It seems television is full of treasure hunt-themed programming these days. Some of the shows focus on gold mining, while others follow people who frequent garage sales in search of hidden gems. Did you know that searching for your next engineering job can be somewhat similar?

Think about it this way—A treasure hunter must know what is considered treasure in order to discover it. If one doesn’t realize a certain item is valuable, then they are likely to miss it altogether. Similarly, people who fail to search the right keywords and job titles are likely to miss out on career opportunities.

Here are Four Key Search Terms and Job Titles You Should Use if You’re Seeking an Engineering Job:

• “Mechanical/Civil/Etc. Engineering” (Appropriate Predication)

It may seem obvious to include “engineering” as a keyword in your job search, but it’s worth further examination. Many positions that aren’t “engineering” in the traditional sense also use the word in their job titles.

Is a mechanical engineer the same as a custodial engineer? No. The positions are very different. But, people searching for engineering jobs may be overwhelmed with unrelated search results if they fail to properly classify their expertise. Worse yet, what if you actually schedule a phone or face-to-face interview for a mismatched role?

• “Senior, Lead, Manager, Etc.” (Proper Title)

Another mistake made by people seeking engineering jobs is they fail to specify their management title. An applicant who’s at the senior level can waste considerable time and energy applying for junior-level positions. Overqualified candidates are quickly passed over by hiring managers. And, what worker wants a “downgrade” in her career anyhow?

If an online job board or recruiting website doesn’t provide a tab for job titles or similar classification, you should manually enter it into the search terms. Most platforms provide a space for custom keywords. Some titles can be used interchangeably, so it’s good to experiment. A “lead mechanical engineer” may also search terms like “senior mechanical engineer.”

• “Industry”

Workers often specialize in specific industries. For example, some mechanical engineers focus on the automotive space, while others remain in aerospace. Although most can transition across sectors, there’s value to staying within a niche.

Always search for roles within your area of expertise, even if you’re open to other opportunities. There’s nothing wrong with keeping an open mind, but engineers who progress within the same industry usually command higher pay.

• “Location”

Sometimes a candidate seeks to relocate for a position. However, most people searching for an engineering job hope to stay close to home. Likewise, the majority of employers only consider local candidates.

With that said, it’s important not to be too limiting. Folks in large metro areas should use a variety of location keywords. These may start with the county’s biggest city (New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, etc.) but may expand to nearby cities and suburbs. It’s generally a good idea to cast a wide net within a 30-mile radius or so.

In the end, search terms matter. When used correctly, they help identify appropriate positions and save countless hours of wasted time and energy. However, when used poorly, they create confusion and result in missed opportunities.

If you’re a manufacturing or engineering professional seeking a new position, be sure to consult with an industry-leading recruiting agency today!

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If you are looking to hire and need help sourcing great candidates quickly, connect with Goodwin Recruiting.