Top Engineering Skills That Will Give You An Advantage in Your Career

Employers are continuously searching for fresh talent who are multidimensional and well-versed in new-age technical and soft skills as digitalization and automation disrupt workplaces. The pandemic's economic effect remains significant, and the engineering area is not immune to the upheaval it has caused. New engineers with a working understanding of in-demand talents such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Machine Learning and the ability to recognise, articulate, and solve complex challenges are in great demand!

To deal with the current VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) environment, engineering candidates must future-proof their careers by upskilling, reskilling, and simplifying their professional journey in times of crisis. These days, graduating from a top-tier institute is one of many criteria for success; in addition to educational credentials, one should quickly and efficiently react to new events and issues.

Key enablers of career advancement

Be Language agnostic  

The technological sector evolves at a breakneck rate; what is popular now will quickly become obsolete, and a new technology/language will arise. Engineers should not be constrained to a single programming language; instead, they should be effective problem solvers who can use the appropriate languages and technology to address a business challenge. 

Instead of being obsessed with the technologies they are familiar with, engineers should be willing to learn the technologies most suited to solve the problem/use case. Engineers must master many programming languages, be Language agnostic, and constantly learn new technologies, languages, frameworks, etc. 

Engineering practises 

"Do the right thing, do the right thing" - Good engineers must focus on the delivery or outcome and how the programme is provided. To assure the quality of the end product, engineers must use best engineering practices such as clean code, TDD, BDD, automation, and agile, among others.  

Depth vs. breadth

Engineers should broaden their responsibilities and contribute to software development from concept through deployment rather than only being experts in one area. Engineers should contribute the most to system architecture, backend, front-end development, DevOps, infrastructure, etc.

Leadership abilities 

Someone's capacity to communicate, influence, and inspire others is one factor that distinguishes them from one level to the next. The capacity to connect with and influence people is critical, particularly in the age of internationally scattered and remote teams. Collaboration, embracing differences of opinion, complimenting one another, developing relationships, mentoring individuals, communicating effectively, and influencing teams without authority are all vital aspects of organisational growth. 

According to industry analysts, most employment in 2030 will not exist today. Continuous learning is the only method to prepare for a career or a sector of the economy that has yet to be developed. 

As international corporations increasingly employ tech-enabled tactics to stay relevant and continue their development trajectory, job seekers must maintain their professional skills and expertise. A strong emphasis on innovation and critical thinking will serve as a significant differentiator for engineers in demonstrating their worth to the firm.