Do you need good people skills as an engineer?
Joined: Feb 2002
Aviation Qualifications: AME
Posts: 4,179
Likes: 1,111
From: UK
The ability to bite ones tongue in the presence of feckless dimwits (usually a shiny @rse of some sort or other who knows little about aviation and cares only for an on time departure) who think they know better is an asset learned the hard way for some of us.
Sorry but I just needed to vent my spleen.
Sorry but I just needed to vent my spleen.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
TURIN,
I am trying to ask questions about a career I am seriously considering. I think this is the best place!
I just dont really know what an engineers day is like?
They are never in offices, dont wear suits, and dont talk to a lot of people?
Tell me if Im wrong.
I am trying to ask questions about a career I am seriously considering. I think this is the best place!
I just dont really know what an engineers day is like?
They are never in offices, dont wear suits, and dont talk to a lot of people?
Tell me if Im wrong.
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 497
Likes: 2
From: In the doghouse
From the ones Ive met...Absolutely not
But they always seem to be the ones trying to hug you at the end of year p#ss-up..
In all seriousness..You may well be working in a team, and any environment like that is going to take a certain level of teamwork and social behaviour..Saying that you will probably be doing a lot of work on your own as well..It just depends on the situation and the job..
But they always seem to be the ones trying to hug you at the end of year p#ss-up..
In all seriousness..You may well be working in a team, and any environment like that is going to take a certain level of teamwork and social behaviour..Saying that you will probably be doing a lot of work on your own as well..It just depends on the situation and the job..
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: IRE
I wouldnt say theres any special people skills you'd need. Just the ability to get along with people. But its not like you'll be in customer service or sales or something. But like any job, if you cant get along with people then your better off working in a job where your completely on your own. You wont be completely on your own as an engineer.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 30
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From: IRE
Just from reading your other post in the other thread, I notice you say your a bit introverted. There are quiet people in the industry too so maybe it would suit you. Why dont you try and visit a hangar and see first hand whats going on.
Last edited by zigmund; 11th October 2009 at 22:37.
Registered User **
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 480
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From: USA
Not People skills
AS an AMT or AME,
It is more of politics,
Yes we all have customers but other than your MGR, Pilots like to be told what they have as a product, no B/S selling, no offence to listening pilots but in my experience they like to hear a confident, matter of fact and somentims commanding explanation of the condition in wich the aircraft they are flying is in. Details that prompt questions result in delays.
Ground ops people need to be delt with in a more ambiguious manner unless you know for a fact you are airworthy or not depending on the airline.
Do you need good people skills as an engineer?
This environment is like none other I understand.
I would short sell you not to say that you need people skills in any career.
In the other life of phase maintenance, performing step by step routine tasks much like a factory environment you really do not need to deal with anyone but your lead/chief or supervisor. You could live quite content doing your 8/10 or 12 hr shift with minimal human interaction.
It is more of politics,
Yes we all have customers but other than your MGR, Pilots like to be told what they have as a product, no B/S selling, no offence to listening pilots but in my experience they like to hear a confident, matter of fact and somentims commanding explanation of the condition in wich the aircraft they are flying is in. Details that prompt questions result in delays.
Ground ops people need to be delt with in a more ambiguious manner unless you know for a fact you are airworthy or not depending on the airline.
Do you need good people skills as an engineer?
This environment is like none other I understand.
I would short sell you not to say that you need people skills in any career.
In the other life of phase maintenance, performing step by step routine tasks much like a factory environment you really do not need to deal with anyone but your lead/chief or supervisor. You could live quite content doing your 8/10 or 12 hr shift with minimal human interaction.
Thought police antagonist
Joined: Jul 2003
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 349
From: Where I always have been...firmly in the real world
The short answer is yes, you do need communication and people skills...or rather it helps to have them.
If, for example, you are working in a hangar on base checks, you need to communicate with the guys you are working with, "management" from time to time, "planners"....when forced to!...tech services and customer reps if you are working on third party aircraft.
