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Expertise

Don’t Fall off Mt. Stupid

November 23, 2021 By EMI

This is a guest post by Jacob Valentien, PE 

Don’t Fall off Mt. Stupid

In my previous article, I spent some time writing about the four major components for optimizing your career development. I wanted this article to focus on the Experience and Continual Learning components. Have you ever heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect? Well, don’t feel bad, most folks have never heard of it, although I am willing to guess that if you have been in this industry for any time at all, you have experienced multiple points along the curve. The Dunning-Kruger effect is best summarized via a graph (see Figure 1) that maps the relationship between confidence and expertise.

[Read more…] about Don’t Fall off Mt. Stupid

Filed Under: Civil Engineering Tagged With: avoid falling off the cliff, Build Confidence, Confidence, Continual learning, continual learning efforts, Dunning-Kruger effect, Expertise, Jacob W. Valentien, Learning Curve, Mt. Stupid, optimizing your career, our experience level, professional organizational involvement, try to stay aware, young engineer’s career

Factors Affecting Growth in the AEC Industry

December 30, 2019 By EMI

This is a guest blog by John Beck, MBA

AEC IndustryIt’s no secret that organic growth in any business follows a natural S-curve, with a period of infancy, followed by aggressive expansion, and ultimately maturity. Inherently, achieving exponential growth later in the business cycle is more challenging than achieving exponential growth at the outset.   

A vast majority of revenue at an established engineering firm often comes from existing clients, which makes scaling difficult and puts more pressure on relationship building and maintaining. There are a number of factors specific to the engineering industry that can affect growth. I’d like to highlight three factors that affects growth in the AEC Industry. 

[Read more…] about Factors Affecting Growth in the AEC Industry

Filed Under: Blog, Business Development Tagged With: Acquisition, AEC Advisors, AEC Industry, clients, Compliance Requirements, customers, Expertise, John Beck, Labor Availability

Redefining Business Development for Engineering Professionals

September 16, 2019 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Lindsay Diven, CPSM

Redefining Business DevelopmentIt’s interesting that in the engineering industry, our sales teams are often referred to as Business Developers or Client Managers. The sound of the word “sales” makes you think of a used car salesperson or a telemarketer. I get it. You studied to be an engineer and practice your craft with pride, as you should. You are very skilled in your expertise.

However, there is a point, when you must win that next project for your team or firm. This typically involves finding potential new clients and meeting with decision makers. Having worked with engineers for more than a decade, I know that this is easier said than done.

Resisting Business Development Meetings

You may resist meeting with clients because you feel you must sell your experience and ideas. This often feels like a “dog and pony show.” The clients often feel this way too. They don’t want to sit in an hour-long meeting listening to how great you and your firm are. They are busy too and more often not taking as many “sales” meetings or are making them shorter. I have experienced some clients only giving us 15 minutes!

So, how do you make business development easier for you and more accepting for your clients? How do you make those type of meetings valuable to both you and your client so that each party feels their time wasn’t wasted?

You do this by redefining business development.

First, let’s start with the original definition.

[Read more…] about Redefining Business Development for Engineering Professionals

Filed Under: Blog, Business Development Tagged With: Business Developers, Business Development Meetings, business development training, connecting with clients, engineering industry, Expertise, goals, growth opportunities, Lindsay Diven, opportunities, Redefining Business Development, understanding the client

TECC 207: How to Avoid Becoming a Frog in Boiling Water in Your Engineering Career

July 23, 2019 By EMI

http://media.blubrry.com/engineeringcareercoach/traffic.libsyn.com/engineeringcareercoach/TECC207.mp3

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In this episode, I will explain how you can avoid becoming a frog in boiling water in your engineering career. Nobody can predict the future and disaster can strike at any time in your career and that is why you should always strive to minimize risks in your career by being prepared for the absolute worst.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are 5 Action Steps You Can Take to Avoid Becoming a Frog in Boiling Water:

[Read more…] about TECC 207: How to Avoid Becoming a Frog in Boiling Water in Your Engineering Career

Filed Under: Personal Development and Professionalism, TECC Podcast-The Engineering Career Coach Podcast Tagged With: Build a Strong Network, certifications, Engineering Career, Expertise, Frog in Boiling Water, goals, LinkedIn, Measure your progress, professional associations, professional development, social media, Soft and Core Skills, stability in your career, Training and Development, volunteer

TECC 184: Career Questions Answered Through a Peek Inside the Engineering Management Accelerator

September 4, 2018 By EMI

http://media.blubrry.com/engineeringcareercoach/traffic.libsyn.com/engineeringcareercoach/TECC184.mp3

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Career Questions Answered Through a Peek Inside the Engineering Management Accelerator

In this episode, I am going to answer some questions from some of the engineers who participated in our Engineering Management Accelerator Online Workshop. We had so many great questions during this course related to professional development, job promotions, communication, leadership and more, that I decided to share the answers here so that engineers all over the world can benefit from them.

