Three critical skills for every engineer: Insights from 26,000 job postings
Have you ever wondered what skills employers value most in engineering hires?
In February of 2024, the Journal of Engineering Education published a study titled “What engineering employers want: An analysis of technical and professional skills in engineering job advertisements.”
This study reviewed 26,103 job advertisements to find the most in-demand technical and professional skills (also known as durable or soft skills).
While technical expertise is important, the findings reveal that durable skills can be the deciding factor in hiring decisions, especially for entry-level positions.
Here are the three most crucial soft skills (also known as durable skills) identified in the study for accelerating your engineering career and maximizing your earning potential.
#1: Complex problem-solving skills
Problem-solving emerged as the most frequently mentioned professional skill, appearing in more than half of the 26,103 job advertisements from the study.
But what does “problem-solving” mean in practice?
On the job, engineers must be able to perform:
- Systematic data collection
- Pattern analysis
- Expert consultation
- Hypothesis testing
- Solution validation
The most effective problem-solvers in engineering aren’t necessarily those who know the most technical details. Instead, they’re the ones who can systematically break down complex problems, gather relevant data, analyze patterns and test hypotheses methodically.
Importantly, they also know how to leverage their team’s expertise by asking smart, targeted questions and demonstrate the resilience to keep pushing forward when faced with obstacles.
#2 Broad communication skills
If you’re an engineering student, you may be surprised to learn that studies show engineers spend over 50% of their working hours on communication activities.
This includes:
- Written documentation and reports
- Oral presentations
- One-on-one conversations with colleagues
What’s particularly noteworthy is that communication in engineering isn’t limited to formal presentations or technical reports. A significant portion involves informal interactions — those crucial one-on-one conversations with colleagues, small group discussions and daily team interactions.
Jess Naab, global head of university relations and talent programs at Siemens Digital Industries Software, shares more about why communication and adaptability are so important:
Key components that often get overlooked include active listening, maintaining clarity in complex discussions and negotiation skills. Engineering program alumni consistently rate these communication skills as “highly to very highly important” in their current work, despite these skills receiving less emphasis during their degree programs.
Oftentimes, how you pitch a solution is just as important as the solution itself.
#3 Teamwork and collaboration skills
The lone-wolf engineer is a myth. Today’s engineers spend anywhere from one-third to over half their time working in teams.
Modern engineering demands:
- Collaboration across disciplines
- Working effectively with diverse groups
- Contributing to projects involving hundreds of engineers
- Bridging communication gaps between different engineering specialties
- Understanding and respecting different perspectives and approaches
The reality of modern engineering is that complex projects often involve hundreds of engineers working across interconnected systems. This makes cross-disciplinary collaboration essential.
For example, a mechanical engineer needs to effectively communicate with chemical engineers, electrical engineers and others to bring products to life. This isn’t always easy — explaining complex technical concepts across disciplines requires both patience and skill. The ability to work effectively in diverse teams isn’t just a nice-to-have skill; it’s fundamental to success in today’s engineering workplace.
Durable skills set the best candidates apart
What makes these findings particularly significant is that hiring managers at top companies often assume graduates from reputable programs already possess the necessary technical skills.
What sets candidates apart is their mastery of these professional skills, which not always emphasized in traditional engineering programs.
Action steps for engineering students and early-career engineers
- Seek out project-based learning opportunities that force you to work in teams
- Practice explaining complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences, or engineers in other disciplines
- Take on leadership roles in student organizations or project teams
- Document your problem-solving processes and create clear technical documentation
- Actively participate in cross-disciplinary projects
Remember: while technical skills might get your foot in the door, these durable skills will help you advance your career and maximize your impact as an engineer.
Siemens’ new Expedite — Skills for Industry microcredential is designed to help students gain and verify key skills for today’s engineering workplaces. Learners can enroll now on Coursera or visit our website to learn more.
