Reflections of Engineering Professionals: Relating Senior-Year Skill Levels to Current Employment

• In Event: Roundtable Session 4
  In Roundtable Session: Professional Identity

Abstract

In engineering, various efforts have sought to address students' career readiness by emphasizing technical and non-technical skill development during undergraduate study. Specifically, Engineer of 2020 skills were endorsed to better prepare engineers for the workforce. We use Social Cognitive Career Theory to illustrate how self-perceptions of skills relates to one’s choice (or perhaps ability) to work in specific business sector and job functions. Engineering alumni grouped into six unique clusters related to the E2020 skills. Also, unique differences amongst the cluster groupings across business sector, job function, and relation of engineering degree to current employment were found. Findings from this study suggest that engineering alumni may navigate to early career positions that map on to their readiness across these skills.

Authors

• Glenda Young, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• David Knight, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University