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3 Actions Engineering Professionals Can Take to Build Their Personal Brands

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This is a guest blog by Nader Mowlaee

Personal BrandsLike all other career professionals, engineers should constantly be evolving in order to move forward in their careers and reach the ultimate goals they are pursuing. There are however some aspects of career advancement that typically happen outside of normal working hours, and the standard education and training path, such as personal development efforts focused on personal brands. This might include picking up a new book to read, taking an online 3D design course, or starting a coding Bootcamp.

Personal brands related actions are different because they enable you to communicate and promote who you are and what you’re destined to do. Such actions allow you to build an online presence, showcase your engineering design portfolio, or even influence other professionals in your field to follow your lead.

Most engineers feel uncomfortable when attempting to build their personal brands. So in this article, I’ll share three simple but important personal branding actions that you can take to enhance your short-term job search results and long-term career aspirations. These three steps will help you in both finding engineering jobs and ultimately finding yourself in a career that matches both your unique skill set and your personality.

Here are three actions related to personal brands that may be helpful in your engineering job search or career journey overall. [Read more…] about 3 Actions Engineering Professionals Can Take to Build Their Personal Brands

TCEP 080: Is Civil Engineering Becoming a Commodity?

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Commodity

In episode 080 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Shane Sheldon, a civil engineer and listener from Oregon, about whether or not civil engineering is becoming a commodity. We also talk about the question that several civil engineers might be asking themselves today, which is: “Can civil engineers really be successful?”

Shane emailed me a few weeks ago, bringing up some of these points, which I felt were valid, but often overlooked, so I felt it important that he come on the show to discuss them.

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on whether or not civil engineering is becoming a commodity:

[Read more…] about TCEP 080: Is Civil Engineering Becoming a Commodity?

TCEP 073: Civil Engineering Career Navigation Advice from a Young Engineering Manager

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Civil Engineering Career Navigation Advice from a Young Engineering Manager

Career NavigationIn episode 073 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Shaun McGrath, P.E., CCM, a successful young division leader at a successful civil engineering company about career navigation through the early portions of your engineering career.

Here are some of the questions I ask Shaun:

  • Talk about internships and how they have helped you.
  • Tell us about the importance of different civil engineering career paths.
  • Talk about stumbling blocks and learning from them.
  • Is there a specific experience that you can recall that you learned something valuable from?
  • Tell us about the importance of finding a mentor.
  • Tell me more about networking.

Engineering Quotes:

Career Navigation

Career Navigation

Here are some key points discussed on civil engineering career navigation:

[Read more…] about TCEP 073: Civil Engineering Career Navigation Advice from a Young Engineering Manager

How to Choose the Right Career Path in your Engineering Career

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How to choose the right career path in your engineering career…that is the question.

Q: How do I choose the right career path in my engineering career?

Welcome to episode #30 of Engineering Career TV. The topic for this episode is how to choose the right career path in your engineering career.

I spend almost all of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted from engineers around the world.  The questions are typically focused on professional development for engineering professionals, especially relevant to practicing engineers.

You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.

Let’s jump into today’s topic: how to choose the right career path in your engineering career. This topic is based on a question from Dan, who asks the following:
[Read more…] about How to Choose the Right Career Path in your Engineering Career

TECC 134: Understanding what it takes to Succeed as an Engineer

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succeedIn this episode of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast, I am going to answer questions from our listeners about career challenges they are facing and choices that they have to make to succeed as an Engineer.

Engineering Quotes:

Succeed

Succeed

Here are the summary of questions and answers I discuss in this session:

[Read more…] about TECC 134: Understanding what it takes to Succeed as an Engineer

TECC 127: Engineering Career Questions on Career Path, Credentials, and Stagnation Answered

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Engineering CareerIn this episode of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast I am going to answer questions from our listeners asking for career advice.

Engineering Quotes:

Engineering Career

Engineering Career

Here are the summary of questions and answers we’ve discussed in this session:

Question:

Can you point me in a direction to learn more about small niche markets in the engineering profession?

Answer:

  • Talk to people in those specific engineering disciplines.
  • Interview people.
  • Go to professional engineering association meetings to find out what they do.

Question:

Do you need to have a knowledge of finance, business and marketing?

Answer:

  • Yes, you need to know something about all of these things, because this is what will make you stand out because most engineers don’t.
  • If you do this, you separate yourself and that is how you become a thought leader in your engineering industry.
  • If you can move beyond the technical aspect of your engineering career and engage people, then you will go into the next level where a lot of engineers are not.

Question:

I am worried that if I take an engineering project coordinator job, I would not be able to transition to the design aspect of my degree at a later date, if I decide to change my mind. Please can you advise on what I should do?

Answer:

  • I suggest that you take the construction engineering job, because going from construction to design is always very helpful.
  • Taking this job will help you to become an even better designer and make it easier to transition.
  • You will not be missing opportunities, you will be building experience in the field, which is the most valuable experience you can get.

Question:

I am interested in being an applications engineer. How do I get started while I’m waiting to enter school?

Answer:

  • Ask someone questions in applications engineering.
  • Read books about applications engineering.
  • Take certificate courses that can go onto your resume.

Question:

How can I make sure that my resume reaches the engineering hiring manager without going into the black hole?

Answer:

  • It all comes down to who you know.
  • The real question to you would be: “What have you done to put yourself in a position to get to know people and connect with people?”
  • You cannot rely on a website to give you an engineering job. If that’s what you are doing, then stop and rather try to connect with people.
  • Take the time to build the right relationships with the right people.

More in this episode…

In the Take Action Today segment of the show, I give you some advice on how you can get a career promotion.

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” – Kofi Annan

Books mentioned in this episode:

The One Minute Manager

The One Minute Manager

 

 

 

 

The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less

The 80/20 Principle

 

 

 

 

Resources and links mentioned in this session include:

TECC 126: Career Advice on How to Grow My CAD Business

Engicoach.com

What is your value proposition worth?

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To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success