DS struggling to get an engineering job

[Enginer]

DS graduated in engineering with a 2.2 from Oxford. He didn’t apply to jobs while a student as the course was too intense.

He’s now really struggling to get anywhere with jobs. He’s applied to a few graduate schemes but got nowhere. He’s got as far as second interview with a speculative application but that’s it.

He is getting increasingly low about it and I’m worried about him. His mental health isn’t great anyway due to previous issues and he’s quite isolated as many of his friends have moved away.

Has anyone got any tips to pass on? Any good recruitment agencies to try? Is he stuffed because of his 2.2? He would like to live at home for the moment (London area) so maybe that is also part of the problem as many jobs are elsewhere.

To answer possible questions in advance, his CV looks quite good I think. He’s got some good internships on there and he has done things outside of formal study that are relevant to engineering (personal coding projects etc).

Go abroad??

The RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) are crying out for Engineers at the moment

Would he apply for an apprenticeship? My husband is an engineer for STFC part of UKRI and they have lots of apprentices there. I just quickly checked their website and it says applications open in January for the next round.

After 2 years of applying with a 2:2 dsd gave up on grad schemes, even if they say they take 2:2’s and she got to the group interview stage she got beaten by men with 1st and pushy (she now hates group interviews). She took a position that only required a levels and will take vocational qualifications

the military only requires 2:2 for grad entry, yes it’s a very different commitment but the housing is cheap, dc pays very little in rent

In that case does he need to start a job in his field straight away? Nothing wrong with doing applications to the grad schemes now and spending the next year working on himself so he's ready to go further afield. Can always get a part time job somewhere like a call centre or Uber, or volunteer if he can do without the money. They'd all help transferable skills.

This is not true except in specific circumstances

My DS didn't go to Oxbridge and didn't get a 2:1 but has got an engineering job because he didn't aim at a "big" name or a graduate scheme.

He joined a small engineering firm out of uni (his degree is in Mech. eng) and was promoted within a year. He is planning to work there for three years and then apply to a bigger firm.

Is your DS looking at the wider market or is he focussing in on just the big name firms? He needs to consider everything.

Has he looked at apprenticeship schemes with BAE Systems, Babcock Engineering or Bristows? As he already has a BEng he may be able to get direct entry into the second or 3rd year of their programmes.

They tend to recruit around June for September start but the information is on their websites. I know an apprenticeship might sound counter-intuitive as he already has the BEng but it’s a good way in, and they guarantee jobs to those who complete the programme. A word of warning though they are very competitive - so anything else he does that links into aero or avionics engineering will help, even if it‘s volunteering as an instructor with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.

The other alternative of course is either the RAF or Royal Navy but if he’s had issue with his mental health they probably aren’t an option, whereas the forces-adjacent companies could be.

Good luck.

He’ll have to relocate and not be picky about where he ends up. I’m in East Midlands and there are lots of engineering jobs out here. I know we always struggle to recruit (but we don’t do mechanical though unfortunately)

Does he need to stay in London? This is from years ago but my uni boyfriend had a first in Materials and most jobs were north and Midlands. I'm not sure it's changed that much.

A couple of friends sons have done well here

https://careers.baesystems.com/students-graduates-and-career-changers

If he's really struggling, would joining RAF as an officer be an option?

Would he be interested in teaching it up to level 5? I have a 2:2 (I was lucky to get that in the situation I was in when I did my degree) and a subsequent PGCE and masters in an education area rather than engineering. Even if it's not his dream forever job it may be an option?

Did you actually read what I wrote?!

You son did what I suggested in my second paragraph - didnt chase big structured graduate schemes with automated CV screening and got a direct entry role with a smaller business to gain experience.

So erm, rather justifying that as an engineer who has recruited engineers and graduates for quite a few large engineering entities in the UK, I might actually know what I'm writing about...

Incidentally, the MEng qualification under discussion is known as an undergraduate masters. Its the minimum academic level for becoming a chartered engineer (though there are ways to demonstrate equivalent academic qualification levels)

The reason I suggested a specialist masters is that'll open up more niche and less general engineering roles. He'd need to try to find one he genuinely found interesting. Maybe quantity surveying. Fluid mechanics and modelling, if interested in aero. Maybe systems engineering. It may also help lead automation CV screening away from filtering out on the basis of a 2:2.

Otherwise - local roles in smaller businesses is definitely the way forward. I'd look for what some specialist engineering recruiters have listed. Some of their roles are entry level. People like Rullion, Hays - it would be work looking for any that specifically cover the London region.

Otherwise - local roles in smaller businesses is definitely the way forward

I agree. DS and his friends all went into small and medium sized companies and have continued working for those types of businesses as they've progressed. All in steady jobs that pay well.

So far I've only seen one reply here that mentions the tough job market at the moment so I just wanted to bring that discussion forward a bit with regards to your DS... it's REALLY tough at the moment, especially for entry level but actually at all levels of the job market. I'm worried that so many of the times he's ignored or rejected, he's blaming himself, his grades and his circumstances when actually, people from top universities with firsts are struggling right now too. It's harder as well from top universities to gauge how you're doing in comparison to your peers because so often, they "get places" via their personal/family networks rather than specifically off the back of their grades and cold applying. The advice here for your son re experience/LinkedIn/networking is good, but I just think we should put more emphasis on the current job landscape he's operating in and it might make it feel less personal. - A fellow job hunter

Is he looking on Grad Cracker, LinkedIn, Indeed and has he also asked AI to find him a graduate placement in the SE? Our DS is currently applying for Internships and AI turned up a couple that he hadn’t previously seen.

I also think that any job will be better than just being at home. Have a look at the Agency Brook Street, that’s where all of our temps come from at our work.

At this point though even working in the local coffee shop a few hours a week is a plus.

What volunteering opportunities has he looked at as well?

Totally agree. I’ve been working a long time and it’s as bad as I’ve ever known it to be.

Bright Network is another good place for STEM grad jobs

What kind of engineer is he, that will determine the best approach - is he the type who drives a computer and designs products, models scenarios or is he the kind who is equally happy, calipers in hand leaning over the lathe as sat at the desk.

If the latter, there are thousands of small engineering concerns across the country where he could get a job, perhaps not his dream job, but something which would gain him real world experience before he maybe goes back to do his masters.

I've been in the industry 22 years, there have been a lot of changes, particularly in how the bigger companies operate. When I started at a big electrical manufacturing company hardly anyone was tied to the office as they are now, quite often we'd jump up from the drawing board and nip down to the shop floor to try something out.

That's still very much how it operates at the smaller end of the spectrum, if I was him I'd literally get to a big industrial estate and go round all the workshops selling his skills.

He’s got an uphill fight. A 2.2 isn’t great and Oxford engineering is a generalist engineering course whereas employers want graduates who have specialised (yes I know they specialise in yr 3 and 4). If he’s interested in mecheng can he broaden his practical skill base, eg take some machinist and CNC qualifications?

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BAe have their pick of the top graduates in the country. I’m afraid a 2.2 in general engineering won’t get a look in.

@DeftWasp I think a big part of the problem is that he doesn't really know what he wants to do. He also lacks confidence in himself given his degree result. He is, however, very practical and good at getting stuck in to things. Funnily enough, lots of his friends didn't know how to fix a bike or a car whereas these are things that he loves doing. So I think the latter of your two scenarios would suit him much better.

Would he consider the Armed Forces? RAF and Navy particularly crying out for engineers.