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What an employer looks most in an engineer's CV who is a fresher? I am so confused about this .

I am trying to get a job but it has been over one and a half year no one is interested in my qualifications. Simply I am confused :o

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Question added by Azhar Mehmood , Engineer Distribution , Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd
Date Posted: 2013/12/05
Rehan Qureshi
by Rehan Qureshi , Financial Consultant , Self Employeed

Education and traininga plus communication skills and presentation to some extent

Mamdouh Manie
by Mamdouh Manie , Executive HRC local sales manager , Ezzsteel

He will look for grades

 For  external training in companies

he will check languages  spoken software the engineer may have studied

he will check if he has any activity in any association inside and outside his university

he will check for the pronunciation errors and cv presentation

he will check if this engineer has travelled abroad  during his education so he is self confident and can adapt to other cultures

he will check if he is  a champion of any sport  , by this he will know the time management skills to handle difficult schedules

Hello Azhar and thank you for inviting me to answer your question.

 

Different people have different views and it's really difficult to answer this common question directly. But if you think of it from another side and put it like this: " How can I stand out differently as a fresh engineer and show that in my RESUME/CV", then, the answer becomes easier and many people will give you good advice.

 

When I was a fresh graduate, I had the focus on my interpersonal skills and the things I know I can do well.

 

The coursework section in my RESUME was a minimal because employers won't really bother going through something like that. What I think they want to see is self initiation and my ability to learn. Therefore, I made sure to keep my RESUME clean, brief, while at the same time, stressed out I was really different. I used to do that not by telling it, but the RESUME structure spoke about it.

For example, I included a couple of photos with a nice layout of nice things I did at college. That raised interest and made them curios because on the other hand, many other folks just used to list down their stuff in the most boring way possible! That also gave me a good chance to speak about myself in interviews and show them I was charismatic, polite, I sound professional, presentable and a person who can sell himself. By the way, in many cases, my projects were not relevant to their businesses but the "talking" I did in interviews reflected entrepreneurship skills, and trust me, that's a killer point and turns tables!

 

Please remember that a RESUME's ultimate goal is getting you an interview. Only then, you get to show how good you are.

 

The marketplace is complex now and most employers favor people with high learning curve (because they grow with them) over others who were on the dean's list at college. Nobody wants to hire somebody who needs a handbook to deal with or who can always get a scholarship and leave. People who accept changes and show ability in working around problems are what employers really want to have in their teams.

 

Best luck and I hope I was somehow helpful. 

 

Fadi

 

 

