Architectural Engineering CAREER INSIGHT
LJMU CAREERS TEAM 0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk
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Career Insight: BEng/MEng Architectural Engineering
Introduction A career in Architectural Engineering enables you to apply your problem solving, engineering, design and maths skills to enable structures and buildings to be built. Building up contacts and networking will be an important step to gaining work experience so it is recommended that students research their career options including relevant employers early on in your course. Your course will include the option of undertaking a year out placement and also make use of the summer break to gain experience. You should consider setting up a LinkedIn profile and following relevant organisations and jobs boards through Twitter. Many employers use social media to post work experience opportunities so take advantage of using the sites to help you make links and find out more about what opportunities are out there.
Career options: Architectural Engineer Architectural engineers apply engineering principles to the planning, design and construction of buildings and other structures. It can encompass elements of other disciplines, including mechanical and electrical engineering and building services engineering. Architectural engineers work with architects, other engineers and other construction professionals to design, construct, and maintain buildings. They need to be technically competent and practical in outlook, but also good communicators as they give advice to a wide range of people. Their responsibilities can vary, from focusing on specific issues such as making sure a structure can withstand extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, to ensuring buildings are as energy efficient as possible. You will develop a number of practical key skills that will make you an attractive prospect to employers, such as:
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The ability to solve problems with a logical and practical approach Analytical and Design skills A sound knowledge of structural engineering principles. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral and the ability to build and maintain relationships with other professionals, clients, etc. Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work to deadlines Good leadership skills and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team Sustainability awareness;
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Career Insight: BEng/MEng Architectural Engineering
MEng students will undertake a fourth year of study and focus on a ‘real life’ design project. This course also satisfies the educational requirements to become a Chartered Engineer whilst students completing a BEng are required to undertake further study to reach this status. When researching possible employers it is worthwhile exploring if they require applicants to be studying for a MEng or if a BEng is acceptable. There may be opportunities for BEng students to move on to the MEng programme if certain academic standards are met. Upon completion of your course it is expected that you will undertake roles with large, multi-national organisations, engineering consultancies, architectural practices and the public sector. Examples of possible job roles include:
Architectural Engineer Architectural consultant Structural Engineer Building Services Engineer Civil Engineer Design and Sustainability Engineer Geotechnical Engineer Project Engineer
The suggestions listed above are by no means exhaustive, so we would encourage you to consider possible options before you complete your studies, e.g. based on previous work or voluntary experience, skills and interests. The majority of students studying vocational courses such as Architectural Engineering will naturally enter the roles above. However, Engineering graduates are in high demand in other sectors due to their analytical and problem-solving skills and it is estimated that approximately two-thirds of graduate jobs or open to all graduates regardless of course of study. Other opportunities within the construction sector include Facilities Management and Project Management. To explore job options by sector, check www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm.You can also use career planning tools like www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects_planner_login.htm and http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-report to generate initial career ideas.
Possible employers Private construction firms and contractors, for example:
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AECOM: www.aecom.com Parsons Brinckerhoff: www.pbworld.com/ Ramboll : www.ramboll.co.uk/careers CH2MHill: www.careers.ch2m.com/ Atkins - www.atkinsglobal.com/graduates AECOM - www.aecom.com/Careers Mott MacDonald - www.mottmac.com
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Career Insight: BEng/MEng Architectural Engineering
Mace – www.macegroup.com Fluor – www.fluor.com/uk Arup - www.arup.com/careers Laing O’Rourke - www.laingorourke.com/Careers BAM Nuttall - www.bamnuttall.co.uk/careers.html Babcock International - www.babcockinternational.com/careers/ AMEC - www.amec.com/careers URS - www.urs.com/uki/careers Architectural practices – see the RIBA website to search for practices
Ensure you check entry requirements for each employer - Is any specific work experience required? Is there a minimum number of UCAS points required? Do I have to be on target for a 2:1? Will I be able to re-locate to another city? Is a MEng required? Useful links/websites
School of the Built Environment job website - https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/blt/ LJMU My Jobs & Placements website - http://ljmu.prospects.ac.uk/ Gradcracker – Engineering and Construction – www.gradcracker.com Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) – www.cibse.org The Institution of Structural Engineers - www.istructe.org Bromak (Construction Recruitment Agency) - www.bromak.com Careers in Construction – Jobs and careers information www.careersinconstruction.com/ RIBA: www.architecture.com Construction News – keep up-to-date with sector news - www.cnplus.co.uk Prospects – Careers information and graduate jobs – www.prospects.ac.uk TargetJobs - Careers information and graduate jobs – www.targetjobs.co.uk Milkround – graduate jobs, placements & internships - www.milkround.com
Follow relevant companies/websites through Twitter: @LJMUCareers @IStructE
@gradcracker @RIBAjobs
@CIBSE @AByrneLJMU
Sources of work experience As part of your studies you will have the opportunity to complete a work placement. Gaining work experience in the construction sector is really important for your future career so you should definitely consider this option. Many of the large recruiters have summer and year-long placement opportunities available to those on degree programmes, which are usually advertised through websites such as Prospects, Targetjobs, Milkround and Gradcracker.
