How to Get an Engineering Job
Are you still trying to find out how to get an engineering job?
Engineers typically love their jobs and are relatively well-paid for their expertise. The intent is evident but it seems like all efforts to get an engineering job are proving futile.
Don’t lose hope just yet – not until you see our researched successful ways to get an engineering job fast.
Education and professional qualifications you need for an engineering job
Engineering firms and employers usually require at least a Bachelor of Science degree in any of the various engineering fields. Furthermore, candidates seeking higher positions must obtain a professional certification from an accredited engineering program or its equivalent in their regions.
Since engineers can work in different industries, a Master’s Degree or professional course in certain fields may be required. For instance, an engineer would require additional certification in management if they would be working for a management firm.
Tips for getting an engineering job fast
Would you be interested in knowing the fastest ways to get an engineering job? The following tips will help you get an engineering job faster than you expected:
Be willing to change location.
As an engineer, working remotely shouldn’t cross your mind because it rarely happens. Moreover, the job can take you traveling across the country or halfway around the world. Some employers ask candidates if they are willing to change location while others don’t. However, it would please your potential employer to know that you can go wherever the job takes you.
Develop soft skills tailored to engineering.
Soft skills are some of the most craved qualities every employer wants, even in engineering. Since not all these skills come naturally to everyone, you should try to learn them. From creativity, IT proficiency, to mathematical skills, focus on the skillsets that an engineering job requires and learn them.
Focus on one or two aspects of engineering.
Engineering is so broad that no one could ever dream of being an expert in all areas. Being a Jack of all trades will do you no good as an engineer- it pays to be a specialist. Thus, choose from a wide variety of engineering areas of specialization and hone your skills there.
Improve your work history.
Getting an engineering job is not a walk in the park, so employers shouldn’t judge, right? Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Although some employers might be lenient towards a hiatus in work history, you should try not to leave too many gaps.
Since thousands of people are probably looking for the same job, not having enough working experience is risky. Volunteer or become an intern if you must but don’t leave a huge blank in your work history.
Update your resume.
Your resume represents and speaks for you in your absence – never forget to update it. Ensure that the resume you have contains all the recent and relevant information for the next job. If there have been changes to your number, address, or an additional certificate, add them to your resume.
Try social networks.
You might be wondering what social media has got to do with this- well, a lot. Engineering jobs are offered by individuals who use social networks which means you can communicate directly with them. However, you must be professional and only befriend or follow them on corporate-inclined social networks like LinkedIn.
Follow engineering society news.
The engineering society or industry is huge. There are always happenings in and around engineering including the latest trends, trending success stories, and engineering job opportunities. Follow these dedicated websites and subscribe to their newsletters to get the latest stories.
Join an engineering professionals’ association near you.
Engineering professionals have a variety of solid associations globally and regionally. These associations are home to some of the most successful and brightest minds in engineering. Joining these associations will give you a better insight into the world of engineering. Also, you might get your next engineering job there.
Work on personal projects.
Not getting an engineering job is no excuse for being idle. You must know that inventors or innovators in IT and engineering catch the eye of the world’s elite.
Start a peculiar project that could solve the world’s problems and that could be your ticket to an engineering job. Innovators and business moguls like Elon Musk are always searching for exceptional talents in engineering.
Network.
Did you know that professionals spend hard-earned money and call in huge favors for a networking opportunity? It is because networking is a powerful tool in today’s highly competitive business world.
However, networking involves going out of your way to make the acquaintance of influential people who could give you an opportunity.
Ask for favors.
There is no shame in asking for a hand when you desperately need one. Go back to the basics and try the traditional word of mouth method of self-promoting.
You never know who could have the latest information on an engineering job opening. Therefore, ask people you know – friends, family, old colleagues, former college professors, and whoever would care to help.
Skills for getting an engineering job
Every employer in the engineering world is looking for specific skills in their next engineering employee. These skills are relevant to the position and they will help you settle in seamlessly to your new working environment.
Leadership.
In engineering, leadership skills are required for virtually every employee regardless of their position. Leadership involves taking responsibility for your actions, including the failures and successes. Thus, you need to be sure of the actions you take on the job because you will answer for them. Some projects will test your character – these are part of the reasons why you must have leadership skills.
Teamwork.
Engineers hardly work alone on a project or in an organization. A team of professionals in other related disciplines works with engineers, especially on big projects. For this reason, an engineer ought to have teamwork skills. To get the best out of your teammates, you must be a reliable team player as well.
IT proficiency.
Could you imagine meeting an engineer who cannot operate a computer or run basic computer programs? He or she would make the news.
Indeed, every employer expects their next employee to be proficient in IT. Digital literacy cannot be separated from engineering as virtually all engineering processes are done on a computer with sophisticated software.
Negotiation.
In many cases, engineers are project managers tasked with sourcing equipment and manpower for a project. Engineers work on a budget which means they have to manage the funds and watch their spending. To avoid exhausting the budget, an engineer must have decent negotiation skills.
Working well under pressure.
