ABSTRACT
Seeking a paid engineering job is the necessary first step in an engineering career. Playing a team sport or working on an organising committee helps to demonstrate teamwork abilities, not necessarily in a leadership role. Ask engineers in your network what standards are considered the most important in the industry in which you would like to work. A visit to a prospective employer requires some additional preparation. It is always best if you have a contact within the company as a result of prior networking or through visiting engineering suppliers. The cover letter was either missing or did not mention the needs of the particular company. The résumé was poorly formatted or contained obvious spelling errors. An engineer always has to be a leader, even in a purely technical role, without management responsibilities. An engineer who appreciates what needs to happen and then inspires other people to collaborate and help achieve it is valuable in any organisation.
