What can make you stand out as a candidate in a crowded field of talented engineers? The answers might surprise you. But what shouldn’t surprise you is the depth of talent in your field. Competition may often be stiff, especially from a technical standpoint. Given the qualifications and talent in the market, it’s essential to stand out amongst the crowd. Here’s what can help you shine a spotlight on your career and your potential.
Communication Skills
As is the case in almost every profession where one works with other people, communication skills are critical to getting the job done. Don’t let the general nature of this common soft skill lull you into thinking that it is not important. Communication skills include speaking, writing, listening, and you can’t have good communication skills without the others. Above all, good communication skills are about the ability to share information with coworkers, clients, and supervisors in such a way that results in understanding and collaboration. Which leads to our next skill.
Collaboration Skills
Just as most professionals work closely with other professionals, it is rare to see each member of staff work exclusively within their own niche. Team dynamics depend on employees’ abilities to work with each other and build on each other’s ideas. Collaboration, or teamwork as it is often referred to in job descriptions, is the ability to work well with other people from a variety of different backgrounds and mindsets. Keeping that in mind, it’s good to recall positive examples of your teamwork skills in action to show rather than tell an interviewer what a great collaborator you are.
Creativity and Adaptability
Creativity and adaptability are two soft skills that might not always be called on within the engineering profession, but the ability to solve problems certainly will be. To have the opportunity to progress within your career, you need to show your employers that you can think outside the box, respond well to unexpected scenarios, and provide solutions to the types of problems that regularly occur within your field. Innovation and a nimble-mindedness can help to put you in advantageous situations where your engineering abilities and your creativity are both valuable assets.
Leadership Skills
Lastly, but certainly not least important, are leadership skills. Like communication, many applicants may present themselves as having high-quality leadership skills without actually knowing what is required to exemplify this soft skill. Leadership is made up of a variety of essential abilities. This includes risk assessment, taking initiative, the ability to engage and motivate other team members, decision-making skills, resourcefulness, trust, and loyalty, to have and deliver on long term goals, and the ability to provide products on time and despite obstacles. This is a skill necessary for engineers looking to make a difference.
Contact ESGI for Setting Yourself Up for Success
These soft skills might seem like the filler material for a technical resume, but they are very helpful in setting yourself up for success in a crowded market. Make sure to share examples of these soft skills in light of your engineering accomplishments to help get the attention of your interviewers. Contact ESGI today!
