Engineering Special 2008 by Real World

www.realworldmagazine.com

CAREER ADVICE + 100s OF JOBS + GRAD INTERVIEWS + CAREER FAIRS + RECRUITER TIPS +

» ENGINEERING » INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY » SCIENCE

2008

» BUILT ENVIRONMENT » POSTGRADUATE STUDY

» ALTERNATIVE CAREERS

100s OF OPPORTUNITIES p11

YOUR GUIDE TO

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

MOVE THE MARKETS. Innovate from the front. Join the company at the forefront of finance and technology. Bloomberg provides information to business leaders around the world. Our employees have a passion for excellence, no matter what their experience is. We foster that passion and encourage growth and development in every way possible We are always looking for talented individuals with a genuine interest in IT to join us. Find out what your technical capabilities can bring to our teams, including Software Development, Project Coordination, Networks and Technical Support. Join Bloomberg.

careers.bloomberg.com/techjobs

IF THE

TECHNOLOGY DOESN’T

WORK,

WE DON’T

WORK.

Opportunities in Technology Technology has never been more important to us as a business, and our people are acknowledged in both the banking and IT industries as the best around. IT sharpens our competitive edge and shapes our business at every level; it’s the engine that keeps us on the road. We have all kinds of graduate and undergraduate roles available with full global reach and world-class, customised training programmes. And with investment like this, no wonder we’re voted ‘IT Employer of the Year 2007’. If you want to go anywhere and do anything, this is where you need to be.

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© 2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. “PricewaterhouseCoopers” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

BU LD Nationwide Opportunities Spring and Autumn 2008 Assurance Tax Advisory Actuarial Strategy

We value diversity in our people.

We'll give you what you need to build your own career path. Our structured development programmes are geared to your individual aspirations – whether that's to focus your talents in a specific business area or gain a broader overview of a number of areas. Whatever you choose, you'll pick up the key technical, business and personal skills you need to progress. Just bring us a 2:1 in any subject, at least a 280 UCAS tariff or equivalent, and plenty of enthusiasm and ideas, and see how far you can go. We're the one firm for all aspiring graduates.

www.pwc.com/uk/careers/ Text: PwC to 85792

Contents IN THIS 2008 ISSUE

ON THE COVER



P14

P48 Lead story

Features

Who’s Recruiting

8 Your future starts here There has never been a more exciting time for a career in engineering or technology, as Real World reveals

14 Coping with interviews Without correct preparation, interviews can be a nightmare. We tell you how best to prepare for the big day

10 Careers fairs The very latest details of careers fairs for engineering and technology jobs in 2007-08

16 Sum it up Ever wanted to know how to tackle those tricky application form questions? Real World has the inside track on how best to answer

11 RealJobs For all the latest vacancies and information on employers currently hiring graduates in the area of engineering & technology, turn to this invaluable guide. You can also find details of vacancies on our website.

Real World Online 13 Get online For a wealth of case studies on recent graduates, see www.realworldmagazine.com

New look website! In autumn 2007, Real World relaunched its website. For the first time you can search through hundreds of independently written case studies, either by university, degree or job type. In addition, you can also rate and comment on articles on the website. What’s more by registering you can get access to your personalised university page. If that wasn’t enough, recruiters are now also able to upload videos so you can get the inside track on the recruitment process. Take a look at www.realworldmagazine.com to start your job search.

18 Engineering your career Possibilities for careers within the engineering world are almost limitless  32 You can have it all What are the alternative careers if you are studying engineering or IT? Read on to find out what paths recent graduates have chosen. You may be surprised 

62 Recruiter Files A round-up of engineering & technology firms with jobs on offer and universities offering courses that will help you progress in your career. Jobs in your inbox For hundreds more graduate jobs have a look at our website: www.realworldmagazine.com. Register and receive the latest jobs by email.

36 Can you handle IT? Technology plays a crucial role in today’s world. We look at the many career options that are open to you  48 Career building blocks The built environment offers a wide variety of jobs for today’s graduates.  56 The right career chemistry Fancy a science-based career? We talk to some graduates who already have one.  58 Masters of the universe Postgraduate study is a popular choice for IT and engineering graduates. We look at the options. 

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WE HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR YOUR CAREER CHP.CO.UK/CAREERS

CHP Consulting is one of the UK’s leading management and IT consultancies to the financial markets. With offices in London, Chicago and Sydney, CHP is fast developing a global reputation. If you are a top graduate capable of becoming an expert in finance as well as the latest software technologies, we want to hear from you. Ideal candidates will hold a degree of 2:1 or better, have achieved excellent A-Level results and possess the interpersonal skills consultancy demands. In return, we offer a starting salary of £35,000, comprehensive benefits, ongoing training and a sensible approach to the working week. No wonder CHP ranked among The Sunday Times’ Best Small Companies To Work For in 2005 and 2006 and received Best Companies Accreditation for 2007. For more information and to apply for positions available throughout 2007, contact Gillian Walker, t: 020 7588 1800, e: gillian.walker@chp.co.uk.

EDITOR’S LETTER

& Technology

Engineering issue

Editorial Editor Catherine Watson Designer Yang Ou Creative Consultant Jennifer van Schoor Sub Editor Joy Persaud

Sales Head of Sales Paul Wade Sales Harmesh Sansoa, Terry McNally

Manager/Distribution Manager Mitul Patel

Client Services Manager Marie Tasle Managing Director Darius Norell Real World 22-26 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TJ Telephone: 020 7735 4900 Editorial – 020 7735 2111 Fax: 020 7840 0443 info@realworldmagazine.com www.realworldmagazine.com for job vacancies, careers advice and case studies. Copyright © 2007 Cherry Publishing. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher. We cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs or for material lost or damaged in the post. The views in this publication or on our website are not necessarily those held by the publisher.

Skills in demand

or those of you studying engineering, technology or a science – then we have good news. You (and more specifically the skills you possess) are in high demand from graduate recruiters – and they are looking to fill roles now! The hard part, however, is knowing where to look for those vacancies. Fortunately, we have a comprehensive selection of recruiters, all of whom are eager to take on graduates in a variety of roles. To find out more about what’s on offer, turn to our recruiter file, towards the back of the magazine. No matter what area of work you are looking to go into we have interviews with graduates in a wide variety of jobs in everything from the built environment to science. These graduates give us an honest – no-holds barred – assessment of working life in each of these areas. Engineering is a popular career path for graduates, but the choices of specialism can be mind-boggling. We speak to an array of graduates who all work in different areas of engineering. Turn to their case studies to get a clearer idea of the options open to you. An interesting off-shoot of engineering is a career in the built environment. Read about recruiters in this area who are looking for graduates to fill positions in everything from civil engineering to quantity surveying. As technology grows to be an ever-larger part of our day-to-day lives, so too does the demand for graduates to fill newly-created jobs. To find out more about the kinds of jobs you could do, turn to our IT section. Postgraduate study is becoming an increasingly popular option, particularly for those wanting to pursue a career in engineering and technology. In our feature we weigh up the pros and cons, and speak to graduates who have opted for postgraduate study for a number of different reasons. One of the inevitable parts of job-hunting is the all-important application form. But how can you be sure you are giving the recruiter the information they are looking for? We speak to a selection of recruiters who give us the inside track on what sorts of things they want graduates to write. Good luck with your studies and job hunt. If you have any questions, contact me on the email address below.

Catherine, Editor editor@realworldmagazine.com

Contributors Julie Ferry Julie is a freelance journalist who contributes to The Guardian and The Independent on education and careers. When she isn’t trailing the country looking for interesting students and graduates to speak to, you can find her either at her local farmer’s market sampling the lovely food or daydreaming about Australia and Japan where she spent her gap years.

Anne Hollowday Anne spent several weeks at Real World this summer, contributing to issues and working on our online content. She is currently studying English and Film at King’s College London and aspires to being a journalist when she graduates. Anne enjoys writing features and reviews about film, travel and books and is the music editor of the London Student newspaper.

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your future starts here

engineering | overview

If you are an engineering, technology or science graduate, your knowledge is in high demand: all of these areas are essential for a growing economy. There are many recruiters out there looking to benefit from your skills – and you could reap rewards, too, as Real World Uncovers

he importance of graduates with engineering and technology (E&T) skills for the UK economy should not be underestimated. Qualified engineers are required for a vast array of functions, and the variety of engineering specialisms is almost limitless. Likewise, technology is an integral part of modern life, and consequently graduates with the requisite knowledge are essential to this country’s ever-growing economy. Although many E&T graduates will go directly into E&T-related careers, many opt for work in other sectors. For example, the skills gained by E&T students are highly prized in the finance and business sectors, where the analytical and numerical skills set them apart. Take a look at our alternative

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Photograph: iStockphoto

ENGINEERING | OVERVIEW

“

EMPLOYMENT RATES FOR E&T GRADUATES IN 2006 ARE INCREASING ANNUALLY AND STAND WAY ABOVE AVERAGE AT 60 PERCENT. UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS IS AMONG THE LOWEST OF ANY SECTOR IN THE COUNTRY

”

careers features for inspiration on page 32. scenta.co.uk (a resource initiated by The Engineering and Technology Board) reports that technology and engineering underpin both our standard of living, and the economic health of the UK. “Teams of engineers and technologists, applying science and mathematics, influence every aspect of modern life whether transport, medicine, entertainment, space exploration, environmental management – you name it, engineers shape it,” says a spokesperson for scenta. For example – engineers were responsible for designing the Channel Tunnel rail link, and designing colour-matching technology to determine the best make-up for your skin tone. “So, no matter what your interests are, you can indulge them as an engineer… and get really well paid at the same time,” they add. According to scenta, engineering is the third highest earning career (behind lawyers and doctors). “Professional engineers on average can expect to earn more than £10,000 per year over and above the national average salary,” says scenta’s spokesperson. Whilst the average salary for a chartered engineer in 2005 was in the region of £53,100. They go on to add: “The prospects for employment and progression are also positive. Research carried out in 2006 showed that 14 per cent of FTSE-100 top executives are qualified engineers. Employment rates for E&T graduates in 2006 are increasing annually and stand way above average at 60 per cent. Unemployment among professional engineers and scientists is among the lowest of any sector in the country, with unemployment rates below 10 per cent.” For more information about the opportunities that exist for engineers take a look at our feature on page 18. To get an honest assessment of life as an engineer we spoke to a broad range of graduates, who reveal what they do on a day-to-day basis. Similarly, you’ll see further on in the magazine that we have spoken to technology and science graduates, all of whom speak candidly about the work they do. 

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2007–2008

ENGINEERING, SCIENCE & I.T. FAIRS University UCL Cardiff

Date 15/10/2007 16/10/2007

Cardiff Bristol Southampton Manchester

17/10/2007 24/10/2007 24/10/2007 25/10/2007

Imperial Liverpool Oxford

25/10/2007 30/10/2007 01/11/2007

Birmingham Cambridge

07/11/2007 07/11/2007

Warwick

08/11/2007

For more information about each of these fairs, please visit our website: www.realworldmagazine.com

S ER W NO PLOY EM ITING + CRU RE

list of advertisers Arm 62 Aston University 54 Atos Origin 40 Autumn Graduate Fair 46 Awe 22 & 63 Bloomberg 02 & 12 Centrica 64 Chp Consulting 06 College Of Estate Management 50 Deloitte 42 & 65 Desg 66 Dresdner Kleinwort 44 & 67 Dublin Institute Of Technology 54 GlaxoSmithKline 28 Ibm 68 Institution Of Civil Engineers 52 Jp Morgan 03

aPPLY ONLINe

www.realworldmagazine.com

ing& r ee n i g n E gy o l o n h Tec sue is

Photograph: iStockphoto

+ mORE JOBS + ADVICE +

Lloyds Register Group 30 & 70 Lloyds Tsb 38 Manchester Graduate Fair 46 Mott Macdonald 50 N Power 24 Pilkington 34 PricewaterhouseCoopers 04 Raf 20 Rm 46 & 72 Schlumberger 26 & 73 Shell 76 Siemens 12 Skanska Uk 74 Teach First 34 United Utilities 28 & 75 University Of Strathclyde 60 University Of Wales Swansea 60 University Of Warwick 54

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Show your true

colours

Graduate opportunities in Engineering. Picture a scene from everyday life. Whether you are travelling by train or car, communicating with friends by phone or email, doing the weekly shop, taking money from a cash-machine or making a cup of tea, there is a good chance our technology is somewhere in the background making life easier for you. Siemens operates in a variety of sectors including: Power, Transportation, Information & Communications, Automation & Control, Metallurgical Services, Building and Medical Technologies. Siemens offers a range of graduate opportunities across Engineering, giving you real scope to show us your true colours. We take engineers into most of our sectors where they will work in either research, development and design roles, or roles linked to operational & manufacturing practices. We are looking for people to apply from the following degree backgrounds: electrical, electronic, mechanical, manufacturing, mechatronics, process, chemical, materials, broadcast, civil, environmental, systems & software engineering related backgrounds. Show us your true colours. Visit our graduate website www.siemens.co.uk/grad to find out more.

www.siemens.co.uk /grad

FOUR STEPS TO LAND A GREAT JOB! If you are a fan of the magazine, you will love our fortnightly newsletter. Every two weeks we will send you details of the latest jobs, and bring you great competitions and book giveaways. To receive the newsletter simply register your details at www.realworldmagazine.com

Did you know our website contains tons of case studies from recent graduates? We bring you four reasons why these could help you with your job search. To read the case studies visit: www.realworldmagazine.com 1. COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT We pride ourselves on the editorial

graduate recruitment? Then have a look at the video clips uploaded by

independence of our case studies. Every one of our case studies is written after an extensive interview with the graduate and they are entirely independent from the companies. Employers cannot pay to have a case study included in the magazine or website, unlike some other careers magazines.

recruiters. The videos contain content on a range of subjects, from an honest view of what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to work at the company to what you can expect from assessment days.

2. RATE AND COMMENT ON ARTICLES Our improved website means you will have the ability to comment on and rate both articles and case studies. By rating our articles you will help other students find the most useful information on our website. 3. WATCH RECRUITER VIDEO CLIPS Want to get an exclusive insight into

Have you seen our digital edition? In addition to all the features in the print edition, this month youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also get access to our superb CV clinic. The digital edition is fully searchable so you can find previous features at the touch of a button. All you need to do to access it is to register at www.realworldmagazine.com

4. COULD YOU BE THE NEXT GRADUATE OF THE YEAR? Check out the Facebook application we have created to enter our latest Graduate of the Year competition. Students will be invited to enter a category such as entrepreneur of the year; volunteer of the year; contribution to university, or most improved club or society. The prize fund will be awarded to a project rather than an individual.

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COPING WITH INTERVIEWS

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES | OVERVIEW

YOU HAVE AN INTERVIEW LINED UP FOR YOUR IDEAL JOB, SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NEXT? KATIE WILLIAMS SUGGESTS A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER FOR WHEN THAT ALL-IMPORTANT DAY ARRIVES...

Photograph: iStockphoto

IS IT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT? Judith Verity, author of “Succeeding at Interviews”, states that “a successful interview for the wrong job will lower your morale and waste everybody’s time in the long run”. Therefore, before you even apply for an interview, make sure that it is the job you really want and that you’re going to enjoy. There is no point in turning up to an interview half-heartedly and cursing your parents because they are making you get off the couch and earn a living. Bridget Millmore, a careers adviser at Sussex University, says that researching the company is very important. “You have to know about the company so you are able to make connections with what you can offer that particular company. You must be able to project yourself into a role that shows enthusiasm for the company.” Millmore recalls past interviews that she conducted to hire more careers advisers. She says that those who performed best were the candidates that did a mock presentation, as though they were talking to a number of students, and the way they dealt with a hypothetical question from one of the students. Being able to handle a practical element like that requires research into the particular company you are applying for so you are prepared.

you say things out loud as it may sound different in your head. Read over your CV before attending the interview so you are able to expand on any points you have made, highlighting what you feel your strengths are and how you could apply these strengths to the job. BBC Radio One’s ‘One Life’ advises you to be prepared and suggests thinking of some good examples of your communication, decision making, customer service, planning and organisational skills. These could include how you are able to work in a group or what you would do if a difficult situation arose. Examples to show how you have dealt with a negative situation before can be positive as they highlight the fact that you have used that initiative previously and would not hesitate to use it again. Obviously, do not focus on negative aspects about yourself, but Millmore advises: “If you are able to learn from previous negative aspects and have done something to change them for the better then it is worth mentioning them.”

GIVE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION You need to be enthusiastic and confident that you are the

KEEP TO THE POINT Interviews do not last all day, so make sure you are precise in your answers. There may be someone who is taking notes throughout your interview, but do not let this unnerve you. Simply make your answers brief, yet interesting, including the correct information, and use short, punchy statements. Also,

best person for the job. How you communicate is just as important as what you actually say. You need to make a

avoid the temptation to talk too much. Even if there are a couple of awkward silences, don’t fill them with nervous chatter,

positive impact so that you are remembered and compare favourably with other candidates. Dressing smartly,

as this is exactly how you will appear: nervous. It is also not advisable to lie or exaggerate in an interview, as Julie-Ann

demonstrating positive body language, including open gestures and eye contact, and acting friendly by using a confident, clear voice, all immediately give a good impression to the employee before you even start speaking. Turning up promptly is another important issue surrounding interviews. Try to turn up 15 minutes before the interview is due to start and make sure you are wide-awake and prepared. Have a decent sleep the night before; don’t spend the night worrying about the outcome or about the interview itself.

Amos, author of ‘Handling Tough Job Interviews’, says. “If you get the job, you then have to work at this particular organisation for some time. So lying, or trying to appear like someone other than yourself, is never a good idea”.

BE PREPARED Make sure you are prepared, have covered any practice questions that might come up, and stay calm. Typical questions that may arise include, “What do you want out of this job?” and “What do you have to offer?”. By covering these either with friends and family, or perhaps in workshops that your university may offer, you will feel relaxed and more confident about the interview. Millmore thinks, when practising, it is always better if

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN One Life believes that your interview is your one chance to shine and sell yourself, so you should not waste the opportunity. If you are not asked about something that you find important, raise the subject yourself. This will show you are conscientious and willing to offer even more to the job. At the end of the interview there is usually a chance to ask questions of your own, and this is not the time to say: “No it’s alright, I think we’ve covered everything”. Jump in there with questions such as “What training do you offer?” and “What kind of opportunities are there for growth in this company?”. However, there are some questions that are off limits, and these include queries about holidays, pay and benefits. 

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sum it up

Feeling daunted by the prospect of filling in application forms and wondering what information recruiters are really looking for? Real World speaks to a handful of companies who reveal how to answer those tricky application form questions Corus: “Give details of a situation when you have worked in a team environment.” THEY SAY: ”We’re obviously looking for good teamwork here. This could perhaps be something they experienced through work placements or if they belong to any university or sports societies. We are not really looking out for academic examples from university here, but ideally something else you can offer. Other examples that would help you stand out would be voluntary work, or if you have been travelling and could use your skills and knowledge from that. When answering this question, you must demonstrate that you are a good team player, have led initiative and taken the initiative to throw in ideas and see how they overcame any difficulties they may have found during the process. State what your key role in the end result of the group work was, and how you came to this result; was it a success or failure? One of the most important things is, however, to make sure you demonstrate how you work well with other people in a team and how you strive towards achieving your goal.” Joe Hendry, Corus

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WE SAY: When answering questions about ‘working in a team environment’, emphasise that you are able to, and enjoy, working with other people. Do not rush into giving an example, as recruiters do not want a list of group activities, as it is not necessarily the example that matters but the skills you used and what you learned. Don’t just say, “I was in a project at school once”, or “I was in charge of the sport society; I loved telling everyone what to do all the time”. One doesn’t show enough enthusiasm and the other demonstrates too much ego. Think about it carefully; some voluntary work in which you took initiative, managed to overcome difficulties that arose calmly and at the end of which you achieved success would be an excellent example.

questions ANSWERed | overview

ExxonMobil: “why are you interested in the functions or roles you are applying for?” THEY SAY: “We ask this question to ensure the candidate has given some serious thought as to why he/she wishes to join that particular function. We expect good candidates will state something along the lines of: ‘My interest lies within the oil and gas sector [for example] and, in particular, the challenges facing the energy industry as a whole. I believe my problem-solving skills and innovative approach will contribute to ExxonMobil’s future success’.” Lynda Wilson, ExxonMobil

WE SAY: Ideally you should think about the skills you have learnt and how you would use or adapt them within that role. Don’t just list the skills you have, but try to expand on them and give examples of when they came in useful. Instead of just saying, “I’m good at problem solving”, think about why you believe this is the case, and note the positive effect this has had during your time at university. Recruiters are mainly interested in what you will bring to their company so give them real examples of your successes and let them know that they would benefit from hiring you – basically, make a positive impression. It is also important to want to work in an area that is of interest to you or will stimulate you. Finding a job that is enjoyable is essential as it will boost your enthusiasm as well as enabling you to work to your full potential.

