Engineering

Women in Engineering Day 2023: Challenges & Opportunities

Today is International Women in Engineering Day – a global initiative to raise awareness about the accomplishments, contributions, and challenges women face in engineering. Almost 44% of Ireland's 287,500 scientists and engineers were female in 2021 according to Eurostat. This is a little above the EU average of 41%. Despite this, female engineers are still severely underrepresented in Ireland. According to the latest figures from the Higher Education Authority from 2022, only 23% of the engineering graduates in Ireland were female. ​Why are More Women Needed in Engineering?With the growing demand for engineers in Ireland, and globally, by tapping into a broader talent pool and attracting more women to engineering, it helps bridge the skills gap and ensures a sustainable pipeline of engineering professionals for the future.​Increasing the representation of women in engineering promotes diversity and inclusion in the field. Engineering, like any other profession, benefits from having a wide range of perspectives, ideas, and experiences. Encouraging more women into the field will help to create a more balanced and inclusive work environment.​Engineering is a field that requires creative problem solving and innovation. Including more women in engineering brings fresh perspectives and approaches to tackling complex challenges. Diverse teams are more likely to develop innovative solutions and make better decisions by considering a wide range of viewpoints.​Main Barriers for Aspiring Female EngineersGender stereotypes and societal expectations often associate STEM fields with masculinity, while the lack of female representation may hinder girls’ aspirations. An unsupportive educational environment can further discourage girls from pursuing STEM. This is backed up by a CWIT study which revealed that 59% of secondary school girls still do not know enough about STEM and 22% of them believe that STEM subjects in school match ‘male careers’. This is why it is so important to encourage young girls in Ireland to embrace subjects like Maths, Science and Engineering during their school years. Providing access to STEM programmes and initiatives at an early stage of their education can play a vital role in fostering their interest in these fields. ​In Ireland there is still a need to challenge this prevailing stereotype that engineering is primarily a male dominated profession. Traditional gender stereotypes and biases can discourage women from pursuing careers in this field. Society’s perception of engineering as a male dominated sector can create a sense of exclusion and make it more challenging for aspiring female engineers to feel supported or encouraged.​The underrepresentation of women in engineering, both in academia and the industry can be demotivating for potential female engineers. Engineers’ Ireland estimates that just 12% of Irish engineers are female and there has been no increase in this figure since 2019 (CSO, 2019). The lack of visible female role models can make it harder for women to envision themselves succeeding in the field.​Unconscious bias in the recruitment and promotion processes can also limit the opportunities available to women interested in pursuing a career in engineering. Biased hiring or the perception that women may just not fit into the existing engineering culture can hinder their progression in the sector. ​Encouraging and Supporting Women in EngineeringIn 2021, Engineers Ireland launched a Women in Engineering Group to help address the industry’s gender gap. At the time, the group chair, Georgina Molloy, stated that its mission was to support women who were already in the sector and to encourage young girls to consider a career in engineering. By building a network of support, it will hopefully prevent women from leaving the profession for other more gender-balanced industries, along with enticing girls to choose to study engineering.The STEPS programme is a scheme funded by the Department of Education to promote engineering to children who may someday consider it for a future career. During STEPS Engineering week, engineering lessons will be taught in primary and secondary schools throughout Ireland. The main aim of this scheme is for those working in engineering careers to become a role model for kids who may have the right skillset to pursue engineering but may not realise the various employment opportunities the field can provide.International Women in Engineering Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the significant contribution women in the engineering sector make around the world. This day provides an opportunity to reflect on what more must be done to develop clearer pathways for women into the engineering industry. ​Breaking down barriers and encouraging young girls to enter and remain in the engineering sector is crucial. More must be done between engineering organisations, professional bodies and within the education sector to support the female talent within the industry.​Advice for Aspiring Female EngineersPursue a passion: Choose a field of engineering that truly interests you. Follow your passion and focus on developing your skills and knowledge in this area.​Education is crucial in engineering. Ensure you have a solid foundation by pursuing relevant courses, degrees, and certifications. Take advantages of opportunities for internships, placements, or apprenticeships to gain practical hands-on experience. Engineering is a rapidly evolving field, embrace continuous learning by staying updated with latest trends, technologies, and research. Consider pursuing advanced degrees or certificates to enhance your expertise.​Seek mentorship and networking: There may be fewer female engineers out there but there are still some truly inspiring ones. Connect with other professionals in the field. Seek mentorship from experienced engineers who can guide you and provide valuable insights. Attend industry events, join engineering organisations, and participate in networking opportunities.​Be confident and assertive: Believe in your abilities and skills as an engineer. Express your ideas, ask questions, and contribute to discussions. Cultivate self-confidence and assertiveness as these qualities will help you succeed in a male-dominated industry.​Break barriers and challenge stereotypes: Be aware of the existing gender biases and stereotypes in engineering but don’t let them discourage or limit you. Challenge these barriers, prove your capabilities and be a role model for future generations of female engineers.​Opportunities in Engineering and Manufacturing:Commissioning EngineerLeixlip€40,000-55,000​Quality EngineerGalwayNegotiable​Quality Team LeadCork€45,000-60,000​As a female engineer in Ireland your journey may have its unique challenges but with determination, perseverance, and a supportive network, you can achieve your goals and make a significant impact in the engineering industry.Contact our Engineering and Manufacturing team at technical@sigmar.ie or on 01 4744 600.​​

Salary Guide 2023

How To Answer “What’s Your Greatest Weakness?”

