Engineering Management Institute

UPCOMING TRAINING

mentors

Being in Charge Is Complex and Comes With High Expectations

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This is a guest blog by Manny De La Cruz

being in charge

To succeed, you must…

  • Go to school…
  • Get good grades…
  • Love math and science…
  • Get into STEM…
  • Take AP classes…
  • Love STEM…
  • Pick a college…
  • Go to college…
  • Love STEM more…
  • Get a STEM degree, preferably engineering (my opinion)…
  • Get an internship…
  • Get a job…
  • Be a leader/manager…
Does this list sound familiar? For many STEM professionals, and, more specifically, engineers, this list may sound all too familiar. For some, it happens early in life when parents, teachers, or some influential adult begins to tell you what the formula to success is and how engineering fits into that equation. And for other, non-traditional students, like myself, all it takes is one visit to a college campus and there is no shortage of STEM advocates singing the praises of obtaining an engineering degree.

So, you pick engineering, and for the most part, love the journey; let’s face it — statistics for engineers or the third round of calculus can get old at times. As you begin to align yourself with where you want to work, you start to hear the term leadership. To be a strong candidate for an internship spot requires you to have the trifecta: high GPA, skills experience, and leadership potential. For some, “being a leader” has been engrained as the solution to many problems, especially if you are a minority candidate.

Manny, where are you going with this? Great question. So, you want to be a leader/manager? Are you sure you know what you are asking for? It is my opinion that most of us do not really appreciate what we are asking for when we say we want to be a leader/manager. Being in charge is complex and comes with high expectations and many burdens.

What Does Being in Charge Mean?

1. Delivering Results

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TGEP 03: How Engineers Can Stay Technically Sharp in Times of Uncertainty

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Stay Technically SharpIn this episode of The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast, we talk to Dr. Samuel Clemence, a professor at Syracuse University about his role as professor at the university and the things he does to help geotechnical engineers and students succeed. He provides some great tips on how engineers can stay technically sharp, especially during these uncertain times we live in.

Stay Technically Sharp

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Dr. Samuel Clemence in This Episode:

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Engineers Quit Managers Not Companies – Dear Manager, We Need to Talk!

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This is a guest blog by Manny De La Cruz

Engineers Quit Managers Not Companies - Dear Manager, We Need to Talk!

I am writing you this note because I think we need to talk, but quite frankly, I am a bit intimidated to bring this up. I have been working for you for quite some time and feel like things may have dwindled a bit between us. But to be honest, I think that there is still hope and I am optimistic that we can work through this. First of all, I want to come clean about a few things.

  1. I am actively looking for other opportunities outside of this company. Technology and sites like LinkedIn make it really easy. Ironically, having this company on my resume gives me a lot of street credibility out there, where talent is really strapped.
  2. I have sought the counsel of mentors and friends outside of work, and not one is telling me that I may be the problem. They are all great to me and I value their great opinions of me.
  3. I still remember the good times we have had.

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Revisiting Your 2020 Resolutions: 3-Month Check

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 This is a guest blog by Manny De La Cruz

If you take the time to look at the calendar, you will notice that it is already March. At the time of this writing, several significant events had already occurred in 2020. The mere mention of the following words will conjure up the high-pitched, almost childlike delivery of the phrase “Oh, yeah!” Australia, Mr. Peanut, Kobe, Coronavirus, and Megxit — just to name a few. Was I right? 

Unfortunately, another significant event is occurring in 2020. That’s right — the general abandonment of New Year’s resolutions. In December 2019, I did a latinXfactor series webinar for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, where I highlighted that 46% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions and only 8% of that population will see them realized. In that webinar, I proposed that students pursuing STEM degrees should not only commit to personal resolutions but also to resolutions that would aid their professional development. This same concept should also be applied to professionals in STEM.  

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TSEC 17: Mentoring for Structural Engineers and a Special Introduction

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In episode 17 of The Structural Engineering Channel Podcast, we will introduce a new co-host for the podcast and we will also cover a special topic in honor of January being National Mentorship Month. We are going to talk all about mentoring in general: how to find a mentor as a structural engineer, how to become a great mentor, and how mentorship programs can help structural engineering companies grow.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Mentoring for Structural Engineers:

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TSEC 11: The Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity (SE3) Project

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SE3 ProjectIn episode 11 of The Structural Engineering Channel podcast, we talk about The Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity Project, which is also known as the SE3 Project – a project focused on attracting and retaining the best talent into the structural engineering profession, and ensuring all structural engineers have a clear pathway to success in their careers.  We’ll be talking with two volunteers that have been heavily involved with SE3. They are Dani Paxson who is the project director at Holmes Consulting and Nick Sherrow-Groves, P.E., who is a senior engineer with Arup.

Engineering Quotes:

SE3 Project

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Dani and Nick:

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TECC 212: Mentoring Matters – How to Find a Great Engineering Mentor Regardless of How Busy People Are

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Engineering MentorIn this episode, I discuss why mentoring matters and how you can find a great engineering mentor in your career. I will be sharing some advice that I received from a great conference I attended in New Jersey, the ASCE Tri-State (NJ-NY-PA) Conference in Atlantic City in late September 2019.  At the conference, I attended a panel entitled: “Mentoring Matters: The Role of a Mentor in Helping to Chart Your Career Path”. The panel consisted of experienced engineering professionals who talked about the importance of mentoring and how it helped them in their careers. They provided a lot of great strategies that you can use in selecting, finding and getting the most out of a mentor in your career. 

Engineering Quotes:

Engineering Mentor

Here Are the Key Points Discussed and the Professionals That Mentioned Then During the Mentoring Matters Panel:

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How Mechanical Engineers Can Give Back to Their Community

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This is a guest blog by Nader Mowlaee

Mechanical EngineersAs a mechanical engineer (ME), you can look forward to the inherent rewards of a lucrative career. An in-demand job and even job mobility as mechanical engineers typically make above-average earnings here the United States. However, engineers today are looking for more than the monetary rewards that come with this dynamic role. That’s why many mechanical engineers often look to give back to their communities. 

Giving back to your community comes with several benefits. Not only do you get to hone your leadership skills as a mechanical engineer, but it also provides you with networking opportunities and gives you the chance to gain new experiences. Whether you’re a senior mechanical engineer or an experienced mechanical engineering manager looking to share your insight, there are several opportunities you can take to give back to your community. Here’s a few of them: 

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Let’s Rewrite Your 2019 Career Goals

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Let’s Rewrite Your 2019 Career Goals is a guest post by Nader Mowlaee

2019 Career Goals

It’s been five weeks since we returned from the holidays. We went quickly back to our jobs, the same old routines, the same old molds. Some of us have already transitioned to a new job or a new company in January, but some still haven’t achieved what they aimed for regardless of how much they tried. If that sounds like you, then this article is for you. Before we get started though, remember that there is nothing wrong with your big 2019 career goals and dreams, so don’t ever lower your expectations. Lowering the target won’t make it easier to hit if you lack the fundamental skills. Your goals aren’t too big; they are not the problem. If you haven’t achieved them yet consider the possibility that there are still other ways that you can persist and pursue your goals. It’s what you deserve.

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TCEP 050: The Civil Engineering Compilation Episode

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Compilation episodeIn episode 50 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, we have prepared a special compilation episode to reinforce some of the career tips given in the first 50 episodes of The Civil Engineering Podcast (wow — can’t believe we’re at 50).

Engineering Quotes

Here are the key points discussed in the compilation episode:

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