Engineering, Science, and Technical Job Search

Organizing Your Technical Job Search

Consider the following strategies as you plan and organize your technical job search.

• Identify the job functions you wish to perform within an organization/company or skills that you wish to use.
• Communicate this information to potential employers, regardless of the job title.
• Recognize that job classifications are not standardized, therefore, do not try to determine your fit among endless lists of job titles, which can be confusing and frustrating.
• Remember that job titles differ within industries and companies.
• Technical skills are necessary, but not sufficient, to compete in the job market.
• Keep in mind that your general skill set, including communication, teamwork, analytical, and critical thinking should also be highlighted on your résumé and in your career conversations.
• There are endless opportunities in most industries beyond those that are laboratory or field based. Functions such as sales and operations management, particularly in "technology oriented" industries, allow you to take advantage of a technical or scientific education in a broader context.
• Clear presentation of your technical or scientific skills is critical on your résumé and during the career conversation, particularly if you are seeking a position that requires a specific set of engineering, scientific or information technology skills. Do not forget projects and relevant course work that can illustrate the depth of your technical training.

Focusing on job functions rather than job titles

Often, students in engineering, technical, and scientific disciplines associate their career possibilities with their academic majors. It is easy to forget that an academic major is largely an administrative tool used by a college or university to categorize students. There is not always a clear parallel between your college degree and an occupational field.

For example:

• Computer Science and Engineering majors can work as analysts in the investment and consulting industries, and apply their technical and analytical skills in capacities other than hands-on science or engineering.
• Just as the same job can be filled with individuals from a variety of academic backgrounds, individuals with the same major can qualify for many different occupations.
• Chemistry and Biology majors with persuasive skills and outgoing personalities are often sought by pharmaceutical and medical device companies for sales positions which take advantage of their technical training as they interact with scientifically trained decision makers.