Logica CMG: “Which of your achievements or activities, not necessarily connected with your studies or work, has given you the most satisfaction, and why?” THEY SAY: “In some ways these questions are like ‘tiebreakers’ and as such can be the final elements that clinch an assessment centre invitation. Use these areas to bring out skills you have gained that you can apply to working for LogicaCMG. Your involvement in sports activities can be used to highlight your team working skills. Your time as the social secretary at your halls of residence can demonstrate organisation skills.

your

planning

and

We are looking for enthusiastic people, so show that you are enthusiastic about the achievement that has

your achievements and provide tangible examples explaining what you have learnt from your experiences and how they have shaped your development. The key word is ‘your’. Too many people make the mistake of selling themselves short and describing the achievements of an entire group using ‘we’. It’s not the group that is applying for a job, it’s you. Be proud and detail what an interesting person you really are. n

Photograph: iStockphoto

given you most satisfaction. Believe or not, we have had candidates respond to this question with ‘none’!” Gary Argent, UK Graduate Recruitment Manager, Logica CMG

WE SAY: “Employers don’t want to hire brainy and intelligent people with no social skills, they’re looking for well-rounded individuals who have made the most of their time at university. Equally, they don’t just want people to say, “I had an excellent time at university, I was part of the football, basketball and cricket teams and also wrote for the student newspaper and had a show at the radio station”. It is important that you demonstrate your ability to analyse

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ENGINEERING YOUR career Think you know all about careers in engineering? Think again. The possibilities in the industry are as endless as an English winter. Anne Hollowday examines some of the different options available

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engineering | overview

ave you ever wondered how the products and systems that support everyday existence came into being? On an average walk to university, you’ll probably walk over a bridge; contend with a major traffic interchange; see numerous vehicles on the roads; planes in the sky, or perhaps use a mobile telephone or portable music device. All of these products and systems are the results of engineering. These unseen figures practically sculpt the way our society lives with their ingenious solutions. Without them, we’d be stuck in the dark ages of horse-drawn carts and wooden rowing boats, with letters as the only form of communication. Thank goodness for engineers, without whom the likes of Facebook, iPods, cars and make-up would be an unobtainable fantasy. Engineering is today synonymous with technological and scientific advancements. However, this barely scratches the surface of possibilities for careers in engineering. The sector is teeming with a plentiful array of opportunities for both engineering and nonengineering graduates. It is an industry in continuous flux. With new technological and scientific advancements occurring all the time, the employment possibilities are seemingly endless. An engineering career is also a passport to travel the globe. All over the world, engineers are in demand. Whether it’s leading a renewable energy project in China or managing the development of a new junction on an American highway, engineering will be your ticket. Despite these perks and other initiatives that specifically target them, the figure for women studying engineering-based courses remains at around 15%. Women are underrepresented in the profession, and as such can command greater bursaries and benefits. BT has launched a £200k campaign to attract more female apprentice engineers and bursaries for female undergraduates are available from the Institute of Incorporated Engineers (IIE) based in London. Societies such as: WISE (Women into Science, Engineering and Construction) and WES (The

Photograph: iStockphoto

Women’s Engineering Society), raise awareness. They encourage schoolgirls to value and pursue SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) and to further promote the training and practice of engineering among women. Working as an engineer is not traditionally viewed as a glamorous job. Yet, the diverse sector boasts much more than the torn overalls and dirty fingernails with which most people equate the role. Streams into management and leadership can be office-based and many of the disciplines within engineering offer an alternative to grease. The way the industry works allows most individuals the immense satisfaction of seeing a project through every stage of production – from concept and design to manufacture and improvement. Jobs are extremely lucrative. Competitive graduate salaries are £19-£28k. And interns can expect to receive pay for their efforts. Many summer vacation schemes offer £14-£19k pro rata. The scope for career development is also huge. Almost every graduate scheme offers a clear career progression path, which incorporates opportunities for promotion. Moreover, the schemes feature on-the-job training

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ENGINEERING | CASE STUDIES

Resources www.slb.com/careers www.centricagraduates.com www.bp.com/careers www.siemens.co.uk/grad www.networkrail.co.uk www.a.vtplc.com

towards chartered engineer status. The graduate programmes provide unabridged, comprehensive routes to a career in engineering. The beauty of engineering is that there is no definitive number of roles available because alternatives are being created as projects and solutions are devised. A career in engineering ultimately translates to living your life in the front seat. For more information about careers in engineering take a look at our case studies on the next few pages. n

after and thrive on being accountable for such a large group. What do you dislike about your job? The moving around sometimes gets you down, as we change posts every 18 months. However this can sometimes work in your favour because if you get posted to a job you don’t really like you know it is only for 18 months and then you will be moving on again. I suppose it is swings and roundabouts and you get that in any job.

defence Nosheen Chaudry, 27, is an officer commanding armament engineering flight for the RAF. She completed a mechanical and materials engineering degree at Birmingham University in 2002. What do you do in your job? I am in charge of 140 engineers who work on all the explosives and weaponry on the Chinook aircraft. My role is basically to be a man manager, co-ordinating the team and making sure all of the tasks are completed to deadline. I am also an armaments specialist so I am in charge of the safety of ranges and explosives as well. What do you like about your job? I like the high level of responsibility that you get early on in the armed forces. Compared to my civilian counterparts, I have 10 times more responsibility manpower wise than they do – they wouldn’t even consider having 140 people working for them at this stage in their career. I like having lots of people to look

What are the biggest challenges? Because you are moving around so much, you are constantly having to learn everything very quickly. When you think you have just got up to speed with everything in that role, you get posted to another position and have to start all over again. It is quite challenging to be in a completely different environment and have to learn everything from scratch. It is something I don’t think will really settle down, as you are constantly moving throughout your career in the RAF. There are options to stay in the same area location-wise, so once you have a family you can ask for postings in the same area, but you will still have to move from post to post within that area. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Joining the RAF is a big commitment to make because you are signing up for a long time. The options for service are six years or 16 years, so I would make sure you have investigated it fully before going for it. There is lots of help from the recruiting teams here and the opportunity to come on visits and investigate the working and living environment. Once you have done that and asked lots of questions you will have built up

quite a good knowledge base. It is then fairly easy to be accepted into the forces because you know what you are talking about at interview. If you haven’t got the commitment and you don’t know what you are getting yourself into you won’t be selected. At interview they will ask you what you expect of the job and if you don’t know, you won’t get it – they want to make sure they choose the right people.

“

if you don’t know what you are getting yourself into, you won’t be selected. They want the right people

marine

”

James Goodship, 23, is a marine engineer, within the ship-building division of VT Group. He completed a marine technology degree at Plymouth University. What do you do in your job? My role covers a bit of everything really, which makes it very interesting. I am doing a bit of naval architecture, where I work on boat design, and some marine engineering, which involves looking at the systems on board the vessels. Usually in the industry you will focus your attention on either one or the other, however I straddle both areas, which is fantastic experience. There aren’t many of these kind of jobs around.

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Graduate Opportunities From c.£20,000 Near Reading, Berkshire Business and Finance Chemical Engineering Chemistry Civil Engineering Computer Science Construction Electrical Engineering Electronic Engineering Environmental Manufacturing Materials Science Maths Mechanical Engineering Metallurgy Physics Production Engineering Safety Radiological Protection Structural Engineering Systems Engineering The fact that you’ve started reading this says something about the kind of person you are. Where other people say “I see”, you say “show me more”. Your thirst for knowledge takes you to places that other people don’t even know about. And the Atomic Weapons Establishment could be one of them. As the nation’s largest high-tech research, development and production facility, with sole responsibility for maintaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent, AWE is an organisation like no other. The sheer scale and complexity of our operations offers you immense challenge and variety in your career – and the support we provide for your development is second to none. Whether you’re embarking on a scientific, engineering or business career, we’ll equip you with all the tools you need to become an expert in your field: with everything from exposure to live projects to ongoing support for professional qualifications. To find out more and apply, visit www.awe.co.uk or call 0118 982 9009 for a brochure. AWE promotes diversity in employment. We welcome applications from women and men, regardless of disability, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic origin, or age. Applications from women and ethnic minorities are particularly encouraged. Successful candidates will be selected solely in their ability to carry out the duties of the post. The normal contractual retirement age at AWE is 65. Because of the work associated with these posts, they are subject to special nationality rules and are open only to British citizens. All selected candidates will be required to undergo security clearance.

Atomic Weapons Establishment

ENGINEERING | CASE STUDIES

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try to find people in the industry to talk to. there are networks of young engineers set up.

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components, so instead we are involved in a more over-arching role. We still have to understand how the gear works and how it fits together with all the other aircraft systems, but our role is to manage the overall package, liaising with flight tests, safety, procurement, technical publications, structures, airworthiness, in-service support and many more departments to make sure the necessary work is completed to ensure a fit for purpose product in service.

What do you like about your job? I enjoy the fact that there are lots of things going on at one time. Instead of working on a large project for a couple of months, I am dealing with lots of small projects, which means that I am constantly doing different things. I also get to go out on sea trials, giving me lots of practical experience, as well as working in the workshop and the office. There is a wide variety of work both with a team on the shop floor and doing more computer-based work on my own. What do you dislike about your job? I am due to be moving over to the shipyard soon, which works a four-day week. It may sound better but you have to fit a full 37-hour week into four days, which makes the days quite intense and will be a big adjustment. What do you find most challenging about the job? Even though you have graduated with a degree in marine technology doesn’t mean that you know enough to go out and get stuck in straight away. Initially it was very difficult to get to grips with a lot of the tasks that I was given and the biggest challenge was finding

out what needed to be done in order to complete them. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Try to find people in the industry to talk to. There are networks of young engineers set up through the relevant institutions and it is well worth getting in touch with recent graduates who are in your area already to network. I also found completing a year in industry very useful, as not only did it give me experience, but also helped me to make contacts in the industry. Now if I have a problem here I know that I can call on someone else at another shipyard who might be able to help.

aerospace Peta Williams, 28, is a landing gear engineer at Airbus. She graduated in 2001 with a Masters in aeronautical engineering from Southampton University. What do you do in your job? I work on the nose landing gear for our long-range aircraft. Airbus don’t make the landing gear as this is the responsibility of our subcontractors, so the role of my department is to create the specification for the landing gears and then to integrate the gears our suppliers build into the aircraft, ensuring that they meet the various requirements. The aircraft I work on is in service, so we now look after its continuous development. This means that I look at anything from minor changes to aircraft maintenance manuals to more complex modifications that need to be made to the landing gear as a result of changes to the requirements or developments on test.

What do you dislike about your job? I wasn’t really prepared for the amount of documentation I have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. There are a lot of papers to review, store and write. It doesn’t detract from the rest of the job, which I still really enjoy, but it has highlighted to me just how important document management is in any company. What are your biggest challenges? We work on a number of different tasks with different stakeholders. The challenge in this job is managing their competing priorities and making sure that all their requirements are met. When I started this job the challenges were more around understanding the technology and all the processes involved there are a huge number to get your head around. That part of the job was more intense at the beginning but I am still constantly learning and I think that will continue throughout my career. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Lots of the skills that I use in my role are organisational and people skills so I would say don’t forget to work on these just as much as your engineering skills - they can be very valuable.

What do you like about your job? I like the variety of the job the most. We don’t get involved in the detailed design of the

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133 metres high. 315 metres wide. And rarely out of the glare of the media. Wembley Stadium’s illuminated arch isn’t just the world’s longest single-span roof structure, but also the most famous. So when we were asked to provide the power, we knew we’d be in the spotlight too. Fortunately, we played a blinder with a unique renewable energy contract that’s a winner for the environment as well as for the home of football. But then, we’re all about important goals. As Britain’s brightest energy company, we give creative, ambitious graduates the chance to tackle some of the most significant questions facing the country today and long into the future. So whether you join us in engineering, commercial and risk, finance, HR, on our IS scheme within our Systems division or as a business generalist, you’ll get to do your thing on the biggest stage of all. For a real position of power, visit www.brightergraduates.com to find out more.

ENGINEERING | CASE STUDIES

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be proactive, as it will get you noticed. i asked if i could shadow the private banking manager

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problems. Now I find it enjoyable to tell people about my job because, in many cases, they don’t really know anything about the industry.

What are the biggest challenges? Nothing about my work is straightforward. Everything must always be thoroughly thought out to consider the full impact of what you have proposed. There are significant constraints associated with working in and around the facility, so developing solutions that are sympathetic to them is extremely challenging. Advice to readers considering a job in your field: Try and get some work experience before you graduate, so you can draw on it in the working world. Be keen, get involved and always try and understand why you are doing what you are doing, not just what you have to do to complete the task.

power generation

electronics Kris Barraclough, 25, is a research and design graduate engineer at Roke Manor Research, a division of Siemens. She completed a Masters in electronics, telecommunications and computer engineering at Bradford University in 2005.

Mark Offord, 26, is an engineer who works towards decommissioning the nuclear waste store at Sellafield. He graduated in 2002 with a civil engineering degree from Nottingham University. What do you do in your job? I work as part of the team that is decommissioning a spent nuclear fuel silo storage facility located at Sellafield. It involves taking the waste out of the facility and transferring it to a more modern one as the building it is currently housed in is around 50 years old. It is a long-term project that will take many years to complete and, in order to prepare the facility for the retrieval of waste, a lot of preliminary planning is required. My main area of work involves developing a design for seismic strengthening of a section of the facility. I co-ordinate and undertake design and analysis work, meet with stakeholders, and ensure we develop a practical and safe solution. As removing the waste will take around another 20 years, it is very important to make sure the building where it is stored now is as safe as possible. What do you like about your job? I like the industry, as it is unique in the engineering world. My work is challenging and the people I work with are focused, intelligent, and always willing to help with a problem. I also

really enjoy making a difference. The work the project does makes a significant impact in reducing risk associated with stored nuclear waste, which helps improve the safety of lots of people.

What do you do in your job? As a research and design graduate engineer I work on the structure of the mobile network, which allows me to find out about new technologies before they develop, and add to these solutions with my own ideas. Over the course of a couple of months I can quickly become an expert and become a key contact for Siemens on a new technology field. I tend to do a lot of work on intellectual property rights and I’ve already

What do you dislike about your job? Throughout my short working life there have been a lot of changes in the organisation of the nuclear industry, and our business. Although I recognise that these are essential, and change will happen, I’ve found it is important to remain positive and to try to understand the benefits of the changes. There can be a lot of uncertainty but I don’t necessarily dislike it, more that I see it as part of working life. Also, when I started in the industry I was a little nervous about telling people what I did but I’ve never had any

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We offer three distinct career paths. And countless ways to learn more, do more, and experience more than you ever thought possible. We give you the training, the support, and the opportunities to make an impact. The rest is up to you. Field Engineering: It will test you physically as well as mentally. As a Field Engineer, you will be onsite wherever our clients need you – whenever they need you. You’ll make decisions that have multimillion dollar impact. And you’ll push your stamina as well as your knowledge to the very limit.

Research, Development & Manufacturing: It’s your chance to share ideas, win patents, and make a real impact. You research the challenge. You invent the solution. That’s why Research, Development & Manufacturing is such a remarkable experience. And your creativity will help develop technology and equipment unlike anything anywhere in the world – the proprietary solutions that make Schlumberger the very best.

Petrotechnical: It’s where your expertise can help shape the future of energy. This is your chance to work hand in hand with our clients, providing the expertise that makes a difference. We’re talking about decisions that drive the future of energy for the planet. You’ll not only need to know the science behind the challenges, you’ll need to have the people skills to build long-term client relationships.

With $19.2 billion revenue, Schlumberger is the world’s leading provider of technology services to the oil and gas exploration and production industry.

Success without boundaries

w w w. s l b . c o m / c a r e e r s

ENGINEERING | CASE STUDIES

developed a few ideas with my boss. One of which has been accepted, which I am thrilled about as this is a very difficult thing to achieve. What do you like about your job? I love my job and the company and would recommend it to anyone. Within Roke, I can talk to any member of staff and my ideas will be professionally considered whether they fall under a technical or business remit. I also love the fact that something I’ve worked on can be accepted and professionally implemented into standards. There are lots of professionals around me that provide support and it is a good feeling knowing that we can take an idea right through to fruition. Ideas outside of my project areas can be taken forward as part of an entrepreneur development scheme, which allows me to pick up more skills whilst I develop my own product. What do you dislike about your job? I am constantly coming up with ideas and each time we look at a new set of standards we generally have to look to the past to see what has already been done. A lot of ideas have already been considered but have not been taken forward because of specific reasons. However, it is very difficult to keep track of these as we don’t have access to the history of every idea.

What are the biggest challenges? It was very difficult to leave my friends and family in West Yorkshire to move to Southampton. However, since moving, everyone has been really friendly and helped me to settle in. We are just like a big family they have become my true friends rather than just people that I work with. Advice to readers considering a job in your field: Engineering allows graduates to apply to a wide-range of positions but I love working at the front of technology with very experienced staff. I had been told while I was at university that industry was a stressful environment so I was pleasantly surprised to see how relaxed everyone was when I joined the company.

automotive Giles Dawson, 23,is a design engineer for Aero Tech Laboratories. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Oxford Brookes University in 2006. What do you do in your job? We design and manufacture fuel tanks for all the Formula One and World Raleigh Championship teams and most of the motor sport industry. I am one of the design engineers who design all the hardware, which means that I sit at a

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my love of cars put me on this path. i am working in the industry that i always dreamed of being a part of

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Computer Aided Design (CAD) machine all day drawing all sorts of things from fuel tanks to nut rings and plates with holes in.

What do you like about your job? It is very rewarding seeing the products I’ve worked on being used in Formula One and the World Raleigh Championships. I get to see the proof of my labour out there on the track. I have always been a bit of a petrol head and consequently totally involved in motorsport. My love of cars put me on the path I am on. It inspired me to do a mechanical engineering degree and now, I am working in the industry that I always dreamed of being a part of. What do you dislike about your job? There are very long hours especially over the winter, which can be hard. All the teams release their new designs over this period and so expect us to do all their work then. It means 4am starts and 7pm finishes, which sounds crazy but I prefer to do it that way round rather then staying up working until midnight. What are the biggest challenges? Meeting deadlines is difficult. It is one of those industries where everybody wants everything yesterday. Staying awake when I have done a run of early starts is also a major challenge. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: It is a very competitive industry, so you need to work very hard at university and make sure you get a good degree. Doing extra-curricular activities that will boost your CV is a must and the only way you can put yourself in the shop window. You have to make sure you have more on your CV than anyone else. Formula Student is a good way of doing that and all the major universities take part in the project.

