It is estimated that approximately one in every ten university graduates are seeking jobs in engineering on an annual basis. It is therefore of the utmost importance that candidates are aware of what is necessary in terms of the skills and qualities needed for success in the role; and indeed what employers themselves are looking for. Knowing this will provide candidates with a competitive advantage in the job market.
One of the most loved aspects of engineering is the fact that there is such a wide variety of jobs available. This means different personalities and temperaments can be accommodated accordingly, with different levels of expertise needed for certain positions. Some may rely more on high levels of academic achievement, whereas others will rely more on professional experience and proven ability in the field.
General
Technicians at all ranks and positions will require high levels of attention to detail, the hard skills needed for the role itself gained through academic or professional foundations, logical and analytical reasoning, and the strength of character to manage others around them, as they will usually be in a team leadership capacity.
Those who have specialised in hand crafts will need basic mathematical abilities, resilience, dexterity, and patience above all else. Regardless of the role chosen, there is a common skill set that employers will request in addition to the more general skills as outlined here.
Communication skills
The need for effective communication skills amongst engineers is at an all-time high. This is due to the increasing amounts of technical documentation, instructions, and guidelines being provided by clients that engineers routinely use in the workplace. Engineers will therefore need to have a strong command on both verbal and written language in order to make thorough use of the materials provided to them.
Interpersonal skills
Engineers will routinely work as a part of a team and directly with customers in order to identify their personal needs and provide solutions. This means engineers must be friendly, people who those around them can relate to. They must also provide an additional layer to their communication skills by being able to speak in layman's terms. The often advanced, technical nature of engineering can be confusing to the general public and those who do not have strong academic foundations in engineering. Therefore, they must be prepared to adapt their style of speaking to suit those around them when working towards a solution.
Technical knowledge
The hard skills acquired during previous posts or at university will provide engineers with the technical expertise that is vital to their role. Engineers will need to thoroughly understand and appreciate these skills in order to apply them to the practical problems that they will face on the job.
Other qualities useful in engineering jobs
Personal organisation
Engineers will need to be able to prioritise their daily tasks and manage the time they have been given effectively. They will also need to be able to plan the resources they have been assigned carefully, which is a key skill that is developed during the majority of academic courses for engineers.
Positive attitude
Learning new skills is a part of the daily life of an engineer and critical to the role, so candidates will need to demonstrate the ability to handle a lot of new information quite rapidly. However, they must also take an active interest in the engineering industry itself. With this comes the motivation and ambition to succeed in their role. Without the right attitude, engineers can soon find themselves demotivated and unwilling to contribute to their own professional development or the success of their employment, which are both detrimental qualities to hold.