• Manufacturing Employability:  One year after graduating over 80% of engineers were either in sustained manufacturing employment, further study or both – other graduates in medicine and dentistry beat engineers to it. And this shouldn’t be a surprise given two thirds of manufacturers pledged to recruit engineering graduates in 2016. When it comes to apprenticeships – just as many opportunities are available. Did you know just 5% of EEF members have never offered apprenticeships? 
• Engineering pays: Earnings in Manufacturing are £3000-4000 higher than average.. If we look at graduates – an engineering and technology graduate has one of the best starting salaries.You’ll also earn over £150,000 more over your lifetime than someone who hasn’t done an engineering degree. And it’s not just those who choose an academic route – if you were to take an engineering apprenticeship, your extra lifetime earnings would equate to over £110,000. 
• It’s not just about the money, money, money: Manufacturing employers invest in their workforce. Over half of manufacturers say they support their employees through university while employed. Companies also retain their employees by offering flexible working well over the statutory minimum and opportunities to work across other parts of the business – a job in manufacturing can see you travel the world.

 67% of UK adults say they would be proud to work in manufacturing

What do manufacturing engineers do?

The easier question is what don’t they do?

Some of my favourite examples are: designing video jackets for U2, creating and testing missions for astronauts to control a robotic arm or building the prototype for the rear of the Jaguar F-Type.

Pretty impressive stuff right?

But there are an array of jobs that you can undertake from a maintenance technician to a quality engineer to a software engineering. And then you can choose to work in various sectors whether its food and drink, chemicals, automotive or aerospace. FACT ALERT! For any James Bond fans out there the UK is home to the Aston Martin. It was in Staffordshire that the UK started making marmite and the UK created Cadbury’s Dairy Milk! We make everything from Dr Marten Shoes to Henry Hoovers and even the 2012 London Olympic Cauldron.

Whatever your interests are you can find your way into manufacturing…our friends at the Royal Academy of Engineering came up with this super video:

Where are the manufacturing jobs of the future going to be?

If we begin to look into our crystal ball we can begin to pinpoint the manufacturing jobs of the future.

Taking a broad brush approach job roles in manufacturing are increasingly going to be managerial, professional and associate professional and technical roles. We’re talking higher level and higher skills?

Why is that the case? Technological advancements are changing the manufacturing industry. You’ll have the heard the buzz words of automation, big data and virtual reality and all of these will play a part.

We’re going to need even more STEM professionals (science, technology, engineering and maths) but we’re not just talking engineers here, increasingly companies are looking for data scientists, analysts, technicians, software engineers, coders and programmes…I could go on and on.

Convinced?

Hopefully you are. Well an apprenticeship, degree or training programme to get you into manufacturing could be on the cards. And don’t forget you don’t have to be a new recruit you could be an existing employee looking for a career change (an apprenticeship can be for you too!)

1. Be a very good listener. In a situation where a follow up is required the fact that you have listened carefully to what the interviewer has discussed will put you in a great position.
2. On the same theme do not talk too much. Answer the questions that you are asked clearly and concisely and never stray into waffling and padding.
3. Dress smartly and appropriately for the job that you are being interviewed for.
4. Be polite and well mannered but at the same time ensure that you speak confidently and clearly.
5. Do your research. When asked ‘why would you like to join this company’ you will wish you had.
6. Make sure your CV is correct and up to date – no longer than 2 sides of A4 ideally and well presented.
7. Never complain about your previous employer – this is a pet hate for interviewers
8. Make sure that if you are asked if you have any questions – you do have at least one if not two good questions that show you are genuinely interested in the company you are seeking to join.
9. Do prepare for the old faithful – ‘tell me about yourself’ question. This open ended invitation will floor a lot of people so see it as a chance to shine.
10. Finally you are free to do as much research on your interviewers and possible managers using social media which will give you a good feel about what is important to them and the way the company is heading.

For further careers advice visit our specialist recruiment agency fitrecruitment.co.uk

Fortunately, increasing your chances of landing a great gig can be made simpler by making you and your resume stand out to potential employers. “How might one do that?”, you may ask.

Well, we can show you some simple yet effective tips for helping you build a standout resume, which in turn may just help you be noticed by employers at your next job.

Be teachable

A great employee is always willing to add to their existing skill set. If you have any lengths of time between jobs, then it is a great idea to build on skills that you already have or learn some new ones, while you search for a new position.

