Simon Thompson on Mechanical engineers design, construct and install machinery, tools and components. They often service machines as well. They work in a wide range of industries, including power, construction and transport.
The industry sector might differ, but mechanical engineers typically work within three areas: R&D; production and design. Read More
Simon Thompson on Maintenance engineers can be found in a wide variety of job sectors, from manufacturing to transport to food production, but they all work to a common goal – ensuring that equipment and machinery is fully operational.
The job is a mix of proactive prevention and reactive fire-fighting. One day you might be running a service check or quality inspection and the next reacting to an emergency breakdown call. Read More
Simon Thompson on A defence engineer doesn’t have to join the armed forces, although working for a defence contractor is likely to mean signing a few confidentiality clauses as you’ll be working on the design and construction of military equipment and vehicles.
Modern military equipment is as much about software as hardware, so defence engineers often work on software development and systems engineering as well as in the more traditional engineering realms of production, R&D, electronic and mechanical hardware and the ergonomics behind a particular piece of military kit. Read More
Simon Thompson on Civil engineers belong to a broad area of engineering that involves a number of specialist disciplines such as structural, environmental, maritime and transportation engineering.
In all civil engineering areas, the work involves liaising with clients and professionals such as architects and planners, using computer modelling software to analyse survey, material-testing and mapping data, determining the environmental impact of a project, preparing tender bids and managing a project both on and off-site once it is given the go-ahead. Read More
Simon Thompson on Chemical engineers generally work either in manufacturing or research and development (R&D). In smaller companies, the two roles are sometimes combined.
Manufacturing roles involve working on day-to-day operations in a processing plant, checking on production and dealing with any issues that arise, liaising with the health and safety and quality control departments and working with designers and engineers to develop new machinery and equipment. Read More
Simon Thompson on Automotive engineers work in three distinct areas – production, design or development.
Production engineers typically work on redesigning the machine tools, processes and equipment used to make new parts. Overseeing quality control and production costs and schedules are also a major part of the job. Read More
Simon Thompson on Aerospace engineers tend to work in one of three areas – testing, research and development, and maintenance and production.
Duties include developing specific avionic systems, creating more fuel-efficient parts or engines, data collection and analysis, drawing up project plans using computer software, running flight and ground tests on prototypes, writing reports and manuals and presenting findings to both managers and clients. Read More
Simon Thompson on Teachers have one of the best-known but least understood jobs out there. Unless you’ve been home-schooled or were raised by apes in the jungle, everyone has a tale or ten to tell about teachers and teaching.
We only remember the extremes – the best and the worst – but all teachers need to be dedicated and versatile with great people skills and a passion for their work. Read More
Simon Thompson on Librarians are no longer dusty throwbacks insisting on silence at all times. These days, they’re highly qualified, IT-literate and customer-oriented.
Libraries have changed with the times and much of the job involves maintaining and updating computer records, liaising with the public and ordering and presenting new library stock. Event organisation – such as author visits and readings – is another regular task, as are the old favourites such as chasing up late returns, sorting out fines and, yes, ensuring the library is a quiet, or at least calm, environment. Read More
Simon Thompson on Warehouse logistics managers are responsible for the smooth running of the most important link in the supply chain. It’s a black and white job – if the warehouse isn’t running smoothly, then the whole supply process will be out of kilter.
As well as ensuring a warehouse is working as efficiently as possible, managers will be responsible for processing and organising the dispatch of orders, making sure stock is properly and safely stored, working out shift schedules and time-sheets, maintaining an environment where health and safety is properly observed and keeping an accurate record of the whole warehousing process. Read More
