• The IET - Global
    • The IET - Americas
    • The IET - China
    • The IET - India
    • IET Academy
    • IET Bookshop
    • IET Career Manager
    • IET Digital Library
    • IET Education (ages 4-19)
    • IET Electrical
    • IET EngX™ - online community
    • IET.tv
    • IET Venues
    • E&T Jobs
    • E&T Magazine
    • Foothold
    • Work for The IET
Welcome Login
IET Logo
About us Media Hub Contact us
  • Membership & Registration
  • Career & Learning
  • Intelligence & Research
  • Events
  • Get Involved
  • Impact & Society
  • About us
  • Media Hub
  • Contact us
  • keyboard_arrow_rightCareer & Learning
  • keyboard_arrow_rightCareer support
  • keyboard_arrow_rightBuilding your career
  • keyboard_arrow_rightA to Z
  • keyboard_arrow_rightManagement
  • keyboard_arrow_rightWorking abroad
  • keyboard_arrow_rightMeet the members
  • keyboard_arrow_rightPlanning your next career steps
  • arrow_drop_downGaining the right skills
  • keyboard_arrow_rightEssential work skills
  • keyboard_arrow_rightInterpersonal skills
  • keyboard_arrow_rightNetworking skills
  • Career & Learning
  • Career support
  • Building your career
  • Gaining the right skills

Gaining the right skills

Most people will hold jobs with a variety of employers throughout their careers and move across different employment sectors. We all need to be flexible in our working patterns and in order to be flexible we need a set of transferable skills – skills that are not specific to one particular career path but are generic across all employment sectors.

Essential work skills

If you want to be successful at any job, there are some skills you just can’t do without. The good news is that once you’ve got them down to a tee, they’re transferable to any other position you find yourself in.

Go to Essential work skills

Interpersonal skills

Being an engineer isn’t just technical; it’s also about dealing with people from all sorts of backgrounds all day long. Being successful in this aspect of the job calls for interpersonal skills.

Go to Interpersonal skills

Networking skills

Meeting the right people at the right places is crucial to boosting your business and connections. But it’s not just about showing up, you also need to learn to spot opportunities, make the most of them and carry yourself in the right way.

Go to Networking skills
Back to top

Contact us

Our Offices

UK, Head office

  • T: +44 (0)1438 313 311
  • E: postmaster@theiet.org

China

  • T: +86 10 6566 4687
  • E: china@theiet.org

India

  • T: +91 80 4089 2222
  • E: india@theiet.in

Hong Kong

  • T: +852 2521 2140
  • E: adminap@theiet.org

USA

  • T: +1 (732) 321 5575
  • E: ietusa@theiet.org

Our Venues

IET London: Savoy Place

  • T: +44 (0)20 7344 8460
  • E: faradaycentre@ietvenues.co.uk

IET Birmingham: Austin Court

  • T: +44 (0)121 600 7500
  • E: austincourt@ietvenues.co.uk

About the IET

  • Our history
  • Vision and Strategy
  • Governance
  • AGMs
  • Royal Charter and Bye-laws
  • Our offices
  • Our venues
  • Working for the IET
  • Advertising and sponsorship

Membership & Registration

  • Join the IET
  • Benefits of membership
  • Manage your membership
  • Member News
  • Communities
  • Professional ethics
  • IET Library and Archives
  • E&T magazine

Career & Learning

  • Professional registration
  • Professional development
  • Career Manager
  • Accreditation
  • Courses and training
  • IET Academy
  • Support for employers
  • Routes to engineering
  • STEM education
  • Career support
  • Engineering jobs

Intelligence & Research

  • Publishing with IET Journals
  • Publishing with IET Books
  • Inspec
  • Subscribe to our content
  • Bookshop
  • Wiring Regulations
  • Codes and guidance
  • IET.tv - video content and production
  • IET Library and Archives

Events

  • Events
  • Search all events

Get Involved

  • Volunteering for the IET
  • Young Professionals
  • Partnerships
  • Collaboration
  • Support future generations
  • Discussion forum

Impact & Society

  • Sectors
  • Government policy and submissions
  • Thought leadership
  • Our impact in Scotland
  • Our impact in Northern Ireland
  • Factfiles
  • Awards and scholarships

Media Hub

  • Campaigns
  • Press releases
  • Media support for members
  • IET social media
  • Help
  • Cookies
  • Privacy Statement
  • Accessibility
  • Modern Slavery Act Statement
  • Legal notices

© 2022 The Institution of Engineering and Technology. The Institution of Engineering and Technology is registered as a Charity in England & Wales (no 211014) and Scotland (no SC038698).