How to Get an Engineering Job?
Wasim Asghar 
June 14, 2023Are you a recent graduate striving to get an engineering job? You probably updated your resume multiple times. You published your CV, filled out questionnaires, and posted your details on as many employment sites, business career webpages, and job portals as possible.
You made connections, interacted with your instructors from college, and spoke to everyone you know, but nothing seemed to work out. So what are you missing out on?
How to get your foot into the engineering sector after your graduation?
If you are curious to find out the answers to these questions, keep reading, as this article will list all the essential steps and tips on how to get an engineering job.
So let’s dive into this article and start pulling out the curtains.
4 Steps to Get an Engineering Job
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get an engineering job:
- Take the FE Exam
- Connect with colleagues and executives
- Join Professional Organizations
- Research about potential employers
1. Take the FE Exam
A license is not mandatory for several entry-level engineering roles, although having at least cleared the FE examination can massively impact a resume.
The on-site, computer-based FE exam, which lasts six hours and has 110 problems, assesses candidates’ understanding of fundamental engineering concepts.
A passing score on the FE exam demonstrates to your prospective hiring managers that you are eligible to work and are committed to your profession. It is the stepping stone to getting a PE license to become a licensed engineer.
Once you ace your FE exam, you are granted the title of “Engineer in Training” (EIT) or “Engineer Intern” (EI). The EIT or EI certification shows that you have a good command of engineering basics and are progressing toward earning a PE license.
Having the FE exam under your belt is a terrific way to stand out from the numerous applicants you’ll be contending against and a huge step toward getting an engineering job.
2. Connect with colleagues and executives
It’s almost always correct that an individual’s network is more valuable than their expertise. This is particularly relevant when applying for engineering positions. Utilizing all the resources available on the internet, which is a massive repository of knowledge, will benefit you immensely.
It can be helpful to get in touch with a prospective employer through a university alum network or by seeking guidance from other alums who serve in the same sector.
In addition, it might help you find open opportunities and engage with persons in your area. LinkedIn and Facebook are both excellent resources for linking to an engineering community.
Ensure they are all aware of your employment search and seek their assistance. Think about keeping in touch with them regularly so people in your circle are informed of your quest for entry-level positions.
Communicate and interact with them once or twice a month; people tend to forget about us when we are out of sight.
3. Get Involved in Professional Societies
There are numerous state engineering societies spread out around the country. Once you’ve found your local chapter, go to sessions and conferences and interact with the director. Various organizations are pursuing fledgling engineers and are passionate about assisting individuals seeking engineering jobs.
Several individuals genuinely wish to support others as they begin their careers. Furthermore, getting involved in these organizations will help you develop your skills.
That is crucial both when commencing out and later on in your career. Finally, engineers must constantly be knowledgeable about and familiar with recent advancements in their related disciplines.
4. Research about potential employers
In the opinion of numerous individuals, the cover letter is the most crucial component of the overall application procedure. As a result, your cover letter while applying for a position should demonstrate that you are familiar with the organization.
In addition, you must show that you have conducted the necessary research when you are invited for an interview. You should be knowledgeable about these things before going for an interview:
- How many people work there?
- Does the firm operate globally?
- What major contenders does the firm have?
- Has there lately been a substantial change in the administration or personnel
- What significant breakthroughs is the corporation responsible for?
- What image does the firm hold in the country and worldwide?
While it’s improbable that the interviewer will interrogate you on these details throughout an interview, you may still make a good impression by infusing a portion of that information into your discussion.
Skills and Competencies Required to Get an Engineering Job
Following are the essential skills and competencies needed to get an engineering job:
1. Problem-solving Skills
Solving problems effectively is among the most important skills an engineer may have. A significant proportion of an engineer’s responsibilities involve analyzing a situation, detecting faults, and then proposing solutions. Hiring managers will like to witness that you can overcome challenges in your daily duties.
2. Teamwork Skills
An engineer rarely works alone on an engineering project without assistance from teammates or other experts. Therefore, teamwork skills are crucial for you to work with coworkers to succeed as a team and function to your maximum individual potential.
3. Communication Skills
When serving in an engineering job, you will frequently need to confer with other team members on designs or strategies. Collaboration requires the capability to communicate lucidly.
When operating with non-engineers, it is especially crucial since the engineer must simply translate and explain complex technical details so that those lacking technical knowledge can understand. In this manner, everyone engaged will be able to understand the possibilities and developments.
4. Attention to detail
One needs to pay close attention to detail if one wants to excel in a profession like engineering, where accuracy is essential. Minor mistakes in the formulation or implementation of technical plans might cause monetary damage and possibly harmful circumstances.
Therefore, organizations prefer candidates who can exhibit they can pay attention to all critical stuff without neglecting the minor ones.
5. Leadership Skills
Engineers are frequently put in a leadership role even when not ostensibly in a managerial post or given the responsibility of collaborating with other departments to implement strategies. Thus, an engineer who can inspire others is a vital employee and a fascinating prospect for any recruiter.
We have a separate article on essential engineering skills for career success. We suggest you give it a read to gain more clarity.
Electrical Engineer Average Salary
The average electrical engineer’s salary is $92,498 per year in the United States, which translates to $47.44 per hour.
Entry-level jobs in electrical engineering have a starting salary of $75,000 per year or $38.46 per hour. In contrast, the most experienced electrical engineers earn up to $120,000 per year or $61.54 per hour.
Conclusion
Still on the fence about how to find an engineering job?
We get it.
Getting an engineering job after earning your degree might be one of the most challenging things you will have to face in your career. Even if a budding engineer has completed apprenticeships, participated in job fairs, and done everything that college career counselors advised to help obtain that position, it might still seem like you are standing on square one.
We hope this article rendered an in-depth knowledge of how to get an engineering job. If you are interested in knowing the best engineering careers, we recommend you check out this detailed blog.
Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas (PE), Florida (PE) and Ontario (P. Eng) with consulting experience in design, commissioning and plant engineering for clients in Energy, Mining and Infrastructure.