On the line, it's different again. You are meeting a range of people from different backgrounds and occupations....aircrew, CC, operations, caterers, fuelers, Plod / Customs / Immigration, dispatchers. cleaners.....all of whom have the usual flaws and virtues of human beings.
That said, as Turin comments, you will also encounter a significant number of self important f$%kwits who feel thus because they are "involved with aviation"...most of whom qualify for the title of oxygen thief simply by being born....I can more than empathise therefore with his and the rectum / anus comparison afforded to experiences with such individuals.
You will also encounter the unwritten heirachy in which everybody perceives themselves to be more essential and important than a "mere" engineer....thus there are times when you will need to be, ahem, "assertive"....which invariably means denting a few ego's.
You may enjoy this aspect of the job
If, for example, you are working in a hangar on base checks, you need to communicate with the guys you are working with, "management" from time to time, "planners"....when forced to!...tech services and customer reps if you are working on third party aircraft.
On the line, it's different again. You are meeting a range of people from different backgrounds and occupations....aircrew, CC, operations, caterers, fuelers, Plod / Customs / Immigration, dispatchers. cleaners.....all of whom have the usual flaws and virtues of human beings.
That said, as Turin comments, you will also encounter a significant number of self important f$%kwits who feel thus because they are "involved with aviation"...most of whom qualify for the title of oxygen thief simply by being born....I can more than empathise therefore with his and the rectum / anus comparison afforded to experiences with such individuals.
You will also encounter the unwritten heirachy in which everybody perceives themselves to be more essential and important than a "mere" engineer....thus there are times when you will need to be, ahem, "assertive"....which invariably means denting a few ego's.
You may enjoy this aspect of the job
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Many different jobs in aviation maintenance, if you work for an airline with lots of planes then people skills are required. If working for yourself in your own hangar doing rebuilds then you only need to get along with a very small group of people, sometimes I go two weeks and talk to 5 people in total, I rarely bother to answer the phone. So, from someone who is often told they have zero people skills, I believe it is much more important to be able to actually fix aircraft then it is to be able to talk eloquently about fixing them. Work will come to you if you are skilled.
Pilots' Pal
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 0
From: USA
Depends in which sector you work; Line Maintenance engineers interact with several parts of an operator's set-up every day. Keeping a cool head in an AOG situation is vital; communicate regularly with your Maintenance control department and let them deal with all the other people. Stand your ground if you know you are right but do not be afraid to ask if you are not sure of anything. It is a great job (most of the time!).
In short, you do need some "people skills" but common sense and common courtesy will get you a long way.
In short, you do need some "people skills" but common sense and common courtesy will get you a long way.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: uk
The most important thing is being able to conduct yourself and communicate clearly when under pressure like has been said, especially on the line. In the hangar its more about getting your shift to work together as a team, which is easy enough if you dish out crap jobs equally (including yourself).
Its not like your standing infront of a group. It is normally either 1 to 1 with a pilot or a couple of engineers. You wont be struggling for conversation it will mainly be about the job with the pilot and how good/bad the hosties look with the engineers....
Its not like your standing infront of a group. It is normally either 1 to 1 with a pilot or a couple of engineers. You wont be struggling for conversation it will mainly be about the job with the pilot and how good/bad the hosties look with the engineers....
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Position info not valid
Thats a very intelligent question.
The answer, presumably being yes or no is a little harder.
A lot depends on your age and background, common sense and manners are for many (not all) older generation engineers a given but maybe less so for some youngsters (which admitedly we were once).
Also there are some engineers who dont understand that you cant deal with a person in the same way as you can deal with a a broken bit of metal.
I think that a good engineer with good people skills is a asset which a company ignores at its own cost.
The answer, presumably being yes or no is a little harder.
A lot depends on your age and background, common sense and manners are for many (not all) older generation engineers a given but maybe less so for some youngsters (which admitedly we were once).
Also there are some engineers who dont understand that you cant deal with a person in the same way as you can deal with a a broken bit of metal.
I think that a good engineer with good people skills is a asset which a company ignores at its own cost.