Edward Makonge
by Edward Makonge , Prime Power Foreman , Kbr Inc.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE HIRED????? Communication Skills Do you communicate well? The advantages of good communication cannot be stressed well enough; excellent written and verbal skills are a must for any employer. Knowing how to express yourself clearly and accurately, in writing and in speaking is very important. All employers value good communication skills. When considering why communication is important, the bottom line is – if you’re a good communicator, you’ll have better chances of success. You are able to persuade people, influence others, negotiate effectively and provide valuable feedback. See Good Communication Skills, Key to Success Creativity Not content with the status quo? Great employees constantly look for creative ways to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. Can you think on your feet? How quickly can you adapt to shifting priorities? Can you turn a wall into windows of opportunities and can you do whatever it takes, regardless of your role or position, to get things done? To succeed in any business is to be creative in your role and growth in any business demands creativity. It is what will separate you from the competition. As humans, we are trained to only notice what’s different in our environment, in other words, being different is the best way to raise awareness. Due to business competition and the rate of continuous improvement in companies, most employers are after creative employees. They look for employees who come up with creative ways to solve problems. Aim to always think outside the box for your chance of a good job opportunity. See How to Harness Your Creativity at Work Professionalism Why should you be hired if you lack professionalism? Are you self aware? Are you aware of the position you hold, your environment and the people within and outside of it? Do you know when to play and when to be serious? Are you aware of when to be relevant or be irreverent and when to conform? Do you know when to challenge and when to back off? Do you know how to always behave in an office environment? Being professional at all times in the workplace is a great skill to have and one that will make you an asset to any company. See10 Ways to be Professional at Work Accountability Do you take responsibility for your work, mistakes and actions? Some people get nervous when other people start talking about holding them accountable for their actions and impact. Are you one of these people? If you are, you may have to learn to take responsibility for your actions because all managers hold their employees accountable. After all, managers want to make sure employees are earning their pay. If you are a sales rep, your manager wants to know how much business you close. Managing yourself by making yourself accountable for how you spend your time and the result you achieve is important. Successful people review their to-do lists each day and at the end of the week. They know what they have accomplished and what they have failed to accomplish. If you are seeking work with any organization especially one who makes it harder for people to follow their natural desire to be accountable for their actions, then, this will be a major strength that will make an employer hire you. See the Power of Accountability Flexibility and Adaptability Can you adapt to the changing conditions at work? Can you be flexible enough to work on your assigned work even if it’s not in your job description? Can you avoid having a “tunnel vision” where you focus on your job and your job alone? Instead, be aware of the responsibilities of your co-workers and recognize how your duties affect their workload. Are you normally more focused on the content of your own job profile more than what more you can bring to the table? Are you looking to add value and are you willing to get involved with numerous projects, to help and encourage others? Can you take on new responsibilities and handle change seamlessly? Are you adaptable enough to find creative solutions to difficult problems? It is necessary to adapt to change quickly and easily. Ability to quickly learn new things is a major attribute. Also, the ability to let go, take charge and capitalise on opportunities is a major reason for any employer to hire you. See How Important is Flexibility and Adaptability Honesty and Integrity How honest are you? Good employees are honest above all else. I agree that nobody is perfect, and that everyone makes mistakes but employees who will hide their mistakes or inflate their competency levels can create problems in their workplace and for their employers as a whole. Remarkable employees are not afraid to admit that they need more guidance in certain areas or that they are just plain lost when it comes to certain tasks. A good employee takes pride in her work and honestly admits when bringing something new to the table doesn’t quite work out. It is important that you do not “borrow” company supplies, tools, products or personal equipment without your employer’s permission. Just because you use it at work daily doesn’t mean it belongs to you. To top it all, ensure you give a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. See Honesty at Work: Tell the Truth and be More Productive Interpersonal Skills Do you practice this golden rule: “Treat others as you would like to be treated?” No matter how skilled employees are in their specific job roles, interpersonal skills can make or break employees’ value to their employers. The ability to relate to your colleagues, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is essential given the amount of time we spend at work each day. Getting along with others, being kind, respectful and being well mannered is imperative. In a team setting, you will stick out like a sore thumb if your interpersonal skills are not good. The best employees are excellent in-person, on the phone and via emails. They will remain calm, respectful and professional in the midst of conflict and arguments. See the Examples of Good and Bad Interpersonal Skills at Work and What are Interpersonal Skills? Positive Attitude Do you consider yourself someone with a “positive” attitude? Positive attitude does not always mean “happy”, but it is better to be upbeat at work rather than being angry walking around with a face like thunder! Your attitude in the workplace will project your beliefs and values, and what you think of your job, how you are with your co-workers and boss. Trust me, your attitude will be shown in the quality of your work too. Your colleagues and co-workers will be aware of your attitude at work and they will watch you closely every day – unspoken but true. You attitude is as important as the work that you produce. The word, “Positive” also means proactive. Employers value an employee who is cheerful and upbeat with a “can do” attitude. A good sense of humour is also important in the workplace as long as you know when to be humorous. Performing your duties cheerfully is important even when you are having a bad day. Some people are naturally upbeat, positive and easy to be around. On the job, such individuals are usually well liked by their peers and acquaintances and they get hired as their positive attitude is somehow usually noticed by hiring managers.This could be of help.

Ramy Fouad
by Ramy Fouad , Maintenance and Installation Engineer , Femto Trade Company for medical devices

Dear Azhar Thank you for inviting me to answer your question.

 

At the outset that this question is very important

But varies according to the nature of work and the area in which to apply

But it should appear the bright you speak your sides, including professional expertise and communication and leadership skills

And also training courses that you took

 

I wish you success.

Paul Bryson
by Paul Bryson , UPS Service Engineer , Emerson Network Power

It is often the case that experience and qualifications are not enough. Social skills are often looked for in candidates.  An employer will often disregard anybody who comes across in lacking communication skills during an interview as with anybody who is arrogant.  Also if the position is within a team environment he or she will look to see if you will fit in. Gaining interview experience is sometimes as valuable as the credentials you possess! Many a great engineer has fallen at the interview stage. My advice is to keep trying someone somewhere will eventually connect with you and see you as the ideal candidate.  Good luck.

hatem labib
by hatem labib , Quality control manager , MISER consultant

the employer read a lot of CVS so you should have exciting CV to push him to continu reading your CV.this can be by mention your special training cources if you have and the abnormal experince (you should be a different, you shoud have your style)

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