Starting a career as a professional Industrial Engineer begins with getting your bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering. Candidates with higher postgraduate degrees, such as a master's or Ph.D., have an advantage when applying for a job as employers usually ask for 3 to 5 years of related Engineering experience.    
   
It's not unheard of for Industrial Engineers to have a variety of specializations either, such as Mechanical or Electric Engineering degrees or certificates, provided they have proven their ability to fulfill the role. The expectation is that most Industrial Engineers will be well-versed in other areas of study, including economics, physics, and even psychology, to provide a complete profile to their employers. It's worth noting that Industrial Engineer programs should be ABET-accredited.   
      
Following post-secondary school and training, aspiring Industrial Engineers will need passing scores from two exams before practicing. The first is the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, and the second is the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. Combine this with relevant work experience of at least four years, and Industrial Engineers will be ready to start a challenging and rewarding career.  

Candidates applying for a job as an Industrial Engineer should also work on their proficiency in MS Office and computer-aided design (CAD) software, mainly AutoCAD.  

What can help you become an Industrial Engineer

• Analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills:    

It should come as no surprise that Industrial Engineers are adept thinkers. They should possess a strengthened ability to understand and identify an organization's issues or problems using critical thinking and logic to provide the best solutions. Precision and accuracy are crucial when conducting their calculations and analyses. 
 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills:    

This profession requires verbal and written communication skills to listen and convey clear instructions to their coworkers and write detailed reports. Interpersonal skills are also essential for Industrial Engineers as it helps support team-building and liaising opportunities between technical and administrative parts of a manufacturing company. 
 

• Strong analytical and mathematical skills:    

Industrial Engineering as a profession demands exceptional calculus and trigonometry math skills for performing complex calculations. They'll need to apply both basic and advanced engineering concepts and processes to all projects, using result-oriented solutions to achieve continuous improvements.