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SOME ENGINEERS

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T HAVE A CLUE. Would you believe that there are still a handful of engineers out there left in the dark when it comes to our graduate opportunities? But hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some news thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll light up their lives â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our graduate engineers get to work on some of the most exciting challenges in the industry. And we pack an awful lot into our three year Technical Development Programme. We treat them to a variety of roles spanning vastly different parts of our manufacturing operations. Of course, such regular rotation means our graduates have to adapt quickly to working with new teams. It also means they get to meet new people at every turn, and develop a wide range of professional

expertise across our business. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, because we actually let them take ownership of their projects, our graduates can go home at the end of each day knowing exactly how vital they are to the continued success of our pipeline. But weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to think that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re one of the bright sparks who knew all that already. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still plenty of other stuff to tell you. Simply visit www.gsk.com/uk-students to find out more. We have graduate opportunities for Engineers: Process, Chemical & Pharmaceutical, Mechanical, Electronic/Electrical and Automation, plus a variety of other scientific and numerate disciplines.

gsk.com/uk-students All data processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act. GSK is proud to promote an open culture, encouraging people to be themselves and giving their ideas a chance to flourish. GSK is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

GO BEYOND

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ENGINEERING | CASE STUDIES

chemical Leanne Hart, 26, is a process engineer at Amec. She completed a chemical engineering degree at Loughborough University in 2003. What do you do in your job? I am a process engineer for Amec and at the moment I am designing gas plants. Currently there is a shortage of gas in the UK and there may be in the future, so there is a lot of work going on to secure the gas supply. One of the ways of doing that is to build underground gas storage plants and that is where I come in. I get involved from the conceptual stage, through to the detailed design and then on to commissioning the plant. I have a good split between being in the office and out on site and I get to meet a lot of clients. What do you like about your job? Amec is a contracting company so my role is not the same as it would be if I was working at one plant all of the time. I enjoy working on contracts as I am able to work on a lot of different projects and meet lots of new people. Working in this way means that I am not specialised in anything so my position stays varied and interesting. I also like the fact that I am out and about often visiting plants. What do you dislike about your job? The flip side of going on lots of business trips is that sometimes the travelling can be quite tiring and being away from home a lot is not much fun. Also, because I am doing a lot of repeat work I can find myself doing the same design over and over again. However, every time I do a design there is always something different about it as different clients have a diverse set of requirements and expectations. What are the biggest challenges? Coming out of university you get thrown in at the deep end with a lot of responsibility given to you straight away. You have to make sure you land on your feet. Being able to adapt to clients’ expectations can also be quite challenging. Designs are continuously changing, so you have to be good at change management and not let it affect you too much. I’ve learnt to look as it as a step forward than a step back.

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remember that your decision is not final as there are opportunities to move on and try other pathways

equipment. The site that I am working on is what they call a primary site, which is the manufacture of the intermediate and active ingredients that go into the pharmaceutical products. These products are then sent to a secondary site where they are made into the final drugs. At the moment I am working on a range of processes including synthetic chemistry reactions, the fermentation process, which is the manufacture of active ingredients by fermentation methods, and downstream recovery processes.

Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Look at all of the options open to you because with a chemical engineering degree you can go into all sorts of jobs. Think about what you are most interested in, for example I enjoyed my design project at university, which made me think I wanted to go into design. Once you have made a decision remember that it’s not final because there are always opportunities to move on and try different career pathways. Being on a graduate trainee scheme allows me to try lots of different disciplines including areas like business development, which is a good idea. I’m not sure that I want to be an engineer for the rest of my life, so developing other skills is really important.

What do you like about your job? I like the fact that I have such a range of different tasks and roles to complete everyday. One minute I can be looking at reducing air, ground and water discharge emissions from the whole plant and then another I can be focusing on the upgrade of existing processes to improve yields or cycle times. I really enjoy this variety and the feeling of being busy.

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What do you dislike about your job? I would like to get more involved with design work,

pharmaceutical Lucy Joyce, 24,is a process engineer at GlaxoSmithKline. She completed a biochemical engineering degree at Bath University in 2005. What do you do in your job? As a process engineer I am working on the design and the subsequent installation of new

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MORNING COMMUTE

Lloyd’s Register Graduate Training Programme For naval architects, marine engineers, mechanical engineers and electrical & control engineers £competitive + benefits At Lloyd’s Register Marine, our Graduate Training Programme offers a different kind of working life. It is a two-year training scheme where you’ll develop your technical and practical experience including placements in a surveying office, a shipyard and time at sea. These placements can be in the UK or Europe and you will also spend time in our London office. During your time in London you will experience the work of various different departments as well as attending differing soft-skills training courses. In addition you will attend a surveying course in a regional training facility.

Lloyd’s Register works responsively, flexibly and closely with ship owners, operators and builders worldwide to assess and certify ships, systems and facilities that improve quality and increase safety at sea. What we do matters to thousands because it saves lives. As a graduate with strong ambitions to forge a successful and worthwhile career, you’ll enable us to continue providing an invaluable service and reach our ambitions to grow our influence globally. Find out more and apply at marinecareers.lr.org/graduates

The following two years will see you putting these skills into practice on a placement which could be anywhere in the world. Here you will sample real responsibility and gain crucial experience in your chosen field.

The Lloyd’s Register Group is an independent risk management organisation that works to improve its clients’ quality, safety, environmental and business performance throughout the world, because life matters. Our expertise and activities cover shipping, railways, other land-based industries and oil and gas. We operate from around 240 offices and employ some 6,000 personnel. Lloyd’s Register operates independently of any government or other body. We are committed to equal opportunities. Lloyd’s Register EMEA is an exempt charity under the UK Charities Act 1993.

ENGINEERING | CASE STUDIES

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however I think this will happen as I move into other roles and move upwards through the company. In my current position there is a certain element of design, but for the larger projects you generally work with contractors who are specialist companies that actually manufacture the relevant pieces of kit that you require. What do you find most challenging? Juggling everything and working with multifunctional teams can be difficult. I can be working with people off site and different teams on site who are responsible for areas as diverse as procurement, health and safety, and production. Working with all these different people to make sure you meet your targets, deadlines and that everything is installed correctly can be hard at times, but very rewarding when you manage it. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: I did a placement year with GSK as part of my degree and I think some sort of placement is invaluable to any graduate. It really did help me find a job and continues to help me now I am actually in the job – I learnt a lot in that year. Whether it is for a summer, a year or just a few weeks, it is a great opportunity to learn before you actually get stuck in.

processing Michael Luff, 23, is an advanced process engineer with 3M. He completed a degree in product design and manufacturing engineering at Loughborough University in 2005.

assessment centre with more aptitude tests and a presentation on a subject you are given beforehand. You also get to tour the manufacturing facility and learn about the company.

the job can be as challenging or pressured as you want it to be – i tend to put a lot of pressure on myself. it’s not like investment banking, which can be cut-throat, but the most challenging bits are different for different people

What do you enjoy about your job? The variety of challenges: everyday can be a different challenge. Everyday I face new issues, and it can be fast-paced. In my role as an engineer I learn a lot about HR and supply chain. I like the company’s diversity and the amount of people I get to work with.

to change quickly, providing service to customers in a timely manner.

Most challenging part of your job? It can be as pressured as you want it to be; I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself. It’s not like investment banking, which can be cut-throat, but the most challenging bits are different for different people. For example managing people might come easier to others, whereas for others it could be the technical side of things. A challenge in the manufacturing business is to stay competitive and respond

Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Preparing well for interviews is essential; read up on the company. But above all, be yourself, they’re not just looking for academics it’s about communication too and you need to get on well with people. You don’t have to be whiz at taking apart machinery, as long as you have common sense and are willing to learn new things. n

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What do you do in your job? I joined the company as part of the graduate scheme and we had “six sigma” training [a system of practices designed to improve processes by eliminating defects]. Part of that involved leading several project teams looking at optimising operations, that could be anything from process improvement to environmental issues. The business side of the role includes making sure we have up-to-date equipment, as well as ensuring we are meeting customer demands from an engineering aspect. The bulk of my job is project management, leading a team of six to eight people. What was your motivation in applying? I did a placement year with 3M as part of my degree. I was invited back at the end of that and they made me a good offer. The company has good ethics, a work life balance, competitive salary, and a diversity of roles. I can identify my own projects and get to work on things I’m interested in. What did the application process involve? It was different for me as I was offered a place. But I think it consists of an online application in the first place, then some aptitude tests. Candidates are invited for an

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YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL

SET (SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY) GRADUATES ARE NOW, MORE THAN EVER, TURNING AWAY FROM A CAREER DIRECTLY RELATED TO THEIR DEGREE, TOWARDS ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS IN BUSINESS AND TEACHING. ANNE HOLLOWDAY DISCOVERS HOW

o you’ve got a degree in SET (science, engineering or technology) but you don’t want to be a scientist, an engineer, or work in technology? Well, do not fear. There is a wealth of alternatives well within your reach, many of which will truly value the skills obtained during your degree. Increasingly, it seems that when a large salary is on offer, applications rocket. This is most obviously the case with banking. The competition for jobs is fierce, and as a recent Oxford engineering graduate says: “Banking is clearly the most lucrative avenue to pursue and can be highly rewarding if you are well versed or lucky enough to end up in a discipline you enjoy. However, hours will always be long and the pressure intense”. Recent trends have indicated that investment banking firms are specifically targeting engineering graduates – and who can blame them for taking the roles, when starting salaries are around £35k compared to the £25k usually offered in engineering. “Management consultancy is a role which attracts a great deal of applications,” adds another Oxford graduate. “After graduating with a physics degree, I decided I didn’t want to pursue a career in science. After some extensive research I chose management consultancy because it gave me the opportunity to use the practical skills I’d

Photograph: iStockphoto

amassed during my degree, whilst also allowing me to tap into my scientific brain to disaggregate complex problems into their component parts.” This is an extremely popular option for many SET graduates. Huge draws to the industry are the decent salaries on offer, starting from around £30k. One physics graduate says: “Along with sign-on and performance-related bonuses, my first year salary was around £42k.” Whilst unable to compete in the monetary stakes, teaching offers a unique and stimulating career educating our future generations. A degree in any discipline enables a graduate to become a primary school teacher after the completion of ITT (Initial Teacher Training). However, to become a secondary teacher, your degree must relate to the

alternative careers | overview

subject you would like to teach. Enhancement courses in chemistry, mathematics and physics, which take 26 weeks to complete, are available for graduates who have not completed in-depth study of these subjects, but who have significant knowledge of related ones. ITT can be undertaken in four different ways. Teach First is a two-year scheme for the UK’s top graduates, working with underprivileged schools in urban areas of London, Manchester and the Midlands. Recruitment consultancy is another popular alternative to careers in SET. It requires stoic enthusiasm and excellent communication skills, and is a booming sector with more jobs being secured through recruitment agencies

than before. Salaries start at around £20k. Performance-related bonuses can add to this by as much as £15k, though this can involve working under strenuous conditions. SET graduates are in a unique position because the theoretical skills they learn through the technical application of their knowledge are extremely highly valued by many employers, alongside their technical knowledge. It is this combination that sets them apart in the graduate field and affords them so many opportunities. Therefore, if you decide to turn away from SET directly, the opportunities awaiting you not only exist in abundance, but they are relevant too. n

case studies Louise Cullen Age: 24 Degree/university: Civil engineering, Southampton University Year of graduation: 2004 Occupation: Audit assistant: financial services assurance, KPMG What do you do in your job? I am on the ICAEW training scheme and training to become a chartered accountant. I spend one third of my year at college and the other two- thirds on audit engagement. I work mainly with investment banking clients. A typical day could involve meeting clients and discussing their business, process and controls. I also carry out audit tests, and write up documentation and reports. Quite a lot of my time is spent engaging with clients. What was your motivation in applying? I liked the fact that it was a broad qualification and it didn’t narrow my options for the future. It is very well respected across industries and internationally recognised; I like having the option to be able to work abroad. I wasn’t finding civil engineering all that interesting towards the end of my degree. I wanted to do something else and I wanted to work in central London. I found I had more interest in financial services than in engineering. I chose KPMG because I found they were the most friendly and I enjoyed the application process. I liked the people I met, who seemed welcoming. What did the application process involve? There was an application form, then online testing (verbal reasoning and maths). Then there was a first round interview with a manager. I then went to an assessment day: I had to do an e-tray exercise; then had a

partner interview; I did a presentation, and undertook a team exercise. What do you enjoy about your job? I like the fact you get to work with lots of different clients and you are not based in one place. I deal with lots of banks in London, so you don’t get the chance to get bored. I like the fact audit is quite organised; you can plan a few months in advance what you will be doing. Most of all, the company is really young: there are hundreds of other trainees so the social side is a lot of fun. Most challenging part of your job? No one knows how to audit when they join, but you meet clients straightaway. You need to learn to manage time and other people early on. Because I work in banking it is quite technical and I had to pick up an understanding of the area from scratch, which was challenging because I am from a non-financial background. Overall the exams are the most challenging part. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Research well and find out as much as you can about training schemes. Speak to people who are doing it; there are so many people on training schemes at the “Big Four” accountancy firms you’ll find someone to talk to. Give it a go – if you really don’t enjoy it’s not as if there’s no going back. Try it while you’re young.

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Pilkington Group Limited, based in St Helens in the North West of England, operates from sites throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australasia. There are two main areas of activity, namely Building Products and Automotive, together withProducts the various Engineering Graduates – Building Group Functions.

(North West with Travel Abroad)

Graduates Products We are interested to hear from applicants Engineering who have an accredited MEng 2:1–orBuilding above in Mechanical, Salary – £21,000-£23,500 plus benefits Electrical/Electrical & Control or Chemical Engineering and although not essential, language skills and work (North West with Travel Abroad) experience are preferred. Salary – £21,000-£23,500 plus benefits

Do you want to be Products part of antoexciting engineering team working on multi million experience preferred. Building global Engineering Function is responsible for the design and project management foryou Do you want be part of an exciting engineering team working onare multi million pound projects? Do pound projects? Do you want to travel the world discovering different cultures? Do you new ventures and also upgrades to existing factories. Graduates work as part of a multi-disciplinary team want to travel the world discovering different cultures? Do you want early responsibility including the want early responsibility including the opportunity to work towards chartership from Building Products global Engineering Function is responsible for the design and project with typically short-term assignments (6-8 weeks), opportunities longer secondments opportunity to work towards chartership from day one? Ifalthough the answer 'Yes!' to for all also of these questions then Graduates work management forisnew ventures and upgrades to existing factories. day one? If the answer is ‘Yes!’ to all of these questions thenabroad Pilkington is the right Do you wantistothe beright part of an exciting engineering team working million team pound Do you as parton of a multi multi-disciplinary with projects? typically short-term assignments abroad (6-8 Company for you! always exist. Pilkington Company for you! weeks), although opportunities for longerincluding secondments always want to travel the world discovering different cultures? Do you want early responsibility the exist. Founded in 1826 and a member of NSG group from June 2006, Pilkington is a leader opportunity to work towards chartership from day one? If the answer is 'Yes!' to all of these questions then part your development programme arePilkington with secondments to our UK Founded inindustry 1826 and a member of largest NSGengineering group from June 2006, is a leader inengineering the global Flat Glass in theAs global Flatof Glass and is one of the world’s manufacturers of graduates glass As part of provided your development programme graduates are provided with Pilkington is the right Company for you! manufacturing sites give you invaluable experience andofansecondments insight of Pilkington. to ourthe UK operations manufacturing sites to give you invaluable and glazing products and for theis building automotive markets. industry onetoofand the world's largest manufacturers glass andinto glazing products for the building and experience and an insight into the operations of Pilkington. automotive markets. The combined annual of NSG Pilkington are around billion, with Founded insales 1826 andand a member ofencouraged NSG£4group from Junechartered 2006, Pilkington a leaderour in the global Flat Glass The successful applicants will be to become engineersisthrough Engineering The successful applicants will be encouraged to become chartered engineers through our ownership/interest in 50 float lines on five continents, producing 6.4 million tonnes industry and isScheme one of which the world's largest manufacturers of glass andIET. glazing products for the building and is by bothworldwide, theare IMechE and The ofcombined annual sales ofaccredited NSG andemployees Pilkington around £4 billion, with ownership/interest inboth 50 float Engineering Development Scheme which is accredited by the IMechE and IET. annualDevelopment output float glass. The combined company has 36,000 automotive markets. and manufacturing in 26 countries, with Sales in6.4 moremillion than 130 countries. lines onoperations five continents, producing tonnes annual output of float glass. The combined company We are looking to recruit 6 Graduate Engineers, to start in We looking to recruit 6 Graduate to start in September 2008, aswith follows: hasare 36,000 employees worldwide, and Engineers, manufacturing operations in 26 countries, Sales in more than 130 September 2008, as follows: Pilkington Group Limited, based in St Helens in the North West of England, operates The combined annual sales of NSG and Pilkington are around £4 billion, with ownership/interest in 50 float from sitescountries. throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australasia. lines on five continents, producing 6.4 million tonnes annual3output of float glass.Graduate The combined company x Mechanical Engineering 3 x Mechanical Engineering Graduate There has are two main areas of activity, namely Building Products and Automotive, operations in 26 countries, with Sales in more than 130 36,000 employees worldwide, and manufacturing Pilkington Group Limited, based in St Helens in the North West of England, operates from sites throughout together with the various Group Functions. We are interested to hear from applicants 2 x Electrical/Electrical & Control Engineering Graduate 2countries. xEurope, Electrical/Electrical & in Control Engineering Graduate North South America, Asia and Australasia. who have an accredited MEngand 2:1 or above Mechanical, Electrical/Electrical & Control or Chemical Engineering and although not essential, language skills and work 1 x Chemical/Mechanical Engineering Graduate

Limited, based in St namely Helens in the North West of England, operates from sites 1Pilkington xThere Chemical/Mechanical Graduate are Group two main areasEngineering of activity, Building Products and Automotive, together with throughout the various Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australasia. Group Functions.

Application

is by Graduate Application Form , please mark your application ‘Engineering Graduate Scheme’ for

There are two please mainto areas offrom activity, namely Building Products andMEng Automotive, together with the various further details seehear www.pilkington.com orwho contact thean Graduate Recruitment Officer by e-mail: We are interested applicants have accredited 2:1 or above in Mechanical, RecruitG@Pilkington.com telephone: 01744 692831. Group Functions. Electrical/Electrical & Control or Chemical Engineering and although not essential, language skills and work Pilkington Group Limited, Prescot Road, St Helens, WA10 3TT experience are preferred. We are interested to hear from applicants who have an accredited MEng 2:1 or above in Mechanical, Closing date 2nd January 2008 Electrical/Electrical & Control or Chemical Engineering and although essential, language skills andfor work Building Products global Engineering Function is responsible for the not design and project management experience are preferred. new ventures and also upgrades to existing factories. Graduates work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with typically short-term assignments abroad (6-8 weeks), although opportunities for longer secondments Building Products global Engineering Function is responsible for the design and project management for always exist. new ventures and also upgrades to existing factories. Graduates work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with typically short-term assignments abroad (6-8 weeks), although longer secondments As part of your development programme engineering graduates areopportunities provided withforsecondments to our UK always exist. manufacturing sites to give you invaluable experience and an insight into the operations of Pilkington. As part of your development programme engineering graduates are provided secondments to our UK The successful applicants will be encouraged to become chartered engineerswith through our Engineering manufacturing to give youisinvaluable an insight into the operations of Pilkington. Development sites Scheme which accreditedexperience by both theand IMechE and IET. The applicants will6 be encouraged to become chartered engineers 2008, through Engineering Wesuccessful are looking to recruit Graduate Engineers, to start in September asour follows: Development Scheme which is accredited by both the IMechE and IET. 3 x Mechanical Engineering Graduate We are looking to recruit 6 Graduate Engineers, to start in September 2008, as follows: 2 x Electrical/Electrical & Control Engineering Graduate 3 x Mechanical Engineering Graduate 1 x Chemical/Mechanical Engineering Graduate Will youÉ 2 x Electrical/Electrical & Control Engineering Graduate Accelerate yourfor own career? Application is by Graduate Application Form , please mark your application ‘Engineering Graduate Scheme’ 1 x further Chemical/Mechanical Engineering Graduate details please see www.pilkington.com or contact the Graduate Recruitment Officer by e-mail:Do something different? RecruitG@Pilkington.com telephone: 01744 692831. Put something back? Pilkington Group Limited, PrescotApplication Road, St Helens, Application is by Graduate Form ,WA10 please3TT mark your application ‘Engineering Graduate Scheme’ for Inspire andgeneration? further details please see www.pilkington.com or contact the Graduate Recruitment Officer by e-mail: Closing date 2 January 2008 Change lives? RecruitG@Pilkington.com telephone: 01744 692831. Pilkington Group Limited, Prescot Road, St Helens, WA10 3TT Take a lead? Closing date 2nd January 2008

Whatever you do, Teach First.

TF1102 Realworld Landscape 190x11 1

29/8/07 14:55:02

alternative careers | case studies

success with helping children learn. It’s a bit of a cliché, but no two days are the same.

