<p>Let’s say I apply for a job at a company after getting a B.S. in AE. </p>
<p>Would a person who has a 3.0-3.5 gpa, well-rounded socially, academically, people skills, communication skills, and management sense have an advantage over a person who has a 4.0 gpa, sort of a nerdy type with only book skills and very little people skills? </p>
<p>Or do people skills not matter that much in engineering fields?</p>
<p>People skills matter a lot, in any profession. I think the more well-rounded person would get hired, that is if the 4.0 kid is not the next Shannon or anything like that.</p>
<p>That’s going to depend a lot on the company and the person doing the interview. Most of the interviews I’ve had are technical, nobody asked me whether I’m active in the community or salsa dances on the weekend 
That’s not to say people skills do not matter, because they do and very much so. It’s just that a lot of engineering positions are technical merits first, then other merits second.</p>
<p>Gator, by Shannon I assume you meant Claude Shannon?</p>
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<p>Yes. IMO, the greatest engineer of the 20th century. </p>
<p>But you can have great great technical skills, if you can’t communicate them effectively in the interview, then I really don’t think companies will like you.</p>
<p>I guess it all depends on what the company expects from the position their hiring for. If the position involves interaction with clients or trying to win proposals, you bet the people person will get hired over the GPA guy. Even if it’s more of a sit-behind-the-computer cubicle job, people skills are very helpful like another person said, especially in a team environment. You want them to be able to get their ideas across; otherwise they’re not that useful.</p>
<p>Even if a nerdy 4.0 GPA student gets hired, he probably won’t go very far in the company without social skills.</p>
<p>Depends on a couple things. Is it the type of work that requires a high IQ and expansive knowledge? Not much engineering actually requires “4.0” ability.</p>