Graduate schemes and jobs are a popular way to get started in the engineering sector. They offer a multitude of benefits, giving candidates a fast-track experience of an organisation and exposing them to a variety of opportunities. Candidates can learn the skills and knowledge required for more senior engineering roles. This often helps candidates progress quicker and narrow their areas of specialty based on what they enjoyed during their graduate scheme.

As well as the popular schemes held by large multinational corporations, there are also lots of smaller graduate schemes and jobs offered by local engineering companies. They may often slip the net when engineering students are searching for opportunities but can sometimes offer more suitable experiences for certain engineers.

Nevertheless, regardless of whether you are looking to join one of the big competitive graduate schemes, or looking for something more niche or local, landing any graduate engineering job isn’t an easy task. It may be a fantastic time to be an engineer due to demand outstripping supply, however, companies are still in need of candidates that have the right skills, personality and employability.

We’ve listed out 5 tips below to help any engineering graduates improve their chances of landing a graduate job. (N.B. If you’re currently searching for an engineering job, make sure you upload your CV with us here at BMR Solutions. We specialise in helping engineers land their dream jobs).

  1. Research

Applying for graduate schemes and jobs is a two-way process. It is as much about you finding an organisation that suits what you want out of a career, as it is an organisation finding top talent. Graduates shouldn’t look to apply for every scheme they can find, as it’s unlikely all these schemes will suit them.

Understand what it is you want from a career and research what each graduate job offers you. This may highlight specific jobs that are better suited to you.

Not all graduate schemes are the same so understanding what is expected of you and what you can expect from the role/organisation is certainly a worthwhile exercise. This will also help in any potential interviews as you can impress employers by appearing confident in what you are looking for from a graduate scheme.

Being prepared and researching all the possibilities will also ensure you know what dates applications open/close which can often catch candidates out.

An engineering recruitment agency can often help you understand the market better and shed light on more specific job roles out there too.

  1. Experience

Getting relevant experience in the engineering sector is a huge bonus for candidates.

This is why having an industry placement year can be so popular. Similarly, you may decide to embark on some relevant work experience after your degree to give you relevant experience. Although you may be eager to apply for jobs, being patient and gaining experience and some practical skills can be a fantastic way to fast-track your career in the long-term.

If you can’t secure any official work experience, see if you can informally shadow someone.

Similarly, look for other experiences that will give you the skills and knowledge required for your dream engineering job. If you understand what skills are desirable, then you may be able to gain experience in different contexts.

  1. Unique and Creative

There are often hundreds (if not thousands in some instances) of other graduates applying for the same roles. This can create a flood of CVs and application forms of similar information and experiences that employers and recruiters need to filter through.

This creates a very difficult job for recruiters and employers looking to identify the best candidates.

Having unique and creative ways to stand out becomes a huge advantage for candidates.

For example, could you set up an engineering blog to illustrate your knowledge and passion? Or perhaps set up a community at university around a specific problem. Or maybe partner with a charity and offer your engineering skills to help with their project aims. All these sorts of ideas illustrate a candidate that has gone the extra mile and is passionate about engineering. And this is something employers love to see.

  1. Understand the Industry

Keeping up-to-date with industry knowledge and news is a great way to impress employers during an interview. Knowing and understanding potential challenges or opportunities facing the industry/organisation will ensure you can add value during any interview or application.

This will also allow you to have meaningful conversations with recruiters/employers as you can discuss what is likely to be on their minds. This helps any interview feel more natural and less formal.

  1. Application Process

It’s important to understand the application process and tailor everything you do to the specific job/scheme you are applying for.

Having a generic application that you’ve sent out to every organisation under the sun, is unlikely to stand out in a competitive market.

Instead, understand what the application process is and set aside time to create a tailored application for each job you apply for. This will ensure you best reflect the desired skills and experiences each graduate scheme is looking for.

Understanding the process will also mean you’re ready for potential interviews/assessments too.

Get Started with BMR Solutions

Here at BMR Solutions, we provide unrivalled job opportunities within the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

Working alongside the very best companies, we can help you find your dream job. From entry level positions to senior level executives, our recruitment team are perfectly positioned to help you get the most out of your career.

If you’re just starting out and either looking for a graduate role or some work experiment, simply upload your CV with us here or get in contact with us. Applying for graduate roles can be a daunting task, so if you’re looking for help and support, simply get in touch with us today.

We’ll help match you with prospective companies to help find you the perfect engineering role.