Different roles, different demands. A competency-based professional roles model for early career engineers, validated in industry and higher education

This study contributes to the current research in career and professional identity development that it developed a validated competency-based framework enhance self-awareness of future engineers. Through mixed-method design, key competencies were identified for three roles early Ninety-six engineers HR experts from different fields involved. resulted portraits practice (engineers role focusing on radical innovation, process optimisation and/or customised solutions) what requires be successful these roles. For example, perseverance creativity deemed essential an innovative role, whereas positive critical attitude stress resistance indicated optimisation. The competency profiles with aspiration perspectives can valuable instrument creating more diversity engineering. Implications education, industry, are discussed.