Chris Fairburn Age: 25 Degree/university: MSc in Engineering at Cambridge University Year of graduation: 2004 Occupation: Maths teacher, placed through Teach First What do you do in your job? I have just finished my first year and next year will be a newly qualified teacher. I’ve just started at Burlington Danes Academy, which ranges from Years 7 to 11. Maths teachers teach across all years. I teach four lessons of an hour a day across all ages. On top of that, I get involved with lots of things like football. There are lots of extra-curricular things to do. Teach First recruited me and then I was trained at Canterbury Christ Church University. But Burlington Danes are my employers, although my commitment to Teach First is two years, my commitment to the school is however long. What was your motivation in applying? After graduating I spent one-and-a-half years with a mechanical engineering consultancy. I really enjoyed being an engineer, but deep down I’d always wanted to try teaching. So I left engineering after 18 months and applied to Teach First. I used to tutor one-to-one and two-to-one. Obviously, that’s a lot different to teaching 30, but I always thought I would want to be a teacher at some point. I love helping people understand things. Although there are ups and downs, some of the satisfaction you can get is indescribable: the good times are very good. What did the application process involve? It is the most rigorous application process I’ve been through. First there is an online application and there are competencies they want every applicant to show. You have to write about an experience that is evidence of each of those competencies. After that, you have to answer lots of questions about yourself; you have to really sell yourself. If you get through that, then there is a whole-day assessment. It comprises three parts: one part is teaching a year 7 lesson in front of recruiters. Then there is a case study task with six applicants in a room role-playing. Finally, there is a one-to-one interview where you talk about what you’ve done and why you would be suitable for Teach First. What do you enjoy about your job? I really enjoy the feeling you get when you have

Most challenging part of your job? One is the hours in your first year of teaching. I knew it was going to be hard, but I thought the interaction with children would be overriding. However, there is so much planning, preparation, marking, and chasing up that you can feel drained physically and emotionally. You have to be on form all day and that’s quite difficult. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: I think at some stage I will still want to be a chartered engineer, and I don’t think by being a teacher I have ruled that out. I could always combine engineering and education. There are schemes in London to get children interested in engineering through maths. I moved careers not because I didn’t like engineering, but because I had a drive to be a teacher.

“

i really enjoyed being an engineer, but deep down, i’d always wanted to try teaching. I love helping people understand things – the satisfaction is indescribable

”

Richard Blakeborough

Age: 24 Degree/university: Psychology, Newcastle University Year of graduation: 2004 Occupation: Sales executive at United Carlton Office Systems Ltd What do you do in your job? I am involved with the majority of my time in new business development and I also do some existing account management. My work also includes answering queries to do with contracts, upgrading equipment, organising deliveries, installation and training. On a typical day, the morning is spent hot prospecting to generate new business leads: finding out who the decision makers are and their individual needs. In the afternoon I make calls from previous business generation trips, along with putting together quotes that need to be done. What was your motivation in applying? I got the position through Pareto, a specialist in graduate placement and training for sales roles. The reason I went to Pareto was

because I knew they recruit for some fantastic companies and so I was sure the roles they had and the approach they offered to recruitment would help me get a job that suited my individual skills and ambitions. I also wanted to stay in Newcastle and they found me this position. What did the application process involve? I wanted a job in graduate sales so I went on Pareto’s website. I called them and had a telephone interview. From there I was invited to an assessment day and took part in a group exercise, did a three-minute presentation and had a quick interview. I gave them an idea of what I wanted to do, with my main criteria being to stay in Newcastle. They mentioned that United Carlton is an up and coming company. So I went there for a first, formal interview and then they invited me back for a second interview. What do you enjoy about your job? The variety. Also the fact I am my own boss so I can do as much as I want, and earn as much as I want. I get a lot of freedom to do the job; I am given guidelines, but if I am hitting targets then I am left to get on with it. It is exciting going out into the field and being solely responsibly for your work; I can’t imagine sitting at a desk all day. The market is really quite varied: so I can be anywhere from a tattoo parlour in Newcastle, to the Sage headquarters in Gosforth. Most challenging part of your job? When you are up against other companies, with a lot more experienced people. As in any walk of life, if you have less experience than someone else, you are going to be trying harder to match them. But I get a lot of training from both my company and from Pareto on everything from presenting to negotiating, so I feel like I’m improving and developing my skills every day. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Sales is a very rewarding career, and you learn how businesses work. Other careers can be quite academic, especially in IT, but in sales you can learn everything from IT to accounts. You get a good holistic view of how a business works. Sales is not a commonly-viewed industry to go for, but I would suggest giving Pareto a go. They provide in-house training from an introduction to sales to negotiation skills. Sales is such an underrated profession, but one I think graduates could do well in: all you need is intelligence and the ability to work hard. n

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CAN YOU HANDLE I.T.? CAREERS IN TECHNOLOGY AND IT ARE INTEGRAL PARTS OF TODAY’S SOCIETY. ANNE HOLLOWDAY EXPLORES THE OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES IN THIS DIVERSE AND CONSTANTLY CHANGING FIELD.

IT | OVERVIEW

echnology is an

undoubtedly integral part of modern society. Without the pioneering techniques and products IT workers have developed, we would probably be relying upon passbooks for our bank accounts, a wad of loose handwritten papers in place of all the files stored on our home PCs and, perhaps most disturbingly, no tangible substitution â&#x20AC;&#x201C; except for a hefty encyclopaedia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for the wonders of the internet. A career in IT offers the opportunity to be at the forefront of development that affects the way lives are lived. Career paths are varied and diverse with a multitude of different roles on offer. The landscape of IT changes as fast as Japanese bullet trains, and alongside this, investment, growth and

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Photograph: iStockphoto

Let your imagination run away with us… How to be a big cheese in IT.

IT Group Leadership Programme £25,000 + £3,450 London weighting where applicable | UK wide Imagine a major business with international interests, and ambitious plans. A business with an IT infrastructure that links some 16million personal customers, 2.3million Internet banking users and 800,000 business accounts – not to mention over 60,000 employees. Imagine a business that offers formal and informal training, year-long placements, the support of mentors and managers and the chance to study for professional qualifications. Imagine how your career can grow in a business like ours. All we ask is that you’re a creative and independent thinker with an IT/IS degree. In return our programme will bring out the leader in you, helping you become a really big cheese.

www.lloydstsbtalent.co.uk

We value diversity and always appoint on merit.

it | overview

“

it is a universal language and professionals are in demand all over the world. it’s a seller’s market – the initiative is with candidates looking for work

Photograph: iStockphoto

British Computer Society www.bcs.org IBM www.ibm.com/graduate Just IT www.justit.co.uk Sophos www.sophos.com/careers Deloitte www.deloitte.co.uk/graduates

”

opportunities all expand accordingly. In short, it is a thriving and exciting industry to become involved in because the employment possibilities are seemingly endless. The days of dingy basement offices complete with techie geeks are long gone. Sure, the geeks are still around, but now

In 2007 and 2008, IT is a sellers’ market. That is, the initiative is with the candidates looking for work. Employers are finding it increasingly difficult to locate skilled, good quality candidates and, as such, retention is extremely high on their business agendas. Such intense skills shortages have led to a return to

they’re cool and they’re often based in high-tech offices or laboratories. Perhaps even in a boardroom discussing ideas for

huge salary increases and guaranteed performance perks, including sign-on bonuses.

new computer software or games, or even in customer-facing front of house roles. Jobs as systems analysts and co-ordinating offshore services in places like Eastern Europe are in high demand. There are also plenty of opportunities to set up on your own after gaining years of experience. If you decide technology is not for you, you’re missing out. It is tricky to avoid all contact with it. Writers, mechanics, retail assistants, bus drivers and teachers (to name but a few) use IT skills to complete their jobs effectively. A career in IT is therefore an excellent grounding for anyone unsure of what career path to take. It provides fantastic business, technical and communications skills that future employers value highly. IT is a universal language and professionals are in demand all over the world. For example, some IT skills have recently been added to Australia’s migration occupations ‘in demand’ list, making the process for IT workers easier than before. The off-shoring of IT services to India, Puerto Rico, China and Eastern Europe offers professionals opportunities in strategy, management and leadership in an international setting.

Graduate level jobs and recruitment schemes offer between £16k-£28kpa for the right quality candidates. However, the shortage of workers is also due to the stringent levels of competence IT companies require. A good degree alone will not ensure employment. Work experience is a distinct advantage, as are high grades throughout your education. Graduates must be dynamic, diverse individuals to adapt to the constantly altering IT environment. They must be motivated and conscientious as well as possessing the ability to work well within a team because of the amount of brainstorming and idea development required. Many large companies offer internships from which they select the most suitable people. Obtaining a place on such a scheme provides the opportunity to prove yourself. Ultimately, IT will never go away. It has taken a firm hold of society and does not look as though it will ever relinquish it. If you want a secure future, a career in IT is a pretty decent bet. Have a look at some of the IT career paths taken by recent graduates in our case studies on the next few pages.

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Atos, Atos and fish symbol, Atos Origin and fish symbol, Atos Consulting, and the fish symbol itself are registered trademarks of Atos Origin SA. September 2007.

MAKING EVERYDAY EXTRAORDINARY IT-related Graduate Opportunities, UK As one of the world’s leading IT and business integrators, making client vision a reality goes without saying at Atos Origin. Our clients work across a wide range of industries, so it’s inevitable that we touch everyday life in a multitude of extraordinary ways. Take our collaboration with the Department of Transport, for example. We designed, built and now operate Transport Direct (www.transportdirect.info), a free online journey planner for getting around Britain, however you want to travel. Because finding new ways to make everyday life that little bit easier is what we’re all about, we’re looking for graduates with a 2:2 degree or above in a technical discipline. Well-rounded and focused, you’ll demonstrate a clear interest in pursuing a career in the IT services sector. We’ll take a personalised approach to your development and give you the chance to work on major projects while you build your technical skills and commercial acumen. Enabling you to start enjoying a truly extraordinary career. For more information and to apply, visit www.atosorigin.co.uk/careers Atos Origin does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, age, disability or sexual orientation. All recruitment decisions are based solely on qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience and relevant business requirements.

it | CASE STUDIES

“

investigate lots of different companies – they all have their own ways of doing things and you need to find out what is right for you

”

Emma Dawkins

Portrait of Emma Dawkins by Yang Ou

Age: 23 Degree/university: BA in Business IT from Coventry University, MSc IT Management Coventry University Year of graduation: 2005; 2006 Occupation: Business analyst at LogicaCMG What do you do in your job? I work on the business development side of a project first, then help on the application and delivery side. The latter are technically-based and there is lots of testing. We create loads of systems for clients. I work in the government sector and have been working on a project for Ofsted. As well as working in LogicaCMG’s offices, I have been dealing with clients in London and Bristol. There is lots of chance to travel and that is one of the things that drew me to this company. What was your motivation in applying? The flexibility – in addition to the salary there are a lot of benefits, such as a “share a car scheme”, and if a project is away from your base office the company will cover those

costs. Sometimes you have the option to work from home if you can’t make it in. The more you learn and the more experience you get the higher the salary goes. I work seven-and-a-half hours a day; if you work extra hours overtime can be paid. It is a good company to work for; there are great learning and development courses. What did the application process involve? You apply online – it is quite a lengthy form. There is a phone interview followed by an assessment day in London, which includes a one-to-one interview, group exercise, a case study, and psychometric tests. Graduates are invited to ask questions about the company and its social activities. You are also invited to a re-attend day, where you get more information about LogicaCMG and can ask as many questions as you want. What do you enjoy about your job? I like the fact you meet lots of people – but it can be hard to remember everyone’s names!

You meet people all the way up to senior level down to graduates. We try to network and have Grip (Graduate IP) events, where you meet other graduates within the company. Most challenging part of your job? If you want to do something there’s a certain way of doing it, for example for bid work, you have to document certain things. It’s all online, but it takes a bit of getting used it. Also the timesheet’s a bit annoying too, but you have to do it to get paid! Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Investigate different companies. They all have different ways of doing things. One IT company might be right for you. For example LogicaCMG is flexible; others might pay more but you have to work longer hours, or they only have offices in certain parts of the UK. Apply to as many as you want to and go to assessment days. Don’t rule out companies just because one person said something bad about them – the company might not be right for them, but it could be for you.

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If you once imagined yourself as a rock ‘n’ roll legend… …don’t worry. You can still make a name for yourself in the music business. Aspirations drive individuals and businesses. By constantly fulfilling ours, we’ve kept ahead in the global marketplace for professional services. It’s the aspiration and ambitions of exceptional individuals like you that have helped us achieve our goals. For you, a childhood dream of playing to stadium crowds could become the reality of providing vital business advice to some of the biggest names in the music business. Wherever your aspirations take you within Deloitte, you’ll have the promise of a career that can take you further – and faster – than you ever thought possible. www.deloitte.co.uk/graduates

A career worth aspiring to

. .

Audit Tax Consulting Corporate Finance Deloitte & Touche LLP is an equal opportunities employer.

it | CASE STUDIES

also includes a verbal reasoning test. As part of the interview we had to prepare a case study and also went through my CV. The assessment centre was challenging, but gave me a great insight into the type of people already working at Capgemini.

Dan Lane Age: 25 Degree/university: BA in Business information management), MSc E-commerce/computing (distinction) – both from Oxford Brookes University Year of graduation: 2004 (BA), 2005 (MSc) Occupation: Technologist at Capgemini What do you do in your job? Although my job title sounds quite vague, it can cover a diverse range of roles. As a consultancy, Capgemini is a project-based organisation, so your role can change every time you move on to another project. I may have taken some of the same roles as other graduates, but our career paths will turn out to be completely different. The first role I got involved with was for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which I worked at for eight months. The main aspect was the global implementation of an Oracle financial package for UK embassies across the world. After that I moved to working on a strategic partnership between Capgemini and HM Revenue and Customs. I spent two months doing analysis work with another graduate, working with a development team getting technical specifications. I also led a project team that consisted of two graduates and two developers – to deliver a pretty complex integration of operations systems for senior management. What was your motivation in applying? While I was doing my MSc I was sponsored by a French company and one of the guys there was ex-Capgemini. He extolled the virtues of Capgemini and made it sound like a real people-oriented organisation. After researching the company I found it was inline with other companies I was looking to apply to. What did the application process involve? There was a standard online written application – asking what you’ve done, what experience you have, what are your key skills etcetera. That was followed by a telephone interview. Then, there was a half-day assessment centre, which consisted of team exercises and aptitude tests. It now

What do you enjoy about your job? The people I work with. They are a really exciting, diverse mix of people. There is a really good social scene, especially within the graduate community. I also enjoy the ability to explore where my real talent lies; when you join the company you don’t necessarily know exactly what you want to do. I’ve had the chance to look around lots of different areas and found the things I really enjoy. Also, I have been given some leave to undertake a Raleigh International project for two months in Borneo. Most challenging part of your job? We can move between several projects in the space of a few months, which means we need to be able to quickly adapt to new situations, and that can be quite a challenge. The lifestyle can also pose a challenge as the job can involve a lot of moving around, so you need good organisational skills to plan where you’re going to be working from. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: If you are going to apply to someone like Capgemini read up on their competitors and have an idea of what’s going on in the sector. Also consider the consulting lifestyle: you could be away from home during the week for many months at a time, however you’ll be working with some of the best people on the most challenging projects.

Saqib Shaikh Age: 25 Degree/university: Computer science, BSc Essex University, MSc Sussex University Year of graduation: 2003 Occupation: Associate consultant at Microsoft What do you do in your job? Basically, we make solutions for customers. For example,

“

I enjoy the fact that I make things that make a real difference. It’s a really rewarding job. i’ve worked with the nhs and know i’ll have helped doctors and nurses do their jobs better

”

we show a company what it is possible to do with Microsoft technology. I have been involved with many projects. One was a test project designing a user interface for the NHS IT systems. Another was working for a company that enabled books from the British Library to be able to be read on the internet. My day-to-day work depends on how big the project is. I am a software developer, so I develop programs. Sometimes I get to meet the customer myself, other times it will be a larger project and we will work together as a team. What was your motivation in applying? I had been interested in applying technology so that it made a difference to people’s lives, and able to make them do more in their lives, and Microsoft gave me that opportunity. The graduate scheme gave a lot of good experience, lots of training, and you got to do some of the Microsoft exams too. It is a very friendly place and I got the impression that everyone seems relaxed. The good working culture really appealed to me. What did the application process involve? First of all you had to do an application form online. Once you’d emailed your application you had a telephone interview with the recruitment team. After that, you went to the offices for tests, and a face to face interview. Finally I got called to the Microsoft campus for two interviews; I had to give a presentation and do a group exercise. What do you enjoy about your job? The fact that I make things that make a real difference. Like with the British Library, books that people had never been able to read before because they were behind glass have become accessible. Or working with the NHS knowing that in the future I will have helped doctors and nurses do their job better. It’s a really rewarding job and what

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Don't leave your

conscience

at the door

The word is different.

If you thought a career in banking and finance meant putting good intentions aside, look again. At Dresdner Kleinwort, we’re focused on finding those individuals who can take a wider look at business. We’re interested in talented people from a range of backgrounds and degree disciplines. People who are hungry to come up with the solutions that make things work better – for our clients, for their customers, for the world. If you think you can bring more to banking, call us. Spread the word. www.dresdnerkleinwort.com/graduates Unexpected viewpoints. Radical thinking. Inspiration.

it | CASE STUDIES

was great is that I actually won the British Computer Society’s 2006 Young IT Practitioner of the Year award. Most challenging part of your job? You have to be very inventive as a consultant. In the beginning that was quite challenging, but after 18 months I’ve got used to it. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: If you have it, then really follow your passion for IT – there are a lot of opportunities out there. Get work experience as early as possible too – I did an internship and that really helped me with my career.

Sandeep Hundal Age: 23 Degree/university: 2.1 in computer science/ software engineering with business studies from the University of Birmingham Year of graduation: 2006 Occupation: Technical consultant at Hewlett Packard What do you do in your job? As a consultant you have to have an understanding of the technology that surrounds both Hewlett Packard and Microsoft. (HP is a strong partner to Microsoft.) The role involves project work and we are often based at the sites of HP’s

“

travelling is the most challenging element of the job - you’re away from home a lot and you can get dropped in at the deep end. But although it sounds like a negative, it’s not really

”

biggest customers. We can be working on any stage of a migration project – from the big phase where HP is trying to win business, or at the other end, where we’re deploying work. I’ve been on my current project for almost seven months and I’ve found that there is so much scope to move around and do different work on projects. It is interesting to see what the client wants actually being implemented. On a project, no two days are ever the same. What was your motivation in applying? I’d always heard of Hewlett Packard as being one of biggest IT companies in the world. I applied mainly after looking at the quality of the training on offer, as it seemed really good. Additionally, I was interested in doing the Microsoft qualifications as part of the programme when I joined. As a self-starter it’s the best place to be: you can do whatever you want if you’ve got the necessary drive.

“

i’ve found there’s so much scope to move around and do different work on projects. It is interesting to see what the client wants actually being implemented. each day Differs

”

What did the application process involve? Initially there was a web-based application form to complete. Following that there was a phone interview. In fact, there were quite a few candidates my year, so I had to have a second phone interview. I was then invited to the headquarters for an assessment day; there I met graduate managers and project managers for whom I would eventually be working. What do you enjoy about your job? It is so challenging. And the good thing is that if you have to do something you’ve not heard of before, there’s always someone on the project to ask about it. Also, the work that you do does get recognised, and if you do it well enough, you will possibly be well rewarded. You are really counted as an employee here. Plus the employees here are lovely, and it’s a very peoplefocused organisation. Most challenging part of your job? The travelling is the most challenging element of the job – you are away from home a lot and you can get dropped in at the deep end. Although it sounds like a negative, it’s not really, as it presents a challenge – you are not sitting at the same desk every week. If you’re into fast-paced environments, then the HP consultant programme is perfect. But that’s not to say you don’t have a good social life on the programme. We regularly meet up and there is a real community. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: If you are really up for a challenge and motivated to succeed then I would definitely recommend you apply to Hewlett Packard. It’s a good career option as there’s so much scope to move around and to develop. If you’ve got an idea HP is happy for you to speak up – your input is always valid.

