Energy and utilities

The energy and utility sector concerns the management of essential utilities and energy, including green energy generation. It is suited to those who want to apply their academic, especially scientific, skills to a growing, rapidly modernising industry.

Typical jobs in this sector include:

  • energy manager
  • geochemist
  • hydrogeologist
  • geoscientist
  • project planner.

Key skills that are useful in this sector include:

  • technical and analytical skills
  • commercial awareness, and knowledge of how science and business interact
  • the ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders about your work
  • the ability to deal with a variety of tasks in a methodical way
  • an understanding of the potential relationship of your work to broader political issues.

For job profiles and detailed information on pursuing a career in this sector, see the Prospects website:

Energy and utilities profile

Contents

How to get a job

To prepare for a career in energy and utilities, you should research the sector carefully. You should also talk with people who are in the sector already.

Work experience is also an essential requirement for gaining employment in this sector. You can get this through work experience programmes, internships, and volunteering.

Make a connection

To connect with people already working in the sector, consider joining Saint Connect, the University of St Andrews’ exclusive, global, online community for networking and career mentoring.

See more ideas for making a connection.

Insight days

Larger firms in this sector often offer insight days and short, unpaid work experience opportunities. These are usually open to first and second-year students.

Insight days help you gain some work experience and could lead to a longer-term placement or internship. They can also provide you with useful contacts within the sector.

For example, BP hosts a digital and technology discovery week, as well as widening access programmes. These can sometimes lead to a fast-tracked application to their paid internship schemes.

You can often find these types of opportunities at e4s and RateMyPlacement.

Work experience and internships

Large, graduate employers within this sector offer paid internships or placements over the summer, usually for about ten weeks.

To apply, you will need to be in the second or third year of your degree and on track to achieve at least a 2.2 (for some schemes a 2.1). In some cases, employers will accept you if you are a recent graduate.

Some internships can lead to the offer of a permanent job if you performed well.

Examples of companies offering paid internships include:

You could also explore internships with smaller, Scotland-based employers. Bright Green Business offers several paid placements for both students and graduates. These typically last between 8 and 12 weeks and run all year round.

You could also consider gaining internship experience with non-profit companies. Regen offers paid, six-month internships for graduates, which enable you to gain an understanding of the energy sector in general.

If you are having difficulties finding work experience in this sector, you might also consider making a speculative application to smaller employers. See the Energy Institute’s company membership directory for some ideas of whom to approach.

There are also longer-term industry placements, such as those offered by EDF and YTL UK. These are paid, tend to last about a year, and are usually available to undergraduates in their penultimate year of study. However, these placements are only available to students whose degree course allows it. You should check with your academic School to see what regulations apply to you.

Find internships (Careers Centre)

Attend events

The Careers Centre often puts on events where you can talk to employers visiting St Andrews. Visit the events page for more information.

Finding a job

Check out our job listings for vacancies or see the resources below for jobs in the energy and utilities sector.

Find jobs (Careers Centre)

Jobs in the UK

Graduate training schemes

A graduate training scheme is a paid, entry-level job that also acts as a training programme. Graduate training schemes are common in this sector and are one way of acquiring a graduate-level position. They are offered by a wide variety of large graduate employers, usually those that offer placements and internships.

For help finding these opportunities, see Student Ladder’s energy and utilities graduate scheme page.

Jobs outside the UK

Applying for a job

When applying for jobs in this sector, you can expect to do at least some of the following:

In addition, for graduate training schemes, you can expect to take psychometric tests or attend an assessment centre. For applications to energy and utility jobs, you may also be expected to attend a technical interview, in which the interviewer will test your ability to use the specialist skills the role requires. For more information, see TARGETjobs' advice on technical interviews.

The application process for energy and utilities jobs may vary according to which company you are applying to. Research the company to understand the skills, competencies and values they are looking for. Also check the company’s website, as many provide details on their recruitment and selection processes.

If you would like personalised help on any aspect of applying for a job, you can book an appointment with a careers adviser.  

Applying for a job