What Are the Traits Necessary to Be an Engineer?

Engineers are the backbone of modern industrial society. From automobiles to airplanes, computers to smartphones, engineers are behind all of the multitude of devices that make life possible in the 21st century. By the same token, the discipline of engineering has grown by leaps and bounds, and now includes as many as a dozen sub-disciplines. This means that 21st century engineers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and practice engineering in very different contexts. The breadth of the discipline notwithstanding, most engineers share a few personality traits.

Desire to Figure Things Out
 
An engineer's desire to figure things out is a close cousin to curiosity, but more focused on the how than the what. Future engineers are seen in the kid who takes apart his dad's watch to see how it works or the teenager who can fix mom's kitchen blender.
 
Applied Creativity
 
Applied creativity is a big part of a successful engineer's tool set. Engineers turn theoretical concepts into real-world applications. This process requires creativity, whether you are designing complex pieces of equipment for industrial processes or a new higher-capacity computer memory chip.
 
Math Skills
 
All engineers need math skills. Not all engineering jobs require you to perform complex derivative equations as a part of your everyday routine, but you do need to be well-versed in trigonometry and calculus so you can use the software that has become an integral part of the practice of modern engineering.
 
Mechanical Skills
 
Many engineers develop their mechanical skills at an early age. Understanding mechanical systems and the relationships between parts is a good foundation for future engineers, as it helps them to visualize basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes. Mechanical skills help engineers make rational simplified assumptions, which is the basic theoretical framework for solving engineering problems.
 
Listening and Problem-Solving Skills
 
The relationship between being a good listener and effective problem-solver is more direct than you may think. Really listening and fully comprehending what your interlocutors are saying is truly an art. But the more you know about a problem, the more likely you are to be able to solve the problem, and most top-notch engineers have developed strong listening skills to learn as much as they can from the "owner" of the problem.
 
Interpersonal and Leadership Skills
 
Engineers also need good interpersonal skills as they typically spend a lot of time working on teams as part of a project. Engineers need to be able to get along with colleagues and work together to effectively participate in meetings as well as iron out schedules and the like. Senior engineers -- especially in civil and architectural engineering -- need to develop leadership skills to serve in project-management capacities.

 

 

 

Original Article: https://work.chron.com/traits-necessary-engineer-11081.html