All about engineering...:
What is engineering?
Engineering is practical problem solving. Engineers use the knowledge they have in a specific field to make things work and to solve problems. Engineers exist in all walks of life: transport, medicine, entertainment, space exploration, environmental management – you name it, engineers have worked on it.
What does an engineer do?
Engineering is behind everything - from mobile phones and make-up to the car you travel in and the shoes on your feet.
Engineering makes up an exciting range of businesses and industries, including construction, transport, cosmetics, medicine, food, fashion and much more.
Engineers work in all kinds of environments, from offices, laboratories and film studios to outdoors and underground. Engineering today is closely linked with technology, and plays a major role in many technological devices and advances – thanks to engineers you might be reading this on your phone for example.
What jobs are there in engineering?
Take your pick. There are jobs in a very wide range of specialties and roles at many levels from engineering technician to senior engineer, including management and research.
Because technology is always moving on, engineers often change or widen their specialism during their careers, as well as their job roles. This is one of the reasons engineers enjoy their jobs so much!
Studying engineering is also great general education and unemployment among professional engineers and scientists is among the lowest of any sector in the country. Click here to read our interview with one young engineer. There are many other jobs available!
Sounds interesting - how do I get into it?
Firstly you need to consider whether you enjoy science and maths subjects, because many engineering and technology roles are based on science and mathematics principles.
Depending on what kind of job you would like, you will probably need qualifications in these subjects. Qualifications in ICT and design and technology (D&T) are also extremely useful.
It may also be helpful to know that there are three nationally (and internationally) recognised professional levels that you can work towards: Engineering Technician (Eng Tech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng). Each of these levels can be achieved by various routes of study – going to university to study an engineering course is just one of the many options available to you.
Visit our main website (www.tomorrowsengineerings.org.uk) to read more Frequently Asked Questions and find out about careers in engineering in more detail...