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Seven sought-after engineering skillsThere is a strong South African demand for engineering candidates with seven skills topping the list. Many employers are prepared to take candidates straight off the graduate line and investing in these employees early on to grow their fresh new skills within the parameters of their organisations' specific processes. ![]() © ragsac – 123RF.com Other positions, such as those involving sales engineers, not only demand the right technical qualifications, but also long-term tenures with companies (job hopping every six to 12 months here is a major red flag) and just the right balance between candidates’ people personalities and their go-getter, target-smashing sales personas. Seven sought skills
Naturally, being in-demand skills also means these are mostly scarce skills. Employers are acutely aware of this, and have adopted appealing retention strategies to ensure once they have attracted these skills, they are able to successfully retain them too. This has left a significant dearth of skills in some areas, like embedded software engineers, where candidates are often snapped up at varsity level before they even reach the open market. It is for these reasons that passionate engineering students should focus their studies on those areas where there is the most demand, and that young engineering professionals with some experience in these sectors should aim to gain the minimum experience necessary before moving on in order to grow their careers. Experienced professionals, who meet the grade and are looking to change employers, are in the pound seats. Working with a specialist recruitment agency at this time can help them make the best possible career move; one that capitalises on these coveted skills for maximum professional success. About the authorBellah Nxumalo is a senior specialist recruiter (electrical and electronic engineering and sales) at Network Recruitment. |