Name Cara Woolley
Age 29
Works for Anglo American

What does an engineer do?
We use mathematical and scientific knowledge to solve technical problems. There’re different engineering fields – mechanical engineers design machines, chemical and industrial engineers design and optimise processes, civil engineers design structures, and electrical and electronic engineers design electrical reticulation and electronic equipment.

Where and what did you study?
I completed a Bachelor of Science in ElectricalMechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. It’s a four-year Honours programme. After two years work experience, I did the Government Certificate of Competency so I could register as a professional with the Engineering Council of South Africa. This is necessary if you’re going to work in a mining or factory environment, but not all engineers need to do this.

What subjects do you need to do well in at school to become an engineer?
Engineering is all about applying logic and problem solving, so maths and physics are essential.

Describe a typical day at work.
Depending on the type of engineer you are, you would spend time analysing situations and coming up with improvement options to implement. Or you would be designing a machine, system or process, or even designing and managing the construction of a building.

Do engineers find work easily in South Africa?
There’s a global shortage of qualified engineers so jobs are available in most areas of industry. Engineers are able to apply their kind of thinking to other areas of business, so the opportunities are almost endless.

Is the job financially rewarding?
As a graduate, you’ll be in the top half of the earning spectrum (compared to other graduates) and should earn anything between R250 000 and R450 000 as a starting annual salary. With a post-graduate qualification, you can earn substantially more. After that it depends on your company, the type of work and your performance.

What personality traits should an engineer have?
You need to be logical and inquisitive and have an open, objective mind. Foresight and creativity are useful, and being able to keep the bigger picture in mind while maintaining detail in the execution is important. Good communication skills will help you market an idea and influence people.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Being able to apply innovative thinking to come up with solutions to various problems, as well as helping to improve an area of the business and adding value to a company’s bottom line.

Is there anything you don’t like about it?
People tend to think we’re boring but that is a serious generalisation!

What advice would you give to aspiring engineers?
Enjoy your studies and never stop learning. The amount of technical information in the world is growing so rapidly that you need to keep up to date during and after your studies.

FACT CHECK

• The prerequisite subjects for most engineering courses are physical science and maths.
• Many tertiary institutions have a dedicated faculty offering mechanical, civil, chemical, industrial, electrical and electronic engineering courses. Go to tertiaryeducation.co.za for a comprehensive list of institutions and the courses they offer.