For those of you thinking of becoming engineers, Associate Professor Dennis Wong has a few tips and pointers to make the most of your engineering course and to stand out among your university peers.
Wong, who is the Engineering, Computing and Science Faculty dean at Swinburne University of Technology, believes these pointers would not only benefit you during your years as an engineering student but could also serve well as you start out in your career as an engineer.
1. Get competitive – join competitions
Engineering students have to take the initiative in participating in competitions, and if possible to take part in every hands-on, experiential learning opportunity that a balanced schedule allows.
This way, you’ll have something unique to show your prospective employers for an added advantage in the job market.
Joining competitions is also a unique learning experience, as it allows you to gauge your ability among your peers from other universities, especially in terms of creativity and innovation.
In addition, you’ll be far more likely to retain the knowledge gained in the classroom by applying it in a competition setting.
It also gives you an opportunity to enhance the learning experience beyond the typical classroom environment, as well as improve your communication and interpersonal skills by working in a team.
2. Get a head start through placements
Employers place tremendous value on practical experience, so on your part you should seek out internship opportunities as actively and as early as possible.
For engineering courses, it is usually a requirement for you to undergo placements or work attachment with a company.
Above all, you should look at placements as a great opportunity to come up with solutions for real-world problems. A lot of students become industry-ready graduates because placements help them fit in easier when the time comes to enter the working world.
3. Prepare early for your engineering career
Preparing early for job applications is important so make the most out of the services provided in your university, such as learning how to take on job interviews; how to follow up on job applications; and how to prepare your resume.
Students who begin their preparation early would easily land a job soon after completing university.
4. Plan for a career with endless possibilities
An engineering curriculum prepares you for diverse future career options.
You don’t need to be a technical person or to be technically-proficient throughout your working life because there are many engineers who move on to non-engineering roles; becoming managers of consultancies or even moving away totally into fields such as banking and finance, among many others.
Wong revealed that as many as 20 of his students have become entrepreneurs and are operating their own businesses throughout Sarawak.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
This article first appeared on The Borneo Post, visit this link: http://bit.ly/2aqpH67
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