You’ve worked hard to get to this point in your career. You’ve taken classes, interned at a company, and even worked for free to learn as much as you can about a field you’re passionate about. You’ve made it to the last stop on your engineering job search. Job interviews and tests are over. You’ve gone through the applications and resumes of everyone who has expressed an interest in working with you.
So, what now?
You’ve done the work. Now it’s time to reap the rewards. Prospective employers are looking for engineers who can hit the ground running and produce results. You need to show them why you’re the best person for the job. Reaching your final destination as an engineering professional doesn’t mean you’ve arrived; it means you’ve taken the first step. Take a look at how you can become an engineer with a final destination that’s beyond your wildest dreams.
Research Your Job Market
What are the local job market rates for engineering jobs? What are the average salary expectations for engineers in this region? Where are the employers looking to hire engineers? What are the engineering job titles being advertised in job listings?
You should be asking these questions even as you enter the job market. First, you need to research the local posting for engineering positions in your area. Start with the websites for local colleges and universities. Locate the web pages for their graduate and undergraduate schools of engineering. You’ll find information about the programs offered, active faculty members, and enrollment statistics. Next, use your favorite search engine and look up job listings for engineering positions in your area. You’ll find listings for positions ranging from entry-level internships to full-time job opportunities at major companies.
But engineering is a crazy broad field. There are a million things you can do, no matter what kind of engineer you are! From environmental engineering jobs with NGOs to software engineering jobs at the biggest tech companies, there is no single path set out for you.
Networking Is Key
Most process engineering jobs are filled through networking with professionals in the engineering field. Reach out to your engineering professor. Ask them if they know of any engineering positions that are full-time or part-time that are currently unfilled. The professor may know about another professor in their department who works with employers. You might also contact a company that hires engineers to see if they have any openings.
Engineering job boards are also a great place to network with other professionals. While they are mostly used by engineers and the companies that hire them, they can be a great place to meet other professionals who have jobs that interest you. And don’t forget staples like LinkedIn or Indeed for online research. Even reaching out to friends and family for tips on open jobs can lead to the most rewarding, personal results.
Showcase Your Skills
Engineering job listings are looking for candidates with specific skills. This may be a job requirement for the position or what employers are looking for when sourcing candidates. You can showcase your skills by highlighting key experiences and accomplishments on your resume. If you’re applying for a job in engineering, you can also include skills related to your work experience in the field of engineering. For instance, if you are looking for a job in South Carolina, it would be helpful to participate in South Carolina PE Continuing Education courses to polish your skills. It will also help you earn the necessary PDH credits.
Make sure to highlight projects or specific achievements throughout your education or career. Companies want people who are practically skilled and self-motivated. Showing off your garage-built drone or a significant final coding project will put you ahead of the competition.
Demonstrating Your Expertise
Employers are looking for engineers who can hit the ground running and produce results. This means knowing the difference between the workload you’re experiencing and what you’re capable of. Employers are going to ask you questions about your skills and experience. You can’t always just say “yes” to their questions. You need to show them that you know what they’re asking about. Use examples from your work experience to demonstrate your expertise. If you’ve worked with a company, find an example that best shows off your skills.
Engineers are problem solvers. This means you need to be a problem solver when it comes to finding a job. You don’t want to just apply to the first engineering position that comes along. You want to apply to all the engineering positions that come your way. You can do this by researching the local job market, networking with other engineers, and showcasing your skills. You can also apply to all the engineering positions that come your way through job boards and career fairs. Finally, engineers can increase their chances of getting hired by being proactive.