You might be surprised to learn that technical skills do not show up on the list of the top 5 skills or qualities employers seek in candidates. While technical skills are critical for success on the job, they are “expected” so employers will assume that you can handle the technical aspects of a position – especially if you come from a competitive college or university.
So what do employers look for? The order may differ by company, but employers consistently say they want candidates who excel at building effective relationships, at working in teams, as leaders, at communicating, at problem-solving, and who demonstrate a strong work ethic. Basically, they figure if you have these skills, you can learn the more specific technical skills for the job.
What does this mean for you? Academics are very important, because if you don’t have technical skills, you won’t even enter the competition. But assuming you are performing at least relatively well academically, look for opportunities to develop your professional skills. Join student organizations and take on a leadership role. If you see something that you think should be change, take the initiative and do it. Think about ways to practice and improve your communication skills. Take advantage of opportunities to practice problem solving and design skills. And be sure to go to recruiting events so you can develop your professional skills and start building a network. It may feel awkward to interact with employers at first, but the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it, and that will help a lot when you’re ready to look for a job.
Don’t forget there are lots of resources available to you at the University of Illinois. The Illinois Leadership Center is a great program to consider, and Engineering Career Services can assist with your career plans and job search – these are just two examples. Good luck!
Sarah Zehr is an Assistant Dean in the College of Engineering and Director of Engineering Career Services
Recently, Lauraleigh Heffner, a long-time iFoundry student leader, won Pitchfest 2012, hosted by the Technology Entrepreneur Center. “One thing they really stress with their competition is all you need is an idea. And that’s exactly what I had.”
Her winning idea? A non-profit called “Live to Dive to Live.”
Live to Dive to Live “will develop and produce low cost scuba diving equipment for communities that rely on scuba diving as their main source of income. In addition to producing this product, we would go down to these underpriveleged communities across the world and educate them on how to use this equipment properly.”
Right now, her idea is focused on Honduras’ Mosquito coast, where many of the divers there dive without gauges, which greatly increases their chance of death or injury. “In the future, we also hope to look into Indonesia. A lot of people there are scuba diving and they don’t have enough money to buy an air compressor to put air in a tank but they use tires for cars and they fill them with air. We want to make sure that they are using air that is still safe to breath.”
The idea began to percolate after a trip to Honduras a few years ago, where she learned how to scuba dive, and gained first hand knowledge of the problems facing many of the divers there.
“iFoundry has made a really big difference for me. There have been some key people in iFoundry who have served as my mentors, especially with this new project.”
Come hear special guest Federico Joselevich speak about different examples and approaches of how the connection between art and technology can be established. Federico is an artist, master teacher, and engineer whose large-scale installations provoke and challenge our self-understanding of who we are as makers, technology-users, and engineers.
About Federico Joselevich
Federico Joselevich is a Technology Artist. He has helped co-found, and continues to engage with, multiple art collectives, and has exhibited projects all over the world – from the Contemporary Art Museum of Barcelona (MACBA) to the Mediahouse for the Massachussets Institute of Technology – IaaC. A well-respected teacher in the areas of digital and electronic art, he on the Fine Arts Faculty in the National University of La Plata Argentina and Arts National Institute (IUNA). View some of his work at www.ludic.cc.
Questions? Contact Betty Barrett, bb1@illinois.edu or Amy Koester, akoester@illinois.edu or 244-1816.
Have you ever wanted a RUSTY FRIENDSHIP HUMIDIFIER? Or a WASTED YEARS RESIGNIFYER? Perhaps a TRANSCONVERTER OF UNDEFINED MOODS?
This is your chance.
Join iFoundry’s special guest Federico Joselevich, technology artist, in a one-day workshop at UIUC’s Fab Lab where you can participate in creating fun, whimsical projects that combine art and technology! Wear your working
1:38 iFoundry student leader Lauraleigh Heffner recently won the Technology Entrepreneur Center's Pitchfest 2012 competition. Her winning idea? Live to Div...
