For the last half-century, university degrees have been sold with a promise: work hard, specialise and graduate, and a secure, desirable career will follow. In 2026, this promise feels increasingly fragile. Last year, graduate recruitment fell for the second year in a row – a drop shaped by tighter budgets and growing economic uncertainty. For many graduates, the old rules no longer seem to apply.
Engineering complicates this picture. On paper, the sector remains robust. Engineering and technology graduates are more likely to be in paid employment than their peers from other disciplines, and more than 6.4 million people – around a fifth of the UK workforce – now work in engineering or technology roles.
Yet speak to recent graduates and a different story emerges. The question is no longer just how to get a job, but what kind of work is worth doing. Across our network, we’re hearing this tension. More and more, young engineers are asking how to build careers that feel purposeful – careers that put engineering to work on challenges like sustainability, justice, and community wellbeing.
To understand what this shift looks like in practice, we spoke with four Engineers Without Borders UK Chapter alumni – Amrit Phull, Nathan Leadbetter, Harsha Nagi and Toni McLaughlin. These graduates have experienced first-hand the challenge of seeking work that aligns with their values in an already tough job market. To better understand the broader trends affecting the sector, we also reached out to Dr Graham Herries, Chair of the IET Policy Oversight Committee.
Together, their reflections reveal a generation navigating uncertainty with resilience and redefining what it means to build a purposeful career.
Starting out in a shifting landscape
The transition from student to professional is rarely straightforward, but today’s graduates face an especially challenging landscape. The decline in graduate hiring is making first jobs harder to secure, even in a sector that continues to demand skilled engineers. Behind every statistic are stories of persistence – of applications, interviews and rejections eventually giving way to success.
“One thing I found surprising was how competitive graduate scheme roles for any company were,” said Nathan, who now works with the UK Atomic Energy Authority. “I had applied to at least 15 schemes… Some of them I didn’t even get feedback on. That was really disheartening.”
Harsha had also expected a smoother entry into the sector. “Having worked for years as a tutor alongside school and university, and serving as Outreach Director at my university’s Engineers Without Borders UK Chapter, I had built strong communication and leadership skills that really helped my applications. Still, I faced a lot of rejection, which was tough, but it helped me refine my direction and build resilience.”
Amrit echoed that reality:
“Applying for jobs is rarely enjoyable: it’s mentally exhausting, repetitive, and job rejections can often make you feel like a failure.”
From an industry perspective, Dr Graham Herries sees a market that remains buoyant but uneven. “Engineering is still a sector of opportunity,” he explained, “but those opportunities increasingly align with emerging areas such as data engineering, software, and cybersecurity. Graduates who respond to these gaps – and who show adaptability – will have the best chance of success.”
Despite the challenges, the picture that emerges is one of resilience. Each graduate spoke about refining their approach, drawing strength from setbacks, and recognising that persistence is essential.
Finding alignment
Securing a role is one milestone, finding meaning in it is another. Conversations at a recent Systems Change Lab event highlighted a growing concern that graduates are entering the workforce motivated to make an impact, before quickly finding a sector that is resistant to change. The graduates we spoke to shared how their sense of purpose, often shaped by their time at university, has continued to evolve as they progress in their careers.
After gaining early experience during a placement year in maritime engineering, Harsha noticed a shift. “One of the biggest surprises was realising that a purely mechanical role didn’t give me the fulfilment I expected. I enjoyed the technical challenge, but I didn’t feel connected to the societal impact of the work.” That realisation led Harsha to pivot and helped her land a role at Arup working with water and energy, where she feels “more aligned with the purpose behind the work.”
Amrit explained that finding purpose takes time, and encourages young engineers to be patient with the process. “You rarely land in the perfect role straight away – the one that challenges you technically, moves at the right pace, and aligns with your values.” Having always been passionate about motorsport, Amrit studied Mechatronic Engineering with placement and graduate roles in the automotive sector, but now works in power generation for Baudouin in France.
“Uncertainty has been one of the biggest lessons. It’s taught me to be open to change, to value growth over rigid plans, and to embrace opportunities that challenge me… In many ways, this mindset echoes what I learned through Engineers Without Borders: that engineering is about responding to real-world needs, adapting to context, and staying curious.”
Nathan reflected on his time with the Engineers Without Borders Lancaster University Chapter as formative in shaping how he viewed opportunities, “It really moulded my outlook… It meant I was a lot more picky with the roles and companies that I applied for. If the company did not align with my views of global responsibility and sustainability, it was not the role for me.”
