Engineering Management Institute

skills

Four Skills Engineers Can Learn From Entrepreneurs

By

This is a guest post by Patrick Sweet, P.Eng., MBA, PMP, CSEP

Whether you plan to launch a business or work within an existing organization, approaching the world from an entrepreneur’s perspective can be incredibly valuable for engineers. At their core, both engineers and entrepreneurs are problem-solvers. By approaching the world from the mindset of an entrepreneur, engineers of all disciplines can become stronger in their fields.

Here Are Four Skills That Engineers Would Do Well to Adopt:

1. Entrepreneurs See Opportunity

Entrepreneurs see the world in terms of opportunities. They are able to identify problems and pain points that, if solved, would create incredible value for people. Where many people see problems and are content simply to complain about them, entrepreneurs are able to see a world where that problem is actually solved and take strides to make that world a reality.

[Read more…] about Four Skills Engineers Can Learn From Entrepreneurs

Be a Better You

By

This is a guest blog by Pamela A. Scott

Better YouThe people who read this blog are educated, experienced problem-solving professionals, and, I’m assuming, really smart. That is what my 15+ years of working with engineers has taught me.  

However, for many of those engineers, their confidence wanes when it comes to non-technical knowledge, skills, and abilities.  

Does the idea of public speaking give you the shakes? Do you dread having to go to network events, even virtual ones? How much do you enjoy managing people, especially the difficult ones? Are you excited about business development and finding new work?

If you aren’t as confident about those skills as you are about technical knowledge and skills, read on. Here are two steps you can take to conquer your fears and become a better you.

[Read more…] about Be a Better You

TECC 229: Tips and Tricks on How to Leverage LinkedIn for Engineers

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Tips and Tricks on How to Leverage LinkedIn for Engineers

In this episode, I talk to Justin Nguyen, the founder of GetChoGrindUp, a movement to help students navigate their way through college. We talk about LinkedIn for engineers, how to get started on it, and how to grow your network. Justin also shares some pretty amazing tips with us that will definitely help you to use LinkedIn as a tool that can help you succeed as a professional.

Engineering Quotes:

LinkedIn

LinkedIn

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Getting a 5-Star LinkedIn Profile:

[Read more…] about TECC 229: Tips and Tricks on How to Leverage LinkedIn for Engineers

TCEP 110: From Engineer to Owner with Karen Jehanian

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Engineer to Owner

In episode 110 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I speak with Karen Jehanian, P.E. who is the President & Founder of KMJ Consulting, Inc. We talk about how she went from engineer to owner in her career and discuss the important role that entrepreneurship plays in the civil engineering industry.

Engineering Quotes:


Here are some of the questions I ask Karen:

  • Tell us about the journey you took in going from engineer to owner?
  • What is your philosophy around culture in a company?
  • Tell us about the importance of the client experience?
  • What is your opinion on creating a culture of creativity?
  • What is the difference between entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship?

Here are some key points discussed in this episode about going from engineer to owner:

[Read more…] about TCEP 110: From Engineer to Owner with Karen Jehanian

How Good Writing Skills Can Benefit Your Engineering Career

By

This is a guest blog by Peter Hill 

Good Writing SkillsThe second half of the 20th century saw a significant rise of demand for qualified engineers, mostly because after the World War II there was a lot to be rebuilt but also science and technology started to develop rapidly. Large companies, often owned by people that weren’t engineers, but rich investors, needed specialists that could communicate in a way that was easy to understand. The late 60’s introduced technical writing which became one of the essential soft skills for every aspiring engineer. The reasons why writing is important nowadays vary and hold value to both engineers and their companies. In this article, we will discuss some of the major benefits that good writing skills hold for engineers.

The Better Prospect of Landing a Job

[Read more…] about How Good Writing Skills Can Benefit Your Engineering Career

TECC 194: Do You Prefer Sprinting or Jogging with Your Professional Development Efforts?

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

TECC 194: Do You Prefer Sprinting or Jogging with Your Professional Development Efforts?

In this episode of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast, I outline two different approaches to professional development efforts. I explain the advantages and disadvantages of each of these approaches, and how you can use them to increase your overall success in your engineering career and life.

Engineering Quotes:

Professional Development Efforts

Here are the 2 different approaches to professional development:

[Read more…] about TECC 194: Do You Prefer Sprinting or Jogging with Your Professional Development Efforts?

TCEP 109: Construction Engineering – Communication in Negotiated Bid Contracts

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Construction Engineering

In episode 109 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Nils Gransberg, MS on topics related to Construction Engineering. Nils also tells us about the research he is conducting into negotiated bid contracts, and about his military background and experience.

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some of the questions I ask Nils about Construction Engineering:

  • Tell us more about the discipline of Construction Engineering?
  • Why did you decide to get your PhD?
  • Tell us about your research on negotiated bid contract delivery in public projects?
  • Can you talk about what it was like being a civil engineer in the military?

Here are some key points discussed in this episode about construction engineering:

[Read more…] about TCEP 109: Construction Engineering – Communication in Negotiated Bid Contracts

TECC 193: What Prison Has Taught This Young Engineer and How it Can Help You

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

What Prison Has Taught This Young Engineer and How it Can Help You

In this episode, I talk with Jim (a false name used to keep our guest anonymous), a young engineer who had to spend some time in prison soon after he graduated college. We talk about everything he went through while in prison as well as the things he learned and how his experiences have contributed to his success in his career.

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some of the key points discussed about Jim’s time spent in prison:

[Read more…] about TECC 193: What Prison Has Taught This Young Engineer and How it Can Help You

How Engineers Can Develop Necessary Soft Skills to Excel in Their Careers

By

How Engineers Can Develop Necessary Soft Skills to Excel in Their Careers is a guest post by Tiffany Rowe

Soft SkillsThe five years of an engineer’s bachelor’s degree program are filled with complex math and science. Indeed, almost all of an engineer’s training pertains to the hard skills they will directly apply to problems in their field during the course of their career. Yet, what most new engineering grads discover as they enter the workforce is that they are woefully under prepared to function in the workplace because they have failed to develop their soft skills.

Hiring managers are always looking for well-developed soft skills, even in engineers. The ability to communicate, to work in teams, to think creatively and adapt swiftly to new situations are mandatory in the modern workplace, and it is unlikely that an engineer will find success without cultivating such skills. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult to enhance one’s soft skills, both inside and outside an educational environment. Here are a few ways engineers can build the skills they need to excel in their careers.

[Read more…] about How Engineers Can Develop Necessary Soft Skills to Excel in Their Careers

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

By

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