Summary: Technical writing is a critical skill for engineers and technical professionals who want to advance their careers and ensure their work has real impact. Clear, structured communication helps engineers document processes, explain research, influence decisions, and meet the expectations of scientific audiences.
In fast‑moving technical fields, we devote countless hours to mastering new tools, frameworks, and methodologies. Yet one of the most critical skills for career advancement often receives far less attention: technical writing.
Whether you are an engineer, researcher, or subject matter expert, your ability to communicate clearly is just as important as your technical expertise. Without strong writing, your insights, data, and innovations may never reach the colleagues, stakeholders, and journals that need them.
The Professional Cost of Poor Communication
Writing is often mislabeled as a “soft skill,” but in engineering and scientific environments, it is a core professional competency. Clear communication enables you to:
- Influence decision-makers.
- Document processes and methodologies
- Justify budgets and resource needs
- Explain research findings
When writing is unclear, overly complex, or poorly structured, the value of your work becomes harder to recognize. A project proposal may be overlooked, a research paper may be rejected, or a technical recommendation may be misunderstood. Clarity is not optional; it is essential for professional impact.
The Structure of Technical Authority
Technical writing differs from other forms of communication because it relies on logic, structure, and predictability. Readers in scientific and technical fields expect information to follow established patterns. When writing deviates from these expectations, comprehension suffers.
One of the most widely used frameworks is the IMRaD structure, common in scientific and technical publications:
- Introduction: What problem are you addressing?
- Methods: How did you study or approach the problem?
- Results: What did you find?
- Discussion/Conclusions: What do the findings mean for the field?
Mastering IMRaD not only strengthens your writing, it allows you to present your work in a way that aligns with the professional standards of organizations like IEEE.
From Research to Publication: Elevating Your Technical Writing
Recognizing the importance of strong writing is the first step. The second is developing a systematic approach to the writing process. To support professionals in this journey, IEEE offers a comprehensive program: From Research to Publication: A Step-by-Step Guide to Technical Writing.
Developed in collaboration with the IEEE Professional Communication Society, this course is designed for those who must produce technical journal articles, reports, or research papers, especially those without formal training in technical communication.
Course Program Overview
This course provides deep overviews of the traditional formats and expectations of scientific articles. Participants receive practical tools to sharpen their skills, including strategies for using Generative AI effectively within the writing workflow.
| What You Will Learn | Why it Matters |
| IMRaD Pattern | Ensures your paper follows standard scientific expectations. |
| Editing Techniques | Improves clarity and reduces technical jargon. |
| Authorship Issues | Navigates the complexities of team-based research. |
| Publishing Strategy | Helps you identify the right journals for your work. |
Who Should Attend
This program is specifically designed for:
- Graduate and undergraduate students writing their first academic articles
- Early career professionals looking to establish a publication record
- Subject matter experts who need a refresher on formal reporting
The course is taught by Dr. Traci Nathans-Kelly, Director of the Engineering Communications Program at Cornell University. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Nathans-Kelly specializes in helping technical experts become impactful contributors. She is a prominent figure within IEEE, serving on the Board of Governors for the Professional Communication Society and as an editor for the IEEE Professional Engineering Communication book series.
Invest in Your Professional Voice
Your technical skills may solve complex problems, but your writing skills ensure those solutions are understood, adopted, and recognized. By strengthening your ability to write for a technical audience, you amplify the reach and impact of your work.
For Individuals
Interested in access for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) to explore the From Research to Publication: A Step-by-Step Guide to Technical Writing course. Participants earn professional development credit and a shareable digital badge. IEEE members save US$100.
For Organizations
Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn how to get access to this program for your organization.
More than 1.4 billion people in the world speak the English language. Used to communicate to global audiences, English is currently spoken in more than 75 countries and non-sovereign entities around the world. It’s also one of the most common languages used in the fields of business, science, and technology worldwide. For that reason, research shows that honing one’s skills in English can benefit both native and non-native English speakers alike. However, many engineers tend to focus on honing their technical skills and often spend less time improving their English proficiency in the areas of reading, writing, and speaking. This has led society to routinely joke that an individual “writes like an engineer”– something that isn’t necessarily a compliment!
