Urban Dictionary defines an engineer as, “A kick-ass uber-genius with godly math and science abilities, the training for which being at the expense of those abilities for spelling and talking to members of the opposite sex.” But are our communication skills really that lacking? Do most engineers fit the stigma of ‘socially-awkward nerd’? In talking with a multitude of my peers and also the professors that teach technical communications courses, engineers are not as socially awkward as many would assume.
Photo Credit: Dani Dewitt
To become an engineer, of course you need the math and problem solving skills, but what many people don’t realize is how much communication experience you need as well. Professional engineers will spend anywhere from fifty to ninety percent of their day communicating. You could be spending your time giving presentations, writing memos or proposals, or even negotiating contracts with customers. No matter what form, communication comprises a vast amount of time in professional engineering. Additionally, engineers lacking proper communication skills will find themselves struggling in this area throughout their careers.
Traci Nathans-Kelly, director for the Technical Communication Certificate (TCC) and professor in a multitude of Engineering Professional Development (EPD) courses states that, “most people don’t understand how important communication is for the professional engineering field until it is too late!” Traci also talks about the track that some engineering students get put on in high school. Math and science courses get loaded on and English gets pushed to the side. “It’s really too bad that engineering students get molded one way toward math and science, but it’s the really smart ones that can, and will, bring the two [subject areas] together.” EPD courses help us to develop the variety of skills necessary to succeed in the work force. These courses involve much more than simply writing papers.
Many undergrads in engineering believe that our curriculum of Basic Communications and Technical Writing is sufficient and in some cases, over the top. However, every professor I spoke with that is involved in technical communications said that these two courses are the bare minimum and more should be required of us. Marty Gustafson, EPD professor and manager of commercial products at Orbitec, graduated from UW-Madison with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Mechanics. She talked about the shock engineering undergrads will experience once they get into the real world, “It’s going to blow students’ minds when they get into the work force and realize how much documentation and presentation they will have to do, you can’t get away from it.” Marty also has an extensive background in marketing and explains that, “Engineers have a different way of communicating. We rely on data, statistics, and designs to sell ourselves and our products. Non-engineers can’t pick up on those subtleties.”
Photo Credit: Dani Dewitt
At least ninety percent of the job postings on the UW-Madison’s Engineering Career Services website (ECS) required skills in communication. I know many undergrads groan at the thought of taking more EPD classes, but it is a necessary skill for all engineering professions. The TCC is a distinguished program with as many as 42 people enrolled at a time. Nine credits in technical proficiency courses and fifteen credits in technical communication courses are required to obtain this certificate. There is a multitude of great ways outside of EPD to further your communication skills on campus: join an organization, get involved with leadership, or do internships and co-ops.
So, next time you think engineers can get by just with our ‘godly math and science abilities,’ think again. We are expected to communicate with not just engineers, but the customers, marketing team, business people, and managers too. Strive to enhance your communication skills before you advance to the professional level.
For more information on the TCC, visit: http://tc.engr.wisc.edu/certificate