Tips on Searching for Engineering and Tech Jobs/Internships
The Engineering and Technology career field requires specialized high skills, thus, representing an opportunity for professionals to enjoy what they do along with a prosperous financial reward. As a new graduate or soon-to-be new graduate in the field, there are avenues to consider in landing your best possible entry-level position. In understanding your own skills, abilities, and values you can navigate the search successfully to ensure that the positions you apply for and ultimately sign-up for aligns with your “why”. Here are some key factors and tips to guide you in the process to gain interest and attention from potential employers.
Factor A – Preparation
- Know Yourself: Get to know yourself. Identify and understand your strengths, values, passions, and interest areas.
- Network & Research Career Field: Engage with professionals in the field, to learn and understand their experience and learn more about different sectors and types of positions in the industry. This can be done through informational interviews and job shadowing. Utilize LinkedIn and Pitt Commons to establish networking and mentoring relationships specific to your professional goals. Access Pitt Commons Link. Study job descriptions and requirements carefully to understand current employment and employer trends, and the world of work as it is “today” for engineering and technology. This will provide you not just insight into the industry but also insight into where your interests and values lie, and in turn, facilitate your personal statement and cover letter writing.
- Resume: Make sure your resume is polished and updated. You may like a refresher – feel free to read our September blog on resume writing tips: The Engineering/Tech Resume. Seek assistance from Pitt’s Career Center and utilize the online resume review resource, VMOCK
- Join Professional Organizations: Professional organizations bring a magnitude of information and opportunity through networking, published articles to remain current and relevant in the latest trends and breakthroughs, mentoring, professional development, socializing and more. Many professional organization websites also have a built-in career search platform or employment opportunities listings. Here are a few examples of professional organizations:
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- National Society of Professional Engineers
- American Institute of Engineers
- American Society for Engineering Management
- Society of Women Engineers
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- American Society of Engineering Education
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society
- Biomedical Engineering Society
- National Association of Environmental Professionals
- Association for Computing Machinery
- Agile Alliance
- ASIS International
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
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Factor B – The Search:
- Identify your dream position & know your expectations
- Be Proactive and Organized: Plan, do your research, and set SMART goals
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- S-Specific
- M-Measurable
- A-Attainable
- R-Relevant
- T-Time-oriented
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- Stay positive: Don’t become discouraged. Mohammed Gandhi once said: “Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.”
- Time Management: Create a road map and timeline
- Be selective (however do leave room for flexibility) of employer and industry
- Expand your search area
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- Utilize the career center resources
- Attend career fairs
- Reach out to your network
- When searching use keyword search and company name
- O*Net Online is a great resource for exploring occupations and related job titles
- Reach out to employers directly
- Search the official website for the career page
- Connect with their campus recruiter on LinkedIn
- Share your resume and cover letter with hiring managers
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- Apply! Apply! Apply! Persevere! Remember as a new graduate your primary goal is to enter the industry area. Each application and each interview serve as steps forward and a learning opportunity. It is recommended that you apply to multiple positions.
- The average candidate will receive 1 interview request for every 6 applications they submit. U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-9/how-do-jobseekers-search-for-jobs.htm
- Resources and Listing Sites
Thomas A. Edison: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
