• Question: What unique abilities make you a good engineer?

    Asked by longy to Bill, Andy, Grant, Kayleigh, Rain on 19 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by onedirection09.
    • Photo: Andrew Hearn

      Andrew Hearn answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      I would think that an engineer is naturally creative and imaginative – to use different methods in a new way to solve new problems. Some patience is important I think, as if something doesn’t go right, an engineer should be able to keep on going, looking at the problem from different angles until something works! For software, perhaps it is useful to have a good memory and be able to visualise what the computer should be doing. Above all of these is the ability to have fun! 🙂

    • Photo: Bill Price

      Bill Price answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      Hi longy – Im looking around the office and seeing a lot of good engineers. Interestingly lots of them are good at different things. So qualities of good engineers include:
      – drawing to convey ideas
      – a feel for materials (what looks right and what looks wrong)
      – able to approximate an answer quickly before firing up the software
      – managing a team of other engineers and CAD operators
      – being able to write a great report which is clear and understandable
      – can see a problem from another point of view ‘what if we did it this way’
      – they deliver on time and keep you in the picture if its not going well
      – ask about problems and try to pull on the experience of the wider team
      – tell a good joke, ride a bike to work, interested in music, tap dance, write apps and so on. All round good bunch.

    • Photo: Rain Irshad

      Rain Irshad answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      I think curiousity and inquisitiveness are probably more important than anything. If you’ve ever wanted to take anything apart to see how it works, you’d like engineering.

      Except if those things are living. Then you probably want to head for surgery/medicine instead.

    • Photo: Grant Cairnie

      Grant Cairnie answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      Keep things Clear and Concise. Engineering can be clouded by really long descriptive answers when getting to the point is sometimes the most important thing. Best is to cut to the chase first and then back up the argument with data and analysis as required. Patience, Planning and Problem-solving skills also come in really useful.

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