JOIN USRaghu completed his degree course in engineering in 2017, and he is yet to find a job. The college placement officer told him that it was recession and they could not assist in placing him in a good company. He has been trying for a year to find a job in his field of study. It is not just Raghu who is in this dilemma - several other engineering graduates are also facing a similar situation.
Though many students graduate from engineering colleges every year, only about 30% of them get jobs while the rest either remain unemployed or take up jobs that are not related to their field. 'What is the reason for this unemployment or underemployment?' and 'What does the industry expect from an engineering graduate?' are some of the questions that are frequently asked.
Stay ahead of the game
Due to rapid changes taking place in the industry globally, employers are now looking to hire engineers who can grow with the changes and have the skills to inspire a team. Hence, every fresher entering the workforce needs to clearly define what his or her expectations from a job are. It is essential for graduates to get a job where their skills, interests, and aspirations lie. Here are some ways that help you gain an understanding of industry expectations and increase the chances of getting the right job.
Avoid textbook information and be 'inno-creative': Most often, organisations look for candidates who can think beyond books and submit their ideas vibrantly. You need to be rational and think out of the box. Confining yourself to academic knowledge may not make you a bright engineer. An ideal candidate would think like an inventor. So, work on projects that bring about a radical change in the world. Companies are always seeking wonder brains that come up with innovative ideas.
Be up to date on technology innovations: What appears true today, might become obsolete tomorrow. Hence, you should always advance your skills to match the latest in technology. Individuals who fail to stay updated might become jobless. An engineer is expected to be up to date to broaden his or her prospect of knowledge as per the latest trends.
Multitasking: As an engineer, it is important to multitask. An engineer might be assigned to shoulder quite a lot of responsibilities at the same time. It is at this time, that the ability to multitask becomes extremely crucial. An engineer or manager is expected to multitask in his organisation. For instance, while he or she plays the navigator to his or her teammates, he or she may concurrently be expected to handle client queries. If you want to move ahead in the engineering or management field, sharpen your multitasking abilities.
Get yourself ready for globetrotting: As engineers move up the ladder, they will be expected to travel places and meet senior level individuals in different countries. They will be asked to share knowledge or information and give presentations. Some may be hesitant to travel for work. This is not welcomed from engineers who wish to accomplish something different in their field. They should come out of their
comfort zone and must be always excited to travel places and seize new opportunities.
Communication skills: An engineering graduate should have excellent communication skills if he or she wishes to be hired into a reputed organisation. All the complicated theories and laws are of no use if the candidate is not able to present their thoughts clearly. Sound knowledge of English and the ability to communicate effectively play a crucial role. As good communication skills are crucial for workplaces, prospective engineers need to get trained to talk well. There are several crash courses that ensure you get a grasp on the right accent.
Be a leader: While many engineering graduates clear their degree with distinction and a university rank, only a few possess leadership skills. If you wish to be hired by one of the leading companies, you must have the ability to lead. At the time of interview, do not hesitate to tell the interviewers about the different academic events when you led a team.
Be ambitious: If you choose to work in the private sector, you may face various ups and downs. Individuals who are hesitant to face risks or give up too easily may not be able to move ahead quickly. Constant self-motivation is a must to make dreams turn into reality. You need to be strong-minded and ambitious if you wish to be a successful engineer.
Learnability: The constantly changing trends in today's world compel engineers to be life-long learners! Learnability is the ability to generalise a specific knowledge and apply in various contexts. Industries expect engineers to have the zeal along with the ability to learn new tools and techniques.
Intrapreneur: A sense of ownership is always expected from the employees. He or she must be an intrapreneur or corporate entrepreneur. An engineer should leave a mark in every product or service delivered by her or him. The sense of ownership results in the completion of tasks with maximum efficiency.
Positive attitude: The importance of having a positive attitude for a successful career in the engineering field cannot be overlooked. When something goes wrong, you can either blame your situations or look at ways of making the situation better. Hence, it is expected that engineers consider such a situation as an opportunity to learn.
So, keeping these in mind, try again and most importantly, don't give up.