There are numerous online classes you can take, especially in the field of computers, which you can take at little or no cost to you. Take advantage of these learning opportunities and as soon as you feel ready, add them to your resume. Local libraries, and online education companies, such as Udemy, offer a variety of classes that you can take.

Look for in-demand skills for the general workplace, as well as those that seem to be gaining popularity in your field and look for ways to learn those skills. Potential employers will be impressed that you used your downtime from the workforce so wisely.

Learn how to create actionable SMART goals (Specific – Measurable – Attainable – Realistic – Timely) that will help you learn to break down what you’d like to accomplish in your career, both in the long and short term.

Be a giver

Give your time outside of the workplace to worthy causes and organizations.

Volunteering and donating your energy, time, and resources show that you care about your community and enjoy being part of a vision, even when you’re not necessarily being paid for it.

And you can enjoy volunteering. Choose a cause or organization that you’re passionate about. You will meet new people and try new things, and in the long run, you will gain a unique experience and perspective that will shine through when you present your curriculum vitae to your next prospective employer.

Be social

Use professional social media accounts, and keep them classy. Using professional social networking tools, such as LinkedIn, is a great way to network with other professionals in various fields and find out about recent openings.

Going to networking events or job fairs is also a great way to meet other potential employers in person. Dress professionally, but still stay genuine. If you want to find out if you’re a good fit for the work culture at a certain corporation, then being true to your personalities positive traits is a good way to determine that.

Be image-conscious

Be genuine, but dress and behave in a professional manner. Companies view their employees as the face of their company because they are the face of the business. People who care about the way that they act and dress are less likely to do things that would reflect poorly their employers, so carry yourself with dignity and integrity.

Keep any headshots that you have posted on your online profiles or hand out with your resume professional and classy. (That vacation photo of you fishing off of the docks with a brew in hand may not be the best choice.)

While the current job market does seem to be saturated, there are ways that you can present yourself so that you stand out in a positive way. By implementing the tips we’ve mentioned above, you will be more likely to stand out as a potential employee that any corporation would be proud of.

Start your job hunt today!

If you’re thinking about a construction job in the UK you’re in luck the construction industry is growing, approximately 3 million people currently work in construction making it one of the largest and possibly most diverse employment sectors in the UK. There is a job that fits practically every skill set and experience level, as most construction companies provide a range of in-house or outside training and development programmes. An application for employment within a construction company will almost universally be met with an open mind as long as the applicant can demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm to learn and work hard.

What does a construction worker do?

There really is a job for everyone within the construction industry form labouring on site to running a company that carries out projects throughout the world. Within that range are a huge number of roles both indoor and outdoor – including:- Surveyor, Estimator, Finance, CAD, HR, Bricklayer, Carpenter, Painter, Roofer, Groundworker, Foreman, Site Manager and many more.

What does a construction worker earn?

As there are such a wide variety of roles in construction it is inevitable that the range of earnings do vary across the range from minimum wage to very good salaried jobs in senior management. Construction is by its nature an industry where it is entirely possible to start at the bottom and progress to the very top – just like a building itself. Check out some of our construction jobs at gocareer.co.uk/construction

What qualifications do I need to be a construction worker?

You don’t necessarily need any qualifications to start in the construction industry and in many cases training can be given to further your career progression. That said there are a whole host of qualifications and experience that will be of great help in securing your first job in the industry so do your research. For many a traditional and very effective route into construction is to enroll on an apprenticeship. There are many apprenticeship opportunities available at the government apprenticeship website.

What do construction workers do day to day?

You name it construction workers do it. The very nature of construction work means that there is an enormous range of roles both indoor and outdoor, practical and theoretical and physical or mental. It is essential that you know what sort of work suits you best – then explore the range of construction jobs that fall into that category.

Constuction Training: How do I get started as a construction worker?

There are a number of ways into construction including straight from school, applying for an apprenticeship or pursuing a range of qualifications right up to degree level. It is very useful to seek the best advice available to ensure that you are taking the right entry path for you that best fits your current skills and experience.

Once I become a construction worker what are my career prospects?

The career prospects in the construction industry are as extensive as they are varied. Once you have joined the industry there are any number of courses that you could take that will give you the extra skills and qualifications that you need to take yourself to the very top.

What are the best bits of being a construction worker?

No two days are the same. Working in construction is varied, sometimes challenging but always interesting and rewarding. For anyone who has worked on a construction site for any length of time will testify – it is also almost always great fun. Enjoy.

Be found by construction employers upload your CV at gocareer.co.uk/submit-cv  infographics provided by GoConstruct.