An Employer s Guide to Work Experience in. Engineering. In partnership with. Supported by. Endorsed by

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1 An Employer s Guide to Work Experience in Engineering In partnership with Supported by Endorsed by

2 Welcome to the Employers Guide Thank you so much for taking a student on work experience. We realise that it can be challenging, having to think of suitable activities for a young person to do to get the best out of their work experience. This guide is designed to give you a range of tasks and activities to use with your trainee. You can select activities from the list, or work through all the tasks within the guide. Alternatively, you may want to design your own activities for the student to carry out. Contents Market Intelligence... 2 Trainee Specification... 3 Some information you may want to give your trainee... 4 Suggested work activities for your trainee to carry out... 5 Student Tasks Student Tasks Student Tasks Problem Solving Exercise Mock Interview Exercise Mock Interview Assessment Sheet Observational Tasks A Suggested Programme Work Experience Progress Report DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP

3 Market Intelligence The engineering industry primarily deals with designing, manufacturing, installing, repairing, packaging and selling products. It offers terrific job opportunities and is of prime importance to the financial wellbeing of our country. Engineering underpins everything we do, and engineering is intrinsic to every aspect of our lives. Emphasis on ensuring that products are safe for use in the proposed market is of paramount importance. The industry employs people with various skill levels including apprentices and trainees, operatives, skilled craftspeople, technicians and professionals. The following are a selection of the different jobs within the sector: Electronic engineering is concerned with the design and manufacturing of electronic devices such as computers and its accessories. Civil engineering focuses on activities like the design, planning, construction or manufacturing of structures such as bridges and mobile phone masts. Chemical engineering focuses on the design, construction and operation of plants and machinery for chemical products like drugs, synthetic rubber and plastic. Electrical engineering mostly deals with engineering activities like manufacturing of devices for the generation of electricity or designing devices for transmission of electricity and power plants. Mechanical engineering specifically deals with machinery for the manufacturing and production sectors. This can cover household products as well as industrial manufacturing. Aeronautical engineering is concerned with designing of aircraft and missiles. Construction engineering deals with the construction of large building such as hospitals, schools and airports. Medical engineering focuses on the design and manufacture of medical instruments, aids and machinery and includes X-Ray, MRI and CT scanning machinery. Mining engineering deals with the design and operation of mining machinery. Motor vehicle engineering deals with the design, build and servicing of cars, lorries and buses. Agricultural engineering deals with the design, build and servicing of farm machinery. Many people in the industry work a 37-hour week but on major projects working hours are longer, including weekends. Working conditions vary from office-based roles to on-site work, which can be outside in all weathers. Engineering is a huge sector employing millions of people and because engineering is so wide and diverse, no specific figures are available because it is included in several different sectors of employment. DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 2

4 Trainee Specification For this placement applicants should: Be interested and motivated towards a career in engineering. Be well presented and well mannered. Have good projected GCSE or A Level Grades in Math s and English Alternatively, you may have achieved a vocational award in this area of work. The personal qualities required are: A good attendance record at school. An interest in the environment. Being hard working, with good communication and interpersonal skills (which are essential attributes for working as part of a team). To be able to show an appreciation of business and finance. There many types of jobs in engineering and each sector will require additional personal qualities and skills. DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 3

5 Some information you may want to give your trainee Information Information Initial induction and history of the business How the business is structured Culture and ethos of the business and the image they want to present to the general public How staff present themselves to their co-workers and the general public Types of jobs within the business/industry Look at basic Health and Safety rules - get them to read H & S documents Corporate information and training manuals - get them to read company documents Common hazards and accident reporting Careers options and opportunities and the skills and attributes that are required How to avoid accidents - safe working practices Work patterns How to use safety wear and equipment How to use measuring instruments How to lift and carry things Reading drawings and illustrations How to follow quality control procedures Using CAD How to store and stack materials and equipment Using IT How to follow quality control procedures Marketing strategy, or business to business retail/commissioning Dealing with production problems Or alternatively, look at the portfolio of refurbishment jobs which are in the pipeline Control regulations and good practice Working with hand tools and machinery Assisting with servicing and repairs or doing a practical task which uses some of the skills associated with the business DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 4

6 Suggested work activities for your trainee to carry out ü Please tick the tasks you have selected Work Tasks ü Work Skills ü Key Skills ü Enforcing a strict punctuality requirement Wearing protective clothing and footwear Negotiating your work experience programme Promoting reliability and responsibility Understanding the need for a specialised dress code Showing a positive attitude at work Developing personal qualities and work skills Following instructions from supervisor Taking part in discussions with colleagues and your supervisor Helping other staff Being flexible Showing initiative through team work Welcoming and greeting visitors and customers Demonstrating a welcoming attitude Communication and interpersonal skills Tidying and cleaning work areas Preparing, clearing work areas Understanding how Health and Safety reflects on the professionalism of the business Carry out simple practical tasks Using equipment safely Understanding safe working practices Site visit Reading plans and interpreting models Making sure that everyone follows health and safety rules Reading drawings and information Reading information and following instructions Numeric - scheduling work and checking progress plans Speaking clearly and answering the telephone Having professional conversations with clients Communication and interpersonal skills Taking telephone messages Following procedures Following instructions from supervisor Using data bases and other IT software Following business systems Using ICT and CAD Providing counter service Using point of service and sale tills Speaking clearly and politely to clients Reading and understanding numerical data Developing customer service skills Using IT skills in business and service industries Numeric skills Using measuring instruments Working with equipment How the garage/site/workshop is laid out Working on the engineering process and planning work: Pollution control Site waste planning Keeping work area clean and safe Working on the construction process and planning work: Health and safety files Design phase plan Requisition of materials Working on the construction/manufacturing process and planning work: Programming the works Risk Assessment Evaluating the use of IT DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 5

