Engineering Career?

[JB!]

Ok,

I have just been signed off as complete on my 3 year railway apprenticeship, and I’m after some fresh ideas as to what to do next.

I’m 22, I have engineering qualifications up to A-Level equivalent (LV3 NVQs), with experience of earthworks surveying, clearances (trains-structures) and monitoring, as well as previous qualifications in basic machining and technical drawing.

I’m after a fresh challenge, either in civil engineering or engineering fabrication (CNC design & machining).

Is anyone on here in either of these branches of engineering, and, if so, how would I go about getting into these disciplines? I’m ideally not after another formal apprenticeship, due to my age, but am happy to study again if that’s what an employer wants.

Thanks,

Al.

[JB!]

anyone?

[Riggernut]

Well I can't really help you as I got out of CNC machining many years ago.

It was pretty dull to be honest and the only interesting part was manipulating the designs so the router would be able to cut out the work. I'd be surprised if you would get involved in both the design and machining as they are separate disciplines.


Why the move from railways?

[JB!]

Riggernut said:

Why the move from railways?

I'm not enjoying working for a big company (33,000+ employees), and although i dont mind working nights and the occasional weekend, its EVERY weekend. when i look at the plan for the next 24 months, we dont have a weekend where there isnt work planned ontop of a regular working week. its the nature of the beast, but it means i end up working 6 out of 7 every week, and when motivation is running low its not easy.

the training facilities for 75% of my qualification were top-notch but life in the depots is not for me. so i'd like to get out, and do something that i'm more interested in, learn some new things and find an employer that rewards enthusiasm and invests in their staff.

[dilbert]

JB! said:

Riggernut said:

Why the move from railways?

I'm not enjoying working for a big company (33,000+ employees), and although i dont mind working nights and the occasional weekend, its EVERY weekend. when i look at the plan for the next 24 months, we dont have a weekend where there isnt work planned ontop of a regular working week. its the nature of the beast, but it means i end up working 6 out of 7 every week, and when motivation is running low its not easy.

the training facilities for 75% of my qualification were top-notch but life in the depots is not for me. so i'd like to get out, and do something that i'm more interested in, learn some new things and find an employer that rewards enthusiasm and invests in their staff.

I really hate to say this, but just now (in the UK) that's like rocking-horse dung.

If you leave, you'll be into an environment where you may get fired even if you work your nuts off, and you do inspired and creative work.

I'm an engineer. I'm out of work. Personally, I'm trying to get into the railways, but they won't have me. I'm not trained, and you are.

Employers think that they need people with experience. What they really need is people who are capable of the job. They can't see the difference between the two. They think that the training they give, means that you can only do the job you're trained for.

Fundamentally, as an employee, you are nothing and they feel that they give you all that you have. If it wasn't for them and their inspired philanthropic generosity to you, they wouldn't have people that could do the job at all.

Obviously that's not right, but you'll never change their minds. Some jobs you really can't do without training. I'm thinking "pilot", "bomb disposal", you know. Most it would be easy to learn on the job.

In the anal world, all the boxes have to be ticked. It's just too difficult for employers to be dynamic. It would be hassle for them to figure out which jobs could handle "on the job training", and which couldn't. So they don't.

What may happen in the next few years, is that employers may need to make people who they have given everything to, redundant. Then they'll find that they can cope with staff who "learn on the job". They'll neither be able to afford, or have the time to train them. Until then, employment is likely to be a grim situation.

Cling to your job like it is your life. Although the employers are wrong to believe that you are nothing without the training they give you, that is what they believe. Because they believe it, it becomes true.

Edited by dilbert on Thursday 22 July 13:35

[JB!]

thanks.

i'm going to keep hunting, but will re-read what you've said again tonight.

[Engineer1]

Another under employed engineer here, don't move industry or career path now, it looks to me like the job market is swamped with people, meaning companies can be seriously picky, for some this means that they are filling jobs with over qualified employees, or picking people with the perfect skill set.

[shirt]

stick with (i'm assuming network rail) for the short term and learn as much as yout can about things such as nr's tendering processes, codes, project management procedures etc. then move to a consultancy such as babtie, atkins, corus rail etc. most of the work they will be doing will be to these frameworks and you can easily move through the disciplines if you show interest.

see if NR are willing to pay for you do a degree part time.

[JB!]

Bump.

Just been re-shuffled in the latest re-org, has the job situation for engineers got any better?

[hidetheelephants]

Don't laugh, but have you considered the armed forces? While they are cutting back, recruitment does continue as the age distro curve goes to st if they don't.

