{"id":3555,"date":"2018-10-15T17:21:17","date_gmt":"2018-10-15T16:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/copyright.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/?p=3555"},"modified":"2018-10-17T11:23:12","modified_gmt":"2018-10-17T10:23:12","slug":"career-tips-graduate-engineer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/engineering\/career-tips-graduate-engineer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to make the most of your degree: career tips from a graduate engineer"},"content":{"rendered":"

I arrived at Loughborough in 2013, having never studied \u2018engineering\u2019 in my life before. I didn\u2019t have LinkedIn, I had never had a job, and I certainly didn\u2019t know what a CV was.<\/p>\n

In all honesty, I didn\u2019t really know what I wanted from my Mechanical Engineering degree, I just knew I liked the look of Loughborough, and the department seemed welcoming. In the five years since, I had an immeasurably fun time, got to take part in some fantastic work and activities, and to top it off I now have enough relevant<\/u><\/em><\/strong> experience to get me to the interview stage of some of the coolest engineering jobs out there.<\/p>\n

The next three \/ four \/ five years of your life are going to be a rollercoaster. You will have the most fun you\u2019ve ever had, party hard, study harder, and make some lifelong friends in the process. And at the end of it, you\u2019ll come out with a degree.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll emerge, blinking in the sunlight, along with tens of thousands of other graduates across the country. And now, you have to find a job. Sooner or later the cushioning embrace of student finance will end, and the realities and burdens of the real world will start to take hold. It can at times be easy to forget the end goal of studying for all those late nights; to get a fantastic job once you graduate. The problem is, thousands of other students are trying to do the exact same thing. And thus, you need to stand out from the crowd. The sooner you realise this, the better.<\/u><\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

But fear not, there are plenty of ways in which you<\/u><\/em><\/strong> can stand out. Below is a cheat-sheet of some fantastic schemes and pro-tips I\u2019ve come across over the last 5 years, with input from several colleagues too. I hope this will help you to make the most of the next few years, and to help you take the first steps towards an amazing and fulfilling career.<\/p>\n

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I attended the Seeds for the Future scheme in 2015, and that included a visit to the British Embassy in Beijing!<\/p><\/div>\n

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  1. Summer \/ Year Placements & Overseas Trips<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Placements are, in a word, invaluable. Their effects often \u2018snowball\u2019 \u2013 getting a summer placement after your first year of Uni can greatly increase your chances of getting a top industrial placement, and so on and so on\u2026 Placements are a great way of gaining experience, earning some extra cash, developing your network and understanding whether a company is right for you before applying to a graduate role! The University Careers Network<\/a> are an invaluable help in getting your CV in check and preparing you for those first interviews.<\/p>\n

    Huawei \u2018Seeds for the Future\u2019 Program<\/u>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

    An all-expenses paid 4-week trip to China, with training and networking events all throughout the month. The website is a year out-of-date but they\u2019ve been running the scheme for years so the information and contact details should still be correct.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Global Grand Challenges Summit 2019 (London; TBC) and 2021 (China; TBC)<\/u><\/p>\n

    Some travel bursaries are available for travel to the London and China GGCS summits, coming up in 2019 and 2021 (websites TBC). Some of the biggest names in engineering and technology attend these events, and there is a huge push for student involvement \u2013 info on the 2017 summit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    UK Space Agency SPINternship scheme<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

    One for the space enthusiasts \u2013 a UKSEDS and UKSA-backed scheme to collate a huge bunch of summer internship opportunities in the space sector in the UK. Check regularly for new job updates and look up the completed list for an idea of some of the incredible projects available to students.<\/p>\n

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    I took part in the 2018 SPINternship scheme and got to meet dozens of space companies throughout the summer, as well as the chance to present at NEOCONF18.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Adecco Way to Work \u2013 CEO for One Month<\/u><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 (EUR 15,000\/mo salary)<\/p>\n

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    1. Scholarships, Prizes and Professional Development Schemes <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A scholarship, prize or professional development scheme is a fantastic way of getting a leg up towards the top jobs. These schemes give you extra cash that you can use to seek out development experiences around the UK or even the world, and some even include leadership training courses, or lots of free publicity which can attract recruiters to your LinkedIn.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Apply in 1st<\/sup> Year:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      IMechE Undergraduate Scholarships<\/u><\/a>\u00a0 \u2013 (\u00a32k\/yr during your degree)<\/p>\n

      IET Diamond Scholarships<\/u><\/a>\u00a0 \u2013 (\u00a31k – \u00a33k\/yr during your degree)<\/p>\n

      Apply in 2nd<\/sup> Year:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Royal Academy of Engineering; Engineering Leaders Scholarships<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

      \u00a35k scholarship across three years, plus a leadership training and networking weekend every autumn across three cohorts of the scheme.<\/p>\n

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      One of the people in this photo co-founded a company that\u2019s now valued at \u00a31.8 million, not bad for 12 months\u2019 work!<\/p><\/div>\n

      Apply Anytime:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Telegraph STEM Prize<\/u><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Paid summer internship, chance at \u00a325k grand prize<\/p>\n

      Look on The Scholarship Hub for more opportunities<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

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      1. STEM Outreach, Positions of Responsibility & Voluntary Work<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        If you don\u2019t manage to secure a placement or a scholarship, fear not; there is still plenty you can do to maximise your chances. If you can gain experiences in positions of responsibility, in a non-engineering job or as a volunteer, you will often be able to talk about the skills you gained in an interview. At Loughborough, there are a huge range of options;<\/p>\n