What are the 6 Skills for Engineers Must Have To Increase Their Salary
Nowadays, engineering seems to be a norm that many young people consider in order to keep up with society’s demands of rapid changes, innovations, and advancements in technology.
Many specialized engineering courses have also been introduced, and the number of people taking career paths in engineering fields is gradually growing.
Competition is getting tougher, especially for young engineers who are new grads.
Several countries produce millions of engineers, but most end up in non-engineering fields or are obliged to settle for entry levels they don’t deserve.
You may not be competent enough even if you’re an engineering graduate.
But don’t lose hope just yet.
Here is a checklist for you to stand out and become the kickass engineer you want to be.
1. AUTOCAD SKILLS
We are in an age where engineering design is not confined to 2D blueprints or sketches alone.
Designs of components, structures, and architectural plans now heavily depend on 3D CAD designs, especially for intricate objects in manufacturing.
The ability to design with Auto CAD is a must for engineering and architecture people in these fields.
Having proficient CAD skills certainly gives you an advantage over other candidates.
If your institution does not offer to learn to use CAD software, crash courses are offered in other technical schools for several sessions.
There are CAD software programs and tutorials online, so you can study it yourself, too.
2. BASIC PROGRAMMING / IT SKILLS
At this point, hard sciences are converging with the digital world to be more efficient and productive.
Now, industries depend on heavy database management and automated components in industrial plants (Computer-integrated manufacturing).
Learning how to use programming languages and algorithms is also a plus. Even if you’re a computer engineering major, not all programming languages are taught in school.
There are also crash courses for this, such as learning SQL, Mathlab, COBOL, C#, .NET, Python, Java, or Ruby. If you plan to self-study, online tutorials and downloadable software programs are also available.
3. COMMUNICATION SKILLS
As engineers, we are given science and mathematical knowledge or technical skills.
However, presenting and relaying it effectively is another aspect. Being a persuasive presenter gives us opportunities to be an exceptional engineer.
We must learn how to balance technical and communication skills, as they are the keys to a successful professional career.
Some programs and workshops can help us enhance speech communication and presentation skills.
4. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
In our profession, we always coordinate with others or work as a team in a department.
Engineers also become project managers, and learning how to manage a project and a team gives you a successful career.
Having project management skills enables you to lead project or program teams and will eventually master the dynamics of a project.
From there, you can handle more complex projects and be appointed in leadership positions. You can also draw other professionals and open business and personal growth opportunities.
Institutions are offering Project Management as an elective and also a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
5. PROFESSIONAL LICENSE
As they say, licensure is the mark of a professional.
It means you are at the top of your game and your profession.
It is a standard recognized by the government, the clients, and companies, assuring skills and quality.
It has now become a requirement in several engineering firms and corporations.
Having a professional license gives the public approval to perform engineering work. It is also seen as a commitment to your profession and gives you more opportunities in your career.
6. GRADUATE DEGREES (MSc / MA / MBA / Engg D / PhD)
Today, several professional engineering societies are considering making a graduate degree the mandatory credential for would-be engineers.
To advance in managerial positions, they require a master’s degree in finance, business administration, or industrial engineering.
Millennial engineers opt to take master’s degree units and certifications while working to raise their credentials and the value of being a professional engineer.
Some high positions need a certain depth of knowledge and expertise in that engineering field, so these graduate courses come in as an advantage.
Engineers must not be limited to their majors but must continue to learn and be diverse in different fields.
Salary Increase Tips for Engineers
Engineers Who Want A Higher Salary Should Try These 4 Options
