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Career advice from senior or retired engineers

Peter Brooks
The purpose of this forum is highlight information from senior or retired engineers that will provide advice to new people entering the profession. 


The recent published articles by the IET:-

"Too old to be an engineer" in the E&T July 2019 magazine

"100,000 older workers kicked out of IBM, as company craved Googles Cool image" published August 1, 2019

started me thinking about the need to communicate advice on avoiding speed bumps during one's carrier.


During my 45+ years in engineer I have been laid off twice -once when I was 28 and again at 63.

I have worked for 9 companies in three countries where 8 of those companies are no longer in existence. 

Total time out of work has not exceeded 6 weeks.

I have made three complete changes in related technology/products.


Here is an example of the advice I received early on in my career:- "The young engineer knows the rules, the old engineer knows the exceptions" -- meaning even if one thinks one knows the answer ask the senior engineer if there is better solution.


Peter Brooks MIET

Palm Bay Florida USA


 

   


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  • 0
    Hello Andy:


    There was one topic that I highlighted in my last response that I would like to expand on and that is "TRUST" (item 10):-


    Going back to 1969 I saw the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". In that movie the villain reminds the hero of a statement he made earlier "TRUST NO ONE DR. JONES".


    Throughout my life I have been lucky to have one person who I implicitly trusted (100%). Everyone else, for example work team members or friends (or as you say mates), had various level of trust.


    People have to earn trust (to some level), they don't automatically get it.


    However companies that one works for, should never be trusted. 


    Peter Brooks MIET

    Palm Bay Florida USA
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  • 0
    Hello Andy:


    There was one topic that I highlighted in my last response that I would like to expand on and that is "TRUST" (item 10):-


    Going back to 1969 I saw the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". In that movie the villain reminds the hero of a statement he made earlier "TRUST NO ONE DR. JONES".


    Throughout my life I have been lucky to have one person who I implicitly trusted (100%). Everyone else, for example work team members or friends (or as you say mates), had various level of trust.


    People have to earn trust (to some level), they don't automatically get it.


    However companies that one works for, should never be trusted. 


    Peter Brooks MIET

    Palm Bay Florida USA
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