An Exciting Career in Engineering

If you enjoy understanding how things work, solving problems or being creative then there is almost certainly an exciting and rewarding career that you could follow within the vast area of engineering. Unfortunately, far too many talented people ignore the huge range of opportunities available because they have a very narrow view of what engineering is all about. Don’t fall into that trap!

Engineering can be divided into a number of major sectors such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, civil & structural, chemical, manufacturing and software engineering. People working in each of those sectors have formed professional engineering societies and these organisations are one of the main sources of information if you want to find out more about engineering.

A Career in Mechanical Engineering

Engineering affects every aspect of human activity – work, leisure, health and education. Engineers are involved in the design and manufacture of almost everything, from cars to computers, from web pages to wings, from microchips to motorways.

Training as a mechanical engineer will lead you into one of the broadest areas of engineering. Mechanical engineers are expected to constantly improve, re-design and invent equipment, not just maintain and process. As a mechanical engineer, you could be employed in a design, manufacture, research, development, management or marketing role.

For further information about a career in mechanical engineering, including lists of accredited courses and job profiles, please visit www.imeche.org.uk.

A Career in Electrical Engineering
 
The title is a bit misleading because members of the IEE work in a number of fields including power engineering, communications, electronics, computing, software, control and manufacturing. The Institution of Electrical Engineers www.iee.org
 
Chemical Engineering...The Science of Success

Do you use a mobile phone?  Do you wear trainers?  Do you ’funk up’ your hair with wax or gel?
Did you know that the above products are reliant on chemical engineering?  Here is something else that may surprise you – Chemical Engineers also save lives. Usually we think of doctors, paramedics and nurses as the people who save lives – but just one Chemical, or Bio-chemical, Engineer has the potential to save more lives than a whole ward of healthcare professionals.

Chemical Engineers develop pharmaceuticals, drugs and treatments that modern medicine depends upon.  For example, they are currently developing the means to grow replacement body parts for transplant – including healthy bone marrow for treating conditions such as Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Leukaemia, and advancing radiography treatments for cancer. Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)  www.whynotchemeng.com

Civil Engineering

Is all about creating, improving and protecting the environment in which we live. In fact, our society would not function without civil engineers and civil engineering. You could be involved in seeing through a project from design stage to construction and completion. These projects might include the development and construction of bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, dams, pipelines and major buildings.

One reason that young engineers give for choosing civil engineering is 'variety'. You might be in the office, working on designs at a computer or ensuring the client is kept up to date. You could be on site, leading teams, solving problems and literally being 'hands-on'. Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) www.ice.org.uk

More Information:

Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) www.istructe.org.uk

Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) www.iagre.org

Women into Science, Engineering and Construction (WISE) www.wisecampaign.org.uk