Apprentice Mechanical Engineer Review

I design mechanical building services by producing calculations and then drawings. I write reports for projects at all stages of design, right from planning and feasibility to full design packages. I have to attend meetings to coordinate my designs with other engineering disciplines as well as architects and clients.

I have learnt masses of new skills. The core skills I have acquired include: AutoCAD skills, how to calculate thermal and pressure loads, selecting plant, communicating with other disciplines, and interpersonal skills. Every day I learn new aspects of design and techniques for completing a design. My colleagues make every effort to make sure I fully understand what I am doing, and don't mind when I have to ask a few questions to really grasp something.

I work with a great team, and although there are difficult days from time to time, for the most part these are offset by days where I am taught something new, and when I complete a design which has my name on it, knowing it will be built. Seeing your efforts come to fruition is the most rewarding part of the job. The company I work for has a decent training budget which can be tapped into for extra courses.

I feel a valued member of the team. When I have pushed to complete something on time it is recognised and I am thanked. I have received a bonus for my efforts this past year. After just 18 months of experience, I feel as if I can contribute to meetings and have confidence in what I am saying to others. As such, people see me as an asset to the company.

Induction into the company was streamlined and efficient. Training from college has been poor, with problems with tutors and organisation. The support I receive from management is very good. Whenever I have asked for some additional help or training they have made sure I get it. When looking for colleges to undertake my next stage of training (a HNC), I was allowed to use days I would otherwise use for work and take the pool car out to visit different ones. In terms of task delegation, I have quickly moved away from menial task by asking for more difficult tasks. If you put in the effort, you can move away from being the drawing printer to someone who can do much more than that, and will be given tasks to reflect that.

Little support. The college has been disorganised and incompetent. I am currently in a massive rush to complete a whole years work in 2 months due to delays in getting an adequate tutor.

Lots of support, as I said in 5, there are no questions asked when I say I need something.

I live at home, so what I earn more than enough to live off. To move out however, I would have to earn a lot more than what I am currently on. Working in central Birmingham, I would have to buy a flat near to the town centre, which is expensive unless you live in a dive. Saving up a deposit on the salary I am on is near impossible.

There are many opportunities to move companies if you wish, as services engineers are in massive demand. Recruiters ring up all the time.

Yes

The support I get from my company is great, plus once qualified the money is good and you are always employable.

In interviews express your willingness to learn, and that there is a trade off where you may have to do some of the more boring tasks in the office for a while, but you get top class on the job training. I would have liked to have been told more clearly what the options are after BTEC L3.