Career Advice for a General Engineer

As a General Engineer, you will use your knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering principles to design, develop, and improve products, processes, and systems.

Quick Links

How to Become a General Engineer

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a General Engineer

Should you wish to work as a General Engineer you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a General Engineer

  • A Level in Mathematics and Physics.
  • A Degree in General Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Civil Engineering.

Key Responsibilities for a General Engineer

  • Designing and developing new products, processes, and systems.
  • Testing and evaluating products, processes, and systems to ensure they meet quality and safety standards.
  • Collaborating with other engineers and professionals to solve complex problems.
  • Managing projects and budgets to ensure timely and cost-effective completion.
  • Staying up-to-date with new technologies and industry trends.
  • Communicating technical information to non-technical stakeholders.

What to expect as a General Engineer

As a General Engineer, you could work in a variety of industries such as manufacturing, construction, energy, and transportation, or for government agencies and consulting firms.

Recommended General Engineer Jobs

Loading Jobs...

How to get General Engineer Jobs

Our advice on how to get a General Engineer job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a General Engineer application. If you have not held a General Engineer position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a General Engineer role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your General Engineer CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each General Engineer application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a General Engineer in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a General Engineer 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a General Engineer and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical General Engineer experience.

How to get General Engineer Experience

What does it take to be a General Engineer? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for General Engineer jobs. You can learn how to be a successful General Engineer through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a General Engineer Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into General Engineer part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time General Engineer or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

General Engineer freelance work

If you have impressive General Engineer qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.