The Unseen Skills for Engineers: Cultivating a Growth Mindset and People Skills

In recent years, I’ve experienced a significant shift in my professional journey, one that reminded me of the crucial skills that often go unacknowledged in the engineering field: mindset, interpersonal acumen, and continuous learning.

Not long ago, I found myself laid off from Amazon due to the company’s decision to shift our Business Intelligence team to India and automate a portion of our workflow. Interestingly, the employees who remained weren’t necessarily more adept at skills like SQL or Python. Instead, their success stemmed from stronger people skills.

After facing this upheaval, I embarked on an exhaustive job search, applying for countless positions on LinkedIn with little success for two months. It was during this bleak spell that I realized my motivation was deteriorating—I was succumbing to endless scrolling on social media, lounging in bed for hours, convinced I was merely fatigued. But then, following a personal heartbreak, everything changed.

In the haze of that emotional turmoil, a harsh truth emerged: I had stagnated. For five excruciating years, since my college graduation, I had not completed a single book. As I watched friends who had anticipated the layoffs and the AI surge thrive—starting their own ventures, freelancing, or confidently negotiating raises—I recognized a common thread in their journeys: they prioritized personal development and reading daily.

Inspired by their growth, I decided to embark on a simple yet profound challenge: complete just one book. I began with a memoir that resonated with my current state of burnout. Soon, I moved on to a business book, and then one focused on psychology. Seven months later, I can confidently say that I am no longer the person I once was.

Engaging in daily reading didn’t just enhance my knowledge; it transformed my entire perspective. My mindset, work ethic, and even my interview skills underwent a dramatic shift. I share my story with the hope of reaching anyone else who might be feeling mired in confusion or stagnation. Your struggle isn’t a sign of laziness—often, it simply indicates a need for better intellectual nourishment. It’s time to reignite your mind.

As someone with ADHD, I initially found it challenging to read consistently. My brain craved quick spikes of dopamine, rather than lengthy paragraphs. There were days when I read the same page multiple times. Thankfully, utilizing certain tools made the learning experience more engaging and effective, even on the