Recent graduates usually have difficulty finding work once they leave school, but engineering students can be especially unprepared for these challenges. High salaries and relatively rosy job prospects attract many to the occupation, yet some new professionals may take a full year to land a job in their fields.
While engineering companies need to find young workers to replace retiring specialists, recent graduates may have difficulty standing out from the competition. It takes resourcefulness and foresight to develop the cutting-edge skills necessary to land a great job straight out of university.
However, it is possible to achieve that goal. If you’re an engineering student, you just need to focus your efforts. A clear direction will help you apply yourself more efficiently so you can take advantage of the right opportunities.
The following are just a few tips that will help you find the right position for your skills. You’ll appear more qualified if you follow through on these strategies.
1. Land a Prestigious Internship
This advice will seem a bit obvious to some. Obviously, it’s crucial to establish your reputation with well-known companies and engineering firms. Yet it bears repeating that internships are extremely important from a hiring manager’s perspective.
Experience is everything within a job market. It shows employers that you can apply the principles and practices you learned in school to real-world scenarios. A prestigious internship demonstrates value to hiring managers. These positions expose you to innovative techniques and processes, as well as on-the-job experience, which will be valuable assets in any position you apply for.
2. Make the Most of Your Projects While You’re Still in School
Experience doesn’t have to come from an internship or placement alone. Initiative is key to landing a position at engineering companies. You’ll be more likely to impress employers if can show your ability to go above and beyond the call of duty.
You need to make the most of every opportunity, and this includes your school projects. Think about how you can apply your skills to something that’s useful to your industry or your area of interest. If you can demonstrate your skill in these fields, you’ll show hiring managers that you mean business.
3. Seek Extra Credentials
You need to gain any possible advantage in a competitive job market. Basic accomplishments and accreditations are rarely enough to secure a position at engineering companies. Every additional qualification could give you the edge you need to beat out other contenders.
That’s why you should consider pursuing licensure during or immediately after your education. Achieving Professional Engineer status can help set you apart from other recent graduates. It reinforces your credibility and proves you’re capable of the duties that a job entails.
4. Network Extensively
Education and experience can only take you so far. In the end, people tend to trust those they know above complete strangers. You need qualifications to do the job, but you won’t ever get to apply those skills if you can’t get your foot in the door.
Industry connections can help you gain access to your dream job. Go to networking events and trade meetings to develop these working relationships. You need to meet employers on a human level before you can convince them of your value as a potential worker.
5. Work with an Engineering Recruitment Company
If you can’t find a job right out of school, consider working with an engineering recruitment company.
A recruiter can match your skills with a reputable firm, which will allow you to gain valuable experience within your area of expertise. You can overcome a range of employment hurdles when you develop your skills with a recruiter.
To read more on this topic check out these other blogs:
The Top Engineering Jobs in Canada
What Engineering Jobs Are in Demand?
What Job Seekers Should Look for in an Engineering Staffing Agency
