Engineering Recruitment – Interview Tips and Advice
Despite a vast number of graduates leaving university with a degree in an engineering related subject, many candidates will find themselves spread amongst an even wider number of potential employment sectors making engineers very much in demand in most modern industries.
Demand for engineers
Graduates with a degree in more technical engineering subjects such as automotive engineering, electronics engineering, civil engineering, drilling engineering and structural engineering (to name just a few), will find themselves in particular demand both in the UK and on an international level partly because these kind of degrees are more specialised and require a high level of both qualification and experience, both of which contribute to continued learning and development throughout the candidates career.
The future of engineering
Manufacturing, environmental and construction are all industries where engineers are particularly in demand; the manufacturing industry alone covers a vast number of organisations from clothing to food and drink, pharmaceuticals to furniture. The economy is a good indicator of the kinds of industries where engineers will be recruited to; the lack of affordable housing for example, remains a major issue in 2008 and civil engineers, structural engineers and environmental engineers will play a key role in stabilising these problems. The rise in cost of oil will put pressure on engineers to find ways of making bio-fuels and solar energy more accessible to society, and studies in energy conservation will certainly put engineers at an advantage. Likewise, as we become more concerned for our natural landscapes and as urban life becomes vulnerable to what are considered to be the physical evidence of global warming; engineers are going to be even more in demand.
Entering the employment sector
Writing a good CV is usually the best way of securing an interview and this document should be give some serious consideration. A well presented document with a clear and concise presentation of education, work experience and relevant skills will hopefully lead to the next stage of the recruitment process. Candidates should tailor their CV to every recruiter – perhaps even using their job advertisement as a way of identifying the key skills that they are looking for, to those on your CV. Once you have secured the interview, do as much research on the company before hand as employers will also be looking for enthusiasm and dedication as well as other qualities.
Assessments
Because the engineering sector requires candidates to excel in certain aptitudes, it is likely that an assessment must be taken as part of the recruitment process. Structural visualisation, literacy and numeric skills are the kind of things you will be tested for so candidates should do all that they can to prepare for this before hand.
Interview performance
Interviews are a necessary for any job but engineering candidates may have to be more theoretical in the types of answers that they give. For example, you may be put on the spot and asked to suggest areas where production costs could be reduced in the manufacturing process, or give examples of your favourite modern structures or even recommend technical processes for a particular client brief. Candidates can only really work on what they have learned on their engineering course, and questions should be answered as thoughtfully as possible. Any questions that you feel unable to answer, can easily be manipulated to demonstrate your enthusiasm to learn.
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