As engineers, it is all too easy to think about the more technical skills you have and forget about the soft skills that will set you apart as a candidate. Employers today are looking for well-rounded employees who have both technical capabilities as well as other skills that are necessary to succeed. Worried about whether or not you have those skills? Relax, chances are you probably already have these soft skills and if you don’t, they’re not that hard to acquire.
The Written Word
Being able to clearly communicate ideas through the written word is actually pretty vital to engineers. You may be asked to write reports on a regular basis, or even communicate directly with clients. Being able to coherently and succinctly write is a very important skill in today’s workforce. If you aren’t much on writing, the first step is to sign up for a creative writing course and a business writing course. Many of these courses are available online for free and will walk you through the basics of what you need to know.
Verbal Communication Skills
Just as the written word is important, so is the spoken one. Once again, employers are going to expect you to be able to clearly articulate to them and clients on what you are working on and what is happening with projects. Verbal skills can be a little bit more difficult to attain, but with a little practice you’ll feel more comfortable. Once again, taking a course, like speech, will definitely aid you in this area.
Problem Solving
Luckily, as an engineer, chances are you are already pretty good at critical thinking and the ability to problem solve on the fly. Make sure you highlight these skills in your cover letter and resume since they are vital to engineering positions. Don’t have much luck coming up with solutions quickly? Take a critical thinking course, or even focus on games that have problem solving elements. That will help get your brain up to speed.
Teamwork Skills
Collaboration is not only incredibly helpful in the process of design and creation, but it is also a vital skill to have in today’s workforce. You must be able to play well with others and realize the importance of team-work. That’s not always easy for an independent minded engineer, but with a little practice you can do it. Attend workshops and read up on team building and find a way to make it work for you.
These soft skills are invaluable assets you’ll have as a candidate and any new courses you take to improve your skills will also help you hireability.
Want more help with the skills you need to get a job as an engineer? The pros at Solopoint Solutions are here to help!