Table 1Transition record

materials engineertosurface engineer

A materials engineer already meets 34% of what the surface engineer role asks for. The move turns on 9 required skills not yet in the profile.

From materials engineer

34%

Overlap1

To surface engineer

11 Skills carried over

9 Required, not held

64.5 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 64.5

This move: 64.5 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the surface engineer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the materials engineer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 11 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A surface engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a materials engineer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held develop material testing procedures information skills
already held semiconductors engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held material mechanics engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held approve engineering design communication, collaboration and creativity
already held manufacturing processes engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held types of metal engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 11 carried skills, including the 6 the surface engineer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 27 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 engineering, manufacturing and construction 5 required, 6 supplementary

required, not held industrial engineering required
required, not held production processes required
required, not held safety engineering required
required, not held surface engineering required
required, not held technical drawings required

optional, not held ferrous metal processing optional
optional, not held mechanical engineering optional
optional, not held electrical engineering optional
optional, not held non-destructive testing optional
optional, not held soldering techniques optional
optional, not held welding techniques optional

02 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held corrosion types required
required, not held mathematics required

optional, not held physics optional

03 information skills 1 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held execute analytical mathematical calculations required

optional, not held analyse stress resistance of materials optional
optional, not held analyse test data optional
optional, not held recognise signs of corrosion optional
optional, not held record test data optional

04 working with computers 1 required

required, not held use technical drawing software required

05 constructing 2 supplementary

optional, not held apply phosphate coating to metal workpiece optional
optional, not held parkerise metal workpiece optional

06 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 supplementary

optional, not held use non-destructive testing equipment optional
optional, not held galvanise metal workpiece optional

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a surface engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 11 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held adjust engineering designs skill
already held approve engineering design skill
already held engineering principles knowledge
already held engineering processes knowledge
already held manufacturing processes knowledge
already held perform scientific research skill
already held chemistry knowledge
already held develop material testing procedures skill
already held material mechanics knowledge
already held semiconductors knowledge
already held types of metal knowledge

The 3 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 business, administration and law 1 supplementary

optional, not held environmental legislation optional

08 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 supplementary

optional, not held computer simulation optional

09 services 1 supplementary

optional, not held hazardous waste types optional

18 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held apply phosphate coating to metal workpiece optional
optional, not held parkerise metal workpiece optional
optional, not held ferrous metal processing optional
optional, not held mechanical engineering optional
optional, not held use non-destructive testing equipment optional
optional, not held analyse stress resistance of materials optional
optional, not held analyse test data optional
optional, not held computer simulation optional
optional, not held electrical engineering optional
optional, not held environmental legislation optional
optional, not held galvanise metal workpiece optional
optional, not held hazardous waste types optional
optional, not held non-destructive testing optional
optional, not held physics optional
optional, not held recognise signs of corrosion optional
optional, not held record test data optional
optional, not held soldering techniques optional
optional, not held welding techniques optional

36 held skills the surface engineer role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role advanced materials knowledge
not needed by the target role advise on pollution prevention skill
not needed by the target role advise on waste management procedures skill
not needed by the target role analyse production processes for improvement skill
not needed by the target role analytical chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role apply health and safety standards skill
not needed by the target role assess environmental impact skill
not needed by the target role assess the feasibility of implementing developments skill
not needed by the target role basic chemicals knowledge
not needed by the target role composite materials knowledge
not needed by the target role create solutions to problems skill
not needed by the target role define quality standards skill
not needed by the target role design prototypes skill
not needed by the target role develop advanced materials skill
not needed by the target role develop chemical products skill
not needed by the target role electricity knowledge
not needed by the target role envelope systems for buildings knowledge
not needed by the target role forecast organisational risks skill
not needed by the target role green chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role integrate new products in manufacturing skill
not needed by the target role integrated design knowledge
not needed by the target role laboratory techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role materials engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role mechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role perform chemical experiments skill
not needed by the target role perform laboratory tests skill
not needed by the target role pollution legislation knowledge
not needed by the target role properties of textile materials knowledge
not needed by the target role quality standards knowledge
not needed by the target role rubber technology knowledge
not needed by the target role sustainable building materials knowledge
not needed by the target role test chemical samples skill
not needed by the target role test materials skill
not needed by the target role thermoplastic materials knowledge
not needed by the target role types of plastic knowledge
not needed by the target role work with chemicals skill

17 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held corrosion types required
required, not held industrial engineering required
required, not held mathematics required
required, not held production processes required
required, not held safety engineering required
required, not held surface engineering required
required, not held technical drawings required
optional, not held ferrous metal processing optional
optional, not held mechanical engineering optional
optional, not held computer simulation optional
optional, not held electrical engineering optional
optional, not held environmental legislation optional
optional, not held hazardous waste types optional
optional, not held non-destructive testing optional
optional, not held physics optional
optional, not held soldering techniques optional
optional, not held welding techniques optional

Index

Other moves recorded from materials engineer

Full index of moves from materials engineer

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.