Mechanical Engineer Skills For A Resume

Mechanical engineering is considered one of the most diverse career fields. This branch of engineering deals with the movement of physical objects. It also encompasses the relationships that exist between matter, force, and motion.

Mechanical engineers design, manufacture, test, and improve thermal and mechanical systems, devices, and sensors that can be used in any industry. These include machines, engines, and tools that make work easier.

As a result, mechanical engineers have access to a wide variety of career options. These include careers in research and development, manufacturing, automotive, and engineering services industries. The federal government also employs mechanical engineers.

But to become a mechanical engineer, you need to have the right skillset.

What Skills Does a Mechanical Engineer Need?

The mechanical skills that you need to become a mechanical engineer include a combination of soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills refer to the non-technical skills necessary to interact and work well with others in your career. They are personal attributes that are intangible and difficult to measure. They include the ability to communicate, collaborate, and socialize with other people effectively.

Hard skills refer to the technical skills that you acquire through education, practice, and repetition over time. These skills are measurable and can be taught. That means your proficiency in them can be quantified in some way.

So, you may need to undertake a diploma or degree program. To prove your proficiency, you could get academic qualifications such as a mechanical engineering degree, an associate of applied science, or a mechanical engineering technology degree.

Examples of hard skills include the ability to use computers, calculate cost estimates for an engineering project, and troubleshooting equipment issues.

Types of Mechanical Engineering Skills

You should acquire a wide variety of mechanical skills if you want to work as a mechanical engineer.

Depending on your hands-on experience and soft skills, you could work in electronics, machining, robotics, aerospace, plumbing, and architectural industries. You may also perform well in fabrication jobs.

Below are the basic soft and hard skills that you should acquire if you want a career in the mechanical engineering field:

1. Problem-solving skills. Problem-solving is the ability to work on and find solutions to complex problems.

   As a mechanical engineer, you must employ logical reasoning, analysis, and critical thinking when solving problems.

   That means when a problem needs to be addressed, you must gather evidence using the right procedures, analyze and evaluate the data and facts, and then make sound decisions.

   Your goal for problem-solving is to address the existing issues while improving efficiency and efficacy. In most cases, you’ll need to find innovative ways to address the problem.

   Bear in mind that some of the problem-solving strategies that you will need to employ will be technical.

   For example, if you are a machinist, you may be asked to fix a problem on a piece of equipment that requires a spare part. You must first think about the nature of the material that needs to be used.

   It could be a piece of plastic, wood, or metal. Your choice will depend on the characteristics of these materials and their compatibility with the existing equipment. Then you must design the part, manufacture it, test it, and install it into the problematic equipment.

   By the end of this process, you would have used your technical skills and combined them with logical reasoning, critical thinking, and lastly, analysis. Every single thought or action you take must be geared toward solving the machine problem.

   So, when applying for a job in the mechanical engineering sector, be sure to highlight your problem-solving abilities. Share instances when you helped troubleshoot mechanical systems to improve their efficiency.

2. Leadership skills. Your ability to influence others is what leadership is all about.

   Engineering projects are rarely solo events. Different people have different roles to play, and some carry more responsibilities.

   If you have good leadership skills, you could be a team leader and be the one that makes the decisions on behalf of everyone.

   Being a leader means taking charge of a situation if a crisis arises. You must decide on what to do and assign roles to each person in your team. You should also inspire people to work harder and come up with innovative solutions to problems.

3. Creativity skills. Creativity skills are a skill set that enables you to use your imagination to create something.

   Within the mechanical engineering field, you will need to find new solutions to new and existing problems. You cannot do that by falling back on the mechanical systems that already exist. Instead, you must think of different ways to do things.

   If there was already a product that fulfilled the needs of the market, then the issues you face as a mechanical engineer would not exist. The fact that those problems still plague people means no one has found the right solution yet — at least, not for everyone.

   For that reason, you must think outside the box concerning every stage of the product development process.

   You can use your imagination, fictional stories, movies, music, or even works of art, to get your creative juices flowing. In the end, what matters is that you find a mechanical solution that works.

   If you are artistic, you may want to share that information in your resume. It proves that you are creative.

   For example, you could include the fact that you draw. Engineering drawings, created by drafting, are a requirement in the mechanical engineering field. So, your ability to draw would come in handy.

   And if you are great at freehand sketching, share that information also. When discussing mechanical issues with your teammates or clients, your ability to sketch will help them visualize the information you want to pass on.

4. Collaboration skills. Because engineering projects are usually undertaken by many people, you need to learn how to work well with others even if you don’t lead the team. Teamwork determines the success of every project.

   During the brainstorming sessions, you must also contribute your ideas. You can also improve upon someone else’s ideas. When it’s time to begin work in earnest you must take on some of the responsibilities. Be accountable for your actions every step of the way.

   Communication is an important aspect of collaboration. You may need to utilize some of your drawing skills to help explain what you are trying to say. Everyone you work with must be on the same page to avoid confusion.