Sinead Nelson Age: 25 Degree/university: Bachelor in electronics and electron engineering at University College London followed by an MSc in telecommunications also at UCL Year of Graduation: 2004 and 2005 Occupation: Network consultation engineer, previously a customer support engineer at Cisco Systems. What do you do in your job? I handle customer issues, now specifically with the voice networking. It is a reactive role, and I deal with cases for customers, fixing any problems with the voice network. What was your motivation in applying? I had several offers from other companies, but this was Cisco and it beat them all! To work for them was a great opportunity; I wanted to work for a big provider. I chose to move on to work as a network consultation engineer as it was a different experience in a different area. What did the application process involve? For applying to Cisco it started with an

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.OTåSOåMUCHåAåJOB å MOREåANåEDUCATION Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Join us as a graduate and on top of the chance to get stuck into some real projects as soon as you arrive, you’ll benefit from a starting salary of £23-£26k and excellent rewards, including a laptop and performance-related bonus scheme.

require excellent problem-solving abilities. All our graduates will need fantastic communication skills and a strong customer focus, along with the energy, enthusiasm and determination to succeed. Our training and progression opportunities are first-rate too. In fact our CEO, Tim Pearson, was once taking his intrepid first steps as a graduate himself.

Whatever your role, you’ll need to combine a broad blend of skills. While those taking on IT-specific roles should be able to demonstrate technical ability, our commercial roles

So if you have a 2:1 or above, at least 260 UCAS points and would like to find out more, visit www.rmgraduates.com

We’re the UK’s leading provider of IT for education, and are well known for our friendly and supportive culture that allows graduates to thrive from the outset. We’re not all talk either.

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IT COULD BE LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

THURSDAY 25th OCTOBER 2007

@ Manchester Central (formerly the G-MEX Centre) Organised by the Careers Service

In association with The Independent

13:07

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it | CASE STUDIES

“

I enjoy the challenge. i’m working at the height of technology. Also, you get to manage your own time here and you work when there is work to be done

”

online application, which was fairly simple, asking for basic information with a few points about why you were interested in working for the company. After that there were two telephone interviews, one technical and the other again about your interest in the company. Then there was a graduate assessment day at the Reading office, which took a full day. There were five interviews in total. One of these was with the HR department. Others included two role-play assessments where you were given a scenario and had to show how you would troubleshoot the problem. Another was a technical interview, which I wasn’t expecting, but gave you an opportunity to talk about technical areas you were interested in. What do you enjoy about your job? I would say the challenge. I’m working at the height of technology, which is always challenging. Also you get to manage your own time here, so although it is a nine-to-five job you don’t have to be there for those specific times. You work when there is work that needs to be done, and you are not accountable for your time. There are good benefits at Cisco and you can model your own career. The three of us who were recruited together are all now in very different areas. What is the most challenging part of your job? Different technologies are always developing and it’s important to keep up. There is such a large range to be aware of, but this is part of the challenge. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: If you are interested in working at Cisco, try to gain a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification before you start working, or if that’s not possible, at least show some interest in getting one.

Tom McInerney Age: 23 Degree/university: BSC Hons Computing, Portsmouth University Year of graduation: 2005 Occupation: IT project manager at Intel Corp What do you do in your job? I am responsible for making available new types of technology for employees, specifically wireless products, such as cellular cards that you can plug into machines. On a day-to-day basis, I usually speak with various teams round the world: Israel, the US and Asia. In addition to employees, I also deal with worldwide vendors. I spend a bit of my day going through email and also working on local site projects. What was your motivation in applying? As part of my sandwich course while I was at Portsmouth University, I took part in a 13-month placement with Intel, which has a large intern programme in the UK. I was based in a support organisation dealing with customers. In my final year I applied to join the more engineering/project management side of the business. I came back because I liked the environment at Intel; there are a lot of great people here. I’ve done lots of travelling and there has been plenty of opportunity for me to meet different people. One of the good things about Intel is that you get to work outside your normal role. For example, I have helped with customer consultancy and other elements of the business. I recently helped with a product launch that took place in South Africa. What did the application process involve? For graduate hiring, jobs are listed on the company’s website: www.intel.com/jobs. There is a range of different opportunities: from finance to marketing, and so on. All you need to do is upload your CV and if you are successful then you will be called to attend an interview.

“

make sure you have got at least some work experience and understand what area of it you want to go into, but go in with an open mind. Above all, be enthusiastic and go along to interviews with examples of the sorts of things you’ve done

”

What do you enjoy about your job? I really enjoy the travel and I get to go between the US and Asia. I like the people I work with. My team and manager are US-based. Tonight I have a meeting and I am the only person representing the UK. I also enjoy the kind of environment where you can have a structured data-led argument, and argue your point. Your opinion is always valid and important. Most challenging part of your job? We get graded every six months and get compared to our peers. You assign yourself targets and that can be challenging; you could make the targets too aggressive. Also, because of the size of the organisation it can be difficult to get traction on some projects. It is difficult with a large organisation to get to know people when you are dealing with just voices; even video technology is not as good as meeting somebody in person. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Make sure you have got at least some work experience and understand what area of IT you want to go into, but go in with an open mind. Above all, try to be enthusiastic and come to interviews with examples of what you’ve done, such as various examples of web development work. I am an official Intel IT blogger at: http://blogs.intel.com/it n

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CAREER BUILDING BLOCKS

48 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

built environment | overview

o you want to change the world? A career in construction will quite literally allow you to do just that. The construction industry alters the landscape of our built environment. A job in the sector will see you developing and building new structures in order to provide solutions to environmental, human and logistical problems. The UK construction output is the second largest in Europe and encompasses a multitude of different roles. Chartered surveying, estate agency, civil engineering, architecture, urban planning and environmental consultancy are just a sprinkling of the ones available. Innovative and ingenious ideas are causing the industry to evolve all the time, which means the employment possibilities for graduates are abundant. Comprehending the importance of construction requires little detective work. Mammoth projects being undertaken all around us such as the London Olympics 2012 and airport expansions highlight the

the discipline as ‘a great art, on which the wealth and well-being of the whole of society depends.’ If you’d like a job with a social conscience, an awareness of the public and their needs and a continually diversifying set of opportunities, you’re reading the right article. Civil engineering is an umbrella term, alluding to a wide variety of related specialties. Encompassing geotechnical, environmental, water, traffic, structural, building services and planning engineering, the discipline is a pastiche of opportunity waiting to be exploited. As such, the sector allows a great deal of scope for development and opportunity, with a variety of different career paths available. Civil engineers are split into two separate areas. Consulting engineers are the designers and contracting engineers turn their designs into reality. All civil engineers, however, must have an excellent understanding of both design and construction. Consulting engineers often start on minor tasks, building their repertoire of skills and experience before embarking on larger projects. Contracting engineers supervise

dominance of the sector within the professional sphere. Construction is

the work on the ground and liaise with consulting engineers. They work to time

booming. If you’re interested in building our future and sustaining the planet at the

and budget restraints and deliver every aspect of the specification.

same time, this is where you need to be. One of the integral areas within the sector is civil engineering. Whether the project is housing, bridges, highways, railways, ports or a power plant, civil engineers are required for their scientific knowledge and broad skills base. The ICE (Institute of Civil Engineering) describes

This is not a simple job. Civil engineers co-ordinate architects, bricklayers, sub-contractors and their clients with skill and efficiency, often on complicated projects that demand a high level of expertise. A civil engineer must be resourceful and determined to iron out any issues that arise during construction.

Photograph: iStockphoto

The built environment is one of the largest industries in the UK today, boasting a huge variety of careers. Real World finds out how graduates can construct their own future in this booming sector

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At Mott MacDonald we like to bring our own brand of flair and Ingenuity to shape exciting projects for tomorrow’s world. Business facts: Mott MacDonald is an independent, international company with a company turnover of £615 million and 11,500 staff engaged in public and private sector development in over 100 countries, with approximately 250 graduate vacancies each year. We are a world-class, independent, multi-disciplinary engineering management consultancy engaged in development that touches many aspects of everyday life and has contributed to some of the world’s greatest engineering feats. We are committed to working in collaboration with our customers and other partners, ensuring we deliver cost effective, practical and quality solutions. Our success comes from the dedication of our staff. We believe our graduates are the most enthusiastic, imaginative and committed graduates from a range of disciplines. Career development: The diverse technical expertise within the group provides vital on-the-job experience, essential to your development, and our scope of activities means we can offer you the opportunity to develop. Mentoring: Your progress will be assessed regularly be a mentor, who’ll be a professionally qualified, senior member of staff. This means you should never feel that you’ve been left alone and will receive ongoing support Graduate Development: Our graduate development programme is committed to providing you with an optimal level of learning opportunities to ensure that you achieve the competency levels required by the relevant professional institutions where appropriate. We are constantly on the look out for talented graduates with the ability and confidence to thrive in a dynamic and innovative environment. Our scope of activities means we can offer you the opportunity to work on various projects in different locations, broadening you experience and developing your own professional skills and, in the longer term, build a more stimulating career.

Applying: If you are interested, please apply online at: www.careers.mottmac.com T: 0208 774 2176 E: melissa.perry@mottmac.com

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Law

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The only magazine you need for your law career. Whether you wish to be a solicitor, barrister or are looking for alternative careers using your law degree, the answer is here. Packed with case studies in every area, Real World gives you the lowdown directly from graduates talking about their roles and how they got them. With added features on writing a killer application, winning interview techniques and postgraduate study, it’s the magazine for your career choice. Available at your careers service and at www.realworldmagazine.com

built environment | case studies

Useful Links Construction Industry Training Board www.citb.co.uk Careers in Construction www.careersinconstruction.com Engineering Construction Industry Training Board www.ecitb.org.uk Institute of Civil Engineering www.ice.org.uk Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors www.rics.org Also see our website for more case studies www.realworldmagazine.com

Perhaps most pertinently, it is civil engineers to whom we are turning for solutions on issues such as global warming, carbon emissions and flooding. It is their aptitude and adroitness we must thank for things like flood defences and carbon reduction solutions. With climate change so high on the current political agenda, it is in engineering that the heroes of tomorrow are inevitably to be found. A career in civil engineering and construction also grants creative freedom and breeds job satisfaction because almost every project is seen through to completion. The sector also provides fantastic opportunities to travel because of the boom in the construction and environmental industries worldwide. With salaries between £19k-£100kpa, saving the world doesn’t just have to mean contending with the consequences of cutting down on toilet paper. Ultimately the construction industry as a whole is a remarkably attractive one for dynamic and diverse graduates. It boasts countless opportunities for career progression, offers excellent on-the-job training and demands commitment. n

John Cowley Age: 24 Degree/University: Manufacturing engineering and management, University of Warwick Year of Graduation: 2005 Occupation: Permanent Way Design Engineer for Balfour Beatty Rail What do you do in your job? At the moment I’m working on a contract for renewing 125 miles of track of the London Underground network. This includes both office and site-based work in producing alignments of new track, and ensuring compliance to current standards. In doing this I have to understand the processes of manufacture and installation, and liaise with a variety of disciplines such as signalling and power. What was your motivation in applying? I had heard that Balfour Beatty had an excellent reputation as employers investing a lot of time, money and effort in developing their employees. This has proved to be true as I have had the opportunity to go on various courses, not only in developing technical skills, but also professional and personal skills. In addition, I have been given the chance to become a chartered engineer, and have been placed on the IMechE scheme. The company is accredited by the ICE and IET. What did the application process involve? I started off by completing an online application form for the role of mechanical engineer, from which I was successful in obtaining a place on an assessment day. I was not successful in getting this job, though I asked for my application and CV to be passed onto other departments that the HR representative thought my skills would fit. As a result, I got an interview with the manager of the department which I am working for now.

“

look for a company that has a well-structured graduate scheme including opportunities to work in other parts of the business

”

What do you enjoy about your job? I get to see something I’ve been working on actually manufactured, installed and used on a daily basis.

Most challenging part of your job? Every day new challenges arise, though the most daunting experiences are interdisciplinary review meetings, where I have to present my design to more experienced engineers from different disciplines and to the client. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Look for a company that has a well-structured graduate development scheme, including the opportunity to experience and spend some time working for other parts of the business. This will give you a more rounded appreciation of the implications of what you do, on different departments and narrow the ‘gap’ between.

William Morris Age: 25 Degree/university: Civil engineering with architecture, Leeds University Year of graduation: 2003 Occupation: Graduate engineer at Mott MacDonald What do you do in your job? A typical week might involve going out to a site and inspecting a bridge – measuring for corrosion and defects. The rest of the week will be spent preparing a report on the bridge. I will then do calculations to make sure it’s not going to collapse under the weight of trains, lorries or people.

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Marcus Rooney Jaimal Mistry DOB: 23/10/76 DOB 17/9/1975 University: University of Birmingham, Degree: MEng (Hons) Civil 2.1 MEng (hons) in Civil Engineering Engineering, University with Management, graduated in of 1998. Chartered Engineer (since 2004) Bristol, 2000 (First) Worked mainly Atkins Rail (but have had secondments with Birse and Professional qualifications: Overseas) since graduating on:Bridge CEng MICE (Spring 2004) reconstruction design and site management, platform extension design, railway resignalling projects (west Role: Chartered Civila team coast mainline), secondment to Dubai leading of Indian engineers, currently Group Leader leading 3 Engineer at Halcrow teams undertaking assessment of LUL infrastructure. Group Ltd

Richard Crawford Megan Charles Age: 32 years DOB 18/06/1983 Engineer – Faber Maunsell Degree: BEng in Civil I work in the company’s rail Engineering, Cranfield engineering team based in our Altrincham office. I graduated University (RMCS) 1998 in 2005 from the University of (2:1). Ph.D. Piling Manchester within a MEng in Civil Engineering with French. I spent the Engineering, Cranfield third year of my degree studying at University (RMCS) 2004. ENTPE in Lyon, France. Role: Assistant Engineer at Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd.

Jeni Ross Nelson Smith I am a graduate structural DOB 15/05/1981 I am a design engineer with engineer with Gifford RambollWhitbybird. I graduated and Partners Consulting from Bristol in 2004 with a MEng degree. I currently work in building Engineers. I graduated structures and I am working towards from UMIST in 2002 with my professional qualification with a BEng degree. I currently the ICE. work predominantly in building structures and am working towards my professional qualification with ICE.

See the See the world world differently... differently... Why did you choose the profession? Jaimal Mistry: I’ve always been fascinated by

Why did youandchoose structures, bridges such like and felt that it wouldprofession? be a natural progression from lego! Also I the

didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk all day. Every

Marcus: In terms of civilwork engineering, day civil engineering allows outside of the Ioffi was always fascinated by big projects! ce environment. to be for partexample, of a profession IMegan used Charles: to lookI wanted at bridges, that could improve at things the world both and be soreally impressed theinskill involved for people and the environment. I don’t know of in getting something like that built. any other profession that does that more than Civil IEngineering. thought that a career in profession civil engineering It is such a diverse that would hugely satisfying years I knew I be would be able to find an because area of work I wouldIreally thrive later could lookin.back at all these major Ross Smith: Thesay built“Ienvironment is the projects and had a hand in only that”.

piece of art which everyone experiences everyday. Without really noticing, it influences and is Your greatest achievement/ influenced by the people and society that inhabit it. Civil engineering is the only profession where you project to date? can change the whole of that environment for the Marcus: A get year after joining Halcrow I better. I also really excited about creating things. There is a real exhilaration the whole joined team helping throughout Westminster City journey from design to construction, and once the Council project manage the construction project is finished there is the satisfaction of being of the Hungerford Millennium able to look back and say “I helped make that”

Footbridges from the South Bank to Embankment in central London. Your greatest achievement/ project toadate? This was fantastic project to be involved Jaimal Mistry: Refurbishment a grade II listed in – everyday I was out onofsite checking overbridge right next to my local pub. The fact the quality of the work and helping that I have directly made a contribution to the my contractor withgave theme many challenges local community an enormous sense of satisfaction. that site work throws at you. One role Charles:enjoyed I get a great sense of achievement IMegan particularly was talking to out of all our projects as they are all different. the public about the project.

Last year I won the Faber Maunsell Graduate of the Year Award which recognised both my project work, myyou involvement otherrewarding aspects of the What find with most company, the workjob? I do with the ICE and also my about your time as a voluntary leader with Girl Guiding UK. Marcus: From a technical The opportunity this provided point me withoftoview talk to my company and give them my views Ithose loveleading problem solving and have come to on issuesthat important graduates was really great. realise this istonot just about design I was sponsored last year by Faber Maunsell to and I enjoy trying out travelconstruction. as part of an ICE group to Beijing andnew Hong ideas with client and closely Kong to learnthe more about the working Olympic projects. Thismake was a them fantastic opportunity to see some of to happen. the world’s biggest engineering and also From a social point of viewprojects I like working enhance the global network of young engineers. in high performance teams, especially This year I have been elected to be a member of when include client as the ICE these Councilteams representing thethe 29,000 graduate Iand think theymembers alwaysof should. student the ICE. Peers across the industry having the confidence to give me this Jeni: Every day for me brings a new opportunity is a great honour. challenge, with that, achievement. Ross Smith: I and am currently working on a multiMy current projectinisAbu packed with million dollar project Dhabi to develop the worlds first Ferrari inspired theme park on its interesting concepts and challenges, own island. The theme park will be enveloped in

Institution of Civil Engineers One Great George Street Westminster London SW1P 3AA t +44 (0)20 7222 7722 f +44 (0)20 7222 0973

an organic doubly curved structure. It is both very challenging and exciting.

complex. This can involve teams of people, and also members of the general public. An ability to direction you are going inlevels and isbeing communicate effectively at all therefore a able to communicate that to others is fundamental skill.

and being challenged with different problems which have to be solved. At the heart of many Why you think other people elegant do and effective solutions are pure, simple should become civil concepts which have large scale engineers? impacts and when you find them it’s a real buzz. I also like the social Richard: Civil engineering is about aspect of my job, as most of my work involves building as well working incommunities large teams either insideasorstructures. outside of Most peopleEveryday don’t really understand what my company. you have to communicate withdo, so many we theydifferent see the people. ‘office block’ side of

Why did you choose the company Richard: you workCivil for? engineers need to be determined. I’ve been Jaimal Mistry: Atkins, beinginvolved the largestwith ICE multidisciplinary in the UK, would since starting consultancy my first degree, and recently provide me elected with the support encouragement I’ve been as oneand of two graduateto reach my potential (it seems to have worked so far members to sit on Council, the governing as I am still here after nearly 9 years). With offices body of around thethe UK Institution. and the world,The I feltnext that there challenges are to get my for professional would be many opportunities a variety of work in different fields.and further develop my qualification, Megan Charles: Having worked for Faber Maunsell as career and knowledge of civil engineering. a summer student I was so impressed by the culture of the company and how it valued its employees as well as are the vast range of projects that were What your aspirations undertaken I never seriously considered anywhere and ambitions? else. As an added bonus they offer the potential to Marcus: My goal always work throughout the was UK and Europeto in get one of their many offices –orI further eld in offiimportant ces of one of chartered think fithis is the very our companies across the world. They also have for sister aspiring engineers because it shows a great training scheme providing comprehensive others you have reached a certain training both for ICE professional review and also for standard. Now that many more general skills.I’ve achieved this I amSmith: looking for the next goal. Ross RambollWhitbybird is known for an internal culture that nurtures talent and innovation and has produced some awesome projects in the Why did you choose the past. The atmosphere in the office is friendly and company work for? open, and thereyou is also a good social life outside of the office. I felt that RambollWhitbybird would Marcus: I chose Halcrow because they encourage me to develop my own expertise are a major consultant with an excellent according to my individual skills.

and I enjoy working within my own team andfiwith design professionals What you nd most rewarding about your job? Ross Smith: I love coming into the office everyday from other companies.

things, but don’t think about roads, rail Why do you think other people should become and even sewers. civil engineers? Jaimal Mistry: If they solvers, want to make a difference Marcus: Problem innovators andto society, are fascinated by structures, bridges and people that can get things done will having the ability to be part of creating a legacy for always beand needed – I can’t think of a themselves the environment. better profession forthey achieving this than Megan Charles: So that can make a tangible contribution and to society and have a job where they engineers, because of the breadth canknowledge really see theand results of their work. Being of skills involved, civil a civil engineer allows you to really shape the engineering is at the forefront. Projects future of our world and help us to develop as a like the Channel sustainable society. Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) and Crossrail fantastic opportunities Ross Smith: Civil offer engineering is about building or changing the world around us for but the better, for engineers at the moment there and you as an individual make the difference. are so many small community projects Now is a very challenging and exciting time within that need quality engineering as well. engineering. The increasing need for sustainable development the engineer awareness of global that warming Jeni: Being and a civil means are providing our generation with a global everything is your business; everything challenge. Civil engineers have a unique set of skills becomes interesting toayou. helps and have the ability to take widerItview of the you understand and the world problem and seek out thequestion best compromise solution to use scarce resources, care for the environment and around you. to protect and to provide for the needs of the public.

