Important Characteristics of a Mechanical Engineer

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Like all engineering jobs, mechanical engineers have a specialized set of skills that are beneficial to them in their work. If one does not possess these characteristics, it does not necessarily mean that they can never be an engineer; rather, this is a sign that mechanical engineering might be a difficult career for them to go into. After all, no one is perfect, and most engineers do not possess all of these skills. That which one does not know, one can learn, as most mechanical engineers do. Furthermore, the perseverance it takes to acquire those skills is already a step in the right direction. According to Neil Kokemuller, the three main traits of a mechanical engineer are creativity, communication, and problem-solving (n.d.). Along with these characteristics, says D. Jeffress, “A successful engineer is... efficient, detail-oriented, and mechanically inclined;” they also need computer design skills and a specialized knowledge of math, physics, and electricity (2014). The Government of Alberta also wants their mechanical engineers to have “the ability to visualize three-dimensional objects from two-dimensional drawings” (2009). The Virginia Career VIEW website is much more in depth and adds that mechanical engineers should have design, production and processing, and customer and personal service knowledge (2014a); critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, and judgment and decision-making skills (2014b); and be able to obtain data and information, analyze data and information, process data and information, and document data and information (2014c). There are many websites that contain similar information, and some that go even further in depth, but these are the essential traits, skills, and characteristics of... ... middle of paper ... ...hanical Engineer Employment? WiseGEEK. Retrieved February 13, 2014, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-skills- are-needed-for-mechanical-engineer-employment.htm Kokemuller, N. (n.d.). What Are Three Personal Characteristics of a Mechanical Engineer? Chron.com. Retrieved February 13, 2014, from http://work.chron.com/three-personal- characteristics-mechanical-engineer-25155.html Virginia Career VIEW. (2014a). Knowledge. Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved February 13, 2014, from http://www.vacareerview.org/careers/career/17-2141.00/Knowledge Virginia Career VIEW. (2014b). Skills. Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved February 13, 2014, from http://www.vacareerview.org/careers/career/17-2141.00/Skills Virginia Career VIEW. (2014c). Work Activities. Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved February 13, 2014, from http://www.vacareerview.org/careers/career/17-2141.00/WorkActivities

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