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By: Dominic Donaldson

In recent years there has been a shortage of highly qualified engineers available to fill positions in expanding companies, and an even bigger lack in qualified consultants in the industry. This has prompted a rise in courses on offer from Universities to applicants who have successfully worked their way through college and want to enter the world of engineering consultancy. Before such a position can be attained however, the studious individual will have to gain spe******t knowledge in a chosen area, and experience the relevant working environment to fully appreciate the intricacies involved in such a discipline.

The role of an engineering consultant is many and varied and offers an opportunity to work in just about any sector that is of interest. Deciding to undertake a degree in engineering is the first step towards becoming an engineering consultant, and as the course progresses you will become more attuned to a discipline within engineering to which you are suited. Typically, university courses offer progression within mechanical, aeronautical, construction, chemical, automotive, electrical, environmental, naval and nuclear engineering programmes.

As can be expected, many of these disciplines cross over, which only adds to the wealth of information that could be called upon once a qualification has been attained. The working world of the engineering consultant can involve working independently for a consulting company, research department within an educational environment or being a consultant in a spe******t department within a company. Becoming a chartered engineer will enable an engineering consultant to work on some of the world's most famed engineering projects.

Being a consultant requires excellent communication skills as well as outstanding technical skills. The job often requires a large proportion of project management, which means liaising with many people from different companies and within many departments. Managerial skills are essential as each job will require appointing teams to work on the project and managing contractors. The key feature of the job is to amalgamate a wide variety of skills successfully and demonstrate the ability to differentiate between vital and trivial aspects of the job and prioritise accordingly.

A career in Engineering Consultancy can be a rewarding and challenging experience, and can involve travelling around the world to work on international projects. The successful consultant will find that their skills are in demand worldwide, and that there are no limits to the type of work on offer. Some projects for example could involve designing, testing and constructing a geothermal power plant.

Although many years of study go into becoming qualified as an engineering consultant, it cannot be ignored that experience on the job is priceless. With each new contract, the consultant learns from successes as well as failings to build up practical experience that cannot be superseded by textbook knowledge. After a few years working in the engineering industry, a consultant could expect to see a salary hike from around 20000 GBP to 50000 GBP if they have attained a Chartership through further study with combined work experience.

The consultant will be expected to be able to advise on the correct procedure from start to finish, and problem solve from beginning to end too. Being able to perceive the bigger picture enables the consultant to coordinate the tasks that need completing to get a project finished on time. Ultimately, choosing to embark on a career as an Engineering consultant takes dedication and a focused attitude as well as a good education.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the engineering industry.
Find out more about Engineering Consultants and engineering projects at URS Corp.

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Educating Engineering Consultants