Hey guys, I am about to start my bachelors of mech e at RMIT in feb 2027.

So since i have almost 3-4 months before uni, i was wondering if there were any skills i could learn, certifications i could get or get started on the coursework so that i could maximize my chances at getting an internship and eventually a job after graduating.

I've currently gotten MATLAB onramp and simulink onramp certifications and i don't really know if they hold any value.

I was kinda confused between starting with solidworks and python or maybe just brush up on some calculus and get a bit ahead with the coursework.

I would really appreciate any advice from mechanical or aerospace engineers on this subject.

If you had 3-4 months before uni, what would you do?

Thanks!

I am a graduate engineer who has started working this year. Born and raised in New Zealand. I am very grateful to have a graduate role at a big energy company but I am over living where I currently reside. Plus I have been to Brisbane a handful of times and I really like it, a lot bigger with a lot more things to do.

I would want to stay in the energy industry I am based full time at a thermal plant. My plan is to stick it out for 2 years, then I would like to make the move to Brisbane Australia, once I have a bit of experience behind me.

Australian engineers what are some key skills that would be valuable to bring as a young engineer, what are companies looking for, are there plenty of job opportunities?

I guess I am asking for advice to create some goals I can work on for this move I will make eventually.

I guess starting out I have been a bit overwhelmed but I have been spending a lot of time learning systems, spending time with maintenance, plus operations. I haven’t done too many engineering projects yet. Just in a space where I can spend time with people with no responsibilities as of yet.

Any advice would be well appreciated :)

Background about myself: 2 YOE as a process engineer in mining, pivoted to O&G (subsurface) to get closer to my dream role (1 YOE).

I'm looking to work as a process engineer at a gas plant in North-West WA. I've been perusing job boards for a while and have had coffee catch-ups with people working in the industry. I still can't seem to find or hear about process roles. I've lived regionally, and I still have no issue living residentially.

Although I'm in the right industry now, it still seems like a long shot considering my current company doesn't operate any major gas plants.

Does anyone have experience or advice getting roles that aren't externally advertised?

Writing

Hi Aussie engineers! 👋
I have a few questions for those working in consulting firms as civil/structural engineers or architects.
I’ve recently started a Diploma of Civil Construction Design and want to build a career in construction design here in Australia. Before moving into this field, I worked as a graphic designer overseas in a fast-paced, design-focused team. I have strong design skills, am comfortable working under pressure, and am confident I can learn software like AutoCAD and Revit.
However, I’m a little unsure about the job market and whether completing this diploma will be enough to land my first job in the industry.
I’d love to hear from people working in the field:
How often do your firms hire drafters or junior design technicians?
How many drafters would you typically have in a team?
What does a drafter’s day-to-day work usually involve?
What technical skills and personal qualities do you look for when hiring a drafter?
What would make a candidate stand out and become genuinely useful to your team from day one?
I’m not looking to join a firm just to learn the basics. My goal is to develop the right skills so I can contribute real value to a team from the beginning, rather than needing constant supervision.
Long term, I’m also considering pursuing a bachelor’s degree if I’m able to secure PR in Australia.
I’d really appreciate any honest advice about the industry, job opportunities, and the skills I should focus on developing during my diploma.

if anyone can help me out i am a Btech mechanical final year student planning for master of business analytics and AI strategy at RMIT and minor in supply chain that fits well in my domain a mechanical engineer and would like to work as a business or a supply chain analyst can anyone suggest me if this is a good pathway for PR or not. should i go for UWA as it has better ranking or shall i go for RMIT as it provides better course structure and can also someone suggest will perth be suitable for my masters and job or melbourn should be the place?

Hi everyone,

I'm a Chinese undergraduate student majoring in Automation, and I'm trying to decide which pathway would give me the best chance of building a career in Australia after graduation.

