The automotive industry is filled with interesting and varied job opportunities (just look at Indeed.com, 47,000 job opportunities titled under “automotive”)! However, aside from the people who have direct input and influence over the visual look of the vehicles we drive, there are many more who work behind the scenes. Safety and efficiency is important to nearly all drivers and there have been many advances in this area over recent years. For example, a greater appreciation of aerodynamics, that is, the interaction of air with moving objects or vehicles has been enormous, and it’s benefits of safety and efficiency by stabilizing vehicles at speed has not gone unnoticed. When we see a strong gust of wind move an otherwise steadfast object we get a glimpse of aerodynamics at play. This same principal is used in creating cars that glide through the air more efficiently (for better MPGs), and for better handling. The title for an engineer in this field is “aerodynamicist.” This can be a very challenging yet very rewarding automotive career for those who love cars and physics. Not many people are familiar with what an aerodynamicist does in the automotive field, even with the above explanation. However, an image of a wind tunnel and streams of air going over a car are immediately recognizable. Also, the designs you see at auto shows always seem sleeker and more aerodynamic than the years before...Well, that and everything along those lines is what this job entails. However, it’s not all fun and games inside the wind tunnel like Myth Busters or other shows would make you believe. Since wind tunnels are serious business, are very expensive and the tests and analyses run in them have hundreds of variable and different designs that need to be accounted for, and work inside a wind tunnel can be never-ending. Designs and cars must continually be improved and enhanced to fit new benchmarks, and government mandates. The primary concern of an aerodynamicist, besides efficiency, is to create a better driving and riding experience in the vehicle. This includes looking at controlling the drag of the tires, the wind noise and the noise of the vehicle as it moves past other things. The lift of the vehicle as it moves at different velocities along different types of road surfaces is another issue. This is why a newer car can drive more smoothly at speeds never attained in the past by production cars, and why a used car typically never seems as quiet as a newer one. Also, improvement in aerodynamics has enabled cars to be faster. The field of racing-development utilizes aerodynamics very much in order to ascertain advantages over other racers as well as to ensure the safety of their drivers while going at these fast speeds (racing and motorsports is where the big money is at in aerodynamics, but the production auto industry is great too). The work of aerodynamicists include creating computer models of vehicle (as well as real-life replicas of car), and creating other objects and exploring methods that require engineering, mechanical and design skill. They use specialized computer software to aid in design as well as replicating test scenarios. This helps to lessen the cost of physical tests because preliminary testing can be done using computer models. The vehicles will be enhanced repeatedly based on these tests so that when it comes time for the physical test the primary factors would have been accounted for. An aerodynamicist job requires years of study at a technical or other school in order to learn the concepts and how to use the” tools of the trade.” An automotive aerodynamicist would also learn a lot from having worked in the industry and developed hands-on knowledge and skill. Trial and error is a big part of this job, so no doubt it is continuously challenging. Aerodynamicists are multi-functional engineers; therefore, when learning they will have to develop and practice manual skills such as constructing models as well as making the needed modifications. They also need software-related skills to prepare data as well as analyze and interpret it. They will have to prepare reports on the tests they do, the results and document progress. Their work is as much research and development as it is implementation and testing of features. Automotive aerodynamicists fall in the middle salary range for the automotive engineering industry. They tend to make more money the longer they are in the field and the more significant and successful their achievements have been. Engineers that work in racing are likely to make above average if they work for large racing teams in the U.S. or other parts of the world. This field is currently more popular for males than females. However, as more females enter the auto industry a rise in the number of female aerodynamicists can be expected. Aerodynamics may not be one of the most well-known jobs in the auto industry but it is certainly essential to it. It can be a rewarding job but it requires particular skills that must be learned in an academic setting then practiced in the practical setting in order to be mastered. It is a field that allows for continued growth and development as technology is always changing and the ever increasing need and government mandates for fuel efficiency is unavoidable. Automotive career aerodynamicist image from Shutterstock
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
BigstockMake a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
- How did I learn about this job?
- How did I apply for the job?
- Did I earn an interview?
- What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
BigstockAre you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
Let's start with resumes!
Every resume should be tailored to the position in order for it to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. It may seem like a lot of work, but it's actually less work than submitting the same resume over and over again and never hearing back.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
BigstockYour job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
- Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
- Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
- Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.