How To Prepare For A Career in Engineering CareerMetis.com

How To Prepare For A Career in Engineering A couple of decades ago, your parents would have been thrilled if you were to become a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer.A lot has changed since then, and some other career paths have become more popular. However, engineering is one of the few career paths that has managed to keep up with the times and adapt well to the change in humanity’s landscape. Some of the job market trends we expect to see in 2020will certainly apply to the field of engineering as well.evalIf you’re looking to join the ranks of engineers around the globe who are shaping our reality, read on to find out what kinds of qualifications are necessary and what you need to do to increase your odds of landing that dream engineering job.Engineering Specializations: Directions to ChooseEngineers can choose to specialize in several different fields, depending on their affinities and interests:Civil Engineering:civil engineers work in the construction industry If all of the above sounds appealing to you, let’s explor e how to get an engineering education.Engineering Education: Where to StartThe first thing you will need to become an engineer is a BA in an engineering program, with a major in the branch of engineering you want to work in The courses you choose will mostly depend on your specialization but count on advanced math and science courses, as well as some basic language, humanities, or social science courses as well.Most colleges allow you to choose at least some of your coursework, alongside certain core subjects you need to have in your curriculum. When making your choice, try to focus on courses that will help you in the engineering career path you’ve chosen.After You GraduateOnce you’ve graduated from an accredited engineering program, you will need to take the Fundamentals of Engineering As we’ve already mentioned several times, there are very different engineering career paths you can opt for, so determining early on what you want to achieve will be a great stepping stone for further progress. Not only should you determine a specialization, but you should also have in mind the type of role you want to have.evalDo you want to be a manager and leader, or would you rather work on projects behind the scenes? Would you rather work for a huge international company, or a smaller, local one? What kinds of projects are you looking to work on?Knowing all of that will help you focus on your career path and chase the kinds of opportunities that match your interests, instead of settling for any job.2) Never Stop LearningEven after you’ve passed the PE exam, you need to keep working on your skills and knowledge. The world of engineering never stops advancing, so keeping up to speed with the latest developments is a must.Attend seminarsand webinars when you can, try out new courses or training options, look for additional certifications, and try to read as much online as you can.Make sure you don’t focus on your own discipline alone and try to branch out into rela ted fields as well. This kind of approach will make you a valuable asset to certain kinds of projects.3) Find a MentorThis can be a senior engineer who can teach you more about the actual job, but you can also find a mentor who can help you in other aspects of your career, like leadership, management, or research.eval4) Network With Fellow EngineersNetworking is about more than just looking for a job. First and foremost, it’s necessary for keeping up with the latest trends. And perhaps more importantly, it can put you in touch with like-minded individuals who can be an excellent sounding board for your ideas. Of course, you can also gain access to new projects through networking.Make sure you keep in touch with college classmates and former colleagues, attend conferences, and join any professional organizations in your area.Don’t forget that you need to be there for others as well. In other words, don’t just look for help: you need to be ready to provide it, too.5) Work on You r Soft SkillsevalWhile it’s certainly true that your engineering skills are what’s most important in your career, don’t forget that your soft skills also come into play. Depending on where your interests lie and what you’re good at, make sure you don’t neglect to work on your communication and leadership skills, as well as your problem solving and research abilities. These skills can make you stand out in a sea of other candidates vying for the same position.6) Build Your Portfolio of WorkIn the digital age, it’s becoming increasingly important to have a portfolio you can showcase. This can be your LinkedIn profile, a dedicated website or anything else you can think of that will show others what you’re good at and what kinds of projects you’ve worked on previously.Make sure to list more than just the names of projects or companies you’ve worked with. Go into more detail about the tasks that were involved, what you enjoyed most about the work, and what you’ve lear ned from it.7) Blog About EngineeringAnother great way to showcase your knowledge is to start a blog dedicated to engineering. This is where you can share some of your personal experiences and offer advice to others. You can also make your blog space where fellow engineers can meet to swap stories and look for help.Final ThoughtsEngineering can be an amazing career to pursue. But it is also a very competitive field, where you will need to hone your edge in more ways than one.Hopefully, our advice will help you not only get the engineering education you need but also work on your hard and soft skills to land your dream job. Be diligent about your work, give your best day in and day out, and you’ll be proud to see the results.