The Skills, Attributes and Qualities of an Engineer

ENGINEERING SKILS

1. What are the qualities and skills of a good engineer?

2. Guess the meaning of the following words. Which of these qualities should an engineer have?

Inquisitive – curious, inquiring, interested

Meticulous – careful, scrupulous

Knowledgeable – well-informed, educated

Top-notch – superior, first-class, top-quality, best

Intricate – complicated, difficult

Confident – sure, positive, secure

3. Read though the text and put the following qualities in the order beginning from the most important for an engineer:

The Skills, Attributes and Qualities of an Engineer

Engineers are responsible for some of the greatest inventions and technology the world depends on. Everything from space shuttles to air conditioning systems to bridges requires the work of an engineer. Even though engineers work in a wide range of fields, such as chemical, civil and software, there are basic traits and skills common to them all. Engineers take concepts and ideas and apply them to make products that meet social and consumer needs. A successful engineer has the technical, analytical, communication and management skills needed to design and create these products.

To be successful in the field of engineering, one must have certain qualities. Some of those top qualities include:

1. Possesses a Strong Analytical Aptitude: A great engineer has excellent analytical skills and is continually examining things and thinking of ways to help things work better. They are naturally inquisitive.

2. Shows an Attention to Detail: A great engineer pays meticulous attention to detail, he is detail-oriented. The slightest error can cause an entire structure to fail, so every detail must be reviewed thoroughly during the course of completing a project. Engineers know where every bolt should be placed in a construction project to ensure the integrity of a structure. They are knowledgeable in all design standards, guidelines and compliance requirements for each phase of a project. They have the discipline to check the smallest details at each step.

3. Has Excellent Communication Skills: Successful engineers are good communicators. They know how to write clear and concise reports, how to convey ideas to top leaders of corporations and are able to communicate precise instructions to construction workers. They can translate complex technical lingo into plain English and also communicate verbally with clients and other engineers working together on a project.

4. Takes Part in Continuing Education: A great engineer stays on top of developments in the industry. Changes in technology happen rapidly, and the most successful engineers keep abreast of new research and ideas. Technology, computers and computer software are constantly changing. A successful engineer continues her education and remains current with any changes and new ideas in the field.

5. Is Creative: A great engineer is creative and can think of new and innovative ways to develop new systems and make existing things work more efficiently. Engineers think outside the box, they are curious and ask questions. They look for new innovative ways to make systems work more efficiently.

6. Shows an Ability to Think Logically: A great engineer has top-notch logical skills. They are able to make sense of complex systems and understand how things work and how problems arise.

7. Is Mathematically Inclined: A great engineer has excellent math skills. Engineering is an intricate science that involves complex calculations of varying difficulty.

8. Has Good Problem Solving Skills: An engineer is a problem-solver. They are able to analyze what the cause of a problem is, determine the best solution and quickly take action with confidence. Engineers are able to analyze and interpret charts, graphs and reports with accuracy. A great engineer has sharp problem solving skills. An engineer is frequently called upon solely to address problems, and they must be able to figure out where the problem stems from and quickly develop a solution.

9. Is a Team Player: A great engineer understands that they are part of a larger team working together to make one project come together successfully, and therefore, must work well as part of that team. Teams that work well together are successful. As part of a team, an engineer works with a positive attitude within a group for the success of a project. When called upon to lead, an engineer must have good managerial and organizational skills. Confident and enthusiastic engineers are able to succeed by gaining the trust of co-workers.

10. Has Excellent Technical Knowledge: A great engineer has a vast amount of technical knowledge. They understand a variety of computer programs and other systems that are commonly used during an engineering project. They have a wide range of technical knowledge including excellent mathematical skills. They know the right formulas to use and are able to solve difficult and complex equations.

4. Give the Russian equivalents to the following English expressions:

1. to possess a strong analytical aptitude

2. to convey ideas to top leaders

3. to translate complex technical lingo into plain English

4. to stay on top of developments in the industry

5. to keep abreast of new research and ideas

6. to think outside the box -

7. to remain current with any changes and new ideas

8. to have top-notch logical skills

9. to quickly take action with confidence

10. to analyze and interpret charts, graphs and reports with accuracy

11. to figure out where the problem stems from

12. to work with a positive attitude within a group

5. Which of these qualities do you possess? Which of them would you like to develop?

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30