According to a Penn State University study, which explored why industry professionals often feel that engineering graduates possess weak English and communication skills, the authors concluded that “part of the disparity arises because the communication assignments that engineering students perform in college significantly differ from the writing situations (audiences, purposes, and occasions) that engineering graduates encounter in industry.”
As such, a range of studies confirm that time spent refreshing and strengthening one’s English and communication skills is a great investment that can pay engineers tremendous dividends.
For instance, in a 2024 Pearson survey of 5,000 individuals worldwide for whom English is a second or additional language, four out of five respondents believe that strong English language skills can contribute to as much as an 80% increase in salary. At the same time, roughly half of those surveyed feel that strong English skills will also expand their range of job opportunities, enhance their ability to be promoted to more senior positions in their field, and ‘futureproof’ them against the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) obsoleting their job.
These aren’t just perceptions.
English and Communications Skills Affect On Career Trajectory
According to industry speaker and communications consultant Skip Weisman, engineers without strong communication skills often risk damaging important relationships with colleagues and undermining their own objectives when they speak or write. The Engineering Management Institute agrees, noting that strong English skills can help engineers better communicate with and present concepts to their management as well as create more useful technical documents that share product and project specs or findings. Strong communication skills may also help engineers to lead teams and interact more effectively with other non-technical divisions of their company, such as marketing and sales.
Without proficiency in English skills, an engineer’s career trajectory may be limited. For example, Wisconsin-based Rockwell Automation is among the many high-tech companies which regularly screen candidates for strong proficiency in English reading, writing, and speaking based on the importance of those skills to their employees’ effectiveness and success.
Engineers are inherently creative and analytical problem-solvers. However, their jobs also require teamwork and consensus-building, public speaking and listening skills, and a strong ability to provide clear written and verbal communication of often-complex technical concepts in order to express themselves and bring their ideas to reality. As a result, amid the many important proficiencies that engineers require for career success, a recent analysis by Indeed ranked “effective written and oral communication skills” among the top three most critical.
Build Your Technical English Skills with Training from IEEE
IEEE English for Technical Professionals is designed to address the communication gap and help engineers and technical professionals, both native and non-native English speakers, to improve their language skills in a way that fits the needs and priorities of working adults in technical fields.
Ideal for entry or mid-level technical professionals, engineers, and managers, this 14-lesson program imparts English language standards via practice activities that are essential for an engineer’s daily success. The modules are designed to strengthen reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills with a speech-to-text feature. Whether discussing a project with peers, submitting a technical proposal to a funding source, or justifying technical findings to a supervisor, this course program helps learners build confidence and enhance their effectiveness and productivity on the job.
Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about how to offer this program within your organization.
Interested in the course program for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN).
Resources
(12 March 2024). English Skills Have Life-Changing Impact. Pearson.
(30 September 2022). 20 Traits or Skills of Successful Engineers. Indeed.
Hill, Peter. (29 January 2019). How Good Writing Skills Can Benefit Your Engineering Career. Engineering Management Institute.
Koelsch, James. (1 December 2011). Is Writing an Essential Skill for Engineers? Automation World.
Brown, Meghan. (10 February 2022). English Is the Language of Tech, and Improving Your Skills is the Best Path to Success. Engineering.com.
Assi, Karolina. (19 April 2022). A Huge and Helpful Guide to 67 English Speaking Countries (and More!). Berlitz.
Donnell, Jeffrey A., Aller, Betsy M., Alley, Michael, and Kedrowicz, April. (2011). Why Industry Says That Engineering Graduates Have Poor Communication Skills: What the Literature Says. Penn State Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education.
Bosavage, Jennifer. (26 July 2019). Why Communications Skills Are Critical To Engineers. IEEE Spectrum.
Sol the Engineer. (21 January 2019). Why (Many) Engineers Suck at Writing and What Can We Do About It . . . The Engineering Mentor.
Fasano, Anthony. (11 June 2015). Communication Skills for Engineers – The Seven Deadly Sins and How to Overcome Them. Engineering.com.
You have just finished your dream job interview, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. Most hiring managers expect to receive a thank you email. According to a TopResume survey of 334 hiring managers in 2020, 68% responded that thank you emails were important when it came to evaluating a potential candidate.
