• Question: If you pretend that when I am older I would like to be an engineer, what key steps and advise would you give me?

    Asked by katherinelizabeth to Al, Emma, Ivanka, James, Omar on 14 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by branflakes123.
    • Photo: James Vokes

      James Vokes answered on 13 Mar 2012:

      You need to choose the right subjects to start. The subject you really need (in my opinion) is Maths: it’ll teach you to think logically as well as giving you a good…feel for numbers in general. From there:Sciences (get involved in any of them but idealy the one you’re most interested in!). This is only the start “Engineering” is huge! You need to really think about what interests *you* and what *you* want to do and then try to learn about it yourself using the internet, libraries (where they keep all the books) etc.

    • Photo: Omar Mustufvi

      Omar Mustufvi answered on 13 Mar 2012:

      As James said: school, college, university/apprenticeships are important for engineering and it is important to think about what interests you in particular- look around, do you find it amazing how bridges can hold up so much force or how skyscrapers are getting taller and taller or do you want to find out how to send a shuttle into space? A career in engineering can take you anywhere (even into space!)

    • Photo: Al Bartlett

      Al Bartlett answered on 14 Mar 2012:

      Hello again Katherinelizabeth,

      I really agree with James and Omar, Working hard at school is very important – if you can get to grips with maths, science, english and a design subject it gives you what is called ‘Under-pinning Knowledge’ It means that you understand the subject and this knowledge will be with you throughout your career – I still remember things that i was taught twenty years ago!!

      After school, you could go on to study A-Levels, University or a Modern Apprenticeship – but as James rightly pointed out, its all about YOU and what interests YOU – if you enter a field of engineering that doesn’t interest you, then you’ll never enjoy it. Engineering is great fun – Im sure all of the other engineers will agree with me!!

    • Photo: Ivanka Brown

      Ivanka Brown answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      I agree with recommendation of studying maths. I would also add that you should try and get some work experience. I worked in an engineering office that showed me some structural and some traffic engineering as well as the engineering process. This gave the confidence to narrow my subjects at school to fit with this career.

      However, there are so many ways to become an engineer at any stage of life, that I would suggest that making sure you take more classes in the subject you love and the subjects find easy/you are good at. If you like getting your hands dirty and looking at things then an apprenticeship may be a suitable route. If you like imagining what can be done and using your calculator to find out whether its possible, then a university route would probably be better.

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