What attributes need What attributes do you do needyou to to civil engineer? be abe civilaengineer? Jaimal Mistry: Excellent communication skills, team

Marcus: For me it’s all about being player, ability to work with many different people, innovative. two feet civiland engineering ability to thinkNo on your deal with pressure, projects exactly theattention same sotoyou reasonableare numerical skills, detail, sense of humour – especially gets tough! need to be able to when thinkthe ingoing this way Megan Charles: A civil engineer should have to apply what you’ve learnt, and bring enthusiasm, integrity, agility (of mind and the knowledge out of others, occasionally body), diplomacy, a senseto ofsolve humour, whatever problem you have. patience, love a challenge and enjoy problem solving. A great all rounder basically. The other fundamental is people skills, Ross Smith: Ion think theWithout key to civil engineering especially site. these, you is being able to apply what you’ve learnt will definitely struggle to get anything in innovative ways to design a solution to a built. Leadership is aanbig of this – problem. Design is not endpart in itself however, but a means of delivering a final and product. Many understanding the purpose civil engineering projects are quite large and

very important

reputation in the UK and abroad.

What are you aspirations and ambitions? Richard: I chose Parsons Brinckerhoff Jaimal Mistry: I aspire to encourage younger because the companyinto hasthea profession good attitude generations of engineers to training young engineers. They place also and help civil engineering take its rightful alongside professionsGrowth such as doctors & have theother Professional Network, architects etc. My ambition is to of travel to as many an international network emerging countries as possible in my lifetime. Above all I want professionals (with typically less than to enjoy what I do and make a difference. 10 years professional experience) within Megan Charles: To continue to develop my skills and the company, at developing progress towards aimed professional qualifications I hope to have continuing in myskills. career and play a professional andsuccess personal key role in a project of international relevance in Jeni: Gifford has many different disciplines the future. I look forward to working overseas in thatfuture haveand been borne working out of individuals’ the to continue to improve the world in which we live. love and commitment to their specific Ross Smith: My goal since graduation has been field of expertise. I felt that Gifford would to get chartered. I have been training under give me the opportunity to develop agreement with RambollWhitbybird since I my own area of it expertise according to my started. I think is important for all young engineers because it means you havepractice. reached a own unique skills and working recognisable standard which also enables you to take on other more challenging projects and roles.

ice.org.uk

built environment | case studies

Advice to readers considering a career in your field:Get involved with the graduates and students committees of the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE). The committees are there to guide people and give advice, so they are the best place to go if you have queries. I would even say becoming a member of a committee would be good; they are always looking for new people who are enthusiastic and pro-active. What was your motivation in applying? Because it’s a large international company, there is the opportunity to move into different offices either in the UK or abroad. I would like to travel the world and there are a large variety of interesting jobs I could do with Mott MacDonald. Also, before I came to join I got the feeling the office seemed like quite a nice place to work with a good atmosphere. What did the application process involve? It involves going on to the company website and applying online. You fill out all your details and then your application form goes direct to graduate recruitment. What do you enjoy about your job? Getting out of the office to inspect structures. Occasionally I inspect other structures aside from bridges, which can be quite interesting, including storage tanks. There is a nice variety and occasionally I do designs for strengthening bridges, or new designs for news structures. Above all, I work with great people in a nice environment. Most challenging part of your job? Learning how to assess new structures – there are different methods of assessment. There are a lot of computeraided assessment tools. Another challenge is trying to get chartered, and keeping on top of development objectives. When you get chartered you go for a professional review. You also take an exam, give a presentation and have an interview. I prepare a development report every three months as part of the process of becoming chartered. I get support from Mott MacDonald to do all that. They’ve been very helpful and good at giving me the right types of work to make sure different objectives can be signed off.

Adam Rogerson Age: 26 Degree/university: Mechanical engineering, Manchester University Year of graduation: 2002 Occupation: Project engineer at Tarmac What do you do in your job? I look after projects, the largest being worth about £2m. I take complete control of all the work on site, including budgets, timescales and any quality issues. I look after projects from conception to completion. In the early days of my career I would only have a couple of projects, now I could have as many as seven or eight, all at various stages. The conception stage involves a lot of design so I do all preliminary work going right through to capital raising. Site works follow that. There are so many projects going on at one time there is a lot to juggle. Each of the projects could be at different stages at any time. What was your motivation in applying? While at university, I concentrated on getting my degree; when I’d done that started looking for jobs in June. I knew that I wanted to go into mechanical engineering and I was offered four different roles: one as a consultant, two pure mechanical engineering roles, and one with Tarmac. It offered me more management potential and actual

“

i face new challenges every day. I enjoy the projects where i have been involved since day one. you get a lot of job satisfaction

”

training in the early stages, far beyond what the others offered.

What did the application process involve? I sent off about 100 letters to different companies and agencies. I applied to the Graduate Recruitment Bureau. They conducted a telephone interview, which got me shortlisted to an interview with Tarmac. I made it through to an assessment day with numerical and verbal proficiency tests. What do you enjoy about your job? I face new challenges every day. I enjoy the projects where I have been involved as project leader since day one. You get a lot of job satisfaction because a project becomes your baby. It is nice to see things that you initially thought of, and imagined, actually happen. Most challenging part of your job? When I first started as a graduate the most challenging thing was getting respect from people who had been in industry for years, and who would be working for me as contractors. It is difficult when you are fast-tracked through to management. I came across a lot of resentment; I took it on the chin to start, but learning to deal with it was tough. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: I think the best way to progress your career is through development. My motive for joining Tamac was the development and training. I think it opens a lot of doors and in the future I will become a lot more saleable. When the going gets tough: stick with it.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & APPLIED SCIENCE

Postgraduate Study Discover the exciting prospects for postgraduate study on offer at the School of Engineering & Applied Science. We offer a wide range of MSc and research programmes which provide:

MSc; MSc by Research; MRes and PhD opportunities in: • Biomedical Engineering • Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry • Computer Science • Electronic Engineering • Engineering Management • Information Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Product Design

• Cutting edge research and teaching expertise in a 5-rated RAE department • Close industrial links, making sure courses are applied and relevant • An impressive range of career opportunities • Scholarships available for many programmes* *Subject to Home/EU nationality status.

Take a close look at your future

Postgraduate Qualifications from DIT The Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland offers a variety of exciting and diverse postgraduate opportunities which include: • Taught Postgraduate Conversion Courses • Taught Postgraduate Continuation Courses • A broad array of Competitively Funded Postgraduate Research Programmes Postgraduate opportunities are available across the Institute’s six faculties:

Aston University is located in a safe, friendly campus in the heart of Birmingham with excellent transport links, great nightlife, shopping and culture.

For more information on our programmes:

www.seas.aston.ac.uk Email: seaspgtaught@aston.ac.uk Telephone +44 (0) 121 204 3668

• Applied Arts

• Engineering

• Built Environment

• Science

• Business

• Tourism and Food

For further information please review our website www.dit.ie or contact: Office of Graduate Studies, Dublin Institute of Technology, 143-149 Rathmines Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6, Ireland. T: +353-1-402 3434. E: postgraduate@dit.ie

www.dit.ie

DIT - It’s a step closer to the real world.

built environment | case studies

Jamie Uff Age: 28 Degree/university: Surveying and mapping science, Newcastle University. He has just completed a viva for PhD in geomatics also at Newcastle. Year of degree graduation: 2001 Occupation: A Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) associate – working at Scott Wilson. He has been offered a permanent job. What do you do in your job? I am developing and deploying unmanned airborne vehicles for civil engineering application. Basically, they are large model aeroplanes with digital cameras, GPS and INS positioning sensors, altimeters, and data logging equipment. The data collected is then used to create maps, provide aerial surveillance, monitor change etc. There is no such thing as a typical day, but most days are spent working with aircraft maintenance, sensor integration and flight logistics. What was your motivation in applying? There is a close similarity between what I did as part of my PhD with the KTP job. The position was advertised and number of people I worked with at Newcastle forwarded it on to me. I thought working with KTP would give me a good foundation and fast-track into the world of business and management. What did the application process involve? I just submitted a CV and covering letter – it was as simple as that. The interview was more daunting. I was interviewed by five people, had to give a presentation, sit a written test. There were about 30 or 35 people who applied for the position and four were interviewed.

What do you enjoy about your job? The variety – definitely. As well as the challenges, there are plenty of them and it’s not just office-based. Most challenging part of your job? The weather! You also have to cope with change and uncertainty. Advice to readers considering a career in your z: Finish your PhD before stating a KTP. Fitting in corrections and other things around working life is demanding. KTP takes a lot of time and commitment, but it is worth it.

“

one of the reasons i decided to become an engineer is because i wanted to make a difference to society Wales Cheung

”

Name: Wales Cheung Age: 24 Degree/university: MEng in civil engineering from University College London Year of graduation: 2005 Occupation: Graduate engineer for Atkins What do you do in your job? I first joined Atkins as a structural engineer in the rail sector and was involved in the design of a wide variety of structures ranging from buildings to subways. As part of the graduate training scheme, we are encouraged to move around teams within the office and gain exposure to the operation of projects from different team’s perspective. As a result, after a year with the structures team, I was transferred to the Permanent Way track team. The Permanent Way team’s main responsibility is the design, layout and the alignments of tracks. The experience was invaluable. What was your motivation in applying? A number of reasons; the first being the projects Atkins had to offer. I wanted to join a company where I would gain as much

experience as possible and be able to apply what I had learnt during my degree in real-life situations. As a graduate on a training agreement, I feel it is doubly important to know you have the full backing of the company. What did the application process involve? The first stage of the process was the online application, followed by a telephone interview and finally an assessment day. Potential graduates were invited to have a lovely meal with directors from different offices. Presentations were also given by current graduates on training and their experiences on the night. That was followed by a whole day assessment the following day involving interview, simple technical, interpretation and written tests. What do you enjoy about your job? One of the reasons I decided to become an engineer is because I wanted to make a difference to society and provide solutions to problems. Moreover, being able to see the structures you designed getting constructed and knowing that the solutions provided prove to be a success just gives me a great sense of achievement and satisfaction. Most challenging part of your job? When I first joined the industry everything I had learnt at uni was theory, so applying the theory could prove to be a bit of a challenge as well. But because I was in an office with so many friendly and experienced engineers I was given a lot of help. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: Summer placements are important – what I gained during mine were improved organisational and communication skills. n

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THE RIGHT CAREER CHEMISTRY

A CAREER IN SCIENCE OFFERS THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF PIONEERING INNOVATION. ANNE HOLLOWDAY INVESTIGATES THE OPTIONS FOR BRANCHING OUT BEYOND BUSINESS AND EMBRACING YOUR SCIENCE DEGREE IN THE REAL WORLD iology, chemistry and physics are the words most people offer when asked to expand

upon their experience of science. The recounting of far-distant primary school memories often comes a close second. The dropping of objects into leaking inflatable pools, the running of cars down ramps and the collecting of bugs from particularly repugnant ponds is merely an introduction to the subject. It is a regrettable reality that this remains the extent of many peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge of this exhilarating, engrossing and enlightening field. A career in science boasts a wealth of opportunities for graduates. Following the closure of several science departments in leading English universities there has been a reduction in the number of science graduates. This shortage highlights the fact that if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a science graduate, you are in possession of some extremely in demand skills and knowledge. Jobs as research scientists in laboratories and hospitals are

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abundant. They demand a high level of aptitude and commitment to further study, yet, can provide immense satisfaction due to involvement in pioneering innovation. Scientific journals, magazines and broadcasts are also a popular draw for science graduates. The combination of technical wizardry and the precise communication skills required for journalism, is often viewed as the perfect compromise between business and science. Many major scientifically focused companies worldwide value science graduates for their vast command of knowledge and expertise. As such, positions in team management, marketing and buying are also available which marry business and commercial acumen with precise scientific knowledge. Science jobs sit at the cutting edge of innovation through research, development and education. If you want to find out more about the employment possibilities it has for you, read our case studies on the following pages for inspiration or visit our website.

SCIENCE | case studies

Ellie Shardlow Age: 26 Degree/university: MChem in Chemistry and French from Heriot-Watt University and a PhD from the University of Basle in Organometallic chemistry Year of graduation: 2003 (completed PhD in 2007) Occupation: Graduate scientist with ICI Paints What do you do in your job? I am working in the gloss laboratory, working on the reformulation of gloss paints. Because of the confidential nature of the work I can’t go into too much detail. Basically a typical day could vary – I will formulate on the computer and come up with ideas on how to improve paint, which could take a while. Then I actually make the paints, then do tests. What was your motivation in applying? I wanted a job that would be challenging. Having done a PhD I did a lot of research, but what was lacking was seeing why the research is useful. Here I am making something that is useful. I was also motivated by the information I had about the graduate scheme at ICI – they always push you forward to help you move up the ladder and become a manager.

Andy Robinson Age: 26 Degree/university: BSc Physical Geography from Royal Holloway. He also completed a foundation degree in river and coastal engineering with the Environment Agency. Year of graduation: 2003 Occupation: Technical Support Team Member for the Environment Agency

Photograph: iStockphoto

What do you do in your job? In our role we look after the maintenance of the River Thames’ assets, which includes locks and weirs. We also take on construction projects which can be one-offs. The projects can be outside the River Thames, for example we worked on the River Lambourn in Newbury installing a sluice channel as part of a river restoration project, creating more natural water courses. There are so many elements to the job: we look after locks, sluice gates, lock houses, and all weirs. What was your motivation in applying? I wanted to work on rivers: during my degree I enjoyed learning about how rivers work, how they function and are managed. I have now moved into the operations department and I am really happy where I am. What did the application process involve? It was quite a long one. To get onto the foundation degree you had to answer a number of questions and then fill in an

application form. Next you were invited to an assessment centre where you took a couple of numeracy tests, did some team building exercises, and then had an interview. There was another interview for short-listed candidates. You were then informed whether you had got onto the course. What do you enjoy about your job? I think it’s the day to day difference. You can be all over the place managing a project. I was recently involved with building a bridge. You can also be down the lock-side dealing with day to day problems such as sorting out roof tiles. The environmental side to the work is a nice thing. Most challenging part of your job? Dealing with the unforeseen events that crop up as part of looking after the Thames. For example, recently a boat got stuck on some sediment build-up in the river which we had to deal with. Also, we often have to provide an emergency response so we have to have people in place to deliver solutions. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: You have to do a job you enjoy. Consider what you enjoy doing and try to appreciate what skills are required and focus on that during your study time. Try to have an idea of what you want before you go out and get it.

What did the application process involve? For me it was slightly different. I applied for a different job at the start. The person who interviewed me suggested I reapply for the graduate scheme. So I filled in an application form. Normally you would then have a telephone interview then one face-to-face. But because I had already had a face-to-face interview I was invited directly to the assessment centre. What do you enjoy about your job? It is hard to say as I have only been in the job a couple of months. I like making paint and it will be exciting to see it in production and then on the shelf. That’s what I like about science – you never know if it’s going to work and that’s what’s exciting. I am getting the challenge that I wanted and I am doing pretty much what I expected. Most challenging part of your job? For me, on the graduate scheme, it’s the fact that when you start the job you are thrown in at the deep end. It is not as tough coming from a PhD as it would have been from a degree. With a PhD you are expected to manage your own project. But here it is completely different chemistry from what I was doing before. Advice to readers considering a career in your field: It is not essential to do a PhD, but if you like research it’s a good start. A PhD is good for presentation skills and time management, but you’ve got to really want to do it. Another thing that helped me was being the president of the Swiss Young Chemist Association. n

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MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

Postgraduate study requires an immense amount of commitment and passion, not to mention cash. As Anne Hollowday discovers, making sure itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the right decision for you is crucial.

POSTGRADUATE STUDY | overview

Photograph: iStockphoto

CASE STUDIES Thomas Clark

Do you want to be the next Alexander Graham Bell, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, or Tim Berners-Lee? Postgraduate study, particularly in engineering and IT, boasts a plethora of opportunities to fulfil those wild fancies and perhaps improve your career prospects at the same time. Terry Jones, a careers adviser at King’s College, London, says: “Many graduates are drawn to postgraduate study because they want to concentrate on a particular aspect of their undergraduate course they were not able to focus on in sufficient depth.” Some universities grant creative freedom to students, allowing them to sculpt their own programme of study to suit their individual needs. This enables graduates to hone their skills in specific areas. A wide range of courses is also supported by prestigious organisations such as the Department for Continuing Education and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and many potential employers hold such associations in high regard. In addition, postgraduate courses in engineering and IT offer graduates of other degree subjects the opportunity to convert their studies to the sector. In this

flexibility is particularly advantageous, allowing individuals seeking work to exit courses whenever employment is found. Having said that, the professional world is one driven by budgets, targets and specifications. The academic sphere, in comparison, allows individuals to undertake research projects largely according to their own interests. However, Terry Jones warns that “very few postgraduate courses offer financial support”. As such, you must weigh up the cost of further study with the financial gains it may afford your future career. He says: “Bursaries for engineering and IT postgraduate courses are available at most universities.” However, the amount you may be granted varies hugely according to the institution. Postgraduate study is also, most obviously, the ticket to a career in academia. “Postgraduate study,” says Terry, “can be the means to launching a very successful research career.” If teaching and lecturing is your aim, further study and research are likely to be major features within the rest of your working life. If however, you’ve chosen a course because you’re not sure which career path you would like to take, then think again. Terry discusses the “issue of the eternal student” with genuine interest. He says: “Some students just aren’t ready to talk

case, further study is mandatory to gain the necessary qualifications for the

about careers yet; this can be a problem. Postgraduate study is a different dynamic.”

alternative career direction. However, it is important to note that

As such, it requires passion and commitment that must be conscientiously

further study is not necessarily helpful and may not add to your career in the ways you may expect. Remember, you are committing a substantial length of time to a course – anything from one year for a Masters, to three to five years for a PhD, depending on whether you study full or part-time. This could be time lost in the world of work, where professional experience can often count for more than further study. Employers want to see graduates applying practical knowledge to their studied technical skills and this can only be obtained via a job or work placement. Courses like many offered at Oxford University offer numerous exit points where study can be completed at certificate, diploma or Masters level. This

applied. Therefore, time taken to decide what your aims are for a career, what you would like and what your skills are, can be invaluable to your future progress. Inevitably, thinking and researching will also enable you to make the most informed decision possible about whether postgraduate study is right for you. Your university careers service can assist you with this process. Ultimately, further study will add more strings to your bow. It can make you stand out of the crowd, and when competition for jobs is fierce, those few letters on the end of your name may just prove their worth. Yet Jones issues a gentle reminder that further study “can be a costly exercise, which doesn’t necessarily take you much further”.

is currently undertaking an EngD in multi-pulse rectifiers for aerospace applications at the University of Manchester. Prior to that, the 24-year-old completed an MEng in Mechatronics from UMIST. “After my MEng, I was not getting any suitable offers for the many jobs I applied for, so I decided to make myself more attractive to employers by furthering my education. The EngD suited me, as during the course I get the opportunity to study for a management diploma alongside research studies. “If you see an interesting avenue for your research you are encouraged to take it. The amount of holiday you can take and the flexible hours are pretty good too. “I did my undergraduate studies at UMIST which has now merged with the University of Manchester. I am familiar with the facilities and the academic staff have always been helpful so it made sense to stay for my postgraduate studies. “The facilities are very good. The department has grown rapidly since the final year of my Masters. The labs are well kitted out and we all have decent PCs and ample desk space to work on. It seems that recently a vast amount of money has been spent improving the facilities and expanding the group. Staff are always helpful and mostly available for any questions. “Outside of my core research, I have helped with other projects for my sponsoring company. I have also bought a house since moving here and that seems to occupy most of my time outside of work with fixing roofs, hanging doors, sanding floors… “The EngD business course includes development weekends, which have been as good as the other 10 guys on the course, and are a right laugh. These courses have improved my writing and oratory skills as well as my team-building skills. “I have occasional meetings with RollsRoyce (my sponsoring company) but largely I am left to work independently or with my academic supervisors, which suits me. More interaction will be necessary once the research develops. “The research has improved my analytical skills and the management has improved my communication skills, which will make me desirable to engineering firms or even strategic operations in the finance sector. “Once I complete the course, I intend to become chartered with the Institute of Engineering and Technology. I think I will have to give this more thought depending on the career I choose. I would strongly recommend the EngD at Manchester if you are interested in specialising in a particular field of engineering.”