However, like both Amrit and Harsha, he noted his motivations continue to evolve: “After leaving university I have noticed my sense of purpose morphing slightly,” said Nathan. “I want to be able to inspire the next generation of engineers, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.”
The graduates broadly agreed on two things: that finding alignment between personal values and professional pathways is key to doing work that feels meaningful, and that those beliefs will inevitably evolve over time. Each has found success by staying conscious of these shifting perspectives and following what felt right as their careers developed.
According to Dr Herries, the desire to find purposeful careers related to responsible engineering is beginning to align with the broader needs of the industry.
“Sustainability is emerging as one of the most powerful drivers of purpose-led careers. More than half of engineering employers now have a sustainability strategy, yet over a third report shortages in the skills needed to deliver it – from technical and specialist sustainability skills to leadership and management.”
Learning lessons beyond the lecture hall
So what can graduates do to improve their chances? Our conversations surfaced a common insight – the skills and mindsets that proved most valuable weren’t necessarily those learned in lecture theatres, but through hands-on collaboration and community engagement.
“My time at Engineers Without Borders UK definitely influenced my outlook on engineering,” said Toni, a Hydrogen Propulsion Systems Research Engineer at GKN Aerospace. “Being surrounded by passionate people encouraged my curiosity and drive to make engineering more sustainable for the planet and future generations.”
Harsha agreed: “My time with Engineers Without Borders was instrumental in shaping my career direction. As Outreach Director, I led workshops on energy and water for local schools and set up a free tutoring programme for A-level students. It was incredibly rewarding to teach young people about the role of engineering in solving global challenges like renewable energy and water security.”
For Amrit, her Chapter work was equally transformative.
“My time with Engineers Without Borders Lancaster genuinely changed who I am. It taught me that engineering isn’t just about numbers and data, but it’s about people, communities, and the planet. That mindset now shapes how I approach decisions at work, with both my head and my heart.”
According to Dr Herries, employers are looking for these very qualities. “It is important for graduates to demonstrate their engineering knowledge through projects at university, industrial placements and virtual work opportunities,” he said, “in order to demonstrate the engineering core knowledge they have and the ability to contextualise it into a specific role with transferable skills.”
Chapter alumni emphasised the importance of industrial placements, noting that beyond providing practical experience, they offer valuable opportunities to identify the disciplines, fields, and working styles that align best before entering permanent employment.
“My placement year was crucial in securing my graduate role, even though the sectors were different. The skills I gained were transferable and valuable.” said Harsha. Toni built on this further: “If you can, partake in an internship or year in industry as you can meet new people and showcase your talents which makes it easier when applying to jobs after university.”
Across these stories, one message stands out: experiences gained through extracurricular activities and early industry immersion build more than just confidence – they build capability, broaden skills, and shape the mindsets the profession urgently needs, and that employers are increasingly seeking out.
Reflections for future engineers
Each graduate offered advice for those about to follow in their footsteps.
“Take every opportunity to learn and grow,” said Amrit.
“Even if a role isn’t your dream job, it will teach you something valuable… Don’t be afraid of change. Embrace the uncertainty and trust that you’re building something meaningful, even if it doesn’t look exactly how you imagined.”
Harsha encouraged students to use their university experiences as a compass. “Start by reflecting on the projects you enjoyed most at university – what were they about, and what role did you play? Was it the technical challenge, the teamwork, or the societal impact that excited you? Mapping your core values can help guide your job search.”
Nathan added a practical angle: “To students who are looking to build a career with purpose, I would say – research the company and the role itself. Research their values and their mission. Ask yourself, does this align with my views? If not, it may be a struggle to find motivation when you are working there day in and day out.”
And Toni reminded new graduates to stay patient and proactive. “Do what you are passionate about! There’s always plenty of time to try new things and make a difference no matter how big or small.”
These reflections offer a glimpse of a profession in transition. Today’s graduates are entering a world where technical expertise alone is no longer enough, and where understanding values, communities and impact matters as much as design or data. As artificial intelligence reshapes how we work and sustainability continues to redefine the challenges engineers face, it is encouraging to see young engineers actively seeking out experiences that broaden their skills and perspectives.
To truly equip graduates for what lies ahead, however, individual effort must be matched by systemic change. From university curricula to recruitment pathways, we must make space for learning that values empathy, collaboration and critical thinking as much as technical ability.
We’ll explore this theme further at Purpose in Practice on Thursday 26 March at AECOM’s offices in Glasgow. Join students, graduates and industry professionals for an open conversation about shaping career pathways that align technical expertise with social and environmental impact. Register here.