Engineering Quotes:

Engineering Management

Engineering Management

Here is the summary of questions and answers from a recent group coaching call during the Engineering Management Accelerator Online Workshop:

[Read more…] about TECC 184: Career Questions Answered Through a Peek Inside the Engineering Management Accelerator

Filed Under: Career Goals and Challenges, TECC Podcast-The Engineering Career Coach Podcast Tagged With: career questions, communication, conversation, credibility, Engineering Management Accelerator, Expertise, Leadership, micro manager, promotion, respect, teams

You Are an Expert, and It’s Time to Own It

May 16, 2018 By EMI

You Are an Expert, and It’s Time to Own It is a blog post by guest author Patrick Sweet, P.Eng., MBA

Expert

In the world of knowledge work, expertise is everything. Gone are the days of the master builder who knew every trade and could do it all. Employers look for people with more and more experience in smaller and smaller niches. Experts are linchpins in their organizations in every industry.

Needless to say, being able to lay claim to any kind of specialty is very valuable in one’s career. It’s something every engineer should be pursuing in one form or another.

Luckily, developing expertise isn’t anywhere near as difficult as most people think. In fact, when you stop and think about it, it can be very easy to develop real expertise quickly and to reap the benefits in your career, even if you’re just getting started. The only trick is to re-frame the way you think of expertise.

Don’t ask permission

The first mistake people make with respect to expertise is that they think they need others to validate them as an expert. That’s nonsense. If you know more about a given subject than 80% of people, you’re an expert. You don’t need to be in the top 1%. You don’t need a PhD. All you need is to know your stuff better than most people.

[Read more…] about You Are an Expert, and It’s Time to Own It

Filed Under: Blog, Personal Development and Professionalism Tagged With: accomplishments, branding yourself, developing expertise, engineers, expert, Expertise, Patrick Sweet, professional development seminars, skills

TCEP 082: One Civil Engineer’s Passion for Culture and Community

April 25, 2018 By EMI

http://media.blubrry.com/engineeringcareercoach/traffic.libsyn.com/civilengineeringpodcast/TCEP082.mp3

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Passion for Culture

In episode 082 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Alexis Clark, E.I.T about her passion for culture and community in civil engineering, and several other interesting topics related to Civil Engineering.

Here are some of the questions I ask Alexis:

  • Tell us how you ended up working for Hilti and what it’s like working for such a large company?
  • You’re passionate about engineering and culture both, so let’s discuss how the two intertwine.
  • Do you work outside of the US?
  • What do you do in your life in general to try and integrate culture?
  • Tell us about your passion for culture and volunteering, and why you are so interested in them?
  • Where do you think Civil Engineering is heading in the future?

Engineering Quotes:

Passion for Culture

Passion for Culture

Here are some key points discussed about passion for culture and community:

[Read more…] about TCEP 082: One Civil Engineer’s Passion for Culture and Community

Filed Under: Career Goals and Challenges, TCEP-The Civil Engineering Podcast Tagged With: Alexis Clark, Civil Engineering, community, expectations, Expertise, goals, next generation, opportunities, Passion for Culture, technical knowledge, Volunteering

TECC 171: How to Improve Communication Skills and Deal with Being Labeled as Overqualified

March 20, 2018 By EMI

http://media.blubrry.com/engineeringcareercoach/traffic.libsyn.com/engineeringcareercoach/TECC171.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

In this episode, I answer some questions from our listeners and subscribers about building communication skills, improving public speaking, and strategies for overcoming being overqualified for a position you want.

Engineering Quotes:

Communication

Communication

Here is the summary of the questions and answers discussed on how to improve communication skills and deal with being labeled as overqualified:

[Read more…] about TECC 171: How to Improve Communication Skills and Deal with Being Labeled as Overqualified

Filed Under: Career Goals and Challenges, Communication/Public Speaking, TECC Podcast-The Engineering Career Coach Podcast Tagged With: Build the skills, chemical engineering student, civil engineer, communication, CVs, Engineering, Expertise, major success, Overqualification Strategies, public speaking, soft skills set, stand out

3 Tips for Finding the Right Mentor as an Engineer

December 4, 2017 By EMI

3 Tips for Finding the Right Mentor as an Engineer




Q: How can I find the right mentor as an engineer?

Welcome to episode #36 of Engineering Career TV. The theme for today’s episode is: 3 Tips for finding the right mentor as an engineer.

I spend almost all of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted by 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: 3 tips for finding the right mentor as an engineer.  This topic is based on a question from Ron, who asks the following:
[Read more…] about 3 Tips for Finding the Right Mentor as an Engineer

Filed Under: Engineering Career TV Tagged With: advice, alumni, career advice, career level, company, electrical engineer, engineering alumni association, engineering career advice, engineering career development, Expertise, family member, finding a mentor, friend, how to find a mentor, local chapter board member, mentor, mentor as an engineer, mentorship, recent engineering graduate, Top Electrical Engineering Companies

TECC 153: The Importance of Selling as an Engineer

July 11, 2017 By EMI

http://media.blubrry.com/engineeringcareercoach/traffic.libsyn.com/engineeringcareercoach/TECC153.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

In this episode, I interview successful experienced engineer Ken Macumber, as part of what I have been calling our Game Changing Career Moves series and we will be talking about the importance of selling as an engineer and the things he does in his career to remain successful.

Engineering Quotes:

Selling as an Engineer

Selling as an Engineer

Here are the key points discussed on the importance of selling as an engineer:

[Read more…] about TECC 153: The Importance of Selling as an Engineer

Filed Under: Career Game Changers, TECC Podcast-The Engineering Career Coach Podcast Tagged With: action I took in my career, Expertise, Ken Macumber, Maintain a big picture approach, ongoing consultant sales person, sales orientated, Selling as an Engineer, skills

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