Tips to secure a graduate engineering role.
Securing an engineering position in a graduate engineering program can be challenging. Here are our tips for doing just that.
Completing a degree is a significant milestone in any graduate's life. The next step after graduation, finding the right job, can be daunting for them.
As many as 80% of engineering graduates were in full-time employment in 2020 and 2021, so graduates typically have a high success rate when trying to secure a role. However, that doesn’t mean graduates should be passive in their search for a graduate engineering position.
In this article, we explore the ins and outs of the graduate engineering job market and provide tips for securing a graduate engineering role.
Typical opportunities for engineering graduates.
One of the most important things graduates should consider when looking for employment opportunities is knowing precisely what they want and what interests them in a graduate engineering role.
This will mostly be determined by what they studied at university, especially if they specialised in a particular area with a certain career path in mind. If you’re looking for a graduate engineering role, you’ll typically find a graduate role if you have a degree or major in:
Civil engineering
Structural engineering
Environmental engineering
Electrical and electronics engineering
Mechanical and plant engineering
Material engineering
Mining engineering
Graduates benefit from a wide range of roles and potentially lucrative positions for both male and female graduates. The 2021 GOS National Report states that engineering graduates are amongst the top five highest-paid graduates, with an average salary of $70,000 in Australia.
Typical graduate roles you can look for.
Here are some examples of graduate roles you can explore when looking for an engineering job:
Graduate civil engineering jobs
Graduate mechanical engineering jobs
Junior project engineers
Graduate electrical engineer
Graduate software engineer
Graduate structural engineer
Apprentice engineer
Graduate manufacturing engineer
And many more!
If you’re interested in engineering as an industry and have an engineering degree, but you’re not certain you’re ready to become an engineer in any discipline, you can also pursue several opportunities in engineering-related customer service roles, technical sales, project executives, and many more.
Tips for securing a graduate engineering position after graduation.
Here are some of the most valuable tips for securing a graduate position in engineering industries:
Start searching early.
One of the most important things to factor into your graduate engineering job search is to know when you’re eligible and starting early.
Graduates are eligible for a graduate role as soon as they’ve completed a recognised engineering course. Some businesses will let graduates register for a program if they’re in their final year of study, so it’s beneficial to research potential employers early on.
Searching early is also imperative, as the graduate engineering market is competitive. As many as 10,000 domestic graduates receive an engineering degree each year, so it's beneficial to start searching and registering early with employers to avoid disappointment.
Contact a recruiter.
Contacting a recruiter is a proactive approach to finding a graduate role in engineering.
At Recruitmark, we understand the value a recruiting business partner can have for graduates, reaching out to them if we feel they are right for a particular business or role.
With such a wide range of contacts in mining, engineering, energy and renewables, we make it even easier to connect fresh graduates with well-paid engineering graduate positions.
Create a specific resume for graduate engineering positions.
A candidate’s resume is often the first thing that a potential employer sees when considering hiring them. To improve their chances of securing a role, graduates should tailor their resumes for each engineering role they apply for. Here’s what you can do if you’re a graduate:
Update your professional summary to include interests in engineering
Include the right engineering skills in your skills summary
Include employer-specific information in either your resume
Include information about engineering projects pursued during study, such as coursework information
Research the role and include the ideal characteristics to complete its primary duty
Use keywords from the role’s job description to pass applicant tracking systems
Make the hiring process much easier with Recruitmark.
At Recruitmark, our goal is to make the hiring process much easier for both graduates and employers, while also making sure both parties get the most out of the process.
With each business and candidate's goals being unique, we work with graduates and companies, assessing their needs and working with them to create a smooth but highly effective hiring process. By using advanced psychometrics and a data-driven recruitment process, we’re sure that we can find the perfect graduate for open positions in engineering businesses.
Whether you’re looking to secure a graduate engineering role or are an employer that wants access to the best candidates, contact a member of one of our team and start your hiring journey today.