What a Hardware Engineer at a Fortune 10 Tech Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Engineering Industry
Bob, a hardware engineer, emphasizes that strong communication skills are "essentially more important than the technical skills," a lesson learned through experience rather than prior knowledge. The importance of collaboration and teamwork, along with effective communication in various forms, is highlighted as crucial for success in the field, contrasting with the initial assumption that technical proficiency alone would suffice.
Communication Skills, Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Professional Development, Soft Skills
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Bob Buckley
Hardware Engineer
Fortune 10 Tech Co.
UNL
UCSB
Engineering - Mechanical
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Effective communication skills are paramount in the field of hardware engineering, even more so than technical skills.
2. The ability to collaborate effectively within a team and understand team dynamics is crucial for success.
3. Procrastination can be detrimental; working on soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, should be prioritized alongside technical skills development.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
I would say that soft skills, particularly communication, are essentially more important than technical skills. When I was an undergraduate and even a graduate student, I really loved learning. I enjoyed doing problem sets and getting good grades on homeworks and tests. I felt at home in that space.
It was much harder for me when it came to communication, like writing papers or giving talks. I would say I was sort of in the perfectionist and procrastination camp for those tasks. It was really, really stressful for me, and I would usually put it off until the last moment.
I'd get it done with an all-nighter or something. I really thought that wasn't for me, that I didn't need it. I figured I would just do the technical work and be fine.
I thought that going into science and engineering, I wouldn't need to be a good communicator, give talks, or organize my thoughts on paper. The opposite is very true.
I wish I would have had the opportunity to really know that for myself. It's hard, and even if I was told, I probably wouldn't have internalized it. I wish I had found some way to internalize that I need to work on my communication as much, if not more, than my technical skills.
So, finding ways to work on those soft skills, like working on collaborative projects, understanding team dynamics, and thriving in a team while working on a technical problem, are all skills that are very needed. Schools try to teach these, especially towards senior-level engineering projects. I just wish I had realized the importance of that earlier.
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