2. TalentEgg.ca is Canada’s leading job board and online career
resource for students and recent graduates looking for career
hatching opportunities.
We work with hundreds of Canada’s top employers, and we’re
dedicated to helping students navigate the sometimes messy
school-to-work transition.
That’s why we created Engineering Your Career– a guide to
help you land your dream job in engineering.
So what are you waiting for? Get cracking!
Be sure to take advantage of the
Relevant Reads section on each
page. These additional resources
provide a ton of important info to
help you in your job search!
And keep your eyes peeled for tips and tricks on
the bottom of each page!
3. Good news for engineering graduates: there are a growing number
of job opportunities for Mechanical, Civil, Mining and Chemical
Engineers, among other disciplines.
So, aside from the technical knowledge of the field, what skills are
in-demand?
Mechanical Engineers: Imagination and good critical judgement
skills, versatility, self-reliance, communication skills, problem
solving skills, teamwork and computer skills.
Civil Engineers: Specific software knowledge, staying on top of
industry innovations.
Chemical Engineers: Scientific and methodical mind, analytical
skills, problem solving skills, teamwork and communication skills,
innovative thinking.
Fun fact: Though engineering is known for being a male-
dominated profession, approximately 1 in 5 current engineering
students is female!
Relevant Reads:
Infographic: A promising future in
engineering
Alberta's skilled labour shortage: An
opportunity for youth
Career tips for engineering students
TalentEgg Tip: Bookmark TalentEgg’s Engineering
Career Guide for free engineering career resources
4. With so many career options in engineering, how do you know
which path is the one for you? By trying them out through
internships and co-op placements, of course!
There are tons of benefits to completing work-terms while still in
school, including:
• Gain relevant experience before you graduate
• Try out different engineering roles and companies
• Learn from industry professionals
• Build your professional network
Oh, and the pay cheque doesn’t hurt, either! Depending on the
internship or co-op program, you can expect to make an average of
$2,500 to $4,500 per month.
Relevant Reads:
How 6 co-op terms impacted this Waterloo
Engineering grad's career
Calgary engineering student's internship
experience at Suncor Energy
How internships led to full time work at
Talisman Energy for one grad
TalentEgg Tip: Search for Engineering internships
and co-ops on TalentEgg!
5. We know you’re interested in engineering, but to land your dream
job you also need to be able to create an effective marketing
document: your resume!
Every industry has it’s own expectations on what should – and
should not – be included in a resume. Here are our top tips for an
effective engineering resume:
• Display your personality and originality through your
experiences and accomplishments
• Showcase specialties using specific examples
• Be relevant and action-oriented – show accomplishments
• Change your summary section for every job you apply to
Now that you’ve perfected your engineering resume, it’s time to go
the extra mile and stand out to potential employers.
One of the best ways to do this is by joining an engineering society
or other student group and getting involved! You’ll enhance your
skills, make connections in your industry and gain experiences to
beef up your resume.
Relevant Reads:
How to write a resume that hiring software can read
How to improve the hobbies and interests section of
your resume
How to write a strong resume
TalentEgg Tip: Edit, edit, edit your resume!
6. Whether you’re interviewing for a co-op job or your first entry level
position, engineering interviews are a whole new ball game. The
major difference between engineering interviews and other job
interviews is the technical content.
You may be asked to solve one or two problems on the spot, or
complete a booklet of technical questions while your interviewer
watches and checks your answers.
Sound nerve-wracking? Prepare for your interview by:
• Researching all aspects related to the job description
• Learning about what the company does and specific details
of the area or group that you’re being interviewed for
• Reviewing your previous work experience and details of
your projects
• Studying your notes and textbook material relating to the
job to help prepare for technical questions
Relevant Read:
What Vale's recruiters look for when hiring
Engineers-in-Training
How to practice and prepare for interviews
10 tips to prepare for job interviews
TalentEgg Tip: Bombed the interview?
Here’s how to recover.
7. Another important part of preparing for an interview is knowing
your salary expectations.
Your salary will vary depending on your field, your role, how
much experience you have and where you will work. To give
you an idea of what to expect, here are some average entry
level (0-3 years of experience) engineering salaries in major
Canadian cities:
Toronto Montreal Vancouver Edmonton Calgary
Software $62,837 $63,079 $66,469 $54,418 $64,871
Mechanical $66,493 $66,749 $70,337 $61,817 $61,817
Electrical $66,944 $68,178 $71,842 $63,140 $70,117
Manufacturing $63,857 $64,103 $67,548 $59,366 $65,919
Chemical $80,289 $80,599 $84,930 $74,643 $82,883
Environmental $64,150 $64,397 $67,585 $59,638 $66,211
Civil $59,943 $60,174 $63,407 $55,727 $57,748
Source: Salary.com
Relevant Reads:
Entry level salaries in the petroleum industry
Average starting salaries for engineering
jobs in Calgary
TalentEgg Tip: Don’t like your offer? Here are some
negotiating tips.
8. Have some questions about a specific employer? Looking for
additional ways to stand out and have recruiters remember
your name? Start engaging with them on Twitter!
Check out our list of engineering-related accounts to follow on
Twitter, then start connecting by mentioning them in your
tweets and sharing interesting industry content.
Interested in the oil and gas industry? TalentEgg has you
covered there, too! Click here to see a list of oil and gas
tweeps.
And of course, make sure to follow TalentEgg on Twitter for all
the latest engineering jobs and career resources!
Relevant Reads:
Attract employers using social media
How to makeover your LinkedIn profile
How to use Pinterest to find a job
Why every student and new grad should be
using Twitter
TalentEgg Tip: Learn how to protect your online
reputation.
9. You’re on your way to hatching your career in
engineering!
Here are a few more Relevant Reads to help you land your
dream job:
Inside a recent engineering grad's career with Goldcorp
Everything you need to know about P.Eng. certification
What it's like to work at BHP Billiton's EKATI Diamond Mine
How to answer some of your most difficult job interview questions
Make networking a habit
Find us online!