I have an interview with a UK team next week! Please help!

AeroGT3 · Post 16 Feb 2007, 08:59

Hey everyone,

I'm posting because I have a few questions to ask of UK members, and I don't know where I'd find many outside of this site!

I have a telephone interview with the Aero department of a UK based F1 team next week.

I feel confident in my interview skills and am not nervous at all, and have actually undergone a round of email conversations with their Aero staff as a way of avoiding my having to stay up until 4AM to recieve calls!

As an American, I do have some things I'm not sure how to handle, that you UK residents probably could help me with

First, I was asked to submit salary details as part of my application, but obtained from doing so because, as an American, I am not aware of the cost of living and typical salaries for engineers, particularly those in F1. Does anyone have F1 relevant salary details? I don't want to look like a buffoon asking for a million a year, nor do I want to commit myself to working for pennies!

Secondly, when hiring foreign applicants, whose responsibility is it to obtain work permits and the like? What is the difficulty in doing so? How helpful are employers (or more specifically F1 teams) in getting foreigners settled in?

Oh, and anyone who actually works for an F1 is more than welcome to chime in with any other advice

Thanks so much,

zac510 · Post 16 Feb 2007, 11:40

I'm am an expat living in the UK but I live in London and most of the teams are situated outside of London so I won't be too much help.

I don't work in F1 either so I don't even know why I am posting in this thread

manchild · Post 16 Feb 2007, 14:05

If it is Renault ask for 1/3 of what Toyota pays for same job.

Just kidding, no idea really

ss_collins · Post 16 Feb 2007, 15:13

thats a tough one - living costs are far higher here than in the states. Everything is more expensive - a Burger King meal in the US equates to aout £2 ($4) wheres in the uk its £5 ($10)

Steve Daum of the SAE said to me once "theres one rule to travelling worldwide - everything costs the same they just change the symbol". Its a good rule of thumb

SLC · Post 16 Feb 2007, 17:49

For what position are you interviewing? You don't have to mention the Team name but it I'll be able to give you an accurate prediction for salary.

AeroGT3 · Post 17 Feb 2007, 02:04

SLC wrote:For what position are you interviewing? You don't have to mention the Team name but it I'll be able to give you an accurate prediction for salary.

CFD aerodynamicist. Mostly post-processing and correlating/correcting for tunnel and track test data. Thanks for the help,

Tom · Post 17 Feb 2007, 02:15

This may be no help at all but probably the average salary would be between 15 and 30 thousand, I know thats a very loose guess but students aren't expected to pay of loans anymore till they're earing +£15k so I would guess thats a minimum, the better paid teachers at my school are rumoured to earn +£30K so I guess that's quite high.

AeroGT3 · Post 17 Feb 2007, 05:40

Tom wrote:This may be no help at all but probably the average salary would be between 15 and 30 thousand, I know thats a very loose guess but students aren't expected to pay of loans anymore till they're earing +£15k so I would guess thats a minimum, the better paid teachers at my school are rumoured to earn +£30K so I guess that's quite high.

How about the cost of living? I've heard taxes are atrociously high compared to the US, so what exactly does one live on? How much would a mortgage be on a small condo or apartment? I am guessing a detached home is very expensive there? For a single guy in his 20's, what would costs look like?

My one worry is the standard of living. Engineers are very well paid in the US.

fizzer · Post 17 Feb 2007, 20:10

Well the compensation for the job shouldn't change based on location. So...

I'd take the salary you'd expect in the states, calculate the GBP with the current exchange rate, and then add 35% for crazy european taxes, living expenses, and negotiation room.

West · Post 17 Feb 2007, 20:42

I remember reading in 2005 the average salary for an F1 employee is 80 grand; obviously it's going to be a bit smaller if you work for Super Aguri or Spyker. Maybe janitors make 80 grand; who knows

monkeyboy1976 · Post 18 Feb 2007, 00:04

salaries in F1 are OK(ish) comapred to the rest of the industry. And the hours are much longer although I think it depends on the team and how it is managed. The teams do can what they like with packages with regards young engineers wanting in because working in F1 is very desirable.

Salary level example: I went for interview as a design engineer on wind tunnel models at Renualt that was up for about £25k a year. This would be about right for a design engineer in the industry with my level of experience (4 years Catia). Hours were long though and the commute would have been a killer. 2 years ago maybe, but I am now a married man!
I didn't get offered by the way.

Although got to go to Renault at Enstone

PS. if this is your first job in the industry and you have no ties, go for it and hang the salary.
The experience will be amazing!
Plus, your salary will increase quickly if you show talent. The team will not want to lose you to a rival team.
Offers from other teams will soon give you an idea of your value.

Main advice is: get your foot in the door ASAP.

Good Luck with the interview and let us know how it goes!

bhall · Post 18 Feb 2007, 00:25

Man, I wish I was mathematically inclined.

Good luck!

manchild · Post 18 Feb 2007, 01:46

Perhaps this can help you?

http://www.motorsportsemployment.com/ ( http://www.motorsportsemployment.com/salary.html )

http://www.racingjobs.com/

AeroGT3 · Post 18 Feb 2007, 03:03

monkeyboy1976 wrote:salaries in F1 are OK(ish) comapred to the rest of the industry. And the hours are much longer although I think it depends on the team and how it is managed. The teams do can what they like with packages with regards young engineers wanting in because working in F1 is very desirable.

Salary level example: I went for interview as a design engineer on wind tunnel models at Renualt that was up for about £25k a year. This would be about right for a design engineer in the industry with my level of experience (4 years Catia). Hours were long though and the commute would have been a killer. 2 years ago maybe, but I am now a married man!
I didn't get offered by the way. Although got to go to Renault at Enstone

PS. if this is your first job in the industry and you have no ties, go for it and hang the salary.
The experience will be amazing!
Plus, your salary will increase quickly if you show talent. The team will not want to lose you to a rival team.
Offers from other teams will soon give you an idea of your value.

Main advice is: get your foot in the door ASAP.
Good Luck with the interview and let us know how it goes!

Great post! Thanks for the insight.

I have another question for you guys - when an F1 team is interviewing now, when do you think they'd be expecting to have the applicant actually start working?

Tom · Post 18 Feb 2007, 13:34

next week

I would suggest that you use the interview to find out that kind of thing, I went for an interview at a hotel for part time work and they took me completely by surprise by not asking me anything about myself but instead getting me to ask them questions. I wasn't very good at it and it was obvious they weren't interested after that but what I'm trying to say is be prepared for something a little unorthodox.

Bear in mind if your on the phone they can't see you, they can't see all the little notes you have to help you or whatever you've got to boost your confidence. It might be an idea to have a notebook with a list of all these questions so you don't have to be remembering it all.