Siemens

Graduate jobs explained

In previous years, Siemens has taken on approximately 50 new graduates in the UK each year; however, in 2012, it plans to increase its graduate intake to more than 100. Graduates are taken on in either engineering or business roles, with engineering accounting for 75% of new hires, and business functions (including IT) 15%.

The company ranked 119 in the 2011 Guardian UK300 poll of the most popular recruiters with graduates.

Engineering roles

There are a range of different engineering roles available at Siemens, though actual vacancies will depend on business needs. Programmes can last between 18 months and 2 years, depending on the division.

There are 4 main business units in which engineering graduates may be based:

Energy: this includes transmission and distribution, industrial turbomachinery, renewables, and energy services, fossil/renewables.

Healthcare: this includes Siemens Magnet Technology (SMT), which produces superconducting magnets for use in medical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Industry: options for graduates include industry automation and drive technologies, motion control and Siemens VAI metals technologies.

Infrastructure and cities: this is comprised of building technologies, metering services and mobility (transport) solutions.

Within these divisions, there are various different engineering disciplines. These include:

• Aeronautical - based in energy, industry or infrastructure and cities
• Chemical, process and chemistry - based in industry
• Computer science - based in healthcare or infrastructure and cities
• Electrical - based in energy, healthcare, industry or infrastructure and cities
• Electronics - based in energy, healthcare, industry or infrastructure and cities
• Manufacturing - based in energy, healthcare or industry
• Materials - in energy or industry
• Mechanical - based in energy, healthcare, industry or infrastructure and cities
• Mechatronics - based in industry or infrastructure and cities
• Metallurgy - based in energy or industry
• Software - based in healthcare or infrastructure and cities
• Systems - based in energy or infrastructure and cities

Business roles

Graduates from a non-engineering background have a number of different roles open to them. These include:

• Finance and accounting - this programme lasts 2 years, and is provided in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
• IT - this programme covers all aspects of IT across the business, including consultancy, design, and project managent.
• Operations management - this role involves managing a multitude of operational areas, including human resources, budgets and supply chain.
• Project management - graduates on this programme will work closely with commercial customers to ensure projects are delivered on time and to budget.
• Sales - this programme involves building relationships with customers to ensure that all their needs are met.

Travel around the UK

Siemens has different sites around the UK, with different sectors of the business based in different locations. Some graduate positions require regular moves around the UK or other travel, though this will depend largely on the business function and the needs of the individual programme.

Work experience explained

Each year, Siemens takes on a limited number of students who need work experience as part of a sandwich course. It has some year-long placements, which usually start in August or September, as well as shorter summer placements starting in June.

The company reportedly pays its interns, but it does not disclose any salary details. Salaries will probably depend on the role and the geographic location of the placement.

What to expect from a Siemens work placement

The exact nature of placements may vary year on year, but undergraduates roles tend to be in either business or engineering functions (similar to graduate roles). The type of work undertaken by interns will also vary depending on role and business area.

Previous interns say they were given real responsibility throughout their placement, and that they were able to work on a variety of projects and shadow a number of different people to get a broad range of experiences. International travel may also be a possibility for some, though this is not guaranteed.

Applying for a placement at Siemens

Siemens doesn’t set any specific academic criteria for applying to its internships. However, a relevant degree discipline is likely to be expected for most roles. Other, more general requirements include team working skills and communication skills; competency requirements will again vary by role.

The interview process for work experience placements varies depending on the area of the business, but most candidates can expect to attend one or two interviews.

Student sponsorship

Siemens is involved in 2 undergraduate sponsorship schemes:

Power Academy - an IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) scheme for electrical, electronic or power engineering students at one of its 7 partner universities. Students receive:

• A £2,200 annual bursary throughout their course
• An additional £220 for learning materials
• Paid summer work placements with the company
• Funding towards their university fees.

E3 Academy - a 3-to-4-year sponsorship programme for electrical engineering students studying at Bristol, Newcastle or Nottingham university. Students on this scheme get:

• A £2,500 annual bursary
• An 8-week summer internship with the company (with £1,250 per month in pay)
• One third of their university fees paid over the period of sponsorship.

Training and development

Training can vary significantly across different areas of the business, but the company has devised a broad three-tier training programme for new graduate recruits that applies to everyone.

1. Local development plan. Discussed between employees and line managers, it sets goals to aim for in current roles.
2. Professional development plan. In contrast, this looks forward covering career-specific training to get chartered status from a relevant professional body. Bodies that accredit Siemens staff include the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development ( CIPD).
3. Graduate development programme. This is a two-year programme for all graduates. It concentrates on developing soft business skills such as communication and effective team working. It also gives graduates an understanding of the market Siemens operates in and a grounding in how the business works financially.

Supporting engineering students

As well as training its own employees, Siemens also supports the training of engineering students; it was a key partner on the University of Lincoln's new school of engineering, which opened in autumn 2011. The company helped plan the new school and its course structure, and also contributed some equipment from its own local operations.