Around the world, daily life, travel and commerce have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Government officials and many companies are taking necessary steps to help stop the spread of the virus.
For many of us, that means working from home and social distancing. The downside is that it may not feel like the most productive workplace, especially after several days. And once your workday is over, you may not get the same normal sense of relief of “relaxing at home.”
Watching the hours go by gets boring and repetitive. So instead of just doing things to pass the time, why not put that time to good use?
Here are five ways you can improve your professional skills at home:
Grow Your Skills and Your Career
Working as a full-time engineer does not mean you can’t expand your professional knowledge. And in an ever-changing industry, it’s necessary to increase your value to your organization. One of the best ways you can advance your career is by enrolling in a certificate program or pursuing a graduate degree online. An online program provides you with the opportunity to take courses on specific technical subjects or classes that focus on soft skills. Plus, a non-traditional classroom setting means you can tailor your education to fit your schedule and your goals. An online master’s degree in civil engineering will make you a more knowledgeable engineer, a more effective professional and better prepared to lead.
Read more: Why You Should Be Pursuing Your Master’s Online
Turn Job Applications Into Job Interviews
Take the next step in growing your career by ensuring that you land the job. But before you get the job, you have to get the interview. That all comes down to having the perfect resume. ASCE put together an expert team of resume coaches for its 2020 Resume Workshop. Each coach offered tips and advice on how to make sure your resume is the best that it can be.
See what they had to say: Crafting the Perfect Civil Engineering Resume
Build Your Professional Network
Another great way to connect with potential employers is by creating a dynamic LinkedIn profile. With over 600 million professionals on the social platform, it’s the place to build your professional network and stay informed. In one episode of the “ASCE Interchange,” a senior account executive at LinkedIn offers tips on how to make your profile stand out from the crowd – and that means having the perfect headline and summary.
Watch the video: How to Rock Your LinkedIn Profile and Land a Job
Focus on Your Soft Skills
Today’s world of work is constantly shifting based on demand and opportunities. Civil engineers need to be able to keep up with the evolving workplace. That means improving soft skills that are critical for the success of teams and projects. It goes beyond having good organizational and speaking skills. Engineers must be capable of being a good leader, communicating nonverbally, creative problem-solving and using storytelling to set a project apart from the rest.
Discover 4 Ways to Boost Your Civil Engineering Career.
Think “Outside the Box”
Civil engineering is so much more than logistics, practicality and analysis. It’s about innovation, curiosity and adaptability. While lifelong learning is essential for a civil engineer, creativity cannot play a supporting part. Instead, it should share a co-starring role. Civil engineers are world builders, taking a vision and bringing it to life. Creativity is what allows an engineer to push boundaries and inspire. In an ASCE Member Voice, a life member further explains why developing creative skills and habits are essential to the civil engineering profession.
Read more tips on The Traits and Habits of Creative Civil Engineers.