My university in China has a partnership program with Swinburne University of Technology. Through this program, I can complete a 3+1+1 pathway:

- 3 years of undergraduate study at my current university in China

- 1 year of undergraduate study at Swinburne

- 1 additional year at Swinburne for a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering (or a related field, depending on the official program structure)

The main advantages are that the application process is relatively straightforward, and I wouldn't need to take IELTS or apply independently, subject to the program's requirements.

However, my long-term goal is to find a suitable engineering job in Australia after graduation, so I'm trying to make an informed decision before committing to this pathway.

I'd really appreciate honest opinions from Australian students, Swinburne graduates, engineers, or anyone familiar with the Australian engineering job market.

I have a few questions:

1. How is Swinburne regarded in Australia, particularly in engineering? What do local employers generally think of its graduates? Does its reputation differ significantly from that of universities in the Group of Eight (Go8)?

2. How realistic is it for an international graduate from Swinburne to find an engineering job in Australia? I'm interested in areas such as automation, mechanical engineering, robotics, and mechatronics. I'd especially like to hear from international graduates who have actually gone through the job search.

3. How much does university reputation matter when applying for graduate engineering positions? Would graduating from a Go8 university make a meaningful difference, or do practical skills, internships, projects, and work experience matter more?

4. Would you recommend taking this 3+1+1 pathway, or completing my bachelor's degree in China and applying independently for a master's at a Go8 university? The partnership pathway is more convenient, but I'm wondering whether the potential benefits of attending a different university would justify the additional application effort and cost.

5. If your goal were to work and build a long-term career in Australia, what would you focus on during university to improve your chances of getting hired?

Studying in Australia would be a significant financial investment for my family, so I want to look beyond university rankings and marketing materials and understand the actual employment outcomes.

I'd be grateful for any honest advice, including negative experiences or things you wish you had known before choosing your university.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Hi I'm late 20s interested in either engineering or science, maybe electrical engineering, I always took things apart when younger and am genuinely interested, but it seems outside of doing FIFO or being basically a project manager, the pay is maybe $120k to 140kish if I'm lucky, after 4 years of fighting textbook maths and uni debt, is it really worth it, or is it just a job at the end of the day.

My spouse and I just received our permanent residency grants for Queensland. I am a mechanical engineer and my wife is a civil engineer, and both of us have eight years of experience working in the oil and gas construction industry.

Our degrees are not under the Washington Accord, but we already completed our migration skills assessments through Engineers Australia via the Competency Demonstration Report pathway to get our visa approved.

For those who moved to Queensland with a similar background, we would love your advice on a few things. Can we reuse parts of our completed migration CDR for the RPEQ professional competency assessment? Should we start or complete RPEQ before landing or after arriving?

Also, how crucial is RPEQ for landing an initial job in mechanical or civil engineering within oil and gas construction? Should we secure a job first or get registered beforehand to stand out, and what are the main benefits of getting RPEQ early?

Any insights on engineering recruitment in Queensland would be amazing.

Thank you!

Hey all. Im a second year mechanical engineering student at UQ. Im looking to build skills over the summer holidays to begin applying for an internship from winter 2027 onwards.

Other than the usual advice like networking and joining societies like formulaSAE etc. what are some core skills i can develop to help me stand out for an internship. I truly do have a passion for engineering however due to me mucking around first year, my gpa is currently a high 4 on a scale of 7. I always hear that gpa reflect heavy for first internships as its usually the first easy check for employers, however what else can i do to show im just as capable to intern.

Im currently learning matlab and NX. What are some specific industry skills i can develop or projects i can complete to help me land my first internship.

Thanks!

Hey guys, looking for some advice and not sure where to go, i have enquired with TAFE directly, but they weren’t very helpful with what i was looking for.

