The study of 1,200 UK workers by CV-Library also found a further 53.4% feeling that they place too much importance on their job.
When asked what aspects of work make them feel down about themselves, engineers cited ‘making a silly mistake’ as number one (40.6%).
This was followed by ‘being turned down for a promotion’ (33.1%), ‘being made redundant’ (31.3%), ‘not feeling skilled enough’ (21.9%) and ‘being asked to leave during probation’ (12.5%).
Lee Biggins (pictured), founder and managing director of CV-Library, said: “In a world where awareness around mental health and wellbeing is now more prevalent than ever, our latest findings shed some light on the true impact that work can have on our self-esteem. As professionals, we always want to perform to the best of our abilities and there can often be incidents in the workplace that make us question our performance and goals.
“However, it’s important to remember that we are only human and we cannot always predict what may happen throughout our careers. Asking for constructive feedback after you’ve finished a task, bonding with your co-workers and having regular one-to-one catch-ups with your manager can go some way towards help to build your confidence in the workplace.”
The research also found that 60.8% of engineers say that looking for a job has made them question their abilities. More than four in 10 said they felt this way when they were turned down for a job they really wanted and a further 35.6% when they have been ‘ignored’ by recruiters.
In addition, 69.2% of engineering professionals believe that work shouldn’t define your life, with 17.9% stating that you shouldn’t compare yourself to others.
Biggins continued: “Finding a job can be stressful and it’s only normal to feel a little downhearted after a series of knockbacks. However, perseverance is certainly key. If you’ve been turned down for a job, don’t let this get you down. Perhaps you can brush up on your interview skills, re-work your CV or update your cover letter. See it as an opportunity to make a positive change.
“It’s easy to compare your career with those of your peers, especially when you see people posting positive updates about their work on social media. However, we are all on our own path to success and with a little determination, hard work and persistence, you’ll be able to reach your goals in no time.”
