14yo son - Work Experience in Engineering - What's Best?
Discussion
My lad has applied for work experience at JLR in Wolverhampton and has been turned down.
He wants to go into Engineering/Design in the automotive industry. Living in Wolverhampton, any advice how best to proceed? I'm not academically educated so don't know anything about college or Uni, I don't know about Graduates/undergrad's etc and what they mean to the workplace.
He/I don't want him to be happy with just being a production worker as it is vulnerable to market changes and feel engineering/design is more transferable.
Any advice? It doesnt necessarily need to be in automotive.
He wants to go into Engineering/Design in the automotive industry. Living in Wolverhampton, any advice how best to proceed? I'm not academically educated so don't know anything about college or Uni, I don't know about Graduates/undergrad's etc and what they mean to the workplace.
He/I don't want him to be happy with just being a production worker as it is vulnerable to market changes and feel engineering/design is more transferable.
Any advice? It doesnt necessarily need to be in automotive.
My late father became an engineer in the car industry starting from the shop floor but that was in the 60s and 70s and nowadays most professional engineers have degrees.
I would not be worried about not getting work experience at fourteen. Encourage your son to work hard and get good GCSEs followed by good A Levels then go to the best university that will make an offer. Talk to the teachers. Large universities offer visits and courses for school pupils, to get an idea of what further education is like.
I would not be worried about not getting work experience at fourteen. Encourage your son to work hard and get good GCSEs followed by good A Levels then go to the best university that will make an offer. Talk to the teachers. Large universities offer visits and courses for school pupils, to get an idea of what further education is like.
Wouldn't worry too much... work experience at 14 will have barely any professional relevance going forward.
If he's interested in engineering then it might be worth trying local engineering and design firms outside of the automotive industry, the CAD tools and design environment will be very broadly similar...if they can sit him on Solidworks for a week then he will have a good idea whether he enjoys that type of work.
Work experience/placements in the summers between university are the important ones later on.
If he's interested in engineering then it might be worth trying local engineering and design firms outside of the automotive industry, the CAD tools and design environment will be very broadly similar...if they can sit him on Solidworks for a week then he will have a good idea whether he enjoys that type of work.
Work experience/placements in the summers between university are the important ones later on.
As above really, it's not going to matter too much at this age. Try and find some smaller firms locally, they might be a bit more keen to have someone making the tea for a week (I mean gaining vital engineering experience!). I guess that whilst the experience won't really count for much it will provide a good insight for your son as to what the career is really like and if that really is what he wants to do.
We've had a few people bring their kids into work for a week or so and we've always tried to find a meaningful project for them to do. If my kids show an interest in what I do as they get older I would certainly hope to be able to offer them some work experience here.
I was lucky growing up, my Dad was a process technician at an oil refinery and through him I managed to pick up some relevant summer holiday work whilst at Uni. As others have mentioned A levels (maths/science/IT/etc.) followed by getting a degree from a decent University is the typical path into an engineering career. I did a sandwich course at University which was 2 years study, 1 year industry experience, and then a final years study. Company I did my industrial placement with (not the oil refinery luckily) offered me a job at the end of it and I'm still here now!
We've had a few people bring their kids into work for a week or so and we've always tried to find a meaningful project for them to do. If my kids show an interest in what I do as they get older I would certainly hope to be able to offer them some work experience here.
I was lucky growing up, my Dad was a process technician at an oil refinery and through him I managed to pick up some relevant summer holiday work whilst at Uni. As others have mentioned A levels (maths/science/IT/etc.) followed by getting a degree from a decent University is the typical path into an engineering career. I did a sandwich course at University which was 2 years study, 1 year industry experience, and then a final years study. Company I did my industrial placement with (not the oil refinery luckily) offered me a job at the end of it and I'm still here now!
It is worth adding that the aims and aspirations that a person has at fourteen may change a lot by the time that person is eighteen or twenty. There is a lot to be said for going to university in any event as a life enhancing experience, and that includes the studying and not just the partying. The student loan can be regarded as a form of graduate tax that is payable if you obtain a sufficient income.
Has your sons school signed up to the career ready programme.
www.careerready.org.uk
Career Ready is a charity that matches young people to mentors in industry to help support and guide them in their education / career choices.
I am a mentor with them and have seen the difference it can make to young peoples outlooks on their career.
www.careerready.org.uk
Career Ready is a charity that matches young people to mentors in industry to help support and guide them in their education / career choices.
I am a mentor with them and have seen the difference it can make to young peoples outlooks on their career.
rab.s said:
Has your sons school signed up to the career ready programme.
www.careerready.org.uk
Career Ready is a charity that matches young people to mentors in industry to help support and guide them in their education / career choices.
I am a mentor with them and have seen the difference it can make to young peoples outlooks on their career.
Thanks, I’ll direct him to this. www.careerready.org.uk
Career Ready is a charity that matches young people to mentors in industry to help support and guide them in their education / career choices.
I am a mentor with them and have seen the difference it can make to young peoples outlooks on their career.
Breadvan72 said:
Encourage your son to work hard and get good GCSEs followed by good A Levels then go to the best university that will make an offer. Talk to the teachers. Large universities offer visits and courses for school pupils, to get an idea of what further education is like.
Go to some open days. Staff and students are very helpful. Generally they are about A-level students but there is no age limit.e.g.
[ur][https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/visits/opendays/[/url]
I wouldn’t be put off by JLR turning him down at 14. Getting work experience at that age is an extreme lottery as well as a bit tokenist. However, and some may find this offensive, if I were him I would learn German and apply to some of the serious players over there. I’m not sure how much of a car industry the UK will have in a few years time.
