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Should My LinkedIn Profile and My Resume Have a Motherhood Section?

July 26, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by author Rae Taylor, one of EMI’s Civil Engineering Collective Content Contributors

It’s always been known that having kids can be detrimental to a woman’s career. There is more research that can be cited here that women pay a price for having a family, whether it be reduced promotional prospects or a complete loss of career.

Maybe this is why I’ve always been told not to talk about having or wanting kids. I’ve even been advised to not mention being married and of childbearing age. One charming man once told me he wasn’t going to teach me anything because I would get myself pregnant and then have to leave, so what was the point? Side note here: I taught him Excel, Word, and some other software, but I guess being months from retirement, which he talked about constantly, he wasn’t going to go get himself pregnant, so I was safe in the knowledge that my efforts wouldn’t be wasted.

In the interest of never talking about having kids, let’s talk about motherhood instead, and if that should be on resumes. I haven’t been thinking about this at all while applying for jobs. I’ve been thinking about selling myself in the best possible light to all possible employers. But then the BBC asked me if motherhood belongs on a resume. I said “Yes, it does!’’ But I said it in the way you do when what you mean it, “Someone else should do that and break that glass ceiling for all the mothers out there, but not me, because I actually want a job.”

Avoid Conflict by Focusing on These 3 Areas

July 19, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Pamela A. Scott

“This is what I NEED them to do,” a client said during our call recently. I had to squash the groan that was trying to escape my mouth.

The words and the tone of voice this client used were enough to ensure that “they” were not at all likely to do what she wanted them to do. “They” were her peers. She was asserting authority that she didn’t have.

Here are steps you can take to have successful conversations that don’t turn into unnecessary conflict.

Look At the Words You Use

“I need,” “I want,” and “you should” are good ways to send a conversation downhill before you’ve really gotten started.

When you use those expressions, you come across as a dictator. The persons you’re talking at — not with — can feel belittled, bullied, run over, and more. They’ll possibly end up thinking you’re a jerk.

Is Conflict Always Bad? The Answer May Surprise You

July 12, 2021 By EMI

This is a blog by Jeff Perry, MBA

Most of us, when we think about conflict, consider it a bad thing we should avoid. That’s not exactly true.

The right kind of conflict can actually build trust and increase performance in teams! In fact, I would say that one of the best indicators of a team that trusts each other is the amount of conflict in the team.

Positive, healthy conflict happens when we can challenge each other in real ways, be open and honest, and collaborate more effectively.

Disagreements Are Normal and Should Be Encouraged

There is no situation or team that is going to sail through all projects and tasks without ever disagreeing with each other. Yet one of the things that can build divisions and trouble in a teams faster than anything is when people don’t feel heard and able to express disagreements, especially with leaders.

The Challenges of Achieving Work-Life Balance as a Maintenance Engineer

July 5, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Bryan Christiansen

Finding an equilibrium between our professional and personal lives is a vital ingredient for boosting productivity and improving our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Behind the elegant facilities and seamless production processes are maintenance engineers who guarantee the reliable and safe operation of equipment. They perform their duties under strict regulations and deadlines.

I ask myself: Are maintenance engineers happy? How do they balance the high levels of stress, frequent burnouts, and personal satisfaction? Here are some of the things that affect the work-life equilibrium and practical solutions to them.

1. Highly Demanding Responsibilities

7 Mistakes to Avoid As an Engineering Mentor

July 2, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Lauren Groff

The mentor/mentee relationship is one that needs to be defined early on to ensure that engineers get what they need out of it. Most of the time it goes great, and everyone is happy. Sometimes though, things go wrong and that’s how relationships get damaged. Because of this, you need to ensure you’re not making the following mistakes as an engineering mentor. Review the mistakes listed below to ensure everyone is on the same page.

What to Learn and When in Your Engineering Career?

June 28, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Fernando A. Ceballos, P.E.

What does getting ready for graduation, starting a new job, preparing to take your FE/PE, or picking a new hobby have in common? They all require some type of game plan to make progress and include direction of where you want things to go.

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there, and sometimes that road ends up in a place you don’t want to be at.

What Is Relevant Right Now?

Don’t get lost in wanting to learn everything there is to know about everything in your career. Focus on becoming proficient at what you do now, then, as you find time, learn the next skill. There is a balance that must be found between getting ready for the next promotion and not failing to do a good job at your current role.

As an engineer, you may want to eventually take management path and therefore lose focus on the design aspect of your current role. You might fall into the trap of wanting to work on your business development skills, budget/schedule management, etc., and forget that you must learn the design fundamentals of the work you will one day manage. You might fail to realize that without a solid technical foundation, you will struggle to train your future staff.

Developing Your Game Plan

How to Get a Group of Engineers to Actually Make Decisions

June 25, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Patrick Sweet, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, CSEP

Engineering, much like other kinds of knowledge work, is fundamentally about making decisions. While factories produce physical devices, engineering teams produce decisions — decisions on how products and services will be designed, implemented, maintained, and retired. Decision-making is at the very core of what we do.

It’s surprising, then, that we have so much trouble actually making decisions within engineering teams. We’ve all been part of meetings where problems were discussed, positions were defended, and at the end, no real decision was made. For many (myself included), it can be one of the most frustrating parts of working in engineering.

In this post, I’ll offer some concrete strategies on how to bring a group of engineers together and actually make decisions.

Make Sure Everyone Knows That a Decision Needs To Be Made Beforehand

Cost vs Benefit of Getting Your Master’s in Engineering

June 21, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Drew Allen

In today’s competitive job market, the more experience and education you have, the better. However, if you’re an engineer and wondering whether furthering your education is the right choice, there are a few things you need to consider. Below, we’ll review both the cost and benefit of earning your master’s degree in engineering. As with any major decision, it’s always better to weigh the pros and cons. And when it comes to getting your master’s in engineering, you want to know you’re making the right decision because there is a significant amount of time, not to mention costs, invested that are associated with taking on this higher education level.

Pro: More Opportunities

80% Done Beats Perfect

June 14, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Pamela A. Scott

Have you been in this situation? You’re up against a tight budget and tight timelines on a project. You get the bulk of the work done, but then you just can’t seem to power through to the finish line.

You know your work is really good. If only I could find that one missing piece, you think. Then it would be perfect.

No. It won’t.

“No one is perfect … that’s why pencils have erasers.” ~ Author Unknown

Project manager Chris assigned Joel, a staff engineer, to work on the new roadway project. She told him what she expected and that he should get the work done in three hours.

A day went by without Joel checking back in with Chris. She called him a day later.

Meet Cara Green, EIT – The New Co-Host for the Structural Engineering Channel Podcast

June 7, 2021 By EMI

The Engineering Management Institute recently invited Cara Green, EIT to become one of the The Structural Engineering Channel podcast. The show serves to bring important industry information, including technical and non-technical news, to practicing structural engineers worldwide.

“My number one goal with being the host of the Structural Engineering Channel podcast is to help engineers succeed in their profession, in the way they choose to succeed. The Structural Engineering Channel is a very interesting channel that addresses a lot of topics, and my hope is to continue that message to engineers out there. ” ~ Cara Green, EIT, Structural Engineering Trade Manager, HILTI North America

Cara will host The Structural Engineering Channel alongside Mathew Picardal, P.E. She is the Structural Engineering Trade Manager at Hilti North America. [Read more…] about Meet Cara Green, EIT – The New Co-Host for the Structural Engineering Channel Podcast