Future Female Engineers stood out as an opportunity to meet
like-minded students who wish to build their professional network whilst also
consulting known industry professionals within the engineering sector. The
application process for the event was simple and transparent with numerous
hints and tips on how to answer the few questions they asked during the online
form and phone interview – it was clear they wanted you to do well! All the
communication I received was prompt and encouraging with clear details
regarding the next stage and what to expect on the day.
The event ran very
smoothly, starting off with a get to know each other exercise in the personal
branding session lead by Kate Taylor– surprisingly I learnt as much about
myself as I did about the women next to me! After hearing about creating my
personal brand to stand out in the industry I had the opportunity to meet in a
small group with recruiters from the companies, who walked me through their
application processes. They were able to answer a lot of the questions we asked
and gave us useful advice about how to secure a role in the engineering sector
and the information was really useful when applying for graduate roles.
My favourite part of the day was the insider insights
networking drinks with graduates and industry professionals from the
engineering companies. They gave me an invaluable understanding of their
company’s culture, progression within their companies and how they succeeded in
acquiring their current role. One graduate even offered to help me tailor my CV
to industry expectations. This event helped me to network with some of the best
individuals from leading firms in the industry, as well as hearing how women in
the industry succeed. After the event, I was able to tailor my applications
more accurately to Arup, AECOM, and Mace who were all present on the day. I
also included the fact that I had attended Future Female Engineers in all my
applications which I felt made me stand out as an individual who is actively
seeking personal and professional development.
Following the event, I progressed onto the next stage for
all the companies I applied for, with some companies feeding back that I was
fast tracked due to attending Future Female Engineers. During my interview at
Mace I was able to talk about how the event helped me to understand the growing
expectations within the construction and engineering industry and how I, as an
individual, would be able to meet them. I built my personal brand after the
event and demonstrated this successfully during my interview.
During the final
stage at the assessment centre I used the skills I gained during the event’s
team challenge to work together with individuals to solve complex challenges
whilst remaining professional. During my individual presentation on the day, I
also used the advice given to me during the panel discussion at the event to
sell my ideas and myself to the sustainability director, resulting in me being offered a place as a Sustainability Graduate!
I would recommend the event to anyone who is considering a
career in the engineering sector, not only will you stand out in applications;
you will gain universal skills and an unrivalled opportunity to secure and
further your career.
Applications are now open for Future Female Engineers March 2018. You can apply by visiting https://targetjobs.co.uk/events/future-female-engineers
