Hi Natalie. I entered engineering as a profession mainly due to my hobby interest in Amateur radio. I trained originally as a geologist and was quite dismayed on graduating to find many of the jobs in prospecting required electronics or physics degrees. I always had a keen interest in science and took Physics, Chemistry and Geography at A level back in the 1970s. I was part of a trial in 1972 for a subject called Project Technology at that time. It was only run for a year but I believe led eventually to CDT and similar technology subjects now offered.

The core issue is providing experience to youngsters at school of the fantastic range of well paid and interesting career paths in engineering. There's probably unintended bias by teaching staff to associate engineering careers as a choice for boys , not realising that it is just as suitable for girls. My experience with “career advice” at school was very negative and poor quality. I'm not sure if much has changed. It is much easier to research careers today with on line resources which should help schools provide high quality careers advice. Given that I was a budding engineer from a very early age better advice and encouragement from teachers would have greatly helped direct me sooner. I do not regret my experience as a geologist which is a wonderful science and does indeed incorporate much engineering knowledge.

There does seem to be some good role models for women in engineering if the IET magazine is to be believed. Before retiring I worked in IT with the NHS and it was about 50% female staff in IT and the culture was very inclusive in all aspects.

Possibly more opportunities for well structured work experience while at school will help bring more to the profession. I think hands on practical experience is superior to any amount of passive learning. Geology as a subject required a large element of practical field work with trips during the “holidays” taking 16 weeks during my degree studies. I suggest that other disaplines follow this example and provide much more practical experience. I studied evening classes in electronic servicing with the City and Guilds to enhance my hobby and this was very much a hands on learning experience. It resulted in working as an Avionics engineer showing there are other routes to a career in engineering. 

I think perhaps when we are younger we view learning as something you do at school or college. In fact what you learn at school or college is only the start and it is a continuous process that never stops even after retirement! In today's world there is so much choice of career path and it is daunting to decide and specialise at a young age, perhaps before we even know where our main interests and talents lie. It should be possible to have the choice of a broader science and engineering education to degree or technical equivalent level with taster options available to get hands on practical experience in various fields. 

Quite a ramble of perhaps slightly disconnected thoughts but may provide some food for thought in your quest.

Cheers Andy

Hi Natalie. I entered engineering as a profession mainly due to my hobby interest in Amateur radio. I trained originally as a geologist and was quite dismayed on graduating to find many of the jobs in prospecting required electronics or physics degrees. I always had a keen interest in science and took Physics, Chemistry and Geography at A level back in the 1970s. I was part of a trial in 1972 for a subject called Project Technology at that time. It was only run for a year but I believe led eventually to CDT and similar technology subjects now offered.

The core issue is providing experience to youngsters at school of the fantastic range of well paid and interesting career paths in engineering. There's probably unintended bias by teaching staff to associate engineering careers as a choice for boys , not realising that it is just as suitable for girls. My experience with “career advice” at school was very negative and poor quality. I'm not sure if much has changed. It is much easier to research careers today with on line resources which should help schools provide high quality careers advice. Given that I was a budding engineer from a very early age better advice and encouragement from teachers would have greatly helped direct me sooner. I do not regret my experience as a geologist which is a wonderful science and does indeed incorporate much engineering knowledge.

There does seem to be some good role models for women in engineering if the IET magazine is to be believed. Before retiring I worked in IT with the NHS and it was about 50% female staff in IT and the culture was very inclusive in all aspects.

Possibly more opportunities for well structured work experience while at school will help bring more to the profession. I think hands on practical experience is superior to any amount of passive learning. Geology as a subject required a large element of practical field work with trips during the “holidays” taking 16 weeks during my degree studies. I suggest that other disaplines follow this example and provide much more practical experience. I studied evening classes in electronic servicing with the City and Guilds to enhance my hobby and this was very much a hands on learning experience. It resulted in working as an Avionics engineer showing there are other routes to a career in engineering. 

I think perhaps when we are younger we view learning as something you do at school or college. In fact what you learn at school or college is only the start and it is a continuous process that never stops even after retirement! In today's world there is so much choice of career path and it is daunting to decide and specialise at a young age, perhaps before we even know where our main interests and talents lie. It should be possible to have the choice of a broader science and engineering education to degree or technical equivalent level with taster options available to get hands on practical experience in various fields. 

Quite a ramble of perhaps slightly disconnected thoughts but may provide some food for thought in your quest.

Cheers Andy