‘Renishaw is a global company with core skills in measurement, motion control, spectroscopy and precision machining. We develop innovative products that significantly advance our customers’ operational performance – from improving manufacturing efficiencies and raising product quality, to maximising research capabilities and improving the efficacy of medical procedures.’ Renishaw website, 2015
With an overall rating of 4/5 by their graduate employees, the engineering and manufacturing firm Renishaw comes in at position number 32 in the Top 100 Larger Intake Firms To Work For in 2015/2016. With a focus on innovation, Renishaw has opportunities for graduates to travel or work overseas, along with extensive training programs and a mentorship scheme. Renishaw is rated particularly highly for colleagues (4.4), work-life balance (4.3) and company culture (4.2).
The average graduate salary at Renishaw comes in at £25,000 – £27,000, with one engineer explaining that ‘The salary alone is a little lower than for the larger companies, but the overall package is very competitive. The bonus and the pension scheme are particularly notable.’ Average working hours are from 7am – 4pm as many of the graduates opted to start and finish early to avoid commuter traffic. Graduates explained that they are able to finish around 12:30 on Fridays.
‘The company is very flexible in allowing you to do what you want as much as possible. Having a mentor, who has been in the company for many years, helps a lot with ensuring professional development. Training and gaining further qualifications is not always encouraged by the company. Further qualifications often have to be funded yourself.’
Graduate Engineer, Process Engineering at Renishaw
‘Range of every day tasks: practical work, document writing, CAD design. Interesting projects. Ongoing development and training. Community based, supportive company.’
Graduate Engineer, CPD at Renishaw
‘Level of support. Job satisfaction. Level of responsibility given. How varied the work can be. Opportunities for training and education. Flexible hours. The facilities available. Quality of provided equipment. Difficulty of the job (I love the challenge!). What you do genuinely makes a difference Social aspect. Your whole job in my role is about co-ordination of people and materials. There can be a lot of pressure, I like this, but would definitely be a negative for some. There is a lot to learn if you do not have a background in anything technical.’
Application Advice: Work experience is worth far more than academic qualifications here. Go out of your way to get placements while you’re still studying.
Interview Advice: Be yourself. The interviewer already knows your experience and qualifications because of your CV. What they’re looking for is whether or not you’ll fit in with the workforce.
Graduate Engineer, Research and Development at Renishaw
Interview Advice: Certainly for me I found that my interviewers were more interested in my extra-curricular activities at university than any technicality about my degree itself, so I would suggest that you are able to do any such activities justice when asked about them. You were the one that chose your degree… your dissertation topic… your hobbies… your part-time job… Demonstrate a level of passion an excitement such things which (in their eyes) translates over to your role within Renishaw.
Graduate Engineer, at Renishaw
Application Advice: Just keep trying. Renishaw get a huge amount of applicants – just because you didn’t get in this time, it doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough.
Interview Advice: Just don’t let nerves get to you. No-one is out to get you: just do your best, be yourself, and relax!!!
Graduate Project Co-ordinator, at Renishaw
Click here for the full range of job reviews for Renishaw and view a video clip on their graduate schemes below!
Experts from the best companies in the UK share their experience and advice on how to boss the interview process
Jazz Panesar is a Digital and Technology Apprentice at Severn Trent. Read Jazz’s story here.
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Have your own questions prepared.It's your turn! As the interview comes to a close, one of the final questions you may be asked is "What can I answer for you?" Your interviewer will expect you to have...
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Research the Company.Do your homework about the employer and the industry so you are ready for the interview question "What do you know about this company?"
