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Are you a high school student who loves testing your knowledge and ingenuity in robotics competitions? Then you most definitely have what it takes to turn that passion into a long and exciting career in robotics. Let's take a look at how your skills and experience in robotics competitions can translate to professional expertise.

You're Already Building Your Hard and Soft Skills for Robotics Careers Through Robotics Competitions

There are two kinds of skills that combine to make a truly proficient robotics worker. Hard skills are specific technical knowledge and training, such as being able to fix an engine. Soft skills are personality traits, such as leadership, communication, and time management. Both are vital to a career in robotics, and both are often first learned by students in the context of a robotics competition.

If you're competing in robotics competitions, you've already started building the hard skills that will be essential for a career in robotics. These competitions require participants to design, build, and program robots to complete specific tasks. The projects are often open-ended, which means that participants have to use their creativity and problem-solving abilities to come up with the best solution. This type of hands-on, creative work is exactly what robotics workers do on a daily basis, making robotics competitions an excellent gateway into careers surrounding robotics.

The ability to understand how robots work, both electronically and mechanically, is something that every robotics worker needs, whether they're robotics technicians or robotics specialists or integrators. And the best way to learn these skills is by getting your hands dirty and building robots yourself. Many of the participants in robotics competitions go on to study engineering or computer science in college, which gives them an even stronger foundation on which to build their careers.

In addition to hard skills, robotics competitions also require participants to develop strong soft skills. These are the interpersonal skills that are essential for working in any field, but they are especially important in robotics. That's because the field of robotics is all about collaboration. Robotics workers need to be able to communicate effectively with their team members, as well as with the clients or customers they're working with. They also need to be able to work well under pressure and manage their time effectively, since robotics projects are often large-scale and contain a lot of moving parts.

If you've been honing your hard and soft skills in robotics competitions, then you're already on your way to a career in robotics. But there are a few other things you can do to give yourself an even better chance of success.

Get Involved in Robotics Clubs and Organizations in Addition to Robotics Competitions

If you’re participating in robotics competitions, then you’re already a part of a robotics community. However, there are other ways to engage with like-minded robot enthusiasts outside of competition. 

For example, there may be robotics clubs or organizations at your school that you can join. These can be a great way to get more experience working with robots and to meet other students who are interested in the same thing as you. Many of these clubs also compete in robotics competitions, which means you can get even more practice honing your skills.

If your school or institution doesn't have an official robotics program or robotics clubs, then there are plenty of other ways to get involved in the robotics community. There are many online forums and discussion groups dedicated to robotics where you can learn from more experienced builders and share your own knowledge with others. You can also find online courses or tutorials that will teach you more about robot design, programming, and construction.

The most important thing is to keep learning and expanding your skills. The more experience you have, the better your chances will be of landing a job in robotics.

Consider Taking Summer Classes While Participating in Robotics Competitions

If you're serious about making a career in robotics, then you should consider taking some summer classes or courses related to the field. This will show potential employers that you're dedicated to learning more about robotics and that you're willing to put in the extra effort to improve your skills. A healthy mix of study and practical applications, specifically classes and robotics competitions, will show future employers and educators that you're passionate about the field.

There are many different types of summer programs available, from online courses to in-person workshops. You can find programs that focus on specific topics like programming or mechanical engineering, or you can choose a more general introduction to robotics. No matter what type of program you choose, make sure it's one that will teach you something new and help you improve your skills.

An example of a great summer program is the SMART Robotics Technician Program at Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. Many colleges and universities have these sort of programs to help young robotics hopefuls cultivate the skills they’ll need to start a career in the field. 

Consider Doing an Apprenticeship or Internship with Experience Gained from Robotics Competitions

One of the best ways to get started in your robotics career is to do an apprenticeship or internship. These programs will give you the opportunity to learn from more experienced workers and to get hands-on experience in the field.

Apprenticeships and internships can also lead to full-time job offers, so they're definitely worth considering if you're serious about a career in robotics. You can find robotics internships and apprenticeships through our site if you're interested in pursuing this path.

Use Our Search Tool to Find Education and Training Programs

On the RoboticsCareer.org homepage, you'll find a tool that can search and filter robotics and robotics-adjacent training and education programs from all around the country. The database contains thousands of such programs, so you'll be sure to find something that coincides with your post-high school aspirations. You can even use it to search for apprenticeship and internship opportunities!

The future of robotics is exciting, and being a part of that future is sure to take you to some incredible places during the course of your career. You'll see and experience things that are on the very edge of technological advancement, and be a part of turning those advancements into real-life robotics applications.

Think of it as the greatest robotics competition of all.

About the Author

Lisa Masciantonio 

Chief Workforce Officer

Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute 

Lisa Masciantonio is the Chief Workforce Officer for the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute. She joined the ARM Institute in May 2017 as the Director of Membership and Outreach.  She moved to the position of Chief Workforce Officer in 2019 and she is responsible for driving the Education & Workforce Development vision for ARM in conjunction with the ARM membership, the federal and state government partners, and other expert stakeholders. 

Lisa brings with her over 25 years of experience as a performance-driven leader with notable success in cultivating and executing business strategies and formulating long-term strategic client relationships.  She has proven success in developing business solutions, commercialization of products, technology transfer, and technological initiatives that have supported organizational growth, improved staff productivity, and increased value to many communities of practice. Critical to her success is the ability to increase awareness and drive thought leadership position by designing and executing innovative programs as well as developing and launching new, value-add offerings for ongoing competitiveness. Lisa received a Bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and 2 Master’s degrees from Carnegie Mellon University. 

In 2021, Lisa was recognized as one of 20 world-wide Exceptional Women in Robotics and Automation by SME. In 2022, she was recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times as a Women of Influence and was also part of the inaugural Technical.ly Pittsburgh RealLIST Connectors list, which recognizes the top 100 influential leaders in Pittsburgh tech.