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In this episode, we talk to Dagna Bieda, a software engineer turned career coach, about mentorship in engineering, why it is important for all engineers to have a mentor, and how you can be a great mentee too.
[Read more…] about TECC 266: Mentorship: Why All Engineers Need to Have a Mentor
What do you want out of your career? What are your aspirations? What are your short- and long-term goals? Are you on the right track or are you veering off? These are the questions that many engineers have either thought about or even dug deeper to answer, and then are some who might not have even sat down to think about where they are going. They are just living day-by-day, clocking in, and keeping afloat.
For the record, there is no right answer nor one answer on how any particular person handles their career, job, or contribution to this industry. However, what happens all too often is an engineer can identify their goals, have an idea of where they want to go in their career, but just don’t know where to start or HOW to get there.
This is a scenario that I found myself in many years ago when I was a younger engineer trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my career. Especially in civil engineering, which is a broad industry that has a lot to offer for different career paths. The solution to this dilemma is mentorship. But it’s not quite as formal as you might think it is. You’ll read below about how you can approach a mentorship to tailor to your career and the resources available.
[Read more…] about How to Approach Mentorship in Your Engineering Career
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.
[Read more…] about 7 Mistakes to Avoid As an Engineering Mentor
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In this episode, I talk to Dr. Andrew Temte, President and Global Head of Corporate Learning at Kaplan, about his forthcoming book Balancing Act: Teach, Coach, Mentor, Inspire, which is about being an effective leader of people through teaching, coaching, mentoring, and inspiring. Andy talks about balance in life, balance at work, and balance between the two. The book, and our conversation, is packed with actionable strategies for improving one’s ability to lead people, which, in my opinion, is the most important skill leaders can cultivate.
[Read more…] about TECC 239: How to Effectively Lead People (Teach, Coach, Mentor, Inspire)
In the engineering industry, only 13% of professionals are women. Moreover, only 30% of women who earned a bachelor’s in engineering remain in the field for more than 20 years. Often, workplace culture, a lack of appreciation for their skills, and gender discrimination, in general, drive them away from the industry. This is a detriment to the engineering world as the industry’s workplace diversity dwindles. In addition, it negatively impacts female engineers.
Engineering is a swiftly growing industry that promises excellent pay, good benefits, and the chance to make a difference in the world. From green building to virtual reality, the industry continues to shift and transform with technology. Women deserve as much of a chance to establish a fulfilling career in this exciting field. However, if female engineers are to persist in their field, they need the support of their employers and coworkers. Here is how you can support women in your workplace:
In many professions, it’s easy to find a mentor, primarily when you work with those who have years of experience. Unfortunately, this often isn’t the case for construction workers and engineers, as more and more young people enter the field every year. Mentors are a valuable resource for many as they provide insight, guidance, and career opportunities. Here are a few ways you can seek out mentorship in construction and engineering.
[Read more…] about How to Seek out Mentorship in Construction and Engineering
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In episode 133 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to civil engineer Miranda Patton, a business development director at MNS Engineers. We talk about growing the engineering workforce, women in leadership, community services, STEM education, and the future of public infrastructure in America.
[Read more…] about TCEP 133: Focusing on People and Community Services as a Civil Engineer
Being a successful mechanical engineer goes beyond just being a pro at science and math. Whether an individual has several years of experience as a mechanical engineer or has graduated recently, there are strategies and engineering career tips to take their profession to the next level. These tips can help any professional in the field of mechanical engineering advance their career. [Read more…] about Tips to Advance Your Career as a Mechanical Engineer
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In episode 89 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Nicholas (Nick) DeNichilo P.E., President and CEO of Mott MacDonald North America. Our conversation focused mostly on why civil engineering CEOs need to focus on people and the effect that doing so can have on you in your career and life.
[Read more…] about TCEP 089: Why Civil Engineering CEOs Need to Focus on People with Nick DeNichilo
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In this episode, I talk with Josh Haynam, co-founder of Interact, which is a quiz marketing tool used by more than 40,000 companies around the world. We talk about the benefits of building accountability into your engineering career. Josh gives an excellent analogy that he uses in terms of how a coach can help you to advance in your career and life.
[Read more…] about TECC 172: The Benefits of Building Accountability into your Engineering Career
