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        Advice to Engineers, the importance of selling your soft skills to potential employers’

        Soft Skills to excel your engineering job search

        There is no doubt about it, today’s engineering marketplace has never been more competitive. Add in remote working and the competition for positions increases.  In the space of two short years the working world has changed significantly. As employees we need to change and adapt with it.

        You are not just a qualified engineer; you are a well-rounded individual with personality that can add value to organisations. In today’s world this is more important than ever as employers want personnel that can fit well with their established teams to complete deadlines on projects.

        Engineering organisations want you to slot into their cultural fit because according to breathe employees are:

        • Happier
        • Stay longer
        • Engaged with the company
        • Have increased productivity

        Another change in recent years is the rise of social media. It is now common for engineering companies and hiring managers to look you up on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok before they shortlist you for interview. 

        Engineers are problem solvers, create solutions and have impressive skills but what can sperate you from your competition is your “soft skills”. How your present yourself professionally is an important factor when trying to win the job race.

        Get ahead of other engineering professionals by upgrading your soft skills

        So, what are these soft skills that help me get ahead in your career?

        Adaptability:

        To work and perform well in most environments you will need to be able to adapt to changing situations and be open to new technologies and ways of thinking. This soft skill might be a new way of thinking or a change of mindset for an engineer.

        Its natural for people to resist change and revert back ‘’to the old way’’ of doing things. Being open to change and being flexible may help you get that promotion your after or that new role you have dreamed of.

        Interpreting Body Language:

        Reading a room and your ability to pick up other people’s body language can help pick up on unspoken issues.  This social skill may help you come across more empathetic to colleagues by altering your verbal messages.

        Having self-awareness of your own body language can also influence the way others respond to you. According to Indeed “Being highly aware of your own body language can influence your productivity and reputation in your workplace”

        Listening Skills:

        The ability to listen and truly take on what is being said in a conversation, presentation or meeting is really a vital skill in today’s workforce. Listening and active listening is more than just nodding your head, making umm sounds and making eye contact.

        Listening is about taking on board what is being said engaging with the content of the conversation. Taking on necessary action if action is required and refer back to the speaker if further clarification is needed. This is a simple soft skill but requires attention and concentration.

        Self Confidence:

        Not to be mistaken with arrogance or cocky but having self-confidence about your own abilities from past experiences and your qualifications is something you will need to get ahead in your career.

        The ability to have confidence talking about previous projects and their results in interviews will carry you a long way in your engineering career.

        Sociable

        Having the ability to hold a conversation with people from different backgrounds is an important skill to get ahead in your career. At conferences or any other events you never know who you could meet, it could be someone who could have a great influence on your career.

        Having strong social skills will help you integrate into different teams quickly. According to a recent study by HR Digest, people who have the added advantage of social skills along with their technical skills have more job opportunities and higher wages.

        Developing soft skills can be difficult especially if your introverted by nature. However, by joining sports and social clubs you can meet likeminded people which can help develop this skill.

        These soft skills will help you in your career to get ahead. If you feel that you’re lacking in any area there are courses out there to help you. To progress in your career don’t get too comfortable, push yourself to get to the next level of your engineering career.  Always seek out the best opportunities for you and your growth.

        For more career advice get in touch with us today

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        • 1

          "STEM Recruitment Partners are brilliant at what they do! Throughout the application process, CV prep, Interview prep, communication, and organisation all top notch couldn't recommend them more."

          - John O Dwyer

        • 2

          "Can't recommend STEM Recruitment Partners enough. Very helpful and will answer all your questions. "

          - Jp Rawle

        • 3

          "I would highly recommend STEM Recruitment Partners for the engineering job opportunities in Ireland and I couldn't give anything less than 5 Stars. I had a wonderful experience they really supported and guided me through each and every phase of th..." Read more

          - George Baby

        • 4

          "Excellent service and the support STEM RP provided was great throughout the application process. Would highly recommend STEM RP!"

