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Why Technical Skills Alone Won’t Get You That Engineering Job

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Why Technical Skills Alone Won’t Get You That Engineering Job is a guest blog by Andrei Kurtuy

Technical SkillsTechnical skills are the tools of the trade for engineers. But don’t think for a second that the key to landing a great engineering job comes down to how your technical skills stack up against the competition.

Whether you’re a future or recent engineering graduate, or you’re well along in your career, looking for a new job is a situation you’re likely to face. Of course, you’ll want that job to be fulfilling and relevant to all that valuable training you’ve undertaken.

Well if you want to find your perfect job, you can’t let your technical background do all the talking. In today’s hyper-competitive work environment, recruiters are likely to receive hundreds of applications from people who (probably) have similar or better credentials than you.

So, what can you do to make your resume and cover letter grab an employer’s attention and land you a job interview? Redirect your attention. [Read more…] about Why Technical Skills Alone Won’t Get You That Engineering Job

TCEP 075: 5 Steps to Selecting 80/20 Goals to Boost your Civil Engineering Career

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5 Steps to Selecting 80/20 Goals to Boost your Civil Engineering Career

Selecting 80/20 GoalsIn episode 075 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am going to give you 5 steps for selecting 80/20 goals to boost your civil engineering career. I will also discuss how you can use Pareto Principle, which is also known as the 80/20 rule, to maximize your planning efforts.

Engineering Quotes:


Selecting 80/20 Goals
Selecting 80/20 Goals

Here are some key points discussed on selecting 80/20 goals:

[Read more…] about TCEP 075: 5 Steps to Selecting 80/20 Goals to Boost your Civil Engineering Career

Getting a PhD as an Engineer or Not- Engineering Career TV Ep. 10

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Q: What is the value of a PhD in Engineering?

Welcome to Episode #10 of Engineering Career TV. The topic for this episode is Getting a PhD as an Engineer or Not.

I will spend most of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted from engineers around the world on how to rapidly advance their careers and live the lives they want to live.

You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.

Let’s jump into today’s topic, Getting a PhD as an Engineer or Not, which is based on a question from Sagnik, who asks the following: [Read more…] about Getting a PhD as an Engineer or Not- Engineering Career TV Ep. 10

TECC 137: How to Make Career Changes in Your Engineering Career

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In this session of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast I am going to answer questions from our listeners on how to make career changes or shifts in your engineering career.

Engineering Quotes:

Here are the summary of questions and answers about career changes that we’ve discussed in this session:

Question:

  • I would like to know what I can do to get a job in an international firm?

Answer:

  • Make sure you have the right credentials.
  • Do your research on companies that work internationally, and build your network around those people.
  • Use LinkedIn to build your network around firms that do international work.
  • Reach out to your Alumni association for engineers that works internationally .

[Read more…] about TECC 137: How to Make Career Changes in Your Engineering Career

TECC 127: Engineering Career Questions on Career Path, Credentials, and Stagnation Answered

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Engineering CareerIn this episode of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast I am going to answer questions from our listeners asking for career advice.

Engineering Quotes:

Engineering Career

Engineering Career

Here are the summary of questions and answers we’ve discussed in this session:

Question:

Can you point me in a direction to learn more about small niche markets in the engineering profession?

Answer:

  • Talk to people in those specific engineering disciplines.
  • Interview people.
  • Go to professional engineering association meetings to find out what they do.

Question:

Do you need to have a knowledge of finance, business and marketing?

Answer:

  • Yes, you need to know something about all of these things, because this is what will make you stand out because most engineers don’t.
  • If you do this, you separate yourself and that is how you become a thought leader in your engineering industry.
  • If you can move beyond the technical aspect of your engineering career and engage people, then you will go into the next level where a lot of engineers are not.

Question:

I am worried that if I take an engineering project coordinator job, I would not be able to transition to the design aspect of my degree at a later date, if I decide to change my mind. Please can you advise on what I should do?

Answer:

  • I suggest that you take the construction engineering job, because going from construction to design is always very helpful.
  • Taking this job will help you to become an even better designer and make it easier to transition.
  • You will not be missing opportunities, you will be building experience in the field, which is the most valuable experience you can get.

Question:

I am interested in being an applications engineer. How do I get started while I’m waiting to enter school?

Answer:

  • Ask someone questions in applications engineering.
  • Read books about applications engineering.
  • Take certificate courses that can go onto your resume.

Question:

How can I make sure that my resume reaches the engineering hiring manager without going into the black hole?

Answer:

  • It all comes down to who you know.
  • The real question to you would be: “What have you done to put yourself in a position to get to know people and connect with people?”
  • You cannot rely on a website to give you an engineering job. If that’s what you are doing, then stop and rather try to connect with people.
  • Take the time to build the right relationships with the right people.

More in this episode…

In the Take Action Today segment of the show, I give you some advice on how you can get a career promotion.

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” – Kofi Annan

Books mentioned in this episode:

The One Minute Manager

The One Minute Manager

 

 

 

 

The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less

The 80/20 Principle

 

 

 

 

Resources and links mentioned in this session include:

TECC 126: Career Advice on How to Grow My CAD Business

Engicoach.com

What is your value proposition worth?

Please leave your comments, feedback or questions in the section below.

  • If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download.

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To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success

TECC 99: Engineering Degree and Credential Questions – Special Q&A Series from Engineering Management Institute and the WPI MBA Program 3 of 6

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credential

This podcast is the third of six special Q&A Series which air every first Friday of the month in addition to our regular episodes through May 2016. I answer more questions from our listeners asking for career advice.

credential Here is the summary of the questions and answers I’ve discussed in this session: [Read more…] about TECC 99: Engineering Degree and Credential Questions – Special Q&A Series from Engineering Management Institute and the WPI MBA Program 3 of 6

TECC 43: The Engineering Career Coach Podcast – Three Reasons Why Credentials are Important and Three Strategies on How to Get Them – EYOS Part 2 of 7

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engineering career

In this session of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast, I talk about why credentials are so important in your engineering career and give you some tips on how you can obtain the right ones.

I will also share with you my public pledge on one of my 2015 goals at the end of the podcast.

This episode is the second of the seven part Engineer Your Own Success podcast series which I am creating to celebrate one of my biggest goal of 2014 which was rewriting my updated and expanded edition of Engineer Your Own Success.

In our Take Action Today segment at the end of the show, I will give you a challenge that will definitely drive you in your engineering career.

“You don’t win the U.S. Open by being lucky, throw it up there and hope. He’s got credentials.” – Hale Erwin

Credentials are critical to advancement as an engineer. You should definitely consider obtaining some credentials in your engineering career that are aligned with your goals. When I say credentials, it could mean licenses, certifications, publications, or awards that you have received. In this episode, I will discuss three reasons why credentials are important and three strategies for how you can obtain them.

Importance of credentials: [Read more…] about TECC 43: The Engineering Career Coach Podcast – Three Reasons Why Credentials are Important and Three Strategies on How to Get Them – EYOS Part 2 of 7

Credentials Bring You Credibility

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The following is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of my soon to be launched book Engineer Your Own Success: 7 Key Elements to Creating an Extraordinary Engineering Career:

Your credentials represent measurable accomplishments in your career, which include your degrees, licenses, certifications, and any awards you may have won. Credentials are essential for several reasons, but the most important thing that credentials bring you is CREDIBILITY!

Whether you are trying to secure a job with a new employer or obtain a new client for your company, the more credibility you have, the easier it will be. This seems like an obvious point, but so many professionals fail to recognize the importance of credentials, therefore they don’t pursue them, which in turn drastically impedes their career development. [Read more…] about Credentials Bring You Credibility