If English is not your native language, writing the perfect thank you note may seem intimidating. However, if you follow the right formula, it can be easy. Plus, if you had difficulty conveying some of your skills during the interview either due to lack of English fluency or another reason, it is a perfect opportunity to communicate those abilities.
Before you leave the interview, make sure you get the full names and email addresses of the people who interviewed you. (This information is typically found on their business cards.) You should send your thank you follow up notes within a day of the interview. If you were interviewed by more than one person, be sure to send individual emails to each person. Avoid sending a mass email to the entire group.
What You Should Include in Your Thank You Email
Thank you emails should be short, courteous, and to the point. About one to two paragraphs will be enough. Avoid long, complex sentences. When writing emails in English, showing gratitude is essential. However, be careful not to overdo it.
Add personal details to the emails to make them more memorable. Recall any informal conversation you had with the interviewer(s). Try to include something you found out that you had in common. Additionally, mention how you would work with them if you get the job.
“Incorporate what you can into that note to remind them of the rapport you were building, and also to jog their memory about which candidate you are if they were interviewing a lot of people,” Amanda Augustine, a certified professional career coach, told CNBC.
Here are some tips:
- Start the email with a formal salute. “Dear Mr./Ms. XX” is the standard formal salute in English.
- Begin the body of your email by thanking the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you.
- Include something you learned about the interviewer as a person and potential co-worker, manager, etc., during the interview.
- Restate your interest in the job, and reiterate one or two reasons why they should want to hire you.
- Address any concerns the interviewer had about you and list your strengths.
“If there was something they pulled apart or mentioned certain skills you may be lacking, this is your opportunity to reinforce what you’ve done to fill that gap, or relate to something else you did that shows your strengths,” Augustine told CNBC.
You can also add links to any online sources that reveal more about your abilities and projects you’ve done related to the job.
End your email with a closing. Keep it short and polite. Examples include “Thank you for your consideration,” “I’m looking forward to hearing from you,” and “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.”
Lastly, end the email with a short and formal signature. “Sincerely, [Your name]” is the standard closing for formal emails in English.
For a better understanding of how to write effective post-interview thank you letters, check out these examples and templates.
A thank you note may seem like a small thing, but it can help you stand out among your competition. By following these easy tips, you’ll be a step closer to landing your dream job.
Improve Your Technical English
Enable technical professionals whose first language is not English to improve their language skills. Tailor it to fit the needs and priorities of working adults in technical fields.
Now available on IEEE Xplore and the IEEE Learning Network, IEEE English for Technical Professionals is an online learning program. It uses real-life interactive scenarios to provide non-native speakers with English techniques and vocabulary that are essential for today’s technical workplace. Designed to help learners master essential English skills, this mobile-friendly program is ideal for both working professionals, as well as students. It helps those who are preparing to enter the field.
Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about this program and how to get access to it for your organization.
Interested in the program for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network.
Resources
Liu, Jennifer. 9 November 2020. Here’s exactly what to say in your thank-you email after a job interview. CNBC.
How to Write Formal Emails in English. Wall Street English.
Today, engineers all over the world are increasingly working within global environments. With 67 countries declaring English as their official language, it has become the most common language spoken by engineering professionals and students. It is also the most commonly spoken language within international supply chains. Many college programs expect engineering students to be proficient in English. In many cases, it may be difficult for an engineering professional to excel in their career without fluency in English. Additionally, engineering companies that lack English-fluent workers may struggle to compete in a global business environment.
College Engineering Programs Often Require Students to Have Proficiency in English
Many top college engineering programs in the United States and the United Kingdom require students to have more than a basic understanding of English.
“Students taking engineering courses in the US need a high level of English proficiency covering a variety of aspects, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing,” Steve Arar, a PhD graduate in microelectronics, told All About Circuits (AAC).
In fact, a large number of universities require applicants to take standardized tests to prove English proficiency as part of their admissions process, because lectures and educational materials, including papers, textbooks, and webinars, are usually in English. Fluency is important for their understanding of the material and may also better prepare students who decide to pursue careers in English-speaking organizations.
English Proficiency is Usually Necessary for Engineers to Excel at Work
“Electrical engineering is an international field, and it depends upon an increasingly extensive collection of specialized terminology that exists primarily in English,” Robert Keim, All About Circuits’s Director of Engineering, told AAC. “Proficiency in English opens the door to a more diverse and satisfying collection of educational and professional opportunities.”
