Ten Tips for Advancing Your Engineering Carer
Take Some Time to Plan Your Career
Believe it or not, engineers rarely take the time needed to plan out their careers, although they are meticulous in a lot of other areas of their lives. Because of this, it is often hard for engineers to advance in their own careers. So, take some time at least twice a year to really think about your own career goals. This will give you a big picture view of what you want out of your career and plan out a path for getting there. If you don’t know what the end goal for your career is it will be impossible to progress in a meaningful way.
Build a Resume That Sets You Apart
The probability that you will reach your goals staying at the same company throughout your career is pretty slim. For that reason, you should be sure that your resume is always up to date and be sure it shines. The most important thing to do when crafting a great resume is to display what you are capable of, don’t just list off job history. For instance, if you helped a company you worked for reach certain growth goals, be sure to include that on your resume.
Continue Learning
Another key piece of advice engineers need to keep in mind when they are trying to advance in their careers is they need to master the tools of the trade. Continue learning every chance you get and master commonly used programs and engineering tools. You can master these things by continuing to reading up on industry literature, such as manuals and articles. All in all, it is important to have a true understanding of the best practices in your industry.
Step Up and Do Things Others Don’t Want To
Another great way to advance your engineering career is by stepping up to the plate and performing tasks others may not want to. Doing things that need to be done but may be outside your job description will help set you apart from others. When the time rolls around for a promotion or raise, your contributions won’t go unnoticed.
Don’t Get Comfortable
No matter how much you learn or how far you advance, there is always a potential to learn and do more. Never feel satisfied with the knowledge you have and always strive to learn more. This will also help ensure your skills don’t become outdated and help you remain a valuable part of any company’s staff.
Your Job Doesn’t Stop When You Leave
Go home and experiment with engineering ideas. There is nothing an employer loves to see more than an employee who continues learning and improving outside the workplace. This is especially true when you are interviewing for new positions. If you are able to bring in a project you’ve been working on at home, it shows initiative and motivation. Designing something on your own time is a sure-fire way to stand out.
Guide Your Conversations
Learn how to control the conversations you have surrounding your career. If you are interviewing for a new job, there will be questions that arise that you’d prefer not to answer. You should know how to deflect the answer and then begin talking about something you would like for your potential employer to know. Knowing how to guide the conversation is key.
Pursue Higher Education
Look into how you can pursue further certification or higher education. Having an extra license, a Master’s degree, or even Ph.D., will help set you apart from your peers. Depending on the area of engineering you work in, there may also be certifications you can pursue that will make you more valuable.
Look for a Mentor
Finding a mentor is another great way to elevate your career a step above other engineers. This individual can also help answer questions you may have about advancing your career based on their own experience. They are also typically willing to ask harder questions to help you see your career path in a different light.
Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Nowadays, it is a good idea to establish yourself as a professional on social media as well. Make sure your social profiles demonstrate that you are professional. Beyond that, you should also make it easy for other people in your field to find you online. Oftentimes, employers may use social profiles to fill in gaps in your resume.
Need Help Getting Connected To Top Engineering Positions? Burnett Specialists Can Help!
Anyone looking to expand their career should consider working with a staffing agency. Search Burnett Specialists’ open positions to see how our firm can help you advance your engineering career.
