Passion Is a Competitive Advantage | Career Advice

Why Employers Look for the "Spark"

During our interview with senior aerospace engineer Baktash Hamzehloo, one of the most memorable things he said was this:

I love to see the spark in somebody's eyes.

He wasn't talking about perfect grades.

He wasn't talking about prestige.

He wasn't even talking about technical skills first.

He was talking about passion.

According to Baktash, passionate students stand out because passion changes how people learn, work, and grow over time.

And in competitive industries, that energy becomes extremely valuable.

Why Passion Matters in Real Careers

A lot of students think employers only care about:

• GPA
• Technical ability
• Certifications
• Experience

Those things matter.

But according to Baktash, companies are also evaluating something harder to measure:

Does this person genuinely care?

Because students who are passionate about what they do usually:

• Learn faster
• Stay curious longer
• Push through challenges
• Improve independently
• Bring energy into teams

And those behaviors compound over years.

The Difference Between Forced Motivation and Real Interest

One important point from the interview was this:

Students who choose careers only because:

• Their parents pushed them
• The salary sounds high
• The field is trending
• Society says it's prestigious

often struggle long-term if they have no real connection to the work.

Why?

Because difficult careers require sustained effort.

And without genuine interest, students usually:

• Burn out faster
• Lose motivation
• Stop improving
• Feel disconnected from their work

According to Baktash, that's why understanding your interests matters so much early in life.

Real-World Example

Imagine two engineering students.

Student A

• Chose engineering only for money
• Does the minimum required work
• Rarely explores topics outside class
• Feels disconnected from projects

Student B

• Naturally curious about systems and technology
• Researches topics independently
• Enjoys solving problems
• Gets excited discussing ideas

Over time, Student B often develops stronger:

• Technical understanding
• Creativity
• Adaptability
• Communication
• Long-term career growth

Not necessarily because they are "smarter," but because passion creates consistency.

And consistency creates mastery.

Why Employers Can Feel the Difference

According to Baktash, experienced professionals notice passion quickly during:

• Interviews
• Conversations
• Team projects
• Networking events

Passionate students usually:

• Ask better questions
• Speak with more energy
• Show curiosity naturally
• Want to learn deeper

That authenticity becomes difficult to fake.

And employers often prefer someone they can develop long-term over someone who only looks impressive on paper.

Where Students Can Apply This Today

Students do not need to have everything figured out immediately.

But they should start paying attention to:

• What subjects genuinely interest them
• What problems they enjoy solving
• What topics they naturally explore outside class
• What environments give them energy

Passion is not always loud or dramatic.

Sometimes it simply appears as:

• Consistent curiosity
• Desire to improve
• Enjoyment of learning
• Long-term dedication

And according to Baktash, those qualities often become major professional advantages later.

The Bigger Lesson

Passion alone is not enough.

Students still need:

• Discipline
• Foundations
• Skills
• Consistency

But passion makes those things sustainable.

Because careers are long.

And according to Baktash, students who genuinely enjoy learning and growing usually build stronger long-term careers than students only chasing status or money.

Credit & Interview Source

This article is based on insights shared during our interview with Baktash Hamzehloo, where he discussed engineering careers, hiring, student growth, curiosity, and the role passion plays in long-term professional success.