Having been started my career after Graduation going straight into the business world without joining a Graduate scheme, I would say that it was challenging especially if you have not taken a course where you can take a year off to work in your field during your studies as part of your Degree. However, I enjoyed every minute of it because I always want to try difficult tasks, simplify them and conquer them!
You join a team and as a member of the team they expect you to start contributing from day one, and blend in the business world essentially on your own in most cases. I was asked to present to the top management team within a week when I joined a major Telecommunications company. I loved it! I did not enjoy all the departments the same but I got a very good idea of what I was interested in and not.
After the first year I was selected to be in a top management team’s initiative about a “Fast Track Leadership Development “Program which enabled me to work for a specified period of time in my pre-selected Departments within the organisation.
Joining a Graduate Scheme provides you with a structured way to enter into the Business world which is beneficial for both you and the company. In the majority of Graduate Schemes and especially in large corporations, you are given the opportunity to join for a specified period of time different departments and see which one suits you best by identifying your attributes, your qualities, what makes you tick, your personal strengths and capabilities.
I think that if you get a chance to join a well designed and structured Graduate Scheme that will allow you to see the different parts of a large organisation, it is worth it. The experience you will acquire, the professional network you will build and the knowledge of how your role fits in the organisation will be invaluable. Plus you will be doing all this in kind of “Safe Environment” as part of the Graduate Scheme rather than the real life.
However, if you join a relatively small organisation then I think you will probably be a Direct Entry.
The above comments are based on the many years experience that I have been serving as a Group HR Director among other executive positions since my Graduation as an Engineer and a Scientist many years back.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me, I would be happy to help.
Really glad to see that you managed to join after all!
May I ask where abouts you are based? It's just that I am planning on running some coding courses for children aged 7 - 17 (here in Stevenage), via the Coder Dojo initiative and wondered if this would be something that you would be interested in getting involve in. The classes will run on a Saturday, for 3 hours from March this year. I understand that you may want to keep your weekends free but I thought that I would let you know, just in case.
I’m Sally, I'm based in Norwich, and my company runs the UK Device Developers’ Conference – which is a smallish but friendly and professional annual technology event for embedded systems engineers, and technical managers.
I’ve joined the IET Communities as a means to spread the word about the conference to as many embedded systems engineers as possible - we would really like to get some more women-engineers to the event if we can.
The topics are around software, programming, hardware, debugging, enclosure, manufacturing and testing. It’s a one-day event, but we run it in 4 different locations around the UK to enable engineers to get to it more easily. This year we are in Reading on 12th May, Cambridge on 14th May, Warrington on 2nd June, and Uphall (Scotland, not Essex!) on 4th June.
The event comprises two streams of 40-minute technical presentations running throughout the day, plus a number of ½ -day workshops in various specialisms, a vendor exhibition, and lunch/refreshments throughout the day. We strive to put on really good quality technical content, and it’s a chance to meet with industry experts working in the field on the latest technologies. The event, including the technical presentations, lunch and refreshments, is FREE to delegates, although there is a small charge for the ½ day workshops.
It takes place in May and June each year and you haven't attended previously then you can find more information, and a link to the conference website via my profile page. You need to register via the website to reserve your free place, so we can organise catering and space, and you do need to book the ½-day workshops in advance - but there is no need to pre-book the technical presentations – you can wander between them at will on the day.
So, I hope to be posting the occasional discussion /event in over the next few weeks - and then I shall leave you in peace until next year!
Also, I meant to add that if you have any ideas for technologies you would like to see covered, then please let me know - and we would really like to get some women-speakers at our event, but so far we have not succeeded. We do have one speaking slot left at the Scottish event, and there might also be one at Warrington, so if you have a really interesting technology that you think would make a good presentation to fellow engineers, do get in touch sooner rather than later. Or I can put it on the list for 2016. Sally.
I've recently re-joined the IET after a break from my career to have my second child. Prior to that I have been a member and CEng for over 15 years. I am an IT and Telecoms consultant working at British Telecom Adastral Park in Ipswich on various exciting projects from early beta test of voice over IP technology, paving the way for real time video and multimedia over IP today, to emerging superfast broadband technologies and mobile apps today. I am a STEM ambassador, passionate about getting young women into engineering.
My name is Stephanie and I am a graduate mechanical engineer living in London. Studied Motorsport Engineering at uni and would love to try to do some promotion of women in engineering! I look forward to speaking to other engineers!!
Great to see so many new introductions! We have just over 1,400 members in our Women's Network giving you the perfect opportunity to network and connect with others!
Neeharika, you are more than welcome. I am glad that you have joined the network and will find it useful.
If anybody want to start off a new discussion, feel free :)
Hello All.. My name is Natalie. I am originally from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean (yes I know!!) and moved to the UK 5 years ago to do an MSc in Electrical Engineering. I work for Centrica Storage for the last 4 years in East Yorkshire and I am currently the Onshore Asset Electrical Maintenance Engineer. I have not been as proactive with the womens network as I should, I blame it on too much traveling, work and writing up my CEng application which hopefully I'll submit in the next month or two. Anyways, I would like to meet up with any one in the area for a coffee or such likes. Looking forward to meeting you gals!
