Careers Service

Skills acquired by Electronic and Electrical Engineering Graduates

In addition to their subject knowledge and skills, Electronic and Electrical Engineering
graduates have developed skills including:
Ability to gather and critically
evaluate information

The ability to gather, evaluate and interpret a range of

complex information

Write reports and deliver oral

presentations

The ability to communicate in writing in the relevant

discipline medium and to express yourself verbally to be
understood by others

Project management skills

To set reasonable targets and goals, effectively plan the

process to achieve those goals and to meet relevant
deadlines

Understand the need for inter

disciplinary teams

Recognise that within the context of the working

environment the need to draw on and contribute with
others to develop effective solutions.

Numerical skills

Use a range of numerical and mathematical skills to aid

analysis and problem solving

Extensive IT skills

Use a range of relevant software packages to retrieve,

store and interpret information. Also to use suitable
packages to present information to a range of audiences

Work independently and in a

team environment

The ability to undertake work alone and be motivated to

achieve targets. Combine with others to achieve a task
or goal

Recognise the economic context

within which they work

Awareness of the context within which they work

ensuring solutions are economically viable

The skills from your degree explain why many employers have a positive view of Electronic
and Electrical Engineering gtraduates as these skills are in demand in many roles and
settings.

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The Institute of Directors Skills Briefing

Its useful to be aware of the Institute of Directors Skills Briefing as it lists the top ten skills
and qualities that employers seek in recent graduates. It also provides an assessment of the
importance of 28 key skills, grouped loosely into four sets: basic, employability, people and
social, and personal qualities.
This information was compiled in December 2007 (the full report can be found in the Policy,
Information and Advice section of their website: http://www.iod.com)

Top ten skills

Honesty and integrity
Basic literacy skills
Basic oral communication skills
Reliability
Hardworking and having a good work ethic

Numeracy skills
A positive can do attitude
Punctuality
Ability to meet deadlines
Team working and co-operation skills

Assessment of the importance of skills

Basic skills

Basic literacy skills

How important is it for graduates to

possess the following skills?
Very important
Quite important
96%
4%

Basic oral communication skills

Numeracy skills
ICT skills

91%
77%
52%

9%
21%
42%

Employability skills
How important is it for graduates to
possess the following skills?
Ability to meet deadlines
Attention to detail
Problem solving skills
Advanced oral communication
skills (eg presentations)
Creative and innovative thinking
skills
Decision making skills
Advanced written
communication skills (eg formal
reports and letters)
Business acumen

Very important
69%
61%
59%
42%

Quite important
29%
34%
37%
46%

40%

51%

38%
38%

51%
51%

24%

49%

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People and social skills

Team working and co-operation

skills
Etiquette and good manners
Self confidence
Appropriate dress and
appearance
Networking skills
Influencing and negotiating skills
Leadership skills
Foreign language skills

How important is it for graduates to

possess the following skills?
Very important
Quite important
69%
28%
68%
49%
47%

30%
46%
41%

26%
23%
19%
7%

52%
53%
53%
33%

Personal qualities and skills

Honesty and integrity

Reliability
Hardworking and having a good
work ethic
Positive can do attitude
Punctuality
Willingness to take on
responsibility
Adaptability and flexibility
Ability to work independently

How important is it for graduates to

possess the following skills?
Very important
Quite important
96%
4%
86%
14%
78%
21%
72%
70%
59%

25%
27%
38%

54%
38%

42%
55%

It may not be possible to demonstrate all of these skills through your degree, but you should
be able to develop them through other areas of your life eg paid or voluntary work, sport and
leisure activities, community or family activities.

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