Anyone study for an Engineering degree? What do you do now?

[ChienneDesFromages]

DD is in Year 11 and is interested in studying engineering. The only two people we know with an (ancient) engineering degree went into City insurance and academia, but she’s interested in industry careers (at the moment). Obviously, she’s doing her own research, but I figured MN might be a good port of call to find out about careers for women in engineering.

She’s most interested in mechanical, electronics and robotics. She plans to do A-levels in maths, physics, electronics and classics.

If you studied engineering, what do you do now? Do you enjoy your job? Would you recommend the career to a younger woman? Any other good sources of information for a young person interested in engineering? Any other thoughts and tips welcomed!

I'm an engineer, did civil engineering BEng, graduated in 2001, still in engineering. A great job, so many different paths depending on your interests. Would definitely recommend!

I'm an engineer, I've worked all over the world, I love it. Newcastle University offers a common first year that allows students to do the essentials then decide what they fancy for following years. An integrated master's with year in industry seems like a really good combination explore the options and to prepare for work. I studied there way back when and its a great departement in a city that's very easy to live in as a student.

I did an electrical engineering degree. There was 6 females out of about 600 but that was over 20 years ago so hopefully the ratio will be better now.

Sadly illness meant I couldn’t use my degree for work, I now run a gift shop. One of my fellow female students went to work on the railways.

As an aside one of the male students went from uni to management trainee course with a supermarket.

The smallpiece trust offer engineering taster residentials based at universities for a range of ages - my DD really enjoyed the one she attended as a yr9

DH is a materials engineer, has a BEng and MA in materials science. Weird job, weird degree but I’m an English lit lecturer so we’re kind of polar opposites! He works in the steel industry, corrosion is his ‘thing’.

Thanks for posting about this. DD would love that!

Thanks so much to everyone who has shared their experiences. It sounds like a really interesting field of work. It’s totally different to DH and my line of work so really helpful to hear more to support DD.

If you do maths to relax, then you probably would enjoy an engineering degree! Good luck to her.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who posted their thoughts and ideas on this thread. I have shown my daughter the responses and she feels very enthused about a possible future career in engineering. We found a brilliant website from which she can access virtual work experience opportunities. She signed up for a course with the Institute of mechanical engineers and another short course run by Volvo.

We’re going to spend a bit of time today, exploring face to face work experience opportunities at local firms and universities.