Engineering job requiring a lot of 'hands-on.'

It's interesting, this overlaps with some discussions running on other threads at the moment re the assumption that degrees are required for jobs as an "engineer".


Personally as a candidate I wouldn't worry about that aspect, all that matters is whether the actual job suits you, for what you want now and into the future. I tend to take candidate requirements in job specs with a large pinch of salt. And of course "graduate" can often be code for "bright self motivated person who will sort problems for themselves without expecting to be told everything", not necessarily that the job actually involves solving second order differential equations.


I also wouldn't be too worried about a previous incumbent occasionally asking "make this hole bigger" rather than producing a fully detailed drawing - sometimes that's all that's needed! There's no point spending time doing a CAD drawing for something that isn't critical. (Of course I don't have the full context for this.)


The questions I would ask at interview would be:

 - "What would I typically be doing day to day?"

 - "What would I be personally responsible for?"

 - "What type of problems would you expect me to solve for myself?"

 - "Where do you see me in five years time?"


And if you want the job, when they answer these then respond with examples of how this ties in with your own past experience or future ambitions.


Manufacturing engineering, particularly in a small company, can easily cover a huge range from developing a LEAN strategy for the business to rapidly building a piece out of scrap to keep a piece of equipment going until a full repair can be done. (That piece will probably then stay there for the next 20 years...) Just comes with the territory.


I think the final, and most important thing, I would want to determine from the interview process is:


 - "Do you have an ambition to improve your manufacturing processes (for example through LEAN)?"


If they just want you to keep it "the same as we've always done it" then run a mile to get away. If they genuinely want you to come in and improve the business, and will invest in proposals you come up with, then it could be a very good opportunity to show how you can turn businesses around through engineering.


Cheers,


Andy

It's interesting, this overlaps with some discussions running on other threads at the moment re the assumption that degrees are required for jobs as an "engineer".


Personally as a candidate I wouldn't worry about that aspect, all that matters is whether the actual job suits you, for what you want now and into the future. I tend to take candidate requirements in job specs with a large pinch of salt. And of course "graduate" can often be code for "bright self motivated person who will sort problems for themselves without expecting to be told everything", not necessarily that the job actually involves solving second order differential equations.


I also wouldn't be too worried about a previous incumbent occasionally asking "make this hole bigger" rather than producing a fully detailed drawing - sometimes that's all that's needed! There's no point spending time doing a CAD drawing for something that isn't critical. (Of course I don't have the full context for this.)


The questions I would ask at interview would be:

 - "What would I typically be doing day to day?"

 - "What would I be personally responsible for?"

 - "What type of problems would you expect me to solve for myself?"

 - "Where do you see me in five years time?"


And if you want the job, when they answer these then respond with examples of how this ties in with your own past experience or future ambitions.


Manufacturing engineering, particularly in a small company, can easily cover a huge range from developing a LEAN strategy for the business to rapidly building a piece out of scrap to keep a piece of equipment going until a full repair can be done. (That piece will probably then stay there for the next 20 years...) Just comes with the territory.


I think the final, and most important thing, I would want to determine from the interview process is:


 - "Do you have an ambition to improve your manufacturing processes (for example through LEAN)?"


If they just want you to keep it "the same as we've always done it" then run a mile to get away. If they genuinely want you to come in and improve the business, and will invest in proposals you come up with, then it could be a very good opportunity to show how you can turn businesses around through engineering.


Cheers,


Andy