Congratulations on completing your engineering degree! You’ve got a bright future ahead of you. Engineers are in high demand at home and internationally. As you embark on your professional journey, you’ll likely have many questions about how to land your first job.
Luckily, you can break the process into three simple steps: the preparation stage, the application stage, and the interview stage. Aided by your professional network, a top resume, and a willing mock interview participant, you’ll be on your way to your dream entry role in no time. In this article, we’ll dive into how you can land your first engineering job, one step at a time.
Table of Contents
Craft A Standout Application
First, you need to prepare your application. This is your chance to set yourself apart from other applicants, so it’s wise to invest time into crafting something really standout.
Polish Your CV
To land the best job, you must present your best work. Use an online CV maker to help create something concise, relevant and impressive that is presented in an easily readable format and sets a good first impression. Present your academic qualifications (even if you haven’t graduated yet), including any relevant courses, academic achievements, or engineering clubs you joined while at university. Next, polish your work experience section by ensuring all listed responsibilities and achievements are specific and quantifiable.
In addition to your traditional academic and work experience, include any certifications, such as in CAD, Python, or MATLAB. If you’re prolific in any popular engineering apps and software apps, share this too. This will showcase your commitment to continued learning – an important trait in an ever-evolving field.
Tailor Your Cover Letters
Personalising your cover letters for each position or company is crucial. Cover letters are your opportunity to humanise yourself to the hiring manager, connecting your academic and professional experiences to the company’s mission or values. It’s also your chance to tell the company why you want to work for them specifically. Demonstrating your deep interest in the role alerts the prospective company that you would be a loyal and reliable employee.
To create a truly personalised cover letter, address the hiring manager by name, compliment the company’s past work, reference relevant courses or projects you’ve undertaken, and tell them about your vision for the future of the role.
Preparing For The Job Search
Of course, scanning job boards is the most obvious method for finding a position to apply to. But there are other ways to make yourself stand out among the applicants. Being referred by a professional connection can set you up for success, so consider building your network.
Leverage Online Networks
Online professional networking platforms like LinkedIn will be invaluable to you as a fresh engineering graduate. By connecting with individuals and businesses, you’ll be kept abreast of any potential job openings. Beyond that, you can also position yourself to be approached by hiring managers looking for engineers.
Add a professional headshot, an accurate and engaging summary, and your educational and intern experience on your profile. Then, reach out to some of the top people in your field – it’s about quality over quantity. Send each prospective connection a message to tell them why you admire their work and would like to connect, then begin meaningful conversations that could turn into opportunities for collaboration. Use the ‘search’ function to explore job postings that match your level, location, and salary expectations.
Reach Out To Personal Connections
It’s important to remember that your personal network is just as valuable as your digital circle in your job search, especially at an entry-level. Your former classmates, professors, tutors, and internship peers can all provide you with valuable insight and job leads. Additionally, participating in engineering competitions or contributing to open-source projects can help you expand your network within the industry.
Your personal connections know your strengths, skills, and passions, making them uniquely qualified to refer you to roles where you’ll thrive. Even if members of your personal network can’t refer you to a position, they can serve as strong references on your application.
Practicing For Interviews
When you make it to the final phase of landing your first engineering job, you’ll likely feel a mix of nervousness and relief. You’re so close to your goal, so don’t give up now! Prepare answers to common interview questions and engage in mock interviews with friends and family.
Practise Technical & Behavioural Questions
The most common questions will vary by discipline, so research which ones are most likely to arise in your interview. For example, a civil engineer will likely answer questions about infrastructure projects, while an electrical engineer will be asked about power systems. One way to prepare for technical questions is to create a document with your answers to these common questions, then review them daily to ensure you have them down pat.
Behavioural questions assess your experience, skills, and reactions to situations. These questions may ask you about a time when you excelled, or found yourself in a tricky scenario where you had to think quickly. Use the STAR method to answer these, structuring your responses by describing the situation, your task, the action you took, and the (positive!) result of it.
Conduct Mock Interviews
Before the interview (and after you’ve perfected your practice answers), ask a trusted peer to hold a mock interview with you. This is the easiest step of the job-hunting process, thanks to all the hard work you’ve done up until now! Have your ‘interviewer’ repeat the common technical and behavioural questions and give you feedback on your responses. Do this until your interviews feel like a breeze.
Make a Strong First Impression with your Next Engineering Job Application
By following these tips, you’ll feel well-prepared as you enter this new chapter in your engineering career and get ready to enter the world of full-time work. Remember to prepare by connecting with others in your industry to see what exciting roles may be available, then polish your CV and cover letters for each opportunity that arises. Once you’ve landed an interview, put in extra work to ensure you show up ready to answer any question that comes your way.
