Engineering recruitment can be a tricky task, as it’s very difficult to find a candidate that ticks all the necessary boxes. Not only this, but it can be easily as challenging to know exactly which boxes you need your prospective engineers to tick and how to recruit engineers effectively. When we think of engineers, we think of maths, construction, and analysis; however, there are so many other aspects to consider on top of this. When recruiting engineers, look out for the following traits, and you’re sure to find a worthy candidate for the position at hand.
Teamwork
When recruiting engineers, courtesy and tact go a long way in building team trust. Project details are often presented to managers and customers, and these interactions may become confrontational. An engineer must understand everybody’s position and should not feel attacked, keep team members informed, and always present facts accurately.
Continuous learning
As far as engineering recruiting is concerned, it must be understood that engineers are curious by nature. They are interested in understanding how things work. This gives them a natural aptitude for learning and allows them to continue building their knowledge. In modern times, technology changes quickly, so it is critical to constantly learn and stay up to date. Successful engineers never assume they know everything.
Creativity
Quality engineer recruitment involves engineers who are able to bring passion, creative solutions, and big ideas to the table. These candidates are more valuable, as businesses depend on creativity to efficiently resolve problems or improve the efficiency of existing systems and processes. Simultaneously, a successful engineer needs to be attentive to practicality when proposing a creative solution, which entails being creative.
Problem-solving
To effectively solve problems, an engineer must also be able to truly listen to the problem ‘owner’. By attentively listening, an engineer can fully comprehend what the problem consists of and provide solutions from a well-informed standpoint.
Analytical ability
The ability to effectively solve issues goes together with the ability to properly evaluate problems. Engineers are required to think analytically to create solutions. Analysing a project scope or product specification ensures that an engineer fully understands the relevant requirements and efficiently applies resources to achieve the optimal outcome. Various methodologies may have to be tested before committing resources to guarantee a successful solution.
Communication skills
Engineers communicate with people at many different levels, from unskilled workers to directors. The ability to communicate in a respectful, clear, and concise manner is critical to ensure that the core message is effectively relayed.
Logical thinking
Successful engineers are naturally curious and always looking for ways to make things better. They must be able to analyse an existing system to understand how the different pieces work individually and as a unit.
Attention to detail
Successful engineers pay meticulous attention to the smallest of details. They understand that the slightest error may cause a structure to fail, a system to malfunction, or software to glitch. The smallest error can cost a significant amount of money or, in some cases, be fatal.
Mathematical ability
Engineers must be well-versed in trigonometry and calculus to use software packages and be able to interpret the results derived from them. They must be able to understand the type of calculations required to ensure the correct type of simulation is performed, and that models are correctly defined when performing simulations.
Leadership
A successful engineer needs to tick all the engineering hard skills boxes listed above, like maths knowledge and analytical ability, but they also need well-developed soft skills so they can smoothly perform non-technical duties. People who are charismatic, articulate, and friendly are normally well-liked, and can easily garner support.
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