Engineering was something I knew about since childhood but I only started learning about what it entails when I joined the Engineering Society in sixth form. I was voted as the head of the society, being responsible for around 20 people and through group discussions, presentations, projects and general research I developed an interest in Engineering.
That initial interest made me realise my future career path would lie in the world of Engineering.
I knew one thing from the very beginning: No matter what career path I would end up choosing, there would be tough competition to beat. That was when I started looking for work experience as it is the perfect way of demonstrating my passion for the industry while simultaneously developing myself through learning new skills that are vital to being successful in Engineering.
The Springpod Engineering virtual work experience allowed me to understand the Engineering work environment in depth, what employers would expect from me and career pathways I would be able to take within the industry. The week-long experience was filled with quizzes, exercises, activities along with several Engineers hosting live webinars to provide some more insight. In the end, Springpod’s virtual work experience consolidated the career path I would take in the future as I was merely thinking about going into Engineering before it.
Through the knowledge I acquired I was also much more confident in applying for roles and courses in Engineering because I knew what things to write about in my applications.
The biggest advice I would give anyone considering an Engineering apprenticeship is actually having a passion for the role you are applying for. As cliche as it may sound, it helped me get to where I am today. I applied for a dozen different apprenticeships in hopes of getting into any one of them. When getting to the Interview stage, I would struggle to put into words why I chose the role or company: There wasn’t one because I was not exactly thrilled about any of them and recruiters can tell- I learnt that the hard way. No one wants to hire someone who is likely to quit because they’re just in it for the money and don’t enjoy what they do.
By doing thorough research into the role and industry you’re applying for and appreciating what a company does makes you seem more genuine and will definitely put you apart from the crowd. Asking about the interviewer’s role in the company is also very helpful and will demonstrate your interest.
