Engineering majors nearing graduation are about to start flooding the inboxes of hiring managers at companies all across the country. As graduation approaches, engineering students will be gearing up to start new careers. Since it is the first time you will be applying for engineering jobs, Austin Nichols Technical Search has some advice to get you started.
Craft a Professional Resume
It is normal for a post-graduation resume to look a little empty. Even without previous work experience, you can showcase all the things you can do. Make yourself stand out by detailing the hardware and software you have experience using. You can put information about any school projects or internships you have held. When possible, research the employer and the position and tailor your resume to them.
When creating a resume, be sure to keep the layout clean and professional. Keep the fonts and colors easy to read and work-appropriate. Try to avoid cramming too much on the page, but don’t leave an excess amount of white space.
Before completing your resume and sending it out, ask someone else to look it over for you. Ask them for feedback so that you can make necessary changes.
Spruce Up Your Online Persona
While social media is a fun way to communicate with friends and family, we aren’t always our most professional selves on Facebook, Twitter, or other social websites. Future employers are likely to search for you on these websites to learn more about you, and you won’t want them to reject you because of how you live on your own time.
Remove, or at least make private, all those photos from drunken nights at your favorite bar, all the status updates with profanity, and beach photos from Spring Break. Change your profile picture to something that makes you look smart and approachable.
You should also create a LinkedIn profile with professional information about yourself. Ask professors, colleagues, and any former bosses (from internships or part-time jobs) to give you some endorsements. Be sure that you use a photo that makes you look professional and provide information about your education and any previous work experience that you have.
Write a Compelling Message
While cover letters are a very important part of the application process in many industries, instead, engineers need to craft an email to go along with their resume that works in much the same way. In this email, you should include much of the same information that you would in a cover letter. You should explain why you think you are a good fit for the position, why you are interested in working for the company, and information that isn’t found in your resume.
When you start writing the email, you can take one of two different approaches. The first approach is to discuss how passionate you are about the role that’s needing to be filled. The second approach is to be honest about the fact that you don’t have a lot of experience but are willing to work hard to gain experience in the position you are applying for.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to know which approach will be more effective for individual employers. Regardless of the approach you take, you will want to do some research on the company and what the position entails. It is important that the email is tailored to that position so that you can emphasize the relevant skills and qualities that you have to match the position.
You will also want your personality to shine through in this email, because form letter styles will be immediately rejected by hiring managers.
Rock the Interview
Many companies will ask engineering students for a phone or in-person interview if they like what they see in your resume and cover letter. This is the best opportunity you have to sell yourself and show the interviewers your personality. You will be asked questions that relate to your experience and skills, but interviewers are really trying to find out if you are someone that will fit in with their team.
Before speaking to the interviewer, be prepared to answer questions about your skills, your personal life, your preferred management style, and difficult situations you have dealt with. You don’t want to sound rehearsed but having an idea of the response you want to give is a good way not to feel nervous and overwhelmed.
In return, you should be prepared to ask questions about on-the-job training, what you still need to learn, and any other questions you have about the company or the position. You want to leave feeling like you know everything you need to about the position.
Obstacles to Finding a Job
While there may be dozens of engineering jobs in your area, not all of them will be the right fit for you. When it comes to the job search, you will notice that there are jobs that you aren’t qualified for or that require more experience than you have. Being young can make it difficult to find a position, because many companies will want an experienced employee, so you will need to work harder to stand out.
In some places, engineering jobs may be scarce. If you are willing to relocate, you will open yourself to more possibilities, which can be helpful for many young engineers.
Fortunately, using a recruiting service can eliminate many of the hurdles you would face to find a job. Recruiters can connect you with jobs anywhere in the country, and they can help you with resumes and cover letters. In addition, recruiters can help you by setting up interviews.
Austin Nichols is an engineering recruiting firm dedicated to helping new engineers find jobs in the Kansas City Metro Area. If you are looking for a job near Kansas City, call Austin Nichols today at 816-471-5575. With 30 years of experience, Austin Nichols has a large database of clients that it can reach out to in the Kansas City area.
