What’s the biggest challenge of being an engineering student? Of course, you need to stay on top of the latest tech innovations in your field. You also have to constantly shuttle between lectures and practical classes to grasp complex concepts. Working on class projects and preparing for tests is a different ball game altogether.
But if you ask any aspiring engineer about the biggest hurdle they’re facing, they’ll have a unanimous answer. Most of them are always struggling to strike a balance between academics, extracurricular activities, and personal projects. In other words, they find it challenging to hit the sweet spot on their resume and impress recruiters.
The Reality of Being an Engineering Student
Here’s the thing – when you enroll in an engineering course, your ultimate goal is to get an awesome job in your chosen field. But if you ask people about how to build an impressive resume, you’ll receive a broad spectrum of advice from different corners.
While some people will advise you to focus on academics, others will lecture you on the importance of developing leadership skills. Then there’ll be people who tell you to put all your energy into landing a great internship in the final year of graduation.
The overwhelming variety of suggestions will leave you confused and worried about your future as an engineer.
So, what’s the right approach to building a stellar resume as an engineering student? In this blog, we’ve highlighted the key areas you need to work upon to grab the attention of recruiters with your resume. Let’s take a look.
Take Your Projects Seriously
Most engineering students have a casual attitude towards class projects. You form a group with a few peers and rely on them to take charge of the assignment. Ultimately, you end up with a sub-par project that isn’t worth showcasing on your resume.
What students often forget is that when recruiters evaluate your resume, they keep an eye out for practical-oriented skills. And there’s no better way of highlighting your hands-on expertise in the field than by participating in top-notch projects.
That’s why it is important to actively take charge of class projects. Don’t think of them as just a way to earn better grades. Instead, go out of your way to select a topic that helps you learn new skills, and get more practical experience.
Consult your group members to identify topics that require extensive research, and have the possibility of real-life applications. Also, you could seek guidance and mentorship from professors.
If your professors aren’t approachable or resourceful enough, you could connect with online tutors on platforms, such as HomeworkMarket.com. You can consult online tutors and subject matter experts to choose innovative topics for your projects. You can even ask them to become your mentor throughout the project.
Apart from class projects, it’s a good idea to build a portfolio of personal projects as well. The key is to find ways to apply your academic knowledge to solve real-life problems.
Prioritize Part-Time Work
Earning a great GPA and honing your practical skills isn’t enough for creating a stellar impression on recruiters. That’s because most companies look for people who can work within a team to develop innovative solutions. It is, therefore, necessary to develop your creative problem-solving skills and adaptability.
That makes it imperative to engage in some form of part-time work throughout your semester. Even if you assist in a family business or wait tables at a local fast-food joint, it’ll help recruiters understand that you’ve got real-life experience of working in a team and dealing with high-pressure situations.
Bag an Outstanding Internship
You already know that high-profile internships play a crucial role in engineering recruitment. Much like a part-time job, internships help you gain practical experience of working in an office. But interning at the same companies that make it to your campus placements every year isn’t the best way to stand out from your peers.
Instead, it’s a smarter move to focus on small businesses and startups in your field that offers better exposure. The benefit of working in a smaller company is that you get to wear several hats and learn new practical skills related to your field. These skills will come in handy before and after you land a job interview.
And if you’re lucky, you might even get a pre-placement offer from the company you’re interning for.
Bagging a great job offer in today’s competitive job market is difficult for everyone. It’s even more challenging for engineering students who are applying for their first job. Focus on creating a stellar resume with groundbreaking projects, internships, and part-time work.