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Swansea_NEW.pdf

14/9/07

16:43:04

The future is in your hands...

Postgraduate Research in Communications at Swansea University The Institute of Advanced Telecommunications is a world class centre of excellence for telecommunications research located in Wales. At IAT we aim to provide an excellent teaching and research environment with international recognition for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in photonics, networking and wireless communications. Study for a masters at IAT and gain the experience of working on your project within our high tech laboratories. Postgraduate courses include: MSc/MRes Communication Systems MSc/MRes Photonic and Communication Systems These are one year courses that comprise a taught component and project. Modules for these courses include • Signal Processing in Communications • Optical Networks • Client Server Programming in Java • Optical Fibre Communications • Computer Networks • Innovation in Product Development • Communication Systems Modelling

• Digital Communications • Wireless Systems • Chanel Coding • Computer Aided Design of Communication Systems • Microwave Transmission • Photonic Components and their applications • Lasers

Entry Requirements MRes/MSc - a minimum of second class upper/lower honours degree respectively or equivalent in a related field. Applications are welcome from students in relevant disciplines of Engineering, Computer Science, Physics and Maths.

For more information and to apply online visit www.swan.ac.uk/iat or email: iatadmissions@swansea.ac.uk Tel: + 44 (0) 1792 602572.

IAT

Institute of Advanced Telecommunications www.swansea.ac.uk/iat

Swansea University is the public name of the University of Wales Swansea, a constituent institution of the University of Wales.

POSTGRADUATE STUDY | CASE STUDY

Alejandro Alcala

Portrait of David Peggie by Yang Ou

David Peggie is an assistant organic analyst within the scientific department of the National Gallery. His first degree was an MChem, with a year in industry at Edinburgh University. He graduated in 2002 and undertook a chemistry PhD at Edinburgh. Its title was ‘development and application of analytical methods for the identification of dyes in historical textiles’, completed in 2006. “I decided to continue my studies because I’d enjoyed studying chemistry and I’d done a year in industry working for AstraZeneca. When I came back for my final year, although I had enjoyed working, I wanted to do further study. I wanted to find a project that really interested me and spend three years doing that. “The project was paid for through European funding. It was part of a larger project, for which the University of Edinburgh had some money. “I didn’t personally have to apply for any money – the funding had been found before I arrived. The university then wanted a PhD student to fill the role. “The workload was OK – the nature of project meant it was multidisciplinary with lots of partners. Because it was an EUexecuted project there were various deadlines. It was quite unlike other PhDs; it was more structured than those of other people that I know. “The deadlines were independent of how the work was going, which meant I had to

“

although the name is the same, not all pHds are the same. chat to a supervisor to find out how the group works and what the project is about

”

present work when I was told. Overall, I would say the workload was manageable. “Between finishing my first degree and my PhD, I took a part-time job. I didn’t have to move, so there was no great upheaval. “The biggest difference between undergraduate and postgraduate study is the freedom to take ideas and work through them without always knowing what would happen. At undergraduate level it can feel like there is always a correct answer. “My advice to those considering taking a postgraduate course would be although the name is the same, not all PhDs are the same. It is worth chatting to your prospective supervisor to find out how the group works and what the project is about. Once you’ve found a project then go for it!”

is an intermediate mechanical engineer for building services mechanical engineers, T Dunwoody & Partners. His first degree was mechanical engineering, which he completed in 1993. He then undertook an MSc in energy systems and the environment at Strathclyde University, which he finished in 2005. “Since I graduated, I have worked in the oil industry. I wanted to continue in the energy sector but wanted a change from fossil fuels to renewables. It was not easy because they are two different worlds but I thought it would make an excellent complement to my academic background to have a glance of the other side and get a bigger picture. The fact that an MSc can be done in one year was also very attractive, and of course the prestige of a well established UK University. “I applied for a British Council Scholarship in my home country. After a pre-selection stage in which more than 200 people participated, I was chosen as a possible candidate and was invited for an interview. Some time later I heard the good news that I had been chosen and was one of the eleven selected that year. The scholarship paid for part of the tuition fees, the other part was covered by the University. I also got some living expenses from the scholarship. “During the first three months the taught course meant a daily trip to the university for lessons and time at the library researching or studying. After that initial period came a group task in which you get more control in terms of time management but at the same time more responsibility. The library and the MSc common room became my new office. The final period is pretty much a self study phase in which you prepare your final dissertation. But as a Masters student you are supposed to deliver a good piece of research showing in-depth knowledge of a particular topic you have selected. I spent most of the time researching, writing and re-writing the dissertation. In the end, it was worth it because I got my degree in return, with a distinction. “At the beginning there was a bit of a struggle with the taught part, maybe because I had graduated so many years ago. But after adjusting to a daily study routine things got much better. I think that organising your time and adjusting yourself to the new experience are key factor. It has to be enjoyable too. Of course, stress levels can go up because of a particular situation and there seems never to be enough time to finish some assignments or catch up with studies, but there is also a chance to enjoy. I believe a Masters is a continuation of your professional life and as such I would recommend anyone to have some working experience before considering doing something like this. n

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recruiter file | 2008

ARM LTD company profile Company profile: If you have just used a mobile phone, handheld personal organiser or MP3 player, chances are you have just used an ARM powered product. Our technology is at the heart of a wide range of digital products for use at home, work or on the move. ARM is an Intellectual Property (IP) company and is the leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions. Our focus is on design and research development; we place greater emphasis on the creation of ideas and technical methods than on the acquisition of physical assets. ARM prides itself on being one of the best employers in the country, seeking to build on this by attracting the best university talent to join the company through a number of highly reputable and widely recognised schemes. We have focused on conserving the best aspects of our unique culture and on perpetuating what attracts people to join and remain at ARM. Our culture is open and relaxed, one where collaboration and contribution are central to progress. From day one you

being the industry leader. This makes working at ARM an exhilarating experience where every employee is encouraged to reach their true potential. Our need is for graduates who have achieved outstanding academic grades at school and during university as well as having a real passion for our industry. We need people who are self-motivated, innovative and ready to take on the challenge of designing tomorrow’s digital world.

ARM PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING ONE OF THE BEST EMPLoYERS IN THE COUNTRY

will work alongside some of the brightest minds in the business, with plenty of ongoing training and client exposure. We recently won the European Business Awards and Employer of the Year, at the National Business awards.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • Engineering SALARY: £22,000 - £25,000 NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 50 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 1,650+ WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes WHEN: Summer and year placements DEGREES SOUGHT: • Computer Science • Electronic Engineering • Hardware Engineering or related degree LOCATIONS: Worldwide. Head office in Cambridge, UK. ONLINE APPLICATION: No APPLY TO: 110 Fulbourn Road Cambridge CB1 9NJ Tel: +44 (0)1223 400 400 Fax: +44 (0)1223 400 801

ARM has grown phenomenally over the recent decade and now stands with over 1650 employees, spread across more than 30 offices on 3 continents. This allows us to create a dynamic spectrum of career paths and opportunities, where personal development through training and internal transfers is positively encouraged. It is the ability of our employees which has lead to ARM

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Email: recruitment-europe@arm.com

recruiter file | 2008

AWE company profile

POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • Science • Engineering • Business SALARY: c. £20,000 NUMBER OF VACANCIES: c. 70 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: approx 4,000 WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes WHEN: Summer vacation placements and

Company background AWE has been central to the UK’s defence for more than 50 years, providing and maintaining the warheads for the country’s nuclear deterrent. We are the nation’s largest high-tech research, development and production facility and cover the whole lifecycle of nuclear warheads - from initial concept and design, through component manufacture and assembly, to in-service support, decommissioning and disposal.

year-long industrial placements. DEGREES SOUGHT: • Business and Finance • Chemical Engineering • Chemistry • Civil Engineering • Computer Science • Construction • Electrical Engineering • Electronic Engineering • Environmental • Manufacturing • Materials Science • Maths • Mechanical Engineering • Metallurgy • Physics • Production Engineering • Safety Radiological Protection • Structural Engineering • Systems Engineering and other related disciplines. LOCATIONS: Near Reading, Berkshire APPLY TO: online at www.awe.co.uk or call 0118 982 9009 for an application form. E-Mail: hr.customer.services@awe.co.uk CLOSING DATE: Ongoing.

The opportunity Our graduate programme will expose you to some of the most advanced technology around and will give you the chance to work alongside some of the most respected scientists, engineers and business professionals in the country. What’s more, with direct exposure to world-leading research projects, you’ll have the chance to work collaboratively with scientific and engineering communities on an international level. Your development There’s no fixed path as such. You’ll work with your line manager and mentor to create an individual development plan that can adapt to your changing needs

statutory bank holidays, flexible working hours, a graduate-focused relocation package to help you settle in and payment of up to two professional memberships per year. Our requirements We’re interested in people who have or expect a good degree, HND, MSc or PhD. If you have strong technical skills and the confidence to work as part of a team, we can offer you all the support you need to become a leading professional in your chosen field. Applications can be made via the ‘apply-online’ facility on our website, or forms can be requested from the HR Recruitment Team. Applications are welcome throughout the year however, due to security clearance processes, we would recommend applying at least four months in advance. Security clearance and national requirements AWE promotes diversity in employment. We welcome applications from women and men, regardless of disability, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic origin, or age. Applications from women and ethnic minorities are particularly encouraged. Successful candidates will be selected solely in their ability to carry

as you progress. Your mentor’s knowledge of the company and your discipline will help you to apply yourself effectively within the company and obtain professional qualifications. We also provide financial support and study leave - and the programme is accredited by the IChemE, RSC, IMechE, IET, IoMMM and IoP.

out the duties of the post. The normal contractual retirement age at AWE is 65. Because of the work associated with these posts, they are subject to special nationality rules and are open only to British citizens. All selected candidates will be required to undergo security clearance.

Salary and benefits Our benefits package includes a competitive starting salary of c.£20k, which will be regularly reviewed along with your performance and development. On top of this, you will be eligible to join AWE’s final salary pension scheme from day one. We also offer 28 days’ holiday in addition to

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recruiter file | 2008

Centrica company profile Centrica is a leading FTSE 100 company which owns a range of energy businesses in the UK, Continental Europe and North America. Serving more than 33 million customer relationships worldwide, with a turnover in 2005 in excess of £13 billion we are a team of 35,000 people – all working towards ensuring that Centrica is the leading supplier of energy and related services in our chosen markets. Who is Centrica? We are a global energy business with a passion for customers. In the UK we supply gas, power and related services through our British Gas brand. British Gas and British Gas Business are the largest suppliers of gas and electricity to domestic and business customers in the UK. Centrica Energy manages the Group’s power generation and gas production operations, ensuring we are able to meet the energy needs of our customers today, while our growing international exploration and production team searches internationally for the energy supplies of the future. Across Europe we supply energy to customers in Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands

But more importantly, take the word of our current graduates. Visit www.centricagraduates.com and get some real insights.

We are a global energy business with a passion for customers. in the uk we supply gas, power and related services through our british gas brand

and in North America we are one of the largest deregulated energy suppliers. So, why would you join Centrica? Challenge and opportunity. These are just two reasons to be interested in joining us. An ever more competitive energy market and our desire to continually improve our service to customers means we need to evolve and develop – rapidly. We would like you to share in that development with us. Don’t just take our word for it after all, we are biased! Personnel Today recently awarded our graduate programme an award for Excellence in Graduate Recruitment.

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POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • General Management • Information Systems • Finance • Chemical Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Petroleum and Geo-sciences SALARY: £24,000 NUMBER OF VACANCIES: Approximately 45 graduate vacancies and 30 summer placements NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 35,000 WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes WHEN: Summer DEGREES SOUGHT: • Any discipline but must be a related engineering degree if applying for an engineering stream LOCATIONS: UK wide APPLY TO: www.centricagraduates.com CLOSING DATE: 31st January 2008

recruiter file | 2008

Deloitte company profile

POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: •A udit • T ax •C onsulting •C orporate Finance SALARY: £competitive NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1200 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 11,000 WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes WHEN: Summer DEGREES SOUGHT: • Any discipline LOCATIONS: Nationwide APPLY TO: •U K website: www.deloitte.co.uk/ graduates • T o apply for the Deloitte Teach First scheme, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk/ teachfirst for more information. CLOSING DATE: Apply anytime online

Deloitte offers graduates stimulation and reward in the professional services industry. We’re a global firm with a network of UK offices and an abundance of career paths and opportunities available. Deloitte is moving ahead of its competitors and winning more complicated full-service assignments as a result. What we do for our clients The professional services we provide are fundamental to our clients’ business operations. Our expertise is broadly categorised as Audit, Tax, Consulting and Corporate Finance, but within each of these lies a plethora of more specialist disciplines. Our own operational model is uniquely collaborative in nature – by drawing on expertise from across the firm, we create individual client teams that can attend to any challenges our clients face. So, no matter what specific discipline you may practise, you will be rubbing shoulders with countless other Deloitte individuals, all experts in their own particular field.

where hard work really is balanced by ‘having a life’ outside of work. We believe in plain speaking, pragmatic thinking and delivering on our promises, to each other and to our clients. All of which makes Deloitte one special place to work. What we offer you Deloitte offers graduates a leading salary and benefits package, including a £7,000 interest free loan, £1,000 of which can be taken as soon as you accept your offer with us, 25 days’ holiday per year and a contributory pension scheme. How you get in Simple – apply, anytime, online at www.deloitte.co.uk/graduates. For Consulting, the deadline is 31 January 2008. We recruit from any discipline and welcome applications for deferred entry.

What we can do for you Exercising individual talent is the life blood of the firm. We take people who are great, and make them exceptional. The training and development programmes we provide are second-to-none and effectively guarantee you will become a highly competent and well-rounded business professional with any number of career directions open to you. We nurture talent both formally and informally with programmes that are close to tailor-made for each individual. In short – we’ll make the most of you. What it’s like working with us We have 11,000 bright individuals working for us in the UK. All that talent and flair makes Deloitte a particularly invigorating place to work. Our working ethos is committed to achieving that rare state of equilibrium

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recruiter file | 2008

Ministry of Defence, DESG company profile The MoD Defence Engineering and Science Group offers a career within a community of 13,000 professional engineers and scientists - working within MoD Civil Service to equip and support the UK Armed forces with state of the art technology. DESG offers a number of development schemes: Graduate opportunities through the ‘DESG Graduate Scheme’, a prestigious industry leader. This fully paid scheme will last for a maximum of two years (reduced for graduates with previous experience) and includes a range of in-house work placements, industry secondments and formal training courses. This is reputed to be the very best Graduate development scheme for Engineers and Scientists in the UK. Over and above your salary, around £20,000 per year will be invested in supporting your personal training and development. This will make it possible for you to achieve professional chartership within just four years. For those currently at university, who are determined to follow a MoD career, we offer sponsorship through the ‘Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme’. This scheme includes: a bursary of £4,000 while you study; leadership and team working alongside the British Armed Forces and paid summer employment within MoD establishments. For those currently at university, we also offer the ‘DESG Student Sponsorship

The MoD offers: Probably the very best graduate development scheme for Engineers and Scientists in the UK An accelerated path to professional chartership. •E ngineering and science career

opportunities at many locations at home and abroad •a competitive salary • fl exible working hours •w ork-life balance • i ncreasingly challenging jobs •a solid training programme and opportunities for internal education. DESG opening and closing dates for the various schemes are as follows: DESG is planning to begin recruiting from September 2007 - Please see our website for details www.desg.mod.uk

Scheme’. The scheme includes a bursary of £1,500 while you study and paid summer employment within MoD establishments. There is no commitment to work for MoD on graduation - but we hope that you will have been sufficiently impressed by your experience to want to apply to the DESG Graduate Scheme.

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POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • Engineering • Science SALARY: competitive NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 80 per year for the DESG Graduate Scheme NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 13,000 WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes WHEN: Winter DEGREES SOUGHT: • Accredited Engineering • Science Degrees (see website for important details) LOCATIONS: Across the UK APPLY TO: www.desg.mod.uk CLOSING DATE: see website for details in autumn 2007

recruiter file | 2008

Dresdner Kleinwort company profile Dresdner Kleinwort is the investment banking division of Dresdner Bank AG and a member of the Allianz Group, one of the world’s leading financial services providers. With headquarters in London and Frankfurt and an international network of offices, Dresdner Kleinwort provides a wide range of investment bank products and services to European and international clients through its Global Banking and Capital Markets business lines. Dresdner Kleinwort has a distinct, entrepreneurial culture with dedicated professionals who have a reputation for creative ideas and a strong commercial approach, built on an in-depth understanding of clients’ needs. POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • Global Banking – including advisory, mergers and acquisitions • Capital Markets – including sales, • Trading • Research and Derivatives • Risk Management • Information Technology SALARY: Competitive NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 100

We are looking for outstanding graduates of any degree discipline, with a keen interest in pursuing a career in financial markets, to join our 2008 Graduate Training Programme. We are also recruiting penultimateyear undergraduates to join our Internship programmes.

also visit www.dresdnerkleinwort.com/ graduates.

DRESDNER KLEINWORT HAS A DISTINCT, ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE WITH DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE A REPUTATION FOR CREATIVE IDEAS AND A STRONG COMMERCIAL APPROACH, BUILT ON AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF CLIENTS’ NEEDS

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: Approx 6000 WORK EXPERIENCE: Summer Internships WHEN: Summer DEGREES SOUGHT: • All degree disciplines LOCATIONS: London, Frankfurt, New York, Tokyo APPLY TO:

We have opportunities in: Global Banking – including advisory, mergers and acquisitions Capital Markets – including sales, trading, research and derivatives Risk Management Information Technology

www.dresdnerkleinwort.com/graduates CLOSING DATE: 8th November 2007

Visit www.dresdnerkleinwort.com/ graduates to find out more and apply online. We review applications on a rolling basis so we strongly advise you to apply as soon as possible. Our Graduate deadline is 8th November 2007 and our Summer Internship deadline is 8th February 2008. For details on Graduate opportunities in New York, Tokyo and Frankfurt please

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recruiter file | 2008

IBM company profile IBM is the world’s leading information technology and consulting services company, with over 90 years of leadership in helping businesses transform. IBM is aligned around a single, focused business model: innovation. Offering complete business solutions, we are a company that is passionate about our clients’ success. And to achieve that, we invest heavily in yours. Why IBM? Join us and you will see first hand why we were voted the Graduate Employer of the Year and the most popular graduate recruiter in the IT and Communications industry in the 2007 Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards. We can offer you a career that stands out in both its scope and in its ability to constantly challenge you. Training You will begin your IBM career with our new hire induction program lasting anything from 3 to 9 weeks. You’ll learn how IBM works, how to maximise your contribution to the company, how to navigate successfully within IBM and connect with your colleagues. You will also be given ‘education days’ to be used in your first couple of years in the company and these can be tailored to your specific skills development requirements.

development activities. This will provide you with a clear layout of your short term objectives as well as long term goals and aspirations. You will also be given a career roadmap detailing what specific experiences and education are required to advance to the next level of your career. Our culture and values We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity, where every employee is encouraged to reach their own potential and where different opinions are both welcomed and appreciated. Our commitment to equality however does not mean that we treat all our employees the same. We recognise that all our employees are different with varying demands in their lives. So we have a flexible work environment that sets us apart from our competitors.

not conventional. not a follower. not mainstream. not just another graduate.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • Various including Software Development, IT Consultancy, IT Specialists, Technical Pre-Sales. SALARY: £25,000+

What we are looking for You will need to have achieved or be expecting a 2:1 honours degree. We are looking for people that are adaptable, driven, good team players and have a passion for the area of work they are applying to.