Im 30yo (M) currently on a 482 sponsorship visa , i am from UK and have the equivalent of a cert 4 in mechanical engineering and an advance diploma in construction management, neither of these have been transferred over. Really at a loss of what to do now to improve my career, skillset and potential work opportunities in the future. The work i am doing just now is easy, has a good work life balance, but i feel like im stagnating professionally, not learning
while I’m still keen, and eager enough , i’d like to start doing an evening course or something along those line. I dont feel i am satisfied with just sticking at the level i am currently at.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated

Cert IV mechanical engineering eqv
Advanced diploma construction management eqv
11 years experience in industry, 8 years full qualified
Currently working as a service technician

Hi guys! Im currently studying in chemical engineering and I’m on an exchange program right now in Australia. Initially, i was planning for just spend a semester here just for the experience but now im kinda liking the culture and environment here in Australia. Therefore, i am considering a course transfer right after my exchange. I would like to know how are employment rates and chances looking like for an international student in chemical engineering? (P.s. decent grades but surely eager and enthusiastic to learn)

Hey guys, this post is like half rant, half asking for advice. I have been in uni for 6 years and projected to graduate in Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering/Aero in 2028. You probably think, 8 years why? Well in my first year at UQ, I had experienced harassment from some people in my cohort. Targeting me while at school and before my exams. Due to that I had become paranoid and very anxious when at Uni. I had obviously brought this up with UQ but nothing really came from it. Due to that I’ve spiralled into academic interventions and recovering and interventions. This has really taken a toll on my mental health

I’m at a crossroad here, currently I am technically second year in course progress, started in 2021. My GPA is basically 29 units left in my degree. If I-score a perfect 7 (High Distinction) in every single remaining unit, I will earn an additional 203 grade points.
Maximum Cumulative Ceiling: (139 + 203) / (42 + 29) = 342 total grade points / 71 total units = 4.81 Max Cumulative GPA.

Currently have no internships lined up but need 450hrs in total I think. I used to be a really good student with an ATAR of 98.5 and was in the integrated Bachelor/Masters. Now I am just in my bachelors (kicked out of the masters)

I feel like even if I can finish my degree I will never get a job. I have been in UQ racing and getting into UQ space. I have a website portfolio vibe coded as a project, PCB NFC business card project and carbon fibre layup experience from uq racing but I feel like companies will see my failed 4 years and not want me.

I see everyone here having trouble with internships and finding a job and I’m scared for myself. I do have times where I think of just ending it and be free from this never ending pressure but I deep down I know I want to persevere and become something. Hope some reads this and can give advice

I’m in my 2nd year Civil and Infrastructure Engineering at RMIT in Melbourne Australia and looking at which minors to choose for third and fourth year.

My main interests are construction and structural engineering. After those, my preference is geotechnical, then water, then transport. Civil engineers in Australia could give me advice on the best sub-sector to choose. I want a balance of high pay and a balanced work life and if it is possible to transition between different sub-sectors if possible in the future

Would construction + structural be a good combination for graduate employment, or would something like construction + geotechnical give me broader opportunities? I’d like to become a well-rounded civil engineer and keep different career paths open rather than specialise too narrowly straight away.

大家好，

我是一名准备申请澳大利亚技术移民的外国申请人，职位为无损检测（超声检测）技术员。对于那些完成过VETASSESS评估或在该职业成功获得PR的人，我非常感激提供任何建议。

以下是我的具体情况和我的主要问题：

我的背景

1. 我是中国的本科毕业生（非工程专业，与我未来的职业无关）。

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1. 我计划获得UT Level 2认证，并在中国积累1-2年的全职相关无损检测工作经验。

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1. 我将作为海外申请人申请VETASSESS技能评估（没有澳大利亚的学习或本地工作经验）。