   Other tasks you may have to do as part of the team include assembling project deliverables, mentoring the junior members of the organization, and assisting with the shipping of equipment.

   Learn to share credit when you succeed. Do bear in mind that if one of you fails, all of you will share the blame.

   You can highlight your collaboration skills by mentioning the projects you have successfully worked on. As assets to the organization, potential employers consider people that can budget and deliver projects on time. It means they can work well with others to achieve the set objectives.

   In your resume, you need to include information about any collaboration tools you are familiar with. These may include project management tools such as Asana, Slack, or Trello. Others include lesser-known project management software such as OpenProject, ProjectManager, IC Project, and Taiga among others.

5. Mathematical skills. Mathematics is the study of numbers, space, time change, and quantity. Applied mathematics is commonly used in engineering to solve real-life problems. It would be helpful if your knowledge of mathematics consisted of algebra, calculus, differential equations, etc.

   You should know how to interpret engineering drawings when developing mechanical systems. Your mathematical skills will come in handy while interpreting drawings drawn to scale. Your drafting abilities will depend on your understanding of math too.

   Knowledge of mathematics is used to calculate engineering problems, test results during the designing process, determine project costs such as labor, and weigh levels of efficiency in different versions of the mechanical objects you create.

   If you cannot work well with numbers, then every mechanical system that you help develop will be flawed.

6. Communication skills. Communication skills enable you to share information effectively. This information can be conveyed verbally and non-verbally. The latter includes facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.

   The field of engineering is meant to solve problems. But first, you must understand what the problem is. That means you should be an active listener.

   When people tell you what an issue or idea is all about, you must understand what they are saying. That helps you to understand client expectations.

   Afterward, respond in a way that assures them of a solution. They may need to understand when to reasonably expect a solution and how well it would work to improve their lives. You may also need to simplify the technical information so that they can understand it better. That too is part of communication.

   If there is a delay concerning project delivery, someone has to share that information with the clients. That job may fall on you. How you express that information with your body language and tone of voice will determine how it’s received.

   Delivering bad news concerning increasing costs on parts needed to create an effective mechanical system is something you would likely have to do. Your ability to express yourself can make or break the project.

   Most engineering projects require teamwork. But everyone works differently. So, how well you communicate can determine if each team member understands their role. It will also influence people working together with minimal conflict involved.

   For that reason, you mustn’t forget the inclusion of communication skills in your resume. It may even help you get a senior mechanical engineering management position. Good communication is part of constructive leadership.

7. Technical skills. Technical skills enable you to perform specific tasks within your field of work. In this case, these skills are acquired in a classroom session or when you undergo training. Some skills require you to have hands-on learning and regular practice before you are considered an expert.

   One of the technical skills that you need is the ability to use digital technology. Digital technology skills will enable you to use digital devices to create, develop, test, and maintain mechanical systems.

   One way to highlight this skill is by mentioning any knowledge that you have of computer-aided design (CAD).

   Listing CAD software such as AutoCAD, Fusion 360°, and SolidWorks is a great way to make a good first impression on recruiters whose companies rely on digital technology to carry out engineering projects.

   Another technology skill worth listing in your resume includes computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) or computer-aided machining. It may be the extra skill you need to land a job in the manufacturing industry.

   In addition to listing the digital technology tools you are familiar with, you should share the hands-on experience that you have. Some hiring managers prefer that experience over the engineering degrees that you have.

   In conclusion, summarizing the tasks you performed in previous jobs will be helpful. These may include tasks such as:

   • Installation and repair of HVAC systems

   • Creating architectural blueprints

   • Managing a residential construction project from start to finish

   • Performing oil changes

   • Repairing engines

   • Operating, troubleshooting, and repairing manufacturing equipment

   You may not think this experience is worth something, but recruiters will. And it’s their opinion that matters most.

   Recruiters may want additional proof that you can apply your theoretical knowledge in the real world. So, some may require you to take mechanical aptitude tests during the interview process to prove your competence levels beyond your academic credentials.

Where Can You Learn Basic Mechanical Skills?

You can acquire basic mechanical skills in different ways. These include:

• Going to college or university to undertake a diploma or degree in your chosen mechanical engineering course.

• Participating in a jobs-training program to help you gain real-world experience to boost your academic credentials.

• Getting into an apprenticeship program to get a hands-on experience.

• Learning via online programs such as India’s Eckovation, MIT’s Online Courses, and Coursera.

Final Thoughts

The basic mechanical skills are transferable. You can use them to work in a variety of industries. You could work as a mechanic, in manufacturing plants, or with aircraft, robotics, and medical devices. You could even work in the military with weapons and industrial equipment.

Decide what it is that you want to do. What matters to hiring managers is that you have the expertise and skill sets necessary for the job advertised.

If you can prove that your knowledge and experience make you an asset to their organization, then you are likely to get the job of your dreams.

So, take the time to sharpen both the soft and hard skills that you need as a mechanical engineer. The time, mental, energy, and financial investment will be worth it in the end.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.