Throughout history, there has always been pressure on the greatest engineers to see a project through. The pressure can be intense at times, thus, being able to deal with it is vital. If you struggle with dealing with pressure, it is advisable to see a specialist to help you in that area.
Problem-solving.
Engineering is one of the fields that directly deals with solving problems faced by society since time immemorial. Having a knack for finding solutions to problems is a must-have trait or skill to harness.
Furthermore, some problems arise amid an ongoing project with a huge budget and high expectations. Your problem-solving skills will come in handy in such a scenario.
Creativity.
Many of the best automobiles, bridges, buildings, and more, are a thing of beauty. Furthermore, some of the greatest engineers in history including Michelangelo and Da Vinci were also creative geniuses.
Thus, you need creativity to stand out, effect innovation, and bring your imagination to life through engineering.
Specialties where you can get an engineering job
Engineering is a broad and interesting field with a variety of options to focus on. It is advised to master an aspect of engineering and look for an engineering job there henceforth. Although there are many engineering fields (and sub-fields) available, these are some of the most notable ones:
Computer engineering.
Otherwise known as computer hardware engineering, this aspect of engineering is dedicated to ICT. If you are fascinated by computers and gadgets, you should pay more attention to this path. A computer engineer is responsible for designing, crafting, and running tests on the hardware of computers to ensure its optimal functionality.
Civil engineering.
This is an aspect of engineering where engineers are involved in designing, constructing, testing, and maintaining both natural and artificially built environments. Civil engineers perform any of the various tasks available in this field by applying engineering methods to sustain the environment. From ensuring safe transportation and support for structural loads to maintaining water resources, civil engineers contribute immensely to the environment.
Mechanical engineering.
Engineers in this field design, analyze, and transform mechanical and thermal power for the operation of mechanical systems. If you take a keen interest in mechanical devices, then this might be your best option. In this field, you can choose to operate in acoustical engineering, manufacturing engineering, thermal engineering, or many others.
Nuclear engineering.
Probably one of the most intense yet rewarding aspects of engineering is nuclear engineering. In nuclear engineering, engineers use nuclear energy and radiation to develop useful inventions in health, aviation, military, and other sectors. Nuclear engineers are tasked with designing and creating reactor cores in nuclear plants. Also, they develop and manage radiation shielding while they constantly supervise the plant to prevent any accident or nuclear waste spillage.
Aeronautical engineering.
How do you feel about aircraft? If they give you a positive vibe, then you should look for opportunities in aeronautical or aerospace engineering. As an aeronautical engineer, you would be designing, creating, repairing, or maintaining aircraft. A vital branch of this engineering field is astronautical engineering where you would be focusing on spacecraft and space, generally.
Electrical and electronics engineering.
An electrical engineer applies their knowledge of electronics, electromagnetism, and electricity to solving everyday domestic and organizational problems. They make the electrical systems used in everyday products and develop diverse ways to maximize electrical energy. Electrical engineers can also venture into any telecommunications engineering, control engineering, high voltage engineering, among others.
Industrial engineering.
In industrial engineering, an engineer is tasked with devising various methods to ensure that products are manufactured satisfactorily. Industrial engineers employ their expertise, skill, and experience in analyzing, designing, supervising the workforce, and providing information on products. The engineer must ensure that the finished product meets the required standard of both the clients and the regulatory bodies.
Materials engineering.
A materials engineer works with and is crucial to the production of everyday materials. From ceramics, plastic, to steel, materials engineers are responsible for designing, crafting, and processing materials according to the required specifications. A materials engineer also serves as the project manager of the project. They are involved in making and managing the budget as well as supervising the project.
Environmental engineering.
This branch of engineering is perfect for those who are environmental enthusiasts. It involves the application of engineering in solving environmental challenges. Environmental engineer studies the environment makes reports, draw plans, and advises on possible solutions to environmental challenges.
Where can I get an engineering job?
An engineer can find a good job in many sectors. Governmental establishments, construction companies, engineering companies, and the military hire engineers constantly. Likewise, aviation companies, manufacturing companies, companies in the health sector, and many others hire engineers.
Since engineers know about acquiring materials for various projects, they can work in materials procurement and purchasing firms.
Also, companies that are into supply chain management hire engineers to manage manufacturing procedures, raw materials, and other logistic duties. Finally, engineers can work in colleges and universities as professors in engineering subjects. Therefore, you have many options available to get an engineering job.
How much do engineers earn?
Engineering is an extremely diverse discipline with many sub-fields. However, in the United States, the mean annual salary for engineers across various specializations is between $70,000 and $130,000. In the UK, an engineer receives a salary of between GBP21,000 and GBP90,000 on average. The average annual salary for engineers working in the UAE is around AED 9,000. While engineers in Nigeria earn a monthly salary of between NGN80,000 and NGN300,000 on average.
Conclusion
Getting an engineering job is as challenging as virtually any other job. However, there are ways to increase your chances of getting an engineering job faster which you should try. Also, engineers contribute a lot to society and the environment which justifies them being one of the high-earning professionals. Many companies in different sectors are constantly hiring engineers – your chances of getting a job are impressive.