我的核心问题（非常针对性）

1. VETASSESS资格

中国国内的UT Level 2认证加上1-2年的全职海上工作经验，能否完全满足无损检测技术员在VETASSESS的积极结果的技能要求？

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1. 专业无关影响

我的大学学位与工程或无损检测无关。这会影响我的技能评估结果或未来的EOI邀请吗？

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1. 工作经验认可

中国的主流工业无损检测工作经验（压力容器、机械、钢结构超声检测）是否被VETASSESS完全认可为该ANZSCO职业？

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1. 现实的PR途径

对于有积极VETASSESS的海上无损检测技术员，哪个签证途径更实用：190州提名还是491区域签证？这个职业在2026-2027年是否仍然有需求？

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1. 常见拒绝风险

对于来自中国的海外无损检测申请者，VETASSESS拒绝或部分评估的最常见原因是什么？

非常感谢你的帮助！我只希望得到真实经验案例，而不是代理营销的答案。

I graduated with a Civil Engineering degree back in early 2000s.

My lecturers in university outlined that Chartership was aimed at those who were well regarded in the profession, those who were looking to run their own firms, or sign off designs. They recommended that engineers have significant experience behind them (min 10ish years).

However, now that I've been in the industry for more than 15 years, on both sides of the industry (government and private sector), I've witnessed a range of competence of engineers with CPEng and genuinely question whether Engineers Australia are just pumping engineers through CPEng for the sake of membership fees, which I now call "engineering by subscription".

What are people's experiences with engineers who have CPEng who don't seem to have suitable experience for their area of practice? And thoughts on the "subscription" format that Engineers Australia employ around giving away CPEng to anyone who seems to apply for it?

While im working on my EA accreditation via CDR, I've been looking for openings and seems like most (80% of the job postings) requires citizenship for the security clearance.

Electronics Engineer / 10 years in Oil and Gas (wireline technology) manufacturing / UAE.

Anyone can advice if its worth pursuing or chances are slim to get a decent job?

Hi everyone, I am about to finish my mechanical engineering masters next semester and I am still left without an internship for the degree requirement. I have got all the soft skills as well as CAD and programming skills but somehow I still haven’t been able to secure anything. I would appreciate if some experienced mechanical engineers would even just REVIEW MY RESUME at least.
Although I am based in Sydney I would be happy to relocate during the summer break for an internship. I am panicking regarding the whole situation and would really love if someone would guide me in the right direction. Happy to pay for your time as well.

Hey everyone, I was wondering what really happens in every year of engineering (civil) . What do they teach and how do they upgrade everything. When can you try to find job ? What kinda jobs are out there ? I don’t really know much about cadets/ grads. Thank you

I recently received a dual commerce/engineering (honours) degree offer. I'm in the process of transferring from UNSW to USYD for personal financial reasons. Almost a year into my commerce degree, I realised I didn't find it as interesting or valuable as I hoped.

I'm interested in studying mining engineering but it is not offered at USYD and only at UNSW. Is it possible to get into mining with a civil engineering degree? Also, would it be better to study pure engineering rather than a dual degree? Cheers!

P.s also interested in working interstate like WA if required

TLDR: Got a grad offer in infrastructure asset management. Is it a career pigeonhole compared to design/PM, can I move into design or consulting later, and will it count towards CPEng?

Hello everyone,

Finishing up my Bachelor of Civil Engineering, and I’ve just received a grad program offer for infrastructure asset management at a Tier 1. Any advice in regard to the below questions would be massively appreciated.

A big question is career progression. Where exactly does this initial job shift me towards in terms of career path? And how easy would it be for me to transition over into design / consulting after?

In design, the path up is fairly clear: cadet -> junior -> engineer -> associate -> director etc. But the same path isn’t so clear for something like asset management.

Also, there doesn’t seem to be a great deal of infrastructure asset management companies out there, so am I pigeonholing myself too early by going down this path? Given this, does the pay ceiling compare to something in more traditional engineering roles, e.g. design or project management?

That being said, I really like the sound of the job so far in terms of the mix between work on-site and in the office

In the back of my mind, I’ve liked the sound of Chartered professional Engineer (CPEng), but I’m not sure something like this would count as professional development since it’s maybe not as technical.

Thank you in advance :)