The one question I am always asked when preparing a candidate for an interview is “how do I answer the weakness question?” The worst reaction you can have to this question is to say I don’t have a weakness. Everyone has a weakness and the reason the interviewer is asking this question is to see how you act outside your comfort zone. People often make the common mistake of trying to turn a negative into a positive. An example of this would be I’m a perfectionist or I work too hard. These answers are boring and show the interviewer you have put very little thought into his/her question. Also you are not actually answering the question you’re just trying to put a clever spin on it. Another mistake candidates make is being too honest. Never mention a weakness that you have if it is going to stop you from getting the job. So don’t answer “I’m lazy” or that “I’m always late” as this is not what your potential new employer wants to hear. The trick to answering this is in the same way you would answer any interview question and that’s by preparing your answer in advance. It can be very difficult to talk about your flaws in a stressful situation like an interview so make sure you spend time preparing your answer. These are a few ways to best answer the weakness question: 1. Pick a weakness that is acceptable for the jobDon’t pick a skill or requirement that is on the job spec that you don’t have and say it is your main weakness. This will only put doubt into the interviewers head. 2. Pick a weakness that you can developFor this type of answer you might think of an example where you had a weakness but developed it over the course of your time in prior employment. 3. Describe your weakness in a concise wayDon’t go into loads of detail on this question. They are asking you your weakness so be brief and don’t come across as negative. A common answer that candidates often use when asked the weakness question is on their delegation skills. Here you can mention a time when you used to have the mentality that only you could do the job but over time you realised that it was actually slowing the work down and by delegating to other staff members the job was done quicker. This answer is perfect to give but it depends on what job you are going for. If you are going for a managerial role where managing and delegating work will be part of your job description then don’t use delegating as your weakness. Every question in an interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself, so it is important you never miss a genuine opportunity and the weakness question is no different. Treat it like you would any interview questions that you find hard and prepare your answer.

Back to basics – Get your CV right!

Your CV is your sales document. Make sure to target your CV for each job you apply for. Your CV should mirror the job spec of the job you are applying for, ticking all of the requirements for the role. Create a first draftWrite all your qualifications, experience, employment history, personal history, hobbies and interests, including all relevant information under headings. Now write down everything you’ve gained personally from these experiences – skills, insights, personal growth (in paragraphs). At this stage just write as many pages as you need to get the brainstorming process done – only later on will we be concerned with cutting it down. Filter out the unimportantYou can’t tell potential employers your entire history, but you can highlight the important details for them: these will include skills, insights and abilities that you have been able to develop, as well as your academic qualifcations and what you gained from your studies and experience. Keep it conciseEliminate unnecessary details.HR departments have lots to do, so don’t make the mistake of asking them to read through an unnecessarily long CV. HR departments won’t read a lengthy CV if they are short on time, short on patience, or have a lot of CVs to wade through.Remember that there may be a pile of CVs a foot high for some positions!CV’s should be around two pages in length, although it may be longer if you have to describe a lot of relevant work experience. Even a two page CV is of no advantage if it’s full of information that isn’t reasonably applicable to the position you’re qualified or applying for. Use the space only if you need it to fully disclose your accomplishments. Include the Basic informationEven if you have entered this information into this site, you should still include it on your CV. When the recruiter makes the call to say you have been accepted, your CV is the only document he or she will hold in their hands. Make sure it at least has all your personal information such as:NameAddressTelephone NumberDate of BirthNationality, including visa and work permit statusLanguages (level for both written and verbalDriving License (if you have one) State long term objectivesWhat are your short and long term career aims and objectives? Do you have any preferences for the type of work you want to undertake? (Don’t be too restrictive. It is better to be general about your career aspirations at this stage, for example, Business Related, IT). Don’t include short term objectivesYour short-term objectives should be clearly articulated in your cover letter. If you do include objectives, be specific. Vague statements, such as “Looking to utilise my marketing skills” or “seeking a rewarding position” add nothing to a CV and may in fact make you appear insincere. Include your Employment historyAll your employment is important whether it is part-time, temporary, voluntary, vacation work or Saturday only. It should be presented in reverse chronological order, most recent first.Give dates, name of employer, job titles etc. Include your Education historyList your most recent qualifications first, including:Dates, Institution – Name of Degree Course etcDegree Classification. It is not necessary to list all the modulesyou have studiedTechnical qualificationsAchievements / Positions of Responsibility Include Hobbies / InterestsBe Positive! Use “power words” such as “developed,” “managed,” and “designed” to emphasise your accomplishments. Stick your chest out and don’t be afraid to tell people what you’ve done. Produce a well-organised professional documentYou’ll generate a better response from your curriculum vitae if it is well organised and is packed with relevant information to match and support your professional, academic or career objective. Be honest!There is a huge difference between making the most of your experience and exaggerating or falsifying it. A falsified CV can be easily spotted by a recruiter or employer (if not immediately then certainly through the interview process), and if it doesn’t prevent you from getting the job, it will cost you the job later on. Use good document layoutMake your CV easy on the eyes. Use normal margins (one inch at the top and bottom, one and a quarter inch on the sides) and don’t cram your information onto the page.Allow for some “white space” between the different sections.Avoid unusual or exotic font styles; use simple fonts with a professional look.Do not use more than two fonts throughout the entire document. If you aren’t sure of the fonts to use, try a sans-serif font like Arial or Helvetica for the headings, and a serif font such as Times Roman for the rest of the text. Put the good stuff at the startOne big mistake that job seekers often make is to list very important data in the lower sections of their job descriptions. As you compile statements for your CV, prioritise them by importance, impressiveness and relevance to the job you want. Remember that a strong statement, which uses power words and quantifies, will affect every statement under it. Re-read!Read through your CV. Ask someone else to read through your CV carefully once you are finished. When you have been working on your CV for hours, it can be difficult to spot the errors.