Q: How Important is your First Engineering Job?
Welcome to Episode #25 of Engineering Career TV. The topic for this episode is how important is your first engineering job.
I spend most of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted from engineers around the world on how to rapidly advance their careers and live the lives they want to live.
You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.
Let’s jump into today’s topic: how important is your first engineering job, which is based on a question from Joe, who asks the following:
Q: How important is your first engineering job, especially as a graduate engineer? If a job offer comes up and you have no other offers waiting, but you know that it isn’t what you truly want, do you just take it regardless, just because there’s nothing better or do you pass on the opportunity and find something else until you get an offer you are really passionate about?
A: The full answer can be seen in the Engineering Career TV video above, but here are a few of the main points:
- You need money, so don’t put off too many jobs because it is important to start building up your savings.
- The most important aspect of your first engineering job is learning and being a sponge at whatever job you can get.
- I never want to tell anyone to give up on their dreams or give up on the perfect job, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep looking if you take the first job you can get.
- Build up your experience, your credibility, and your network and then you can keep your eyes open for another job down the road.
Resources mentioned in today’s Engineering Career TV:
Ask a Question
The Engineering Mastermind
I hope you found this episode of Engineering Career TV helpful.
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What questions do you have about the importance of your first engineering job?
To your success,
Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
