The process of becoming a fully fledged engineer is a long and arduous road. There are many tests to pass and skills to learn. But don’t let it dis-hearten you. As an engineer you will become a well regarded and extremely valuable part of a country’s constructive effort.

The skills you need to be a great engineer cover many different areas. www.career-advice.monster.co.uk recommends the following skills:

Effective communication skills: With an increase in the documentation and instructions that engineers use in the workplace, clear and concise communication is a requirement.

Interpersonal skills: Working as part of a team is a required aspect of being an engineer. Skills focused around customer and colleague relations are a must.

Technical knowledge: Understanding how machines work, chemical formulae, the ability to assess blueprints. These are a few of the technical skills you will need.

Organisational skills: Being able to prioritise tasks, manage your time effectively and resource planning are key skills for engineers.

Enthusiasm and commitment: learning new skills is part of every engineer’s role, so you need to be adept at assimilating a lot of new information.