Today, the engineering landscape is more diverse than ever before. Students who graduate with an engineering degree can choose from numerous different specialties. The opportunity to continue learning is also available, with countless focus areas and subcategories that lead to unique fields including finance, marketing and management among others.
Thanks to advances in technology, engineering now extends far beyond electrical, industrial and mechanical professions. Those in the computing, medical and transportation industries are good examples. What you can do in these sectors depends on your experience and qualifications.
For instance, a two-year associate’s degree typically provides the foundational skills required for immediate employment, albeit with some limitations. You may enter positions such as research assistant or consumer goods tester.
Acquiring a professional engineers (PE) license and bachelor’s degree allows you to move further. With an appropriate master’s degree, you can find yourself in exciting fields including aeronautical and chemical engineering.
Regardless of where you currently stand in your career, setting your sights on the next level is always wise. Keep reading to learn how you can reach it. We’ll also detail the main engineering career paths and their earning potential. Ready? Let’s get started.
Build Your Portfolio
Chances are that you’ve already worked for at least one company. It’s important to record the associated projects, designs and outcomes, as well as any accomplishments that were made along the way.
Some engineers take the time to write case studies highlighting their most noteworthy results. This information is included in their resume, website and online profiles. Adding content to your portfolio and ensuring that it’s visible to the right people opens the door for opportunities outside of your current workplace.
Keep Networking
Your portfolio, no matter how impressive, will be of little use if you’re the only one who can see it. The common adage “never stop networking” applies just as much to engineering as anywhere else. Making connections and maintaining relationships is vital. It’s an ongoing process that may be tackled in several different ways. For instance, you can:
- Join professional organizations
- Speak with classmates and professors
- Stay in touch with former colleagues and managers
- Attend industry events and conferences
- Build online connections through social media
Plan Ahead
Before we go any further, take a moment to look ahead. Have you established where you want to be a year from now? What about the following year, or in five years? How do you plan to get there?
Perhaps you want to learn new disciplines. Maybe your goal is to enter a leadership position. You might be set on moving to another company or even starting your own business. It’s a good idea to map out your vision and create milestones for achieving your goals. Determine actionable steps and use deadlines to stay on track.
Continue Learning
Aside from heading back to university, there are many other ways for engineers to continue learning and acquiring valuable knowledge that leads to new discoveries. Of course, the internet is a useful tool here.
Head online to discover the latest trends in your discipline and related fields. While you may be focused on a specific profession, investigating surrounding areas can expose you to new opportunities in an ever-growing engineering sector.
You don’t necessarily have to spend money or dedicate yourself to full-time courses. There are countless educational resources available for engineers to leverage, ranging from blogs and videos to webinars and workshops. Obtaining certifications can help you strengthen your resume while learning practical skills.
In a world where technology is evolving at lighting pace, engineers must recognize the importance of lifelong learning and practice it regularly to prevent stagnation.
Seek Mentorship
Acquiring new information is certainly paramount to your professional development. That said, some knowledge can only be sourced from those who already walked the path that lies ahead of you.
This is especially true for wisdom, which comes in the form of lessons learned through experiences and mistakes that you don’t have to bear the burden of. You might know and admire someone who can serve as a mentor if you ask them. Avoid missing the chance to hear their advice, as mentorships are usually available to a lucky few.
Arrange regular meetings with your mentor to discuss work, share experiences and ask for guidance on achieving your career goals. It may prove to be an incredibly valuable relationship.
Study Online
Many engineers reach positions where they are unable to continue studying. Whether it’s insufficient funding, flexibility or free time, present hurdles can put returning to university out of the question. Even if you’re in the opposite boat, it’s wise to consider online options when looking for courses.
As detailed in this article about online MBA degrees for engineers, there are several advantages to taking your program entirely over the internet. This includes lower tuition fees and more specialized courses, as well as:
- Access to extensive alumni network and industry connections
- Custom learning environment tailored to your needs
- Part time programs that enable working on the side
- Ability to study at your own pace
- Immediate exam results
Improve Your Soft Skills
While additional courses and work experience can equip you with the necessary technical skills, that alone is no longer enough. Your industry-specific skills should be complemented by a range of soft skills.
Modern companies favor engineers who display proficiency in areas such as communication, organization, teamwork and problem-solving. Dedicate some time to mastering the soft skills that are relevant to your field. In doing so, you will become a more well-rounded and attractive candidate.
In addition to the aforementioned factors, pay attention to your adaptability, creativity, leadership and interpersonal skills. Some areas of engineering also value customer service expertise.
Remember to showcase your skills. For instance, you can convey your openness and dedication to learning by listing the courses and workshops that you’ve completed in your portfolio. This indicates that you’re willing to go the extra mile and venture into unfamiliar territory, which is key criteria in promotions.
Develop Business Skills
Whether you dream of eventually starting your own business or you enjoy being part of an existing one, there’s much to gain from understanding what makes companies tick.
Investigating the inner workings of your organization is an enlightening process that can provide the tools you need to advance. Focus on departments such as finance, sales and operations. The insights you discover will help you become an informed and versatile engineer who knows their way around the workplace.
Request Stretch Assignments
As you may already know, stretch assignments involve taking on projects or tasks that lie beyond your current capabilities. They typically demand knowledge or skills that you still need to learn. This places you in challenging and uncomfortable situations that “stretch” you developmentally, which facilitates growth.
If you want to climb the ladder, prove it by asking to participate in stretch assignments. You can also move towards leadership roles when starting projects.
Chances are that you can always have a discussion with management about taking on more responsibilities. At worst, you’ll show initiative and increase the likelihood of being considered for future promotions.
Give Back
There’s more to moving up than networking and learning. People in the realm of engineering are always looking for new answers and solutions. Reputable sources of insight are considered authority figures in their field. You don’t necessarily have to become famous.
For instance, you may build your presence and portfolio by creating a blog for sharing industry knowledge. Local engineering schools and events often welcome speakers who can give their advice. Platforms such as YouTube can be leveraged to reach a large audience through unique and informative videos.
The activity you choose will be something outside of your day job. Over time, and with any reasonable success, your efforts are bound to capture the attention of companies that are seeking your talent.
Choose Your Destination
Finally, you need to know where you’re headed. As we touched on earlier, it’s imperative that you create a clear map of your career path. For a bit of perspective, let’s end by exploring the annual salary ranges of common engineering fields based on estimates from Indeed. Keep in mind that you can earn more depending on where you work.
- Aerospace – $83k to $129k
- Agriculture – $44k to $106k
- Architecture – $48k to $100k
- Automobiles – $50k to $104k
- Biomedicine – $49k to $94k
- Environmental – $50k to $97k
- Electrical – $88k to $113k
- Hardware – $62k to $130k
- Industrial – $51k to $97k
- Mining – $55k to $117k
- Software – $60k to $125k
- Water Resources – $54k to $94k
Needless to say, that compensation shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor in your decision. You’ll spend the majority of your waking life in your chosen specialty, so it’s wise to opt for what you find interesting, meaningful, rewarding and suited to your strengths. Sticking to your current career path may turn out to be the best option.
So, where will your ambitions take you? Opportunities abound in today’s flourishing engineering sector. It’s up to you to make the most of them. Keep climbing and it won’t be long before you find yourself at the summit.
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