Beng student with aspiration to become eng cadet

[warren2i]

Hello all,
First time posting here, have found some very useful information but still find myself asking questions to which i do not know the answer. I am currently completing my final year of a Beng (honors) degree in automotive engineering looking at finishing with a 1^st in June.
I am aware i have most probably missed this years cut of date for applications, so i am aiming myself for the 2013 September intake. I am set on taking the cadet ship route as i have no sea faring experience or training in relative field?s, aiming to land a job as a engine cadet with prospect to climb the ladder. Will my degree help my search for opportunity and sponsorship or will it brand me overqualified? What company are best to apply for, what to look out for, with a placement at graduation in mind.
The past 3 years whist studying i have earn't my pennies as a self employed mobile mechanic is this enough? Should i be looking at taking up some en-ritual activities, unpaid work, caring? As it appears looking through others cv's on this website have done some form of unpaid work.
In my GCSE's i obtained C?s in all subjects i have heard some company's turn away any applicants with grades of c or below or will my degree cancel this out?
Thanks in advance warren.

[saltydog]

Hi warren2i,

I must say that this site is very helpful and very complete!

Too answer your question about will your degree help, yes! Of course it will and especially being an engineering orientated one. However, what you have to remember is that you will be on the "same level" as everyone else,
you will still have to do the same work etc. Also, remember that the cadetship program is also open to 16 year olds (No offence) and they wont have the same knowledge as you so you do have a slight edge.

I applied to Clyde Marine Training and so far so good, I have done my interview etc and they are really friendly and quick to reply to my questions.

The fact that you have all C's in your GCSE's is not really a problem however not every company will take you onboard, but at the end of the day you just need to get your certification and then once you qualify the world is your
oyster!

I am only an aspiring engine cadet so I am no expert, so if there is anyone out there who can correct me if I am wrong/missed something out then please say! I hope that this helps.

[jj-1994]

Like salty here I'm actually only an aspiring cadet but from what I hear you need to hurry up for September 2013 intake as most companies are at their interview stage and arn't taking in any more applications. I could be wrong though

[warren2i]

Hi warren2i,

I must say that this site is very helpful and very complete!

Too answer your question about will your degree help, yes! Of course it will and especially being an engineering orientated one. However, what you have to remember is that you will be on the "same level" as everyone else,
you will still have to do the same work etc. Also, remember that the cadetship program is also open to 16 year olds (No offence) and they wont have the same knowledge as you so you do have a slight edge.

I applied to Clyde Marine Training and so far so good, I have done my interview etc and they are really friendly and quick to reply to my questions.

The fact that you have all C's in your GCSE's is not really a problem however not every company will take you onboard, but at the end of the day you just need to get your certification and then once you qualify the world is your
oyster!

I am only an aspiring engine cadet so I am no expert, so if there is anyone out there who can correct me if I am wrong/missed something out then please say! I hope that this helps.

thanks for the reply!
i understand that out of school applicants can apply, i was manly pondering if my degree would help or hinder my application. i was thinking about going in for the 15month program, worried i might jump in above my head as students will be mostly marine eng students and wouldnt want to fall behind or slow people down, i like to be a cut above the fold .

[saltydog]

jj-1994 is absolutely correct with that one. If I were you apply now!

No worries, Your degree will not hinder or help. I mean yes it will help obviously but at the end of the day it all comes down to the interview. You could have a 1st in Physics but you might be a nervous wreck with no common sense.

Good luck and I wish you there very best in the future.

[HarmlessWeasel]

Like everyone has said, it'll help, and get a move on with the applications!
Your C's at GCSE really shouldn't matter as far as I can tell, as you already have an engineering degree, and therefore most likely qualify for the fasttrack course. Guinessman or someone similar should be able to tell you exactly how much of a 'cut about the fold' you'll be, but I imagine you'll feel right at home.

[GuinnessMan]

Now that the aspiring cadets are done giving advice...

Is the degree you're doing solely automotive engineering or is it Mechanical? To be honest, I'm not 100% on this, but either way you may be able to do the fast-track route of the workshop skills and the sea-time. Having a degree is neither here nor there, what counts is whether you have the ability, drive and mindset to work at sea. Last time I saw the statistics (and from what things were like at our college), out of all those who start, something like 1/3 will quit the course by the time you've completed your first sea phase and another load will have been fired before you get to the next one, so you need to seriously ask yourself "is this what I really want?" because this is not for everyone and it's nothing like "Cruise Ship Diaries"....

You're GCSE's are now largely irrelevant for this as your A-Levels/degree will supersede them. The degree is good, it show that you are capable of studying to a higher level and if it is only an automotive one it will most certainly not hurt your application. Volunteer work always looks good as you gain some valuable skills from it as well as being something to put on the CV.

Speak to CMT, SSTG, Maersk and Trinity House and see what they say about your qualifications and then start getting the applications in, but make sure you are certain that this is what you want first.

[AndyK]

Now that the aspiring cadets are done giving advice...

... Legend.

[Hatchorder]

Now that the aspiring cadets are done giving advice...

You just could not help yourself could you?............

I see the week at the Army Charm school worked - "where the F**K are you going Farnsbarnes?" springs to mind - know the film?

I have to say I did think the same but I bit my tongue for once!

However you are quite right! As much as I hate to say it!

[size4riggerboots]

Am I going to have to get my stompy boots out??

[GuinnessMan]

Am I going to have to get my stompy boots out??

No, not this time! I'm behaving now and I did give fair advice!

[HarmlessWeasel]

Now that the aspiring cadets are done giving advice...

We're just too keen. Plus he knows our advice is worth what he paid for it, and it says we're incompetent numpties under our names anyway

[Chiefy]

Somthing not yet pick up on......you are NOT to late for the Sept 13 in take, but you will have to get a wiggle on, Maersk are in the sending out e-mails and thinning out process already, would expect everyone else is too....so wiggle wiggle wiggle

[orbicim]

You won't be over qualified for cadetship, however I would say you should apply for the fast track as well. It doesn't have to be related to mechanical engineering as long as it is an engineering degree, one of my mates who works for Carnival has an Electrical degree and is doing the fast track for mechanical. If you do go down the cadetship route a degree will help you though you may have done similar modules but hey, easy pass if so.

[waverider]

Warren2i, just a suggestion but have you considered post grad in offshore/subsea engineering? Bit more technical, still the opportunity to travel and more money that you could ever earn as a Chief Eng....