Engineers in the public sector can work for organisations as diverse as the Ministry of Defence, local government or the Environment Agency.

Graduate salaries start at around £21,000 and some parts of the public sector have a shorter working week and more holidays.

Colin Woolford, Resourcing Manager at engineering recruitment firm Beechwood, comments, ’For their first job, graduate engineers shouldn’t close their minds to possibilities. No-one has a job for life any more and the mobility of the workforce is a plus. A permanent job provides vital experience and it’s far easier to find another job once you’re in employment.’

The pros

Consider working in the public sector if you:

• are looking for a good induction course
• want a broad overview of the sector
• enjoy planning
• seek flexible working hours
• want to stay in a particular geographical location
• are good at explaining engineering facts and processes to non-engineering colleagues and the public.

The cons

Think again if you:

• are looking for in-depth knowledge
• dislike bureaucracy
• want commercial experience
• prefer working with colleagues who are mainly engineering professionals.