Do you desire to learn a
skill to enhance your career in Engineering and you do not know which one to go
for? This article takes a review of the skills that are required for
engineering students to possess before they leave school and for fresh
engineering graduates as well.
Meghan Brown (2016)
indentified five skillsets that topped the list of the requirement by experts
on engineering recruitment. These are: 
1. Technical
Skills
2. Communication
Skills
3. Interpersonal
Skills
4. Problem
Solving and Critical Thinking
5. Enthusiasm,
Commitment and Motivation
Technical skills will still
be the main skillset recruiters look at when assessing candidates. They want to
know that you have the education, credentials and experience that the job
requires. Technical skills are critical to success in a technical role. A
company hiring software engineers, for instance, will likely require that
applicants possess strong technical ability in computer programming languages
such as Java and C++.
From your education, be it
an HNC/HND, a degree or an alternative qualification, you should have gained
the basic technical skills needed to become a professional engineer. However,
the technical skills can vary given the engineering discipline and job role
being performed. For example, it may be common for a chemical engineer to use
chemical process simulation software such as Aspen, whereas a mechanical
engineer may need to use 3D CAD design software to design mechanical
components.
Engineers are creators in
everything from biology to computer programming. Naturally, they need the
technical skills to succeed. Depending on the complexity of the field and
project, more formal education is often required.
- Computer Science
- Programming Languages
- Statistics
- System Design and Analysis
- Conceptual, Logical, or Physical Data
Modeling
- Process Management
- Advanced Physics
- Structural Analysis
- Nanotechnology
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/list-of-engineering-skills-2063751
The technical skills for
Nigerian graduate would not follow the usual pattern because of the following
reasons:
1.
High level of unemployment in the country.
2.
Poor secondary school background with
respect to technical and basic technology practicals.
3.
Unhealthy organizational practices by firm
in Nigeria hiring roles on contract.
From the foregoing, it is
recommended that a Nigerian Engineering graduate look at going for practical
training on one or two of the following fields before considering furthering
for specialization in post graduate studies. The list is line with National
Board for Technical Education Modular Curricula (2000). The skills include:
- Engineering drawing and design.
- Agricultural equipment and implement
mechanics work: Cereal harvesting, storage and processing equipment. Tractor testing,
overhauling and farm management.
- Motor vehicle mechanics work: major engine and
transmission repair. Chasis, suspension, steering and braking system.
- Electrical installation and maintenance
work: industrial installation and winding of electrical machine. Electrical/electronic
engineering science.
- Fabrication and Welding: welding, structural
mechanics and specification, structural steel work.
- Mechanical engineering craft: tool and die
making, machine shop production, and mechanical engineering science.
- Radio television and electronics: coloured
television.
- Refrigeration and airconditioning work.
- Vehicle body building: vehicle body design
and production, vehicle body welding.
- Foundary craft practice.
- Marine craft practice: marine engine and
transmission, hot and cold water, heating and ventilation and vessel services.
- Bricklaying/blocklaying and concrete work.
- Carpentry and joinery.
- Furniture making.
- Machine wood working: saw-milling machines
and practice.
- Painting and decoration.
- Plumbing and pipefitting.
- Instrument mechanics work.
These skills can be
obtained from any of the federal, state and private technical colleges and
trade/technical centers scattered all over the country. A graduate engineer
needs to check the skill that will be relevant to his engineering discipline
and go in for it. One can have access to these colleges/technical/trade centers
by registering as a trainee or volunteering as instructor. In developed
countries, a professor in engineering can practically handle lots of
engineering trades. So it is not a badge of honour growing an engineering
career with technical skills. You can’t design, supervise, or build what you
have not worked with. So get a skill or skills today.
References:
Brown, M. (2016): 5 Skills
Hiring Managers Look for in Engineering Grads
https://www.engineering.com/JobArticles/ArticleID/13894/5-Skills- Hiring-Managers-Look-for-in-Engineering-Grads.aspx.
Accessed, 13/11/2019
NABTEB (2000): Syllabus for
engineering, construction, and related trade. Nigeria
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