There's plenty of aerospace companies near there. Try Collins new UTC on Stafford road. Or moog or HSMarston.
I've just finished a contract at Collins Aerospace and last year they had at least 20 young people in work experience. They also had a decent apprenticeship scheme and aerospace pays a lot more than automotive.
I've just finished a contract at Collins Aerospace and last year they had at least 20 young people in work experience. They also had a decent apprenticeship scheme and aerospace pays a lot more than automotive.
OP - The stem link below might be worth reading for info.
https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors
I work in future engine development at Rolls Royce, RR take work placements see link. One thing I would say though is to try and and encourage him to do something with an electrical bias as I think this will be where the most career opportunities will be in the future.
https://careers.rolls-royce.com/united-kingdom/stu...
https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors
I work in future engine development at Rolls Royce, RR take work placements see link. One thing I would say though is to try and and encourage him to do something with an electrical bias as I think this will be where the most career opportunities will be in the future.
https://careers.rolls-royce.com/united-kingdom/stu...
boy said: OP - The stem link below might be worth reading for info.
https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors
I work in future engine development at Rolls Royce, RR take work placements see link. One thing I would say though is to try and and encourage him to do something with an electrical bias as I think this will be where the most career opportunities will be in the future.
https://careers.rolls-royce.com/united-kingdom/stu...
I agree.https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors
I work in future engine development at Rolls Royce, RR take work placements see link. One thing I would say though is to try and and encourage him to do something with an electrical bias as I think this will be where the most career opportunities will be in the future.
https://careers.rolls-royce.com/united-kingdom/stu...
A good understanding of sensors/IoT, network security, data and analytics would give someone a career of (very well paid) options in aero, auto, military, etc
The upside of working on physical systems (and integration) is that is harder to outsource to a lower cost country.
Vaud said:
boy said: OP - The stem link below might be worth reading for info.
https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors
I work in future engine development at Rolls Royce, RR take work placements see link. One thing I would say though is to try and and encourage him to do something with an electrical bias as I think this will be where the most career opportunities will be in the future.
https://careers.rolls-royce.com/united-kingdom/stu...
I agree.https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors
I work in future engine development at Rolls Royce, RR take work placements see link. One thing I would say though is to try and and encourage him to do something with an electrical bias as I think this will be where the most career opportunities will be in the future.
https://careers.rolls-royce.com/united-kingdom/stu...
A good understanding of sensors/IoT, network security, data and analytics would give someone a career of (very well paid) options in aero, auto, military, etc
The upside of working on physical systems (and integration) is that is harder to outsource to a lower cost country.
Fastchas said:
My lad has applied for work experience at JLR in Wolverhampton and has been turned down.
He wants to go into Engineering/Design in the automotive industry. Living in Wolverhampton, any advice how best to proceed? I'm not academically educated so don't know anything about college or Uni, I don't know about Graduates/undergrad's etc and what they mean to the workplace.
He/I don't want him to be happy with just being a production worker as it is vulnerable to market changes and feel engineering/design is more transferable.
Any advice? It doesnt necessarily need to be in automotive.
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/He wants to go into Engineering/Design in the automotive industry. Living in Wolverhampton, any advice how best to proceed? I'm not academically educated so don't know anything about college or Uni, I don't know about Graduates/undergrad's etc and what they mean to the workplace.
He/I don't want him to be happy with just being a production worker as it is vulnerable to market changes and feel engineering/design is more transferable.
Any advice? It doesnt necessarily need to be in automotive.
like some of the responses above, if he wants to follow a career in engineering then math and the sciences are important.
I would also explain to him that a lot of effort for a relatively short time (school then college / Uni) can lead to massive benefits in the long term.
Fundamentally engineering is about solving problems, be that by designing something physical or identifying the method required to solve a problem so search out opportunities where he can practise this, it doesn't need to be an engineering company to get this experience, he just needs to identify it as an engineering skill.
I would also explain to him that a lot of effort for a relatively short time (school then college / Uni) can lead to massive benefits in the long term.
Fundamentally engineering is about solving problems, be that by designing something physical or identifying the method required to solve a problem so search out opportunities where he can practise this, it doesn't need to be an engineering company to get this experience, he just needs to identify it as an engineering skill.
boy said: I was thinking more of the change from mechanical power to electrification of things rather than control systems. In my opinion there will be fewer mechaical engineers and more electrical engineers needed in the future especially for the OP's sons age group.
Agreed too but I would also add lightweight structures such as composites as weight reduction will go hand in hand with electrification of the future generation of carsMy first work experience was in the maintenance department of a poultry meat processing plant, this was the start to my engineering career where I've been lucky enough to work on many cool automotive projects
Please don't let JLR's refusal dampen your confidence or your sons enthusiasm as it's their loss not his!
Very good advice posted so all I can add is help your son search the internet for all engineering/manufacturing companies associated with the automotive/aerospace/motorsport industry and emails requesting work experience. If you have friends and family your son could stay with in different areas to where you live, research these areas too. Don't just send one email to each company but carpet bomb them with emails/follow up emails/phone calls, only takes one contact to the right person to get his foot in the door
LinkedIn is a very good place to start as he can create his own page and PM 100's of people directly
Also ask everyone you know as you never know who know's who. You should be pleasantly surprised how helpful people can be in giving someone a start to their career if they know your son has a passion for automotive engineering
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