A personal brush with the engineering skills shortage prompts our anonymous blogger to ask whether industry is making the best use of its young engineers
In a shock development I can report that, after getting on for 15 years, I have parted company with Amalgamated Products Limited. I wish those I have left behind me well and will continue to keep an eye on how they are doing in the world of Widget design and production. After much soul searching I concluded that life had reached a point where I needed fresh horizons, and once that decision had been made there was no going back.
After saying my fond farewells I spent a month or so concentrating on other areas of my life before deciding that I had better look into getting another job. Idle frippery is attractive but unfortunately doesn’t serve to keep a roof over one’s head. I figured on a month being a realistic timeframe before getting a sniff of an interview, however even with a lacklustre start to job hunting (CV sent to only 4 agencies) within a fortnight I had two offers on the table. Let me assure you dear reader that, although hoping I am at least capable in my chosen career, I do not have delusions of being an engineering genius.
It seems youngsters who are coming into industry aren’t being exposed to a very wide experience
So to what do we attribute my current (thankfully) eminent bankability? Based on comments made during my brief search for a new position, and from what I have heard about candidates coming in for interviews at Amalgamated Products Limited, it would appear there are two major factors.
The impression I get is that graduates have been seen recently as a resource to be plonked in front of a computer in order to bang out multiple variations of a simple component
Against the wider background of the oft quoted shortage of new engineers, it seems youngsters who are coming into industry aren’t being exposed to a very wide experience. Whilst apprenticeships are once more being pushed, I believe a major failing is that the structure underpinning these isn’t being applied to all who join our profession.
In fact the impression I get is that graduates have been seen recently as a resource to be plonked in front of a computer in order to bang out multiple variations of a simple component. They gain an in depth knowledge in a highly focussed area at the expense of gaining that all important breadth. I should imagine that this helps the balance sheets in that they are immediately producing a line of designs and can therefore be seen as “earning their way”, but this is surely a very short term and wasteful view?
Personally, I would like to see a proper structured programme for anyone with less than 3 years in industry (admittedly an arbitrary figure but one which I believe to be within the correct “ballpark”). This would be tailored to the individual’s education and background but, in all cases, would seek to produce a more “well rounded” professional. This is surely the only basis for providing a strong engineering industry for the future? For now though there is a silver lining for my bank manager in that it appears I shall never need to retire.
I’m a Chartered Engineer leaving a company after 24 years so I’m encouraged by your experience. Thanks and good luck.
Our secret blogger’s view on the restricted vision of present graduates is surely mirrored by the lovely description of senior academics: who presumably taught them. That they know more and more about less and less until in the end they know everything about nothing!
My first boss in ICI told all the young Engineers in his ‘stable’ that 90% of our weekly time, ie 4.5 days per week were for ICI. The other half-a-day was for us to further our overall skills and abilities.
Attend a conference, an exhibition, go and see a new supplier, go and visit another division, go and sit in the library (preferably reading some Engineering…but not obligatory) take a long walk…? He never questioned any expenses incurred in these extra-curricular activities and signed the ‘claim’ without seeking any evidence of what we had actually done. What a star.
I have to say that throughout my career, I have always tried, once-per-year at least to attend a trade show or conference which was nothing whatsoever to do with my ‘normal’ work.
Often I picked-up a project, that was both interesting and well rewarded.
Best
Mike B