What does an inventor do?
Inventor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real inventor resumes:
- Manage DR, social media, PPC & SEO on Google & Facebook
- Manage all aspects of production including QC, packaging needs, and adherence to worldwide product standard protocols.
- Finish designing and coding a prototype in Java.
- Create the 3D model and drawings with Solidworks.
- Used EZIO microcontroller I/O board to interface to computer connect toys.
- Create data visualization techniques for displaying production analytics data sets for an industrial IoT solution.
- Brainstorm workshop facilitator for external consulting projects including creating new tools for learning to read and conceptualizing innovative new video games.
- Field test prototypes making note of any deficiencies.
- Collaborate closely with developers, copywriters and UX designers.
Inventor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 46% of Inventors are proficient in CAD, CNC, and R. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Mechanical skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Inventors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CAD, 46%
Help staff and students increase CAD proficiency
- CNC, 33%
Worked with a group of electrical and mechanical engineers to create drawings of parts for CNC production.
- R, 9%
Established Double R Studio, a contemporary wallpaper and soft goods company.
- Prototype, 4%
Field tested prototypes making note of any deficiencies.
- Solidworks, 2%
Created the 3D model and drawings with Solidworks.
- Product Concepts, 1%
Invented, designed and developed product concepts for a range of toy and game categories in think tank environment
Common skills that an inventor uses to do their job include "cad," "cnc," and "r." You can find details on the most important inventor responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for an inventor to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "industrial designers must develop cooperative working relationships with clients and colleagues who specialize in related disciplines." Additionally, an inventor resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "respond to customer complaints; resolve problem elements exceptional communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. "
Mechanical skills. Another essential skill to perform inventor duties is mechanical skills. Inventors responsibilities require that "industrial designers must understand how products are engineered, at least for the types of products that they design." Inventors also use mechanical skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "participated in in-depth research, new product brainstorming and development, mechanical problem solving, model-making & prototyping. "
Problem-solving skills. inventors are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to inventor responsibilities, because "industrial designers determine the need, size, and cost of a product; anticipate production issues; develop alternatives; evaluate options; and implement solutions." An inventor resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "collaborate with the professional design team and sales representatives on thoughtful design solutions. "
Analytical skills. inventor responsibilities often require "analytical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "industrial designers use logic or reasoning skills to study consumers and recognize the need for new products." This resume example shows what inventors do with analytical skills on a typical day: "furthered and will continue to further research and data collection into, and beyond quantum mechanics3. "
Computer skills. Another common skill required for inventor responsibilities is "computer skills." This skill comes up in the duties of inventors all the time, as "industrial designers use computer-aided design software to develop their designs and create prototypes." An excerpt from a real inventor resume shows how this skill is central to what an inventor does: "worked with asme and ped pressure vessels, flow computers, transmitters, ansi welding symbols and procedures. "
Creativity. While "creativity" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to inventor responsibilities. Much of what an inventor does relies on this skill, seeing as "industrial designers must be innovative in their designs and the ways in which they integrate existing technologies into their new product." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of inventors: "invent various new products from gun accessories to energy drinks then pay to have prototypes made and sone to big companies. "
The three companies that hire the most inventors are:
- RGBSI1 inventors jobs
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Compare different inventors
Inventor vs. Color adviser
A product engineering internship involves a trainee who gains work experience in the field of product building and improving a company's products to be used by target consumers. Product engineering interns collaborate with product managers to brainstorm ideas on product designs and develop design verification and test plans to ensure that the product meets the high-quality standards and agency requirements. To meet the product's quality standards, product engineering interns must be proficient in using lab equipment and debug techniques. They also serve as a liaison among the development team, manufacturing team, and compliance agency.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, inventor responsibilities require skills like "cad," "cnc," "r," and "reverse engineering." Meanwhile a typical color adviser has skills in areas such as "color coordination," "color design," "color selection," and "trade shows." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, color advisers reach lower levels of education than inventors. Color advisers are 8.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 5.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Inventor vs. Color expert
Product design interns are students who are doing their on-the-job training under the product design department of an organization. They are usually assigned administrative tasks. However, they must also be exposed to the activities done by product designers. As such, product design interns may join team meetings, ideation activities, and product presentations. They learn about the necessary skills in product designing. They learn about different materials needed for the product or different programs related to the software. They learn about user behavior and how important understanding the customers is when designing a product. They may also help the team by giving user experience feedback.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that inventor responsibilities requires skills like "cad," "cnc," "r," and "reverse engineering." But a color expert might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "color theory," "skin care," "product knowledge," and "store events."
In general, color experts achieve lower levels of education than inventors. They're 5.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 5.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Inventor vs. Product engineering internship
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an inventor is likely to be skilled in "reverse engineering," "prototype," "revit," and "product concepts," while a typical product engineering internship is skilled in "python," "c++," "c #," and "data analysis."
When it comes to education, product engineering interns tend to earn similar degree levels compared to inventors. In fact, they're 2.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 4.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Inventor vs. Product design internship
Types of inventor
Updated January 8, 2025
