Defining an Engineering Job Search Objective
Creating a Clear Goal for Engineering Employment
Apr 29, 2009
In any engineering project, defining a clear objective that can be used to measure the effectiveness of the project activities is usually the first order of business. When a search for an engineering job is undertaken, defining an objective for that search should also be the first task in the overall job search plan.
An engineering job search objective can start off as simple as “to gain employment in an engineering position”, but far more detail is needed to guide the development of the rest of the job search process. Candidates need to have a good understanding of what they are looking for in a variety of terms in order to put together a plan of action.
Engineering Job Search Objective Details
When developing an engineering job search objective, a variety of job characteristics need to be considered, including:
- Technical Expertise – Obviously, the engineer will have a specific area of technical expertise. Recent college graduates may have a more broad area of expertise within their major, while engineers with more experience may have expertise in specific niche areas. Some engineers may wish to migrate from one niche to another. By defining the area of technical expertise, the engineer can focus his effort on examining potential jobs in that area.
- Job Role – The job role includes the overall job description, level of responsibility. This can range from entry level jobs to C-level positions, and everything in between. Is the engineer looking for a personnel or project management position? Is he looking for a design, analysis, or testing position? Is he looking for field work or other travel-based positions?
- Industry – Engineers may desire to enter a specific industry, or may have extensive experience within an industry. By selecting a specific industry, the engineer can focus the job search on companies within that industry.
- Geographic Location – Depending on personal and family situations, an engineer may want to stay in his current area, or may be open to the idea of relocating. If relocation is an option, are there specific areas that the engineer is interested in relocating to? If the engineer has a specific location in mind, whether it is local or across the country, it can help to focus the job search.
- Salary/Benefits – Different areas of the country have different standards of living, and different job roles can have wildly different compensation rates. The engineer should have an understanding of what approximate salary level their desired role and location should translate to.
By creating a clear engineering job search objective, an engineer can use the objective as a starting point for researching potential industries, companies, and roles that are right for him.
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