7 Student Tasks 1 Give two major hazards which can commonly occur in the work area? Comments: What safe working practices can be used to help prevent the hazards that you have listed What safety equipment are you expected to use, and how is it expected to protect you? What equipment have you been instructed not to use? What must you do in the event of an accident? Employer s own unique task: Employer s own unique task: DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 6

8 Student Tasks 2 Where is the fire extinguisher located? Comments: Where is the nearest fire alarm point? What should you do in the event of a fire? Who is responsible for first aid? Where is the first aid box located? Employer s own unique task: Employer s own unique task: DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 7

9 Student Tasks 3 Look at each of the statements and decide what you would do if this happened on your placement A work colleague is looking unwell and trying not to show it. Comments: A small amount of engineering material has fallen on to the floor. You see a large piece of equipment overhanging the shelf in the store room. A customer has made a complaint and is getting quite agitated. A piece of equipment is making a strange noise. Employer s own unique task: Employer s own unique task: DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 8

10 Problem Solving Exercise: 4 What do you think can be done to improve our business? Please include any creative ideas that you have for generating new business, or improving the way we work. You can also include drawings, plans, and publicity materials to present your work. A Brief Outline: DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 9

11 Mock Interview Exercise: 5 This is an optional exercise to give the student an experience of having an interview with a knowledgeable supervisor. Arranging to interview students prior to work experience allows you to satisfy yourself that the student is mature enough to be allowed into your working environment and has an interest in what you do. It enables you to risk assess and design tasks suited to the needs of the individual student. Specific Why do you want to work in this part of engineering? What do you like most about this type of work? What qualities do you think will be required for this category of work? Why do you want to work here? What can you contribute to the business? Which subjects are you studying and what are your projected grades? General Tell me about yourself. How would you describe yourself? What is your greatest weakness? How would a friend describe you? What are your career goals? How long do you think the training/apprenticeship/ time serving is for this job? Skills Based Describe a situation where you had to overcome an obstacle or problem in order to move forward - what did you do? Describe a situation where you worked as part of a team? What sort of experience of work have you had, and how might that be useful in this job? DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 10

12 Mock Interview Assessment Sheet 6 Student... Punctuality on placement Early to work On time Late Late with good explanation Appearance Well dressed Suitable More care needed Unsuitable Manner Over confident Confident Nervous Very nervous Attitude Over friendly Friendly Too casual Sullen or uninterested Answering questions Talked too much Answered well Response varied Limited response Asking questions Asked appropriate questions Asked inappropriate questions Asked too many questions Didn t ask any questions Overall impression Performed very well Performed well Performed satisfactorily Needs more practice DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 11

13 A Suggested Programme Monday to Friday Day Session - Morning Session - Afternoon Objectives - the student will understand and experience Monday Pre-induction planning Induction at the business Talk on the Company and customer service Tour of site/office Career structure Practical Session - read Health and Safety notices Practical tasks - introductory activities Student Task 1 Induction to the business Health and Safety induction Practical tasks Tuesday Students to be allocated a supervisor or mentor Practical activities working alongside a mentor. Practical tasks - introductory activities Practical activities working alongside a mentor. Introduction and appreciation of safe working practices Practical and theory tasks Student Tasks 2 and 3 Wednesday Practical session working alongside mentor and allocated staff or an alternative site visit Practical session working alongside mentor and allocated staff Problem solving Task 4 A range of work tasks Problem solving exercise Thursday Practical session working alongside mentor and allocated staff or an alternative site visit. Practical session working alongside mentor and allocated staff Mock interview 5 A range of work tasks Mock interviews Friday Practical session working alongside mentor and allocated staff Practical session working alongside mentor and allocated staff Practical tasks Observational task Programme Evaluation Evaluation Note: employers may wish to have a Shared Work Experience where two employers share the placement; for example an electrical engineer may take a young person for two days and a mechanical engineer for three days. If you wish to explore this type of provision, there is a case study of a shared placement on our website. DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 12

14 Work Experience Progress Report To be completed by the work place supervisor Progress report for... Dates Targets and Objectives - the student will understand and experience Indicate if - Achieved Partly Achieved Not Achieved Comments Practical Session - Read Health and Safety notices Practical tasks - introductory activities Achieved Partly Achieved Not Achieved Student Task 1 Practical tasks - introductory activities Practical activities working alongside a mentor. Achieved Partly Achieved Not Achieved Student Tasks 2 and 3 Practical Session - working alongside mentor and allocated staff Problem solving task 4 Achieved Partly Achieved Not Achieved Practical Session - working alongside mentor and allocated staff Mock interview 5 Achieved Partly Achieved Not Achieved Practical Session - working alongside mentor and allocated staff Evaluation Overall Result: Achieved Partly Achieved Not Achieved Work Place Supervisor Comments: Signature... DEVON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP 13

15 quality standard for information For further details please contact: Devon Education Business Partnership 4th Floor Queens House, Little Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3LJ Tel: Fax: Devon Education Business Partnership actively safeguards and promotes the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All employees and volunteers are required to share this commitment. advice and guidance services approved by the matrix Accreditation Body Devon Education Business Partnership is managed by Careers South West Ltd. EGEngv Careers South West Ltd 2012