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60 Second Interview: Engineer
"I wish I'd known that being a woman in engineering is not nearly as daunting as you would imagine it to be", says Natalie. Women make up less than one in ten people in engineering, yet they bring unique skills and a different perspective to the industry – and 84% are happy with their career choice, too.
To celebrate this week's Women in Engineering Day, Natalie tells us why she loves her job, from the work itself to the culture and the environment – and why you shouldn't let your gender put you off.
Name: Natalie Khangura
Company: Bradbury Group Ltd
Industry: Engineering, Manufacturing and industry
What is your job? R&D Prototype Engineer
How long have you been doing this job? I have been working at Bradbury since May 2014
Qualifications: Level 3 extended diploma in engineering: welding and fabrication
1. What was your very first job
My very first job was working as a till assistant for Home Bargains to make a bit of money between school and college
2. What did you want to do when you were at school?
When I was at school I wanted to be a dress maker. I chose textiles as one of my subjects in Year 9, and it’s still a hobby I enjoy today.
3. How did you find out about the industry?
My dad has always worked for the steelworks in Scunthorpe. When he came home, I would always ask what he had been doing during his day at work, and he would tell me all about welding, fabricating, and fixing machines, which absolutely fascinated me.
4. How did you get there?
When I finished school, I had a few spare months before starting college. At this point I had decided that I had a passion for engineering, which led me to asking my dad if I could take part in some work experience with a friend of his, who is self-employed.
Luckily, his friend agreed that I could work with him a couple of times a week. Under his guidance, I quickly gained skills in welding, oxy-fuel gas cutting, lathe turning and general workshop activities.
When summer came to an end, I went on to North Lindsey College to do a course in welding and fabrication whilst working part-time at McDonald’s. Once I had completed my welding course, I went full-time at McDonald’s until I could find a job in engineering.
I applied for a job with the Bradbury Group, and within a few months, I was fortunate enough to be enrolled onto the Bradbury Engineering Academy scheme. This gave me the opportunity to earn a level 3 diploma in engineering and an NVQ level 3 for engineering technicians, and I’ve been with Bradbury since earning my qualifications.
5. What is a typical day like?
My typical day at Bradbury consists of planning the team’s work load in the morning and deciding who will be taking part in each task.
The company manufactures steel security doors for an array of different companies and purposes – from prisons and hospitals to regular entrance doors. We have a set amount of doors that we must complete every day, and I coordinate a team of five people, including myself, to get these jobs done on time.
Throughout the day, it’s my job to ensure that we’re working in accordance with all health and safety regulations, and once each job is complete, it’s also my responsibility to fill out a check sheet to ensure that we have met all of the specified criteria to a high standard.
6. What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is that I am always busy doing work I enjoy. This helps me produce my best work, which keeps our customers happy and the company going.
The work environment is great as well – everyone is very friendly and funny, which helps make the work day more enjoyable!
It also makes me proud to know that six years ago I set myself a goal to be working within a thriving engineering environment, and that I’m doing that today due to the hard work I’ve put in through the years.
7. What is the most challenging thing about your job?
We’re always working to very tight deadlines, which adds a lot of pressure to the job. We need to produce consistently high-quality work at a fast pace, which is a big challenge, but this is what keeps customers coming back to us.
However, by working together as a team we get a lot more done than we would working separately, so teamwork is a priority in our business. Of course, sometimes human error cannot be helped and you will learn from your mistakes.
8. What advice do you have for people who want to do what you do?
For anyone who is thinking about joining an engineering environment, I'd say go for it! Engineering gives you so many different opportunities; you could specialise in electrical, mechanical, aeronautical, civil, theoretical or practical engineering, just to name a few. Even if you pick one and decide it's not for you, you will always have opportunity to join a different sector, making it a great career path for anyone interested in solving problems and working with their hands.
9. What things do you wish you’d known before starting your career?
I wish I'd known that being a woman in engineering is not nearly as daunting as you would imagine it to be. Once you take the plunge of getting yourself out there into the environment, you will be kicking yourself for not doing it sooner!
10. Where would you like to be in five years?
In five years' time, I would like to be working towards a managerial role where I am in charge of a whole production team. I haven't decided whether this would be office or workshop based, as I have business administration and engineering design qualifications alongside my practical experience, leaving the door open to either route.
Hear from Tara, another female engineer who has gone from strength to strength in her career – and who certainly doesn't see being a woman in engineering as a barrier to success.