Career Development We look for people who want to focus on continuously building their expertise in line with the ever changing business environment. Continuous learning and development is therefore key when working at IBM. Because your career path will be as unique as you are, you will draw up an Individual Development Plan with your manager, to identify strengths, interests, goals, educational requirements and

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NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 100+ NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 350,000+ WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes WHEN: Year round – Industrial Trainee Scheme; Summer – Extreme Blue Scheme DEGREES SOUGHT: • Any LOCATIONS: Around the UK APPLY TO: Through IBM recruitment website CLOSING DATE: Year round recruitment

recruiter file | 2008

JPMorgan company profile We don’t just support the Business. We define the Business. What could be simpler or more complicated than our technology? Simple, because it’s easy to use and hassle-free; complicated, because such simplicity doesn’t come easy.

massive scope of our technologies, our innovations, the sheer quality of the work – and the impact you can have, when you want. Specifically, your training will be structured around a strategy of Plan, Build, Operate and Control.

In fact, it comes with a $7 billion price tag. A more worthwhile investment we’d struggle to imagine. For us, technology is much, much more than simply installing a new operating system on everybody’s computer every couple of years. Technology is an integral part of what we do. We’ve made sure that leading edge technology is entwined with each business area. The result? Greater efficiency, improved results and real competitive advantage. POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • Investment Banking • Sales • Trading & Research • Asset Management • Risk • Operations • Finance & Business Management • Technology SALARY: Very Competitive Salary on offer NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 200 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 20,000 WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes - Summer Interns and Industrial Placements WHEN: Throughout the year - please check our website. DEGREES SOUGHT: • All degree disciplines LOCATIONS: London, Glasgow, Bournemouth. APPLY TO: www.jpmorgan.com/careers CLOSING DATE: 24 February, 2008

Technology is divided into two distinctive yet related areas: Business Technology and Infrastructure. Business Technology is all about building and designing new business functionality, while Infrastructure is focused on our core operating systems, running the datacentres, desktops, networks, mainframes and distributed servers. Both areas are linked by a reputation for innovation that stretches back some 20 years. It’s a reputation that we’ll expect you to uphold.

The Planning phase is all about analysing the needs of the business, managing projects and setting out how our technological resources will meet them. Development is the building phase. You could be delivering new projects or enhancing existing applications, whether developed in-house or by working with third-party suppliers. Operate is where we support our Production systems. Our support team is involved in the urgent resolution of complex issues which often relate to business-critical systems. Control ensures that the systems we use are robust and effective. Control manages vital areas such as data privacy, disaster recovery, and ensuring the smooth running of the firm, whatever contingencies may arise.For more information on our careers in Technology, visit our website at www.jpmorgan.com/careers

One thing our technology is not is purely theoretical. Advanced, complex and innovative, yes, but never abstract or academic. Likewise, we’ll expect you to be fascinated by technology (although you don’t need an IT degree), but we’ll also expect you to have the commercial acumen to see what it means in the greater scheme of things. Of course, that means that you need to understand the intricacies of what we do. Once your initial training’s over, you most certainly will. Technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and neither will your development. With the support of a dedicated training mentor, you’ll soon appreciate the

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RECRUITER FILE | 2008

Lloyd’s Register COMPANY PROFILE At Lloyd’s Register, we believe that life matters. As one of the world’s leading classification societies, we’re an organisation that’s driven by principles rather than profit. Our world-class marine expertise and uncompromising commitment to safety means everyone who works here does something that matters - every single day.

You will also spend approximately 6 months in our London office and 3 months in one of our outport offices, where you’ll gain a deeper understanding of our Marine business and the various departments and services. Departments in London could include Technical Investigations, Classification and Engineering Systems.

Our goal is to help our clients improve performance while setting the standards for safe, sustainable shipping around the globe. By providing the highest possible levels of service, technical and relationship excellence, we help protect lives, livelihoods and the environment at sea.

The following two years will see you on placement putting your new skills into practice where you could be based anywhere across the globe. Wherever you’re based, you’ll spend this building up your experience and spending valuable time working towards applying for Chartered Engineer status

We’re currently looking for talented, ambitious graduates to join our 2008 Marine Graduate Training Scheme to be technical specialists and future leaders of our business and build a rewarding career in the marine industry. It’s a two year training scheme, where you’ll have plenty of time to acquire a considerable base of knowledge whilst honing your practical skills.

We also offer a Sponsorship Scheme for undergraduates in their final two years of study, providing paid summer vacation work experience and sponsorship towards studies. This could be in our London office working in one of the above mentioned departments on a specific project or being based in one of our outport offices where you will go out on surveys.

During this time, we’ll provide you with all the technical skills and experience you need to become a world-class marine specialist, including in-depth training from a range of industry-leading experts within our organisation. And, to support your technical training and assess your performance, you’ll meet regularly with a mentor.

In return for your dedication and effort, you’ll enjoy a career that can really make a difference along with a benchmarked salary and comprehensive rewards package. If you think you can help us to make the marine environment a safer place and really do something that matters, find out more and apply at marinecareers.lr.org/graduates

Getting hands-on experience is an important part of the course too, and to make sure you get to develop your new-found abilities in a practical environment, you’ll spend 14 weeks working in a shipyard carrying out ship repair and construction. We’ll also make sure you get time at sea experiencing the operation and day to day maintenance of the ship.

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AREAS OF SPECIALISATION: • Naval Architecture • Marine & Mechanical Engineering • Electrical & Control Engineering SALARY: £competitive + benefits NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 15 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 5,000 WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes WHEN: Summer DEGREES SOUGHT: • Naval Architecture • Marine & Mechanical Engineering • Electrical & Control Engineering must be accredited by the Engineering Council UK LOCATIONS: UK APPLY TO: graduateteam@lr.org CLOSING DATE: On-going

recruiter file | 2008

Pilkington company profile Pilkington Group Limited is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of glass and glazing products for the building, automotive and technical markets, with annual revenues of £2.8 billion and manufacturing operations in 24 countries on five continents.

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We are widely recognised as industry leaders in glass technology and innovation. 1952 we invented the float Pilkington GroupInLimited glass process, now making Prescot Road, St Helens WA1090% 3TTof the world’s flat glass for buildings and vehicles. t 01744 692831 In 2001 we launched the world’s first e RecruitG@Pilkington.com self-cleaning glass w www.pilkington.com Pilkington ActivTM

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Pilkington in 1952 - which manufactures Salary clear, tinted and coated glass- for buildings, Competitive salary plus benefits and clear and tinted glass for vehicles. please see our website for details

Locations A float plant, which operates non-stop for Graduate vacancies mostly based between 11 and are 15 years, makes around 3TT in the6,000 North West initially; kilometres of glass ahowever, year in thicknesses the ability to travel is and an advantage, of 0.4mm to 25mm in widths up to three as Pilkington has many UK isand metres. The float process licensed to more overseas thanoperations 40 manufacturers in 30 countries. It has

A structured development North West plan initially; mostly personal based in the e RecruitG@Pilkington.com however,the to travel is an helps you to acquireability the tools, techniques w advantage, www.pilkington.com earned more than £600 million in licensing as Pilkington has many and experience appropriate for particular Application details UK and overseas operations revenue. There are over 200 float plants functions within the business, as well as Contact your careers service, email Number vacancies worldwide with a combined output of about APPLY TO:of Contact yourimportant careers service, key management skills. An part the Graduate Recruitment Officer or email the Graduate Recruitment 3,500 miles of glass a day. of your individual plan our will be the Officer Variable - see website foror current access our website for up-to-date access our website for up-to-date assignment of a mentor to counsel and vacancies vacancy and application information vacancy and application information JOBS OFFERED advise you. CLOSING DATE: Please see our website

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Salary Regular performance and development for details and information Please seedevelopment, our website for details technology reviews ensure your progress is appraised Competitive salary plus benefits - and finance, we prefer graduates with es Pilkington Group Limited, and necessary adjustments are made to our process websiteensures for details relevant degrees. For manufacturing we Prescotsee Road, an your please programme. This prefer graduates with technical degrees, Stspecific Helens, WA10 areas3TT you want or need nise that any although others will be considered. For Locations TEL: 01744 692831 to develop are addressed, enabling you to human resources, sales and marketing, EMAIL: maximise the RecruitG@Pilkington.com opportunities offermostly to Graduate vacanciesonare basedand commercial management, we will ging www.pilkington.com Group. n you within in WEB: thethe North West initially; however,consider graduates from any discipline o the ability to travel is an advantage,who have the necessary motivation, on BENEFITS personality and ability. While details of specific benefits vary s asthePilkington has many UK and an from business to business, you can be Pilkington looks for good academic overseas operations that, Group-wide, they comprise ues assured records, leadership ability and success in everything you would expect from an lar organisation extra-curricular activities. The ability to Application details– and like Pilkington as perhaps a little more. Contact your careers service, email communicate effectively, self-motivation

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT A structured combination of job experience and planned, formal training on an individual basis enables graduates to make an early contribution and prepare for future responsibility. Most of our graduates will also have the opportunity to undertake a formal development programme leading to a business qualification or professional institute membership. Pilkington is global in operation and opportunities are growing for international assignments as part of formal career development plans. CAREER DEVELOPMENT Meeting the challenges of a changing, global business requires people who can take early responsibility, but we recognise that to succeed we will need to train, guide and support you with wide-ranging experience. A structured personal development plan helps you to acquire the tools, techniques and experience appropriate for particular functions within the business, as well as key management skills. An important part of your individual plan will be the assignment of a mentor to counsel and advise you. Regular performance and development reviews ensure your progress is appraised and necessary adjustments are made to your programme. This process ensures that any specific areas you want or need to develop are addressed, enabling you to maximise the opportunities on offer to you within the Group. BENEFITS While the details of specific benefits vary from business to business, you can be assured that, Group-wide, they comprise everything you would expect from an organisation like Pilkington – and perhaps a little more. For details of current vacancies, please check our website.

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RECRUITER FILE | 2008

RM COMPANY PROFILE ABOUT RM Our world is extremely motivating and highly rewarding, with a relaxed, professional culture and a sociable atmosphere. We expect to take on around 35 graduates for the 2008 intake. However, we are not just looking for graduates interested in IT, as we also have a strong commercial arm to our business. We offer roles in areas such as finance, project management and marketing, for which a whole range of skills is needed, from problem solving, customer relationship building and

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR Whether you join us in a technical role or in other, more commercial areas of the business, we’re looking for much more than just a strong academic record. Attributes such as excellent problem-solving skills, a strong customer focus, energy, enthusiasm and determination will be integral to your success, and ensure you make a positive impact from day one.

business awareness, through to plain old enthusiasm.

things.” Beverley, Project Manager

“RM delivers some 2.5 million hours of internet connectivity to UK schools every month through its Internet for Learning service.”

RM DELIVERS SOME 2.5 MILLION HOURS OF INTERNET CONNECTIVITY TO UK SCHOOLS EVERY MONTH THROUGH ITS INTERNET FOR LEARNING SERVICE

DEVELOPING YOUR POTENTIAL We offer our graduates fantastic training and progression opportunities, and we pride ourselves on actually following through on our promises. In fact, our CEO, Tim Pearson, started out as a graduate! Starting with an initial induction and training programme, you’ll receive ongoing support from specialists within the team, who will help you through any teething problems. We also offer an excellent range of training

“The training has been great, and there’s a wide range of courses available to help with all sorts of

courses, covering technical skills, professional development and more general topics, such as making presentations, negotiation skills and time management. What’s more, you’ll have real responsibility and the chance to get stuck into a live project from the outset. “The size of RM and their strong focus on training was a big plus, plus my degree meant I knew they were at the very forefront of new technology.” Nick, Graduate Software Development Engineer

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POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: A wide range of technical and commercial vacancies. SALARY: £23,000 - £26,000 NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 35 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 1,900 WORK EXPERIENCE: No DEGREES SOUGHT: • 2:1 or above in any discipline and a minimum of 260 UCAS points (or equivalent). LOCATION: Abingdon, Oxfordshire APPLY TO: www.rmgraduates.com CLOSING DATE: September 2008

recruiter file | 2008

Schlumberger company profile

POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • Field Engineering • Research, Development & Manufacturing • Petrotechnical NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 200 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 76,000 DEGREES SOUGHT: • Educational requirements are a bachelors or masters degree (masters or PhD for Research, Development & Manufacturing) in all Engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, petroleum, chemical, civil, geological, aeronautical, materials, environmental, industrial, software etc.), sciences (chemistry, physics, mathematics), geosciences (geology, geophysics) or any IT or software disciplines. LOCATIONS: UK and Worldwide APPLY TO: Upload CV at www.slb.com/careers CLOSING DATE: None

Schlumberger is the leading oilfield services provider, trusted to deliver superior results and improved E&P performance for oil and gas companies around the world. Knowledge, technical innovation and teamwork are at the centre of who we are. Worldwide, our engineers, scientists and other specialists supply technology, project management and information solutions to an industry that is vital to the global economy. From the well site to our global connectivity centres and our R&D facilities worldwide, we employ 76,000 people of over 140 nationalities working in 80 countries. Our belief that no culture has a monopoly on creativity has given us access to the best people, no matter where they were born. Our diversity and our culture lead to our view of us as global citizens. We place high value on the quality of our behaviour as an employer, a supplier, a client and as members of the communities in which we live and work. As such, we are committed to finding solutions to climate change, to continuing the improvement of health and safety wherever we operate, and

happens in the first couple of years after you join, but continues throughout your career. It is a process of ongoing learning. Initial training programmes are designed to infuse all new hires with a thorough understanding of the company and to provide all the tools necessary to ensure success each and every day. Your career will be anything but static and we expect you to take early responsibility for your own career. Imagine your future in four dimensions: over time, you have the flexibility to move between functions, technologies, and geographies. As your career progresses, we provide you with the training needed to continuously develop your skills to help you pursue further opportunities within Schlumberger. We promote from within based on merit, and, depending on your drive and performance, you can succeed quickly.

to creating educational opportunities. With 53 research, development and manufacturing facilities worldwide, we place strong emphasis on developing innovative technology that adds value to our customers. In 2006, we invested $600 million in R&D. As long as you have the passion for knowledge, you will find constant support from Schlumberger. You will start off with two weeks training on the petroleum industry, the company, and the health and safety codes. Over the next two years, you will attend three training courses around the world, to improve your knowledge of the technology and of the business. But training is not something that only

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recruiter file | 2008

Skanska UK company profile Skanska UK Plc is one of the UK’s largest construction services companies. We combine design, building, civil engineering and building services with a wide range of specialist skills. By integrating all disciplines and working together with our clients and our partners we make a real difference to the way construction is delivered. Skanska UK is part of Skanska, one of the world’s leading construction groups We have developed our success based on a reputation for consistently being able to complete high-profile challenging projects to our clients’ satisfaction. Our work in construction, civil engineering and building services includes some of the UK’s most high-profile projects. In many of our areas of work we are one of the UK’s leading operators and this success is set to continue. Everything we do at Skanska is governed by a clear Code of Conduct, which guides everything we do as a business. It sets out our responsibilities to the countries, communities and environments in which we operate, to our employees, business partners and to society in general. We are looking for graduates who want

to give our graduates every chance of success in becoming chartered. We also run our own-in house development programmes that enable graduates to develop key personal skills and qualities that maximise the contribution they can make to the business and help them build a career in Skanska. Our graduates get both technical and behavioural development support. Graduates in Skanska are also appointed a mentor, an extra support that is personal to each individual graduate. Graduates get the opportunity and responsibility to make a real impact in Skanska at the beginning of their career. To match this level of responsibility we offer a rewards package that is more than competitive, including an above industry average salary, a starting bonus payment, support with relocation, and a company car or allowance. Our aim is to ensure graduates are keen to stay in the business beyond the start of their careers. We see recruiting graduates as a key investment in Skanska’s future. Helping graduates build a career, as well as develop expertise in our industry is important to us.

to make a real difference within an exciting and growing industry in the UK. We develop our people to maximise team performance, and to work to high standards. We aim to be the first choice for people looking for great careers in construction. Graduates working in Skanska have the opportunity to begin and develop their career working on industry-leading projects, whichever part of our business they are working in. Graduates in Skanska are offered support with obtaining any professional qualifications relevant to their role including chartered status. Support is available from experts within the business

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POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • Civil Engineering • Quantity Surveying • Construction Management and other construction-related areas SALARY: Competitive NUMBER OF VACANCIES: around 20 full time positions and around 20 undergraduate roles NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: Over 5000, in the UK. Over 50,000 worldwide WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes WHEN: Summer and Industrial placements DEGREES SOUGHT: • Construction Management • Civil Engineering • Quantity Surveying and other construction related disciplines LOCATION: UK wide APPLY TO: www.skanska.co.uk CLOSING DATE: December 2007 for 2008 start

recruiter file | 2008

United Utilities company profile A FTSE 100 company employing around 10,000 people across 4 continents, we’re a world leading utility business. Supplying life’s essentials from Bulgaria to Bolton, we’re one of the largest operators of water and wastewater systems and electricity distribution in the UK. Responsible for enhancing lives, whether that’s cleaning up the UK’s rivers or helping other businesses to run smoothly and efficiently, we’re significantly investing in our people, infrastructure and leading edge

POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN: • across all disciplines including, Water, Engineering, Management, Science and Quantity Surveying SALARY: £competitive NUMBER OF VACANCIES: TBC NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 10,000 across core utilities operation WORK EXPERIENCE: Yes WHEN: dependant on placement/ department DEGREES SOUGHT: • Minimum 2:1, 2:2 for Quantity Surveying LOCATIONS: North West (national/ International Placements available) APPLY TO: www.unitedutilities.com/graduates CLOSING DATE: January 08

We’ll provide you with the support you need to develop your expertise, progress your career and make the most out of every possible opportunity at United Utilities. A career with United Utilities is limitless in terms of what you can achieve. Look beneath the surface and you’ll discover a blue-chip company that provides expertise around the globe. You’ll discover a caring organisation that invests around £3 million in community and environmental projects and works with the RSPB and

projects. So, wherever you want to take your career and whatever role you’re interested in– go and achieve your ambitions with United Utilities Graduate Opportunities.

Groundwork UK. And you’ll discover an organisation that will provide you with the training, support and opportunities you need to go far.

Our wide-ranging training programme offers great flexibility and has been specifically designed to meet your individual needs. It will build on your strengths, develop your skills and enable you to experience a number of different roles on a variety of placements.

HOWEVER HIGH YOU WANT TO PROGRESS UP THE CAREER LADDER, YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL ALWAYS BE RECOGNISED AND REWARDED

From day one you’ll be an integral part of the team, working beside the best in the business, contributing to new initiatives that shape the future of the company and the industry as a whole. You’ll enjoy plenty of diversity, real responsibility, excellent support and the opportunity to progress your career and achieve your full potential. However high you want to progress up the career ladder, your contribution will always be recognised and rewarded. If you join the team, you can expect to look forward to rewards and benefits, including a competitive salary, relocation package, a bonus of up to 7.5% of your annual salary, pension scheme, private healthcare and a generous holiday allowance

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FIND�YOUR� PERFECT�Career LOADS OF COMPANIES WANTING TO SPEAK TO

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OLD BILLINGSGATE, LONDON 17TH OCTOBER 2007, 10.30AM – 5.30PM IT COULD BE LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Awards2008

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ENGINEERING CAREERS AT SHELL

Innovation is a way of life at Shell. We operate at the leading edge – not only in oil, gas and chemicals, but also in renewables such as wind and solar energy.

Great training you can take for granted – along with real responsibility. And within our global business, there will be many opportunities to match your aspirations.

But technical leadership begins with technical expertise. Which is why we work so hard to attract and develop people like you – today’s talent and tomorrow’s leaders.

So if you want to achieve more in your career, get together with Shell. You can make your online application right now – just visit our careers website. Shell is an Equal Opportunity Employer www.shell.com/careers

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