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hi all

I've noticed that there is quite a few engineers on here and wondered if any could offer advice on getting my foot 'in the door' at an organisation, or does anyone know of companies recruiting?

Reason I ask is that since graduating in electronics in 2004 I worked as a junior for a while, after that fell through I decided to go back to Scotland and get work there with my qualifications and experience but to no avail (yet anyway).

It's really difficult having a year's experience as you are just out of consideration for many grad roles but not experienced for any other roles + as time rolls on my graduation date gets further and further away.

Many companies I have found very very selective and unfortunately there is many more graduate than jobs so you can understand the situation, possibly you have been (or are) in a similar situation.

If anyone has any thoughts on the subject it would be great to hear about it.

Regards

Andrew

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It's a scam........or possibly a scamola


Homer Simpson

Be more specific.

Hardware design, embeded system ?

Electronics is a BIG subject and the opportunities in the UK are ever changing depending on the industry you are in.

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Speed camera policy Kills

Are you fluent in "CAN"? Was your electronics automotive-based or are you interested in the automotive sector?

If so, PM me. Not making any promises AT ALL! (so don't get your hopes up) but it might be worth talking...

Gizmo wrote:

Electronic engineering, covered a bit of everything, didn't specialise in anything.

Mole wrote:

No. Course wasn't automotive based. I have a background in automotive work and I would be interested in automotive electronics.

Regards

Andrew

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It's a scam........or possibly a scamola


Homer Simpson

I work for an OEM automotive electronics manufacturer. The problem you have is that on one realy wants to train any one any more. You need more specific marketable skills. Rather than just keep a general "electronics" badge on you need to zero in on something specific and train accordingly. There are still jobs in hardware design but there is a world of difference between the hardware used in "white goods" and automotive. Similarly software development is not the same. There are many companies that "dabble" in electronics design that are not electronics manufacturers because electronics is now in just about every product nowadays.

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Speed camera policy Kills

Gizmo,

Strange concept. I thought the whole idea of studying was to study a range of topics within a general subject as you see with any course? Isn't the Phd study a chance to aim more at one topic of interest such as IC design or power design etc?

I did pick power and control systems to study but this was optional and not more involved than any other subject.

I do have good marketable skills and a genuine interest but am in no way highly experienced, and don't expect to be, until I get more experience.

My last position was a total dead end job but I did get some experience in the electronics hardware design, test and manufacture, but not as nearly enough as I would have hoped in a year.

I now seem to be in a worse position than when I finished my studies with no experience. In a larger company i'm sure a year's experience would have involved a lot more.

Regards

Andrew

_________________
It's a scam........or possibly a scamola


Homer Simpson

Mole

Sorry mate, for some reason I didn't get the PM from you??

Regards

Andrew

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It's a scam........or possibly a scamola


Homer Simpson

..how mobile are you?

(west scotland perhaps not being the heart of the UK's engineering industry)

Stick your CV on Monster.co.uk perhaps? See if you get a bite.

I have another suggestion but its not to everyone's tastes

This site is always worth a look. Sign up for e-mail job alerts.

http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Home/Default.aspx

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Speed camera policy Kills

That's 'cause I never sent one! P.M. ME and I'll give you an e-mail address. The company I work for is Automotive and in Glasgow. They are not actually looking for an electronics engineer at present - (hence not getting your hopes up) but we are getting to the point where we MIGHT in the near future. As most new vehicles use a "CAN" system (or variation on it) we'd need experience in this field though.

Rigpig, if you're thinking what I think you're thinking. Why not, I've done worse jobs...

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Gordon Brown saying I got the country into it's current economic mess so I'll get us out of it is the same as Bomber Harris nipping over to Dresden and offering to repair a few windows.

Chaos, panic and disorder - my work here is done.

http://www.wildcrafts.co.uk

Does an electronics degree deal with lasers?

Seriously, good luck with it. I'm afraid its all muck and bullets in civil engineering (although I'm just about to move to power distribution - the hole digging and pilon erecting side!)

Theres only really one answer though and thats get your cv out as widely as you can, google search every company you can in your field and e-mail them, something will turn up!

I'm aware that is the case, however most engineering students manage to find work in Scotland + the increased amount of positions found in the South-East (where I have already worked) is proportional to the amount of applications that these positions do recieve, so unless you have a 1st class from Oxford, or mega amounts of experience, your hardly likely to get a look in.



I can't think where i've not put my cv!!

Quote from what do graduates do 2000:



Surprise surprise

Can't figure out why I keep hear about the shortage of engineering students and yet employers aren't willing to train people?? In my opinion it's their own fault that there is the shortage.

Electronics is such a wide-ranging subject and there must be about 1000 different job titles covering electronic engineering. It is not very well defined, and also very confusing as to what you can do or what direction you should be going in.

Many other industries aren't, if you look at most other industries there are definitions of a certain job role, qualifications required and an acceptance that people who have studied a particular subject aren't going to be masters in it or have a particular pre-defined specialist subject in mind.

Regards

Andrew

_________________
It's a scam........or possibly a scamola


Homer Simpson

hi andy.. ive just asked our electronics guys what we have and apparently they have been looking for a couple more people, potentially grad types.

we're tier1 global automotive supplier (although our specific area is rather more concept/prototype based).... and midlands based.

i can find out a bit more detail on the roles.

i get a bounty for introducing succesful applicants (i.e. my introduction is saving them £x in agencies & advertising) so obviously i'd be happy to pass your details on!

Have you looked at doing a KTP scheme? generally for people graduated in the last couple of years (3 at a push) so your still in with a chance. its a scheme set up by DTI basically you get put in a company on a 2 year scheme you manage a project over 2 years and are partnered up with a university to get all their help and reasorces and can generally do further degree at the same time, you get sent on management training cources (3 weeks over the 2 years) and get £3500ish to spend on whatever other training you want +a travel and an equipment buget.

Ive just finished an electronics based KTP and stayed on with the company, i would recommend it to anyone.

http://www.ktponline.org.uk/

Cheers i'll have a look into that.

Regards

Andrew

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It's a scam........or possibly a scamola


Homer Simpson

Andy - from one sort of transport to the other - have a look at rail opportunities - there's a great shortage of skilled blokes( especially in signalling/communications) - so firms ,even Network Rail, are looking at training their own , and blokes with a degree are prime candidates for recruitment as they can be fasttracked as they know the basics and can pick up the info on courses .

some firms on here under track maintenance companies




Pay - not bad - hours - forget mad weekends, unless you get into signalling design.

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Botach

That's good info. I'm already on to First Engineering who seem to deal with a lot of the scot rail engineering.

Regards

Andrew

P.S.

I see you used the apt word

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It's a scam........or possibly a scamola


Homer Simpson

Glad to be of help - just be aware that as i said - due to nature of work , renewals take place at night and weekends - on the plus side - once you get qualifications , (like IRSE) YOU CAN MOVE FIRMS AT A PHONE CALL, as there are more jobs than qualified people.

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on