Also the merchant navy; if you fancied running away to sea your NVQs may earn exemptions from exams/shorten time to qualification.

[ALawson]

Have a look here.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/117.aspx

http://www.allrailjobs.co.uk/

The only real industry with large capital expenditure at the moment is rail, I am working on Thameslink, phase 1 is up to the end of this year and Phase 2 London Bridge has been given the green light. Crossrail is happening as will HS2 so lots of opportunities.

I will see what the company I work for are doing. PM me your email.

[sparkyb999]

I cant talk for civil engineering and like, but CNC machining (milling & turning) is one of the hardest job roles to recruit in.

I have at least 9 agencies working on a vacancy at the moment, have advertised and still no bites.

After speaking with 4 very good machine shops and speaking with 3 different F1 teams regarding recruitment, they are all seeing the same issue.

About 3 months ago we recruited 2 junior chaps, and designed an internal training program and I cant believe how fast they are coming along, already programming and setting the machines, very hands on. Its defianlty the future for our company and when any other staff members leave or we invest again, we will most certainly recruit more junior machinist.

[cqueen]

Engineering in the UK is guff. Do something else while you are still young enough to change.

[hidetheelephants]

cqueen said:

Engineering in the UK is guff often badly paid. Do something else while you are still young enough to change.

EFA

[hyperblue]

cqueen said:

Engineering in the UK is guff. Do something else while you are still young enough to change.

Disgruntled employee in <insert industry here> is crap shocker.

[JB!]

hidetheelephants said:

Don't laugh, but have you considered the armed forces? While they are cutting back, recruitment does continue as the age distro curve goes to st if they don't.

Also the merchant navy; if you fancied running away to sea your NVQs may earn exemptions from exams/shorten time to qualification.

not in shape enough to pass a military medical, and dont fancy getting shot at, and i can barely hold my lunch down on a channel ferry, but thanks!

ALawson said:

Have a look here.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/117.aspx

http://www.allrailjobs.co.uk/

The only real industry with large capital expenditure at the moment is rail, I am working on Thameslink, phase 1 is up to the end of this year and Phase 2 London Bridge has been given the green light. Crossrail is happening as will HS2 so lots of opportunities.

I will see what the company I work for are doing. PM me your email.

will do. Ideally want to leave NWR, or at least a move out of maintenance.

sparkyb999 said:

I cant talk for civil engineering and like, but CNC machining (milling & turning) is one of the hardest job roles to recruit in.

I have at least 9 agencies working on a vacancy at the moment, have advertised and still no bites.

After speaking with 4 very good machine shops and speaking with 3 different F1 teams regarding recruitment, they are all seeing the same issue.

About 3 months ago we recruited 2 junior chaps, and designed an internal training program and I cant believe how fast they are coming along, already programming and setting the machines, very hands on. Its defianlty the future for our company and when any other staff members leave or we invest again, we will most certainly recruit more junior machinist.

where in the country are you? I'm in "motorsports alley" around silverstone.

I'd happily go back through training to further my machning skills if that was required.


thanks for the replies gents.

[jdbecks]

I use to work offshore, I flew around the world inspecting and repairing oil rig and merchant ship cranes. I met lots of people and got some great experience...the pay was fantastic and going out to the bars was great, from the Bahamas to Korea. The biggest problem I have found, is the recruitment companies I delt with did not really understand what I did and what was involved despite them saying " technical/engineering recuritment"

if you can get your foot into working offshore do it, that does not mean spending week on week of an oil rig. I was only on call out basis only. I sat at home and waited for an email or phone call and would fly out the next day for a few days/few weeks and come home and may sit around for a week or two, sometimes a month and then fly somewhere else. Sometimes I would fly to eight different countries in a month. I enjoy Engineering, but it's pay is far below what you can earn in IT.

[DJC]

JB - send me your CV. Updated to latest spec, skills and experience. Focus on it being engineering and content heavy and ignore the lightweight what you like to do in spare time crap. State flexibility, versatile and emphasise hard working. Ill pass it on to some chaps.

[MrAdaam]

dilbert said:

In the anal world

[JB!]

DJC said:

JB - send me your CV. Updated to latest spec, skills and experience. Focus on it being engineering and content heavy and ignore the lightweight what you like to do in spare time crap. State flexibility, versatile and emphasise hard working. Ill pass it on to some chaps.

will get on it tonight, thanks!

also applied for 2 internal vaccancies today.