          - Bismay Kumar

        • 5

          "We worked with Teresa in 2022 to help fill our requirement for new project engineers within the company. Teresa’s approach to understand our business needs was fantastic and coupled with her positive attitude Teresa delivered some great candidates..." Read more

          - John, Engineering Manufacturer, Cork

        • 6

          "''I cannot praise STEM Recruitment Partner's services enough. Derek, in particular, has supported me through the entire recruitment process and I am now due to start the job I have ever dreamed of.''   STEM RP are a re..." Read more

          - Costanza Sirabella | Senior QA Engineer

        • 7

          "''Derek and the team at STEM were excellent to deal with. They gave me great support. The whole process was straightforward and efficient. Thanks, Derek and team.''   STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialisin..." Read more

          - Nigel McElligott | Senior Engineer

        • 8

          "‘Teresa placed me in a position a number of years ago and every step of the recruitment process (and aftercare) was flawless. Teresa took the time to understand my background and personal circumstances, and ensured the position I sought was aligne..." Read more

          - Kevin Hosford | Senior Mechanical Engineering

        • 9

          "“Teresa Tyler is an exceptional Recruiter and Account Manager, having known her for many years. Her attention to the unique detail of the organisation so as to get the right person for the position is to me, her hallmark. I totally recommend her t..." Read more

          - John Cahill, | HR & H&S, Weener Plastics Ltd

        • 10

          "In my opinion Derek & Teresa are the best recruiters I know and have previously worked with. I recommend them highly to those making a career move and to employers looking for staff!   STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, speciali..." Read more

          - Service Delivery Manager | Stephen McNally

        • 11

          ""Derek Perill is an outstanding recruiter and in addition his business consulting experience, adds real competitive value to companies looking to improve their internal hiring processes. We look forward to working with Derek and the team at ST..." Read more

          - Unison Engineering | Colm Ring

        1

        John O Dwyer

        STEM Recruitment Partners are brilliant at what they do! Throughout the application process, CV prep, Interview prep, communication, and organisation all top notch couldn’t recommend them more.

        2

        Jp Rawle

        Can’t recommend STEM Recruitment Partners enough. Very helpful and will answer all your questions.

        3

        George Baby

        I would highly recommend STEM Recruitment Partners for the engineering job opportunities in Ireland and I couldn’t give anything less than 5 Stars. I had a wonderful experience they really supported and guided me through each and every phase of the recruitment process

        4

        Bismay Kumar

        Excellent service and the support STEM RP provided was great throughout the application process. Would highly recommend STEM RP!

        5

        John, Engineering Manufacturer, Cork

        We worked with Teresa in 2022 to help fill our requirement for new project engineers within the company. Teresa’s approach to understand our business needs was fantastic and coupled with her positive attitude Teresa delivered some great candidates.

        Our aim was to fill one role but due to the high level of candidate’s provided we filled two engineer positions, and both are still with us today in late 2023 and proving to be an integral part of our company. We look forward to working with Teresa again in the near future to assist us in the recruitment of critical engineering roles within the business.

        6

        Costanza Sirabella | Senior QA Engineer

        ‘I cannot praise STEM Recruitment Partner’s services enough. Derek, in particular, has supported me through the entire recruitment process and I am now due to start the job I have ever dreamed of.”

         

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

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        7

        Nigel McElligott | Senior Engineer

        ”Derek and the team at STEM were excellent to deal with. They gave me great support. The whole process was straightforward and efficient.
        Thanks, Derek and team.”

         

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

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        8

        Kevin Hosford | Senior Mechanical Engineering

        ‘Teresa placed me in a position a number of years ago and every step of the recruitment process (and aftercare) was flawless. Teresa took the time to understand my background and personal circumstances, and ensured the position I sought was aligned with my expectations’’

         

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

        9

        John Cahill, | HR & H&S, Weener Plastics Ltd

        “Teresa Tyler is an exceptional Recruiter and Account Manager, having known her for many years. Her attention to the unique detail of the organisation so as to get the right person for the position is to me, her hallmark. I totally recommend her to employers looking for real talent solutions”

        10

        Service Delivery Manager | Stephen McNally

        In my opinion Derek & Teresa are the best recruiters I know and have previously worked with. I recommend them highly to those making a career move and to employers looking for staff!

         

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

        Stem Navy Logo

        11

        Unison Engineering | Colm Ring

        “Derek Perill is an outstanding recruiter and in addition his business consulting experience, adds real competitive value to companies looking to improve their internal hiring processes. We look forward to working with Derek and the team at STEM Recruitment Partners as we scale up”

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

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