish. Would the manufacturing end of engineering more likely give the opportunity of working with machinery? Maybe maintenance or installation?

[Evanivitch]

stoop44rio said:

Thanks for the replies. I get the gist of what everybody seems to be telling me..finish the degree. I suppose I'm that far into it (2 yrs night class, 2 yrs uni) it would be stupid not to finish. Would the manufacturing end of engineering more likely give the opportunity of working with machinery? Maybe maintenance or installation?

I'd have thought not.

Get into trials and development of vehicles and equipment. Defence, heavy machinery etc. BAe, GD, LM, Caterpillar, JCB, automotive companies. Probably useful if you get experience in electrical and software (so try and shift your mechanical final year towards robotics).

I have great fun on my days out of the office, but undeniably the majority of the time is in the office at my desk or in meetings. But i enjoy it.

[edc]

You really need to get yourself some work experience or placements to see for yourself what's what.

People have different ideas of machinary and hands on. You could do all that in factory manufacturing for example.

[pikeyboy]

stoop44rio said:

Thanks for the replies. I get the gist of what everybody seems to be telling me..finish the degree. I suppose I'm that far into it (2 yrs night class, 2 yrs uni) it would be stupid not to finish. Would the manufacturing end of engineering more likely give the opportunity of working with machinery? Maybe maintenance or installation?

For sure, finish your degree, a friend of mine bailed in his final year, he used to drive a JCB part time for 11 quid and hour. When he was a skint student that was a good job and strong money...but it isn't a career, its a job, there is a difference. Don't put yourself in his position. I used to see CV's of really highly qualified people applying for jobs but no experience at all, summer placements etc are brilliant for this and also gets your foot in the door. I'm afraid you not being able to relocate is probably going to limit you somewhat.