Top Skills Required To Pursue A Degree In Mechanical Engineering July 7, 2022

Top Skills Required To Pursue A Degree In Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering is an on-demand field both in India and abroad. Several of the top universities and institutes like TOMS offer Mechanical Engineering courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This is a particularly tough field not only in terms of admissions but also in terms of surviving and earning a successful career. However, to ensure true success as a Mechanical Engineer, there are some skills one should possess. These have been elaborated on below.

Skills Needed for Mechanical Engineering aspirants

For Mechanical Engineer students, in terms of skills, there are two types of skills. These are technical and soft skills. Both have been elaborated on below.

Technical Skills

Most recruiters have a list of technical skills for mechanical engineer fresher resumes. These skills are usually taught in the course curriculum or through a short-term course. Listed below are the top technical skills a Mechanical Engineer should have.

Six Sigma: Six Sigma refers to a set of tools that act as a benchmark for how business processes should work. Upon fully utilizing these tools, there is a marked increase in the operation of the processes that will ultimately lead to a change in the overall profits. Mechanical Engineers stand to gain a lot from a Six Sigma certification. For starters, Six Sigma can improve the business processes while retaining quality. Any unnecessary processes are cut off or removed thus saving time and money. There are fewer errors and the Engineer is taught to develop a problem-solving aspect.

Mathematics: Engineering and Mathematics go hand in hand. All Mechanical Engineers must be proficient in Advanced Math topics and also Statistics and Calculus. A lot of their work involves the active use of Mathematics for designing and creating tools and machinery. With mastery of Mathematics, one can avoid expensive and time-consuming recalculations. Besides the design process, knowledge of this subject is also required when using different Engineering tools.

Software: To perform their jobs, Mechanical Engineers use one or two major software. The software speeds up their work and makes minor calculations and data accurate. There is a ton of design software in the market today and future Mechanical Engineers can choose to learn from anyone. However, they would stand to gain by learning the most popular software. Some of the most popular design software for Mechanical Engineers are Fusion 360, Solid Edge, NX, SolidWorks, Catia, AutoCAD Mechanical, etc.

Engineering tools: Mechanical Engineers need the help of different tools to design their creations. These tools are usually, 3D printers, callipers, force gauges, ohmmeter, vibration isolators, flow meters, cold forming presses, etc. While most of these tools are digital and work on their own, sometimes they break down and the Mechanical Engineers have to fix them. In addition, knowledge of these tools will also affect the outcome or data produced.

Also Read: Top career options after a degree in Mechanical Engineering

Soft Skills

After discussing the technical skills of Mechanical Engineers, it is worth understanding what are some soft skills that a Mechanical Engineer aspirant should possess. Communication Skills: Without a doubt, the top soft skill that is required in all professions is communication skills. These skills are both written communication skills and spoken skills. Mechanical Engineers need to, often, talk with clients and update them about the project. In order to be able to transmit ideas and concepts clearly. Reports and emails also need to be written by the said Engineer to their seniors. Communication skills can be improved by taking up a dedicated workshop or a course. One of the easiest ways is to read and practice talking with friends.

Collaboration and Teamwork: Engineering is a field that requires the collaborative efforts of many people. One needs to work with several departments during the regular course of a day such as Accounts, Architects, IT department, etc. This is because most projects that Mechanical Engineers handle are group-based projects. One must be able to talk clearly and work with everyone. With experience, Mechanical Engineers would need to lead and manage entire teams as well. A Mechanical Engineer with good leadership skills and communication skills stands on the road to success.

Problem Solving: Problem-solving skills are a large necessity for Mechanical Engineers because it is a highly technical job. The engineer could be required to solve the problems of clients and help address their queries. This skill also advances in taking care of engineering tools and machines required to perform their jobs. The b.tech in mechanical engineering with problem-solving skills will help the individual come up with solutions quickly on their feet, validate designs and understand why something is not working.

Creative: Mechanical Engineers primarily work at designing machinery, tools, or different solutions for their clients. This requires a great deal of creativity. Being able to think outside of the box and come up with solutions for products and services is a necessity. One day they could be designing and making a battery and a robot while the very next day they can be working on an environmentally friendly generator. The Engineer would be required to brainstorm, come up with the best way to the end goal and create the blueprint for it. Throughout the whole process, they are also constantly working at ironing out the kinks and other issues, each of which requires a high level of creativity.

How to polish Mechanical Engineering skills?

There are many future skills for Mechanical Engineers to possess besides the ones mentioned above. If one is interested in picking up these skills, they can do so, through the following methods:

1. Enrolling in a short-term certification course is the quickest way to learn some of the technical skills like learning design software. These courses are available in both online and offline formats and many are also free.

2. Work under a mentor like a senior or a professor at college. Observing how work is done in Mechanical Engineering first-hand, is the best way to learn essential skills.

3. Active involvement in the Mechanical Engineering industry will also expose individuals to the latest changes and developments. There would also be chances of networking and asking questions to seniors.

4. In terms of books, one can refer to personal development books. There are several that aim at personality development and also at succeeding in the workplace.

Mechanical Engineering is a tough field to get into, studying and earning the degree is also tough. During the process, students usually pick up many skills, both technical and soft skills. One can either pick up these mechanical engineering skills in demand during the course of the program or through short courses.