An engineering professional can be a master in their field, but if they struggle with English, they will likely find themselves lagging behind their peers, according to Michael Skapinker of the Financial Times. “You can be a top-class engineer and be held back by an inability to speak the global business language,” he wrote.
Technical professionals who struggle with the nuances of English may also struggle to communicate their ideas effectively through presentations and public speaking, which are usually necessary to climb the organizational ladder.
“On a more practical level, it is essential to develop the habit of speaking more slowly, pronouncing words carefully, and using simple, straightforward vocabulary and sentence structures,” Keim told AAC. “Many people do not realize how difficult it is for language learners to understand ‘normal’ speech produced by native speakers. Both speaker and listener must actively attempt to facilitate successful, comfortable communication.”
English-Fluent Workers Help Organizations Compete in the Global Market
Organizations that employee English-proficient workers tend to see big financial benefits. While proficiency in the language fluctuates across different-sized businesses, companies with $10–$60 billion USD worth of sales, on average, employ people with higher English proficiency scores than those making under $10 billion or over $60 billion.
According to Arar, when employees based in different countries can all speak a common tongue, they can more easily communicate and share knowledge, leaving them with more time to concentrate on their technical work.
Additionally, certain aspects of English vocabulary make technical concepts easier for international teams to communicate. “We might occasionally observe that a word in a particular language explains a technical concept better than the corresponding English terminology,” says Arar.
“However, in general, I believe that the English language includes a wealth of vocabulary and has powerful grammatical structures,” he added. “These two features can make technical communications clear and concise.”
Improve English Language Proficiency
Coming soon to IEEE Xplore and the IEEE Learning Network, IEEE English for Technical Professionals is an online learning program that uses real-life interactive scenarios to provide non-native English speakers with a working knowledge of English techniques and vocabulary that are essential for today’s technical workplace. Designed to help learners master essential English skills, this mobile-friendly program is ideal for both working professionals, as well as students who are preparing to enter the field.
Resources
Fadelli, Ingrid. (20 March 2020). Is English Still the Universal Language of Electrical Engineering? All About Circuits.
Smith, Emma. (16 January 2020). Degree programs for engineers looking to work in global development. Devex.
Skapinker, Michael. (11 November 2019). Non-English speakers are shut out of the top jobs. Financial Times.
Burma, Peter and Tran, Minh. (21 November 2016). Rating the English Proficiency of Countries and Industries Around the World. Harvard Business Review.
Since the end of World War II, English has become the established language of scholarly communication. It’s recognized as the international language of science and engineering. Academic reward structures in many countries place great emphasis on publication in international journals that are mostly English-language. As technology advances globally, engineers must be able to communicate across national and cultural boundaries, and English is the vehicle for professionals advancing technology today.
It makes sense, then, that improving your ability to speak, read and write in English can affect research, collaboration, instruction and ultimately, overall success.
That’s why IEEE partnered with Cambridge University Press to create an interactive program of engaging online English instruction for engineers, technical students and faculty.
IEEE English for Engineering consists of more than 45 hours of online training to enhance communication skills across four dynamic and interactive modules:
- Speaking in Technical English
- Listening and Comprehension
- Technical Writing
- Reading and Understanding Technical Publications
New students will take a placement exam to assess and guide level selection: Introductory, Intermediate, or Advanced. They’ll advance through lessons individually and receive feedback on their progress. Then, upon successful completion of each skill level, students will receive CEUs/PDHs for professional licenses.
6 Benefits of English for Engineers
- Learn to communicate effectively and share ideas with colleagues.
- Strengthen your written English communications skills, which can help authors and researchers effectively share their research results.
- Enable greater collaboration with global research teams.
- Learn to communicate effectively, lead classroom conversations and lectures, and assess assignments and projects.
- Build confidence and the necessary communication skills for job performance and career advancement.
- Develop more effective verbal communication skills and enhanced presentation capabilities.
How to Subscribe
Click here for more information and to subscribe to this valuable training course, or download our product sheet to share with the training manager at your organization.
Resources
(July 2008). English as the international language of science. Research Trends.