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ENGINEERING The engineering sector contributes 27% of GDP to the UK economy – three times the size of the (more visible) retail sector – with 5.4 million people employed in the sector across over half a million engineering companies. Between 2012 and 2022 these companies are projected to have 2.56 million job openings, and there is currently a shortage of qualified engineers graduating in the country. As the global economy and climate changes, there are new areas emerging, and Engineering UK perceives that the UK has particular strength in synthetic biology, energy-efficient computing, energy harvesting (from the environment), the space industry, nanotechnology and digital technologies. The engineering sector includes a wide range of organisations – from vast multinational corporations right down to small independent engineering companies and start-ups. In the public sector, opportunities include roles in the Met Office or the Ministry of Defence, through to regional engineering projects and work with government agencies. The majority of larger engineering employers recruit for a variety of engineers, as well as for jobs open to those without a background (but with an interest) in engineering – such as in HR, sales and marketing, IT, project management, logistics and finance. GETTING IN AND ENTRY POINTS For technical engineering roles, a degree in engineering (or sometimes a related subject, such as physics, materials science or mathematics) is usually required, and the average graduate starting salary is around £27k, second only to medicine and dentistry. Non-engineering roles in these firms tend to offer similar starting salaries to their competitors in other corporate sectors. Roles are offered year-round, but many of the larger graduate schemes have deadlines closing each year around December/January. MORE INFORMATION If you want to find out more about this sector, visit: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/engineering www.careers.ox.ac.uk/CONSTRUCTION Work experience is often vital, and it’s worth bearing in mind that the Engineering Science course at <strong>Oxford</strong> is unusual in not having a built-in period of six or twelve months spent in industry. As a result, you may find many long placements advertised that do not fit around term-time. However, larger firms (many of which attend the Science, Engineering & Technology Fair in Michaelmas Term) often offer internships that will fit into a long vacation. Smaller organisations are often willing to offer work experience or internships – check on CareerConnect (p.5) or contact particular firms speculatively to enquire. Internship opportunities are usually advertised a little later than graduate jobs, with deadlines tending to fall from December to February and occasionally beyond. EXTRA-CURRICULAR IDEAS + + Join <strong>Oxford</strong>’s Engineering Society, Biomedical Engineering Society or OxFEST (for women). + + Join UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) + + Volunteer with Engineers Without Borders during your vacations, to build both your skills and development projects. A branch has recently been started at the University. + + Take part in an inter-university competition such as Formula Student (run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, to find the best race-car). + + Read, and write a guest post for Developing Engineers, a blog written by young engineers. + + Share your passion for engineering with school children, to also showcase your enthusiasm to future employers. There are a number of outreach programmes organised by professional bodies and the UK government, such as STEMNET. + + Join a professional engineering body as a young member – or represent students on their board. + + Enter the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Communications Competition. + + If you are interested in a nonengineering role in this sector, see other sectors for relevant ideas. “ Mike Moss career advisor, The Career Service, University of <strong>Oxford</strong> Every year, the UK faces a shortfall of over 81,000 people with engineering skills in the workforce, we need more engineers and we need more engineers to stay in engineering, as only they can solve the biggest problems of our age. ” 121