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Career Insight: BEng/MEng Architectural Engineering
The websites listed previously should be your first port of call when researching possible placement opportunities and your Careers Adviser, Andy Byrne, may have additional examples of possible employers who offer these opportunities. Some large employers will offer summer or sandwich placements year after year but you can also secure work experience through a more creative approach. Contacting companies directly through networking events, via email or through LinkedIn may lead to work experience. The School of the Built Environment has a specific member of staff (Angela Clarke) to support students in securing a year-out placement, and jobs are placed on https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/blt/ When contacting companies directly through networking events, via email or through LinkedIn, it is important to demonstrate that you are interested in the company and have spent some time researching what they do. Even when applying to secure work experience for the first time in this industry, show the employer what you have to offer. Briefly outline the relevance of your course. Look at the skills outlined above and try to discuss these in your CV, drawing on examples from your course and other work experience or extra-curricular activities to demonstrate these skills. LJMU has also been facilitating a summer internship programme for Level 5 students in recent years, so keep an eye on your LJMU inbox in semester 2 for details of any opportunities. Applications for summer internships or year-long placements with large employers are very competitive, so involvement in extracurricular activities, voluntary work or previous work experience can give you the edge over other candidates. It’s never too early to start getting involved in clubs and societies or to gain work experience, so start exploring relevant options early on in your studies. Useful websites to research a range of voluntary opportunities include www.do-it.org.uk/ and www.liverpoolsu.com/main-menu/get-involved/boost-skills-volunteer/volunteering-inthe-community. You could also contact LJMU Volunteering Manager Chris Prescott on 0151 904 6356 or c.j.prescott@ljmu.ac.uk to enquire about current opportunities. It is also worth researching relevant organisations/charities and contacting them directly to find out about voluntary roles on offer. Employers look for candidates with a range of experience and achievements. Download our mini-guide on “Making yourself employable whilst at University” from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/Careers/123871.htm for an overview of the different types of work experience available and some general suggestions about finding work experience opportunities.
Recruitment schedules A number of graduate training schemes, summer placement and 12 month placements may be available with large companies, such as Mott MacDonald and AECOM. If you are interested in these roles you will need to be aware of the graduate recruitment cycle. Many recruiters begin the graduate recruitment process during the autumn term for final year students. Some placements are advertised then as well. Closing dates can be as early as
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Career Insight: BEng/MEng Architectural Engineering
November and December so it is important to start researching companies that you want to apply to early on. However, a number of large recruiters will continue to recruit throughout the year especially for roles that are in high demand such as architectural or building services engineering. You can get advice about the recruitment process and feedback on your applications by booking a one-to-one appointment with a Careers or Employability Adviser in the Byrom Street Careers Zone.
Key events and networking
The School of the Built Environment Careers Fair : Takes place annually in October Liverpool Careers Fair: usually held in the autumn and spring of each year, see fairs website www.liverpoolfairs.org.uk/ for additional events Careers and Employability events at LJMU: Keep an eye on our events pages at https://worldofwork.ljmu.ac.uk/events for details of upcoming employability workshops, networking sessions and employer talks. Manchester Careers Fairs: open to students and graduates from any university; check www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/events/ for details LiverpoolSU Clubs and Societies: http://ljmu.unioncloud.org/groups#club-society LinkedIn: You could also consider setting up a LinkedIn account (www.linkedin.com/) to network online with professionals and organisations in your chosen industry
Other information LJMU Centre for Entrepreneurship – Support for LJMU students and graduates interested in starting up their own business. Further details can be found here: https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/startup including funding available, eligibility, timescales and training dates.
Careers Zones Campus-based Careers Zones provide easy access to careers support in convenient locations at Byrom Street, Aldham Robarts Library and at IM Marsh, staffed by the Careers Team. Support available includes CV and application form reviews, Careers Adviser appointments, drop-in quick queries, practice interviews and access to careers resources and information. The Zones also host regular employer visits during term time where you can meet and network with employers and discuss job and placement opportunities. For the latest updates and details of locations and opening times, try our Twitter and Facebook pages or call 0151 231 2048/3719.
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© 2018. Liverpool John Moores University. The content of this document is copyright material of Liverpool John Moores University. No part of this document may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission of the copyright owner.
Career Insight: BEng/MEng Architectural Engineering
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Š 2018. Liverpool John Moores University. The content of this document is copyright material of Liverpool John Moores University. No part of this document may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission of the copyright owner.
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