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.

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

Starting a new job can be daunting. Leaving a role that you are comfortable in, or getting back into the workforce can bring its own doubts and fear. This is perfectly natural, but just remember why you are leaving your current engineering job for a new one.

We have tips to help you in your new role. Check out our five tips when starting a new role below.

LinkedIn can be so important when finding that new finance job. In the below slides we show you how LinkedIn can be Key to finding your next STEM role.

LinkedIn is one of the most widely used platforms, with over 800 million people from 200 countries and territories worldwide. The main reason for such a high number of users is the economic opportunities in various employment sectors. With the massive number of users comes high competition, and hence, it is necessary to create a LinkedIn profile that is attractive and unique. 

As a person associated with STEM, your profile needs to be optimized correctly for rapid growth and attracting high traffic.

If you find it hard to create a perfect STEM LinkedIn profile for yourself, we got you! 

This article discusses the most effective tips and strategies to help you create the most optimum STEM LinkedIn profile to increase your engagement. 

1. Keep the head statement engaging

The first thing that anyone will view or read on your STEM LinkedIn profile is your head statement. And hence it needs to be crisp and to the point without anything unnecessary. It should be 20 – 30 words short and easy to understand in one glance. 

For example, if you are an engineer, write about your stream, place of finishing your qualification, and current job position. Please do not include your skills, achievements, or other information, as you do not need it in the header. 

2. Be active and open to requests

It does not matter if people connecting have the same background as yours. What matters is the number of connections you make to expand your reach. And hence, be open to requests and connections and try communicating and spreading awareness about your motive through chat.

If your connection grows, you can head to emails as it is more appealing than the LinkedIn chatbox. 

Also, be active and consistent with replying and solving queries quickly without making anyone wait for your response. Doing this helps set a positive impression and keeps the person interested. 

3. Display a short and confident profile

Your  STEM LinkedIn profile is the major source of developing interest in people that pushes them to add you as a connection. Hence, your profile needs to deliver maximum information in the most innovative ways. 

The tone of your bio on your profile can either make or break your connection, so it needs to be highly engaging and confident. Try to include complete information creatively to generate interest among the readers. 

Another factor that influences your profile is the length of the summary. Nobody likes reading shabby long paragraphs, and hence, keep your bio short and to the point. 

4. Include your achievements

Another crucial step in optimizing your STEM LinkedIn profile is including all your achievements. Be it big or small, every accomplishment on your profile increases your value and makes people confident about your motives. 

You could also add images of certificates and letter recommendations, making your profile stronger. All your work experience, webinars, workshops, etc., can make a huge difference, so ensure making them a part of your profile.

 5. Keep it professional

LinkedIn is an economic platform used by professionals to expand their reach and build an audience for their brand. You need to understand that they are not your friends or family, and hence, you must maintain professionalism at all times. 

Be it your summary, posts, texts, or emails, all of them need to be written in a formal tone without any unwanted interferences. Even if you have been in touch with another profile for a long time, you still need to keep it professional. Interfering in someone’s personal life or passing personal comments can lower your image and ruin your connection. 

These were a few of the most effective tips and strategies you can use to create an attractive STEM LinkedIn profile. Follow each one carefully and watch your profile gain an audience in the shortest time.

STEM Life Changing

Think of what has been achieved by the world’s Scientists and Engineers in the past 12 months, innovating and working on solutions for the biggest crisis in modern times.

Employees with STEM backgrounds – Science Technology Engineering and Maths have more opportunities than ever before and will be expected to solve an endless number of problems. 

The Scientists of today have created vaccines to help put an end to the Covid-19 Crisis.  The Scientists and Engineers of tomorrow are likely to save the planet from Global Warming and maybe other unforeseen threats.

Every job seeker knows that preparing properly for an interview increases your likelihood of a successful interviewing outcome.  Simple logic. 

Another major benefit that is often understated, is the time a job-seeking candidate loses by entering into a lengthy interviewing process with the wrong type of employer only to end up turning down an offer or worse still, starting the role and realizing it was the wrong career move a few weeks in!

In short, if you learn as much as possible about the role, your potential new team, manager, the organization, and its future, then you are far more likely to land a great career move.