• Question: when studying for your job what subjects helped you in the process

    Asked by wombat to Ashwanth, Jeni, Mark, Natalie, Stephen on 14 Jun 2016. This question was also asked by Gymnast2213.
    • Photo: Jeni Spragg

      Jeni Spragg answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      For me, maths and chemistry were the most helpful subjects in understanding the technical knowledge I need for my job.

      However, I think that some of the other subjects were helpful too – for example, communication is really important, as a good engineer can explain things to all sorts of different people. So things like History and English, where I practised my writing and speaking skills, have really helped.

      What are your favourite subjects?

    • Photo: Mark Gowan

      Mark Gowan answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      Wombat
      I did Maths, Physics, Chemistry as specialist A levels, but subjects like Geography are also important. Most Universities are looking for good grades in the traditional Maths Physics and Chemistry subjects and these are important when you go to university as the teaching methods used require a good grasp of the basics.
      Another route is the vocational route as an apprentice and then do day release degree whilst you are working.

    • Photo: Natalie Wride

      Natalie Wride answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      Hi Wombat 🙂

      At A Level I studied Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Whilst I picked them because I wanted to be an Engineer, I picked them because I really enjoyed learning them 🙂 It’s really important you enjoy the subjects you pick to study – the career then comes with what you enjoy doing!

      As a Civil Engineer I’ve mainly used Maths and Physics and now I’m doing my research Further Maths has been really useful – but most Engineering degrees teach you the important bits of Further Maths you need in Engineering. I think even doing D&T at GCSE was really useful though – learning about different materials and manufacturing processes. I think now I’m a Geotechnical Engineer and examine the ground, Geography or Geology would have been really useful to study – I’m not great when it comes to all those igneous and metamorphic rocks! In fact a lot of people doing my job were originally Geologists before they became Engineers 🙂

      What are your favourite subjects?

    • Photo: Stephen Richardson

      Stephen Richardson answered on 16 Jun 2016:

      Hi Wombat,
      As the others have already said, maths and science are basically the core of engineering. But as Mark says, geography can be helpful and there are other subjects too which can teach you useful things. So if you enjoy languages then you could combine that with maths and a science (probably physics or chemistry). Having a second language can be really useful if you fancy working overseas. But even in the UK, knowing a language helps you appreciate and understand other cultures and that could be something that sets you apart from other candidates for jobs.
      Or something like ethics and philosophy alongside the maths and science could also be really useful. Ethics is something more and more businesses are taking really seriously.

      And finally, to pick up on Mark’s point, you can become an engineer by working in an apprenticeship too – so even if you don’t enjoy learning in the way you have to at school, there are other ways to learn the skills you need.

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