May 2006

What are Engineering Employers Looking for?

By Elizabeth Lions

Ever wonder why you didn't land a job, even though you possessed all of the required technical skills? Unfortunately, even the best engineers experience rejection. Remember: companies need your talent to create and build their products. Without your brainpower, companies wouldn't exist. So, how do you convey that to the hiring manager during the interview?

In today's job market, employers want engineers with the right skills set, who can communicate effectively, and who possess good interpersonal skills. Most company cultures demand that engineers display these traits, and will pick the top candidates who display good social skills during the job interview. Engineering is no longer seen as a solo career, but instead one built upon teamwork and ingenuity.

During a job interview, the employer is thinking:

• Is this candidate technically competent?

• Is this candidate trainable?

• Will this candidate fit into the current engineering team and not be destructive?

• Will they share their ideas and help other team mates, if necessary?

• Do they value our company and the purpose of the job?

• Can I trust them with my product? Do they show integrity and credibility?

• Do they have a "get it done" attitude?

• Do they have enthusiasm and energy?

• Will they solve my problem?

• Are they affordable?

Generally, most people will only buy something if it will solve their problem, or if it makes them feel good. Employers consider your salary an investment into the company. As crass as it sounds, your talent is purchased. To land the job interview, you should be both technically competent and likeable. This small shift will make the difference between being the top candidate and getting the job.

Follow these simple suggestions during the hiring process to stand out from other candidates:

Do your homework. What does the company do? Who are its competitors? What market is it trying to reach? Search the company's Web site and ask a few related questions during the interview. Don't barrage the interviewer, but make sure your questions are answered so that you understand the task at hand. Try to get a sense of the company culture and whether it is a good fit for you.

Are you the right engineer for the job? Often in a meeting, I will ask a senior-level manager, "What keeps you up at night?" That one, simple question can elicit many different responses — and often provides insight into what an employer really needs to hire you. Asking provocative questions engages the interviewer and create the impression that you are well-informed and interested in helping to solve problems.

During an interview, only talk 50 percent of the time. Engineers are detailed by nature. Make the employer ask you for more information. Answer their interview questions completely and concisely, and then stop. If interviewers want more information on a topic, they will ask for it.

The other 50 percent of the time, ask them questions about their business, keeping in mind that they are looking for someone who can help solve their problems. Engineers are excellent problem solvers, so make use of your natural talent to leverage your competitive edge. After you ask a question, take notes on the interviewer's response. Doing so shows that you're listening, and that you care enough to write it down. Also, you capture information that you may not remember after the interview — information that may be useful when comparing different companies, in case you receive an offer. Being able to choose is a powerful place to be in when it comes to your career.

Be genuine and be yourself. Relax and be yourself; think of the interview as a conversation. Concentrate on what you need to have in order to accept a job offer. Market yourself as competent, polite, well mannered, and, above all, nice. Hiring your brainpower is only one part of the equation. The employer should like you as well.

It is pointless to misrepresent yourself during a job interview. Countless employers have told me about candidates who have all the right answers during the interview, but who turn into somebody else as soon as they get the job. In hiring, this phenomenon is commonly referred to as the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde syndrome. Once you've started in a new position, you had better be able to deliver on the goods that you promised during the interview. Otherwise, you might find yourself interviewing again.

Send a hand-written thank you note, not an e-mail. This small step will separate you from the majority of the other candidates. In a world full of e-mail and instant gratification, this simple gesture makes a big splash. It says, this note is personal, and it took time and effort. Few employers get mail that is positive. Brighten their day by thanking them for their time. This written reminder will stay on their desk and on their mind when the hiring decision is about to be made.

Most importantly, during an interview remember that you choose them just as they choose you. An employer may need your talent, but you need to decide if this company's culture is good for you. Even though you may want the job and have bills to pay, it is important to remember that the hiring process is a two-way conversation. You can take your talent anywhere you'd like for a variety of compensation packages. The employer does not and should not hold all the cards. Ultimately, you decide if you'd like to bring your talent to them.

If you have to spend the majority of your waking hours at a place called work, it should be rewarding, enjoyable and challenging.

Elizabeth Lions is a technical recruiter at APCON, Inc., in Wilsonville, Ore. Comments may be submitted to todaysengineer@ieee.org.