Resiliant, clued-up, good graduate engineers needed for EDC careers

Employers in this industry seek a range of skills in addition to your technical prowess. They know that competences such as good communications skills, teamworking ability and commercial awareness will be essential for your future success.

‘A good engineering degree provides a sound foundation to build on in real-world engineering. However, contracting is a practical business and the skills and competences required to succeed in it are of a practical nature,’ highlights John Wallis from Snamprogetti Limited.

Combine your degree knowledge with good general skills

If you are on track for a good degree result, employers will take it as read that you have vast quantities of engineering knowledge, so they’ll be looking for evidence that you can take the principles and theories that you have learned and apply them in the practical and varied situations presented by engineering design and construction projects.

You’ll find that you have to rethink many of the fundamentals that you learned at university once you join the industry. You’ll no longer work in isolation to achieve goals – you’ll work in a team. As Julie Dewar from M.W. Kellogg Limited explains: ‘One engineering discipline alone cannot build a refinery, so while a degree focuses on the achievements and successes of an individual, the engineering design and construction industry is underpinned by teamwork. Almost without exception engineers in this industry work in large multidisciplinary teams and often across international borders.’

Adaptability, flexibility and initiative complement teamworking ability. You’ll need to be willing to learn from experienced colleagues and adjust your engineering knowledge and working practices to new and varied situations.

Adaptability, flexibility and initiative complement teamworking ability.

Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential. ‘They are the key to success in project environments, where results can really only be achieved through eliciting the co-operation and support of others,’ confirms John. Furthermore, engineers have to be able to communicate confidently and professionally with clients and colleagues at all levels, tailoring their technical explanations to suit who they are talking to.

EDC engineers have to be resilient

Project engineering is exciting, but it also makes a lot of demands on engineers. You will need to be resilient to respond to daily challenges of problem solving and the practicalities of working in demanding project locations. Early in your career there is a lot of learning to do. Angela Spooner from Foster Wheeler Energy Limited explains that ‘self motivation and enthusiasm are really important. As you start your training and work towards achieving chartered status, you’ll need to be committed to working in different areas of your organisation and working on site to get the experience you need.’ Initiative taken at the start of your career will really pay off in the long run.

Get clued up on the industry and employers

Recruiters want you to be enthusiastic about joining their organisation and joining the industry as a whole. Julie explains that employers want candidates to ‘know enough about the industry to know that they want to start their career in it’. It’s likely that all employers will ask what made you apply to this industry. You can’t know everything, but try to get a feel for who the key players are, typical projects and issues that affect the industry.

Recruiters also look for maturity and realism. ‘A common misconception made by applicants is the amount of time it takes to become a project manager – it takes a lot longer than the two years many candidates think,’ says Julie. ‘You definitely won’t be heading up a multimillion dollar project in two years, but you’ll have gained some excellent experience to help you move in that direction if that’s the way you want to go,’ she confirms.

How recruiters seek evidence through the recruitment process

‘Recruiters look for potential,’ explains John. ‘We know that many entry-level candidates will have had limited opportunities to acquire work-related experience. Energy, willingness to learn and a general enthusiasm for engineering tend to be better predictors of future success, so we watch out for these attributes,’ he says. ‘We seek to confirm our impressions by asking applicants to give real-life examples of difficulties overcome and opportunities seized. These examples can come from any sphere: issues encountered during placements and academic life, or from outside interests such as pursuing sports or community work. Past performance is the best indicator of future performance.’

Project work completed at university is also a good demonstration ground for showing recruiters how you have overcome problems, managed your time and, in the case of group projects, worked in a team or taken a leading role.

So, with some industry knowledge in your back pocket and an understanding of some of the key skills employers in this industry seek, move on to the next stage – make applications!

With thanks to Julie Dewar, human resources manager, M.W. Kellogg Limited; John Wallis, human resources, Snamprogetti Limited; and Angela Spooner, human resources adviser, Foster Wheeler Energy Limited.

The skills and competences EDC employers like

• Communication: Keep verbal and written communication clear, concise and confident. Understand your audience and tailor your communication; listen to and consider the views of others.
• Teamwork: Build and maintain positive working relationships; share information with others; support others and show respect for alternative views.
• Commercial awareness: Demonstrate knowledge of the industry and the employer; understand key business issues and the commercial impact of engineering decisions.
• Enthusiasm and motivation: Show determination to achieve an end result; demonstrate optimism and enthusiasm even when things get tough.