Skills That Matter: The Reality and Importance of Learning on the Job

Junior engineers often enter their careers thinking that they have learned all the academic concepts they need to be successful in their field. However, once they begin working, they are asked to perform tasks that they only vaguely remember from class, to use computer programs that they have never heard of, and to perform calculations that they have no idea how to begin. The truth is that undergraduate and even graduate coursework provides engineers with only the basic structure for knowledge that they will develop during the course of their careers. Well-rounded and successful engineers need to approach their careers with an open mind and expect to learn new skills on the job, often under the pressure of impending deadlines and demanding clients. The willingness to learn, be flexible, and perform tasks that one is not familiar with is invaluable in the workplace, and it can open doors that take a career in new and exciting directions. The knowledge associated with experience and perseverance is far greater than that gleaned from textbooks, although developing that knowledge requires two characteristics that are not taught in engineering curriculum: patience and flexibility.