Meet Ciaran, 20, from Belfast. He is doing a degree apprenticeship in London with Schneider Electric to become an electrical engineer. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
A degree apprenticeship gives you the salary, the job, and the degree.
What is your job?
My company are a huge global electrical automation company and we provide products and solutions that make buildings more efficient and eco-friendly through automation and digitisation.
My job as part of this is very technical most of the time. It's very similar to an electrician as we are on sites all across the UK, commissioning our electrical products and maintaining the automation system of a building.
Most of my day-to-day tasks involve terminating (wiring) our products and connecting them to the building management system through our smart 'internet-of-things' solution that is in most of our products.
What skills do you use in your job?
Many skills are used in my job, mainly problem solving and communication. I am constantly learning from experts all across the business as I am quite new. Communication and teamwork are definitely the most important. When some products aren't working properly, we have to problem solve, fault find and come up with a solution to fix it.
What subjects did you study at school?
I studied Chemistry, Physics, and Maths at A-level. The main subject that comes into play with electrical engineering is Physics. There is Maths in there too, because there are spreadsheets involved. I am now doing a degree apprenticeship, so I work full-time and study part-time. I am doing a degree in Integrated Engineering at the University of Lincoln.
Top tips
Repeating a year in school gave me time to think. Think about what you want for yourself. Don't just follow the status quo of ' You need to go to uni to become successful.'
If you're a hands-on learner and like to get straight into things, a degree apprenticeship will most likely suit you. Five years experience, a salary and a degree? No brainer.
What to expect if you want to be an engineer
- How many people work in the engineering sector?
- What can you earn in different roles?
- What routes can you take to get in?
- Is the demand for engineers expected to grow in the future?
Watch the film to find out the answers to these questions, and much more!
Other resources
- See what type of engineering role might suit you with the
- Find out more about the different areas of engineering with this
- Learn more about roles in engineering with the
- Discover a practical new way to study via .
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: , , and .
Find work experience placements with Workfinder.
Tips and advice
Help with interviews, writing a CV and all things work experience related.
How to become an engineer. collection
Find out more about the engineering sector and how those currently working in it got their foot in the door.
Manish: solar farm manager video
Manish manages ten solar farms across the UK.
Zoe: apprentice site engineer. video
Zoe's helping to build a London tube station.
