Engineering Your Career: Everything you need to know about hatching your career in Engineering Presented by:
TalentEgg.ca is Canada’s leading job board and online career resource for students and recent graduates looking for career hatching opportunities.
We work with hundreds of Canada’s top employers, and we’re dedicated to helping students navigate the sometimes messy school-to-work transition. That’s why we created Engineering Your Career– a guide to help you land your dream job in engineering.
So what are you waiting for? Get cracking!
Be sure to take advantage of the Relevant Reads section on each page. These additional resources provide a ton of important info to help you in your job search!
And keep your eyes peeled for tips and tricks on the bottom of each page!
Good news for engineering graduates: there are a growing number of job opportunities for Mechanical, Civil, Mining and Chemical Engineers, among other disciplines. So, aside from the technical knowledge of the field, what skills are in-demand? Mechanical Engineers: Imagination and good critical judgement skills, versatility, self-reliance, communication skills, problem solving skills, teamwork and computer skills. Civil Engineers: Specific software knowledge, staying on top of industry innovations. Chemical Engineers: Scientific and methodical mind, analytical skills, problem solving skills, teamwork and communication skills, innovative thinking. Fun fact: Though engineering is known for being a maledominated profession, approximately 1 in 5 current engineering students is female!
Relevant Reads: Infographic: A promising future in engineering Alberta's skilled labour shortage: An opportunity for youth Career tips for engineering students
TalentEgg Tip: Bookmark TalentEgg’s Engineering Career Guide for free engineering career resources
With so many career options in engineering, how do you know which path is the one for you? By trying them out through internships and co-op placements, of course!
There are tons of benefits to completing work-terms while still in school, including: • Gain relevant experience before you graduate • Try out different engineering roles and companies • Learn from industry professionals • Build your professional network Oh, and the pay cheque doesn’t hurt, either! Depending on the internship or co-op program, you can expect to make an average of $2,500 to $4,500 per month.
Relevant Reads: How 6 co-op terms impacted this Waterloo Engineering grad's career Calgary engineering student's internship experience at Suncor Energy How internships led to full time work at Talisman Energy for one grad
TalentEgg Tip: Search for Engineering internships and co-ops on TalentEgg!
We know you’re interested in engineering, but to land your dream job you also need to be able to create an effective marketing document: your resume!
Every industry has it’s own expectations on what should – and should not – be included in a resume. Here are our top tips for an effective engineering resume: • Display your personality and originality through your experiences and accomplishments • Showcase specialties using specific examples • Be relevant and action-oriented – show accomplishments • Change your summary section for every job you apply to Now that you’ve perfected your engineering resume, it’s time to go the extra mile and stand out to potential employers. One of the best ways to do this is by joining an engineering society or other student group and getting involved! You’ll enhance your skills, make connections in your industry and gain experiences to beef up your resume. Relevant Reads: How to write a resume that hiring software can read How to improve the hobbies and interests section of your resume How to write a strong resume
TalentEgg Tip: Edit, edit, edit your resume!
Whether you’re interviewing for a co-op job or your first entry level position, engineering interviews are a whole new ball game. The major difference between engineering interviews and other job interviews is the technical content. You may be asked to solve one or two problems on the spot, or complete a booklet of technical questions while your interviewer watches and checks your answers. Sound nerve-wracking? Prepare for your interview by: • Researching all aspects related to the job description • Learning about what the company does and specific details of the area or group that you’re being interviewed for • Reviewing your previous work experience and details of your projects • Studying your notes and textbook material relating to the job to help prepare for technical questions Relevant Read: What Vale's recruiters look for when hiring Engineers-in-Training How to practice and prepare for interviews 10 tips to prepare for job interviews
TalentEgg Tip: Bombed the interview? Here’s how to recover.
Another important part of preparing for an interview is knowing your salary expectations. Your salary will vary depending on your field, your role, how much experience you have and where you will work. To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some average entry level (0-3 years of experience) engineering salaries in major Canadian cities: Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Edmonton
Calgary
Software
$62,837
$63,079
$66,469
$54,418
$64,871
Mechanical
$66,493
$66,749
$70,337
$61,817
$61,817
Electrical
$66,944
$68,178
$71,842
$63,140
$70,117
Manufacturing
$63,857
$64,103
$67,548
$59,366
$65,919
Chemical
$80,289
$80,599
$84,930
$74,643
$82,883
Environmental
$64,150
$64,397
$67,585
$59,638
$66,211
Civil
$59,943
$60,174
$63,407
$55,727
$57,748 Source: Salary.com
Relevant Reads: Entry level salaries in the petroleum industry Average starting salaries for engineering jobs in Calgary
TalentEgg Tip: Don’t like your offer? Here are some negotiating tips.
Have some questions about a specific employer? Looking for additional ways to stand out and have recruiters remember your name? Start engaging with them on Twitter!
Check out our list of engineering-related accounts to follow on Twitter, then start connecting by mentioning them in your tweets and sharing interesting industry content. Interested in the oil and gas industry? TalentEgg has you covered there, too! Click here to see a list of oil and gas tweeps. And of course, make sure to follow TalentEgg on Twitter for all the latest engineering jobs and career resources!
Relevant Reads: Attract employers using social media How to makeover your LinkedIn profile How to use Pinterest to find a job Why every student and new grad should be using Twitter
TalentEgg Tip: Learn how to protect your online reputation.
You’re on your way to hatching your career in engineering! Here are a few more Relevant Reads to help you land your dream job: Inside a recent engineering grad's career with Goldcorp Everything you need to know about P.Eng. certification What it's like to work at BHP Billiton's EKATI Diamond Mine How to answer some of your most difficult job interview questions Make networking a habit
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