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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 Roy:


    Here are my comments concerning the second and third paragraphs:- Regarding Chartered Engineers- 


    In my 40 years working in the US I have never met a Chartered Engineer or seen any Employer who wanted to employ one.


    I believe the reason for this is that they look at Chartered Engineers as being a seed for the introduction of Engineering Unions into their company.


    The general perspective in the US is that Unions were controlled by the Mafia or by Communists.


    The relocation of manufacturing and research facilities from the north east (Boston) and central north (Chicago) areas down to the south (Florida) and west (Santa Clara and Phoenix), was desire to break the power of the Unions.


    Some states like Florida have "Right to work" laws which prevent unions from requiring a person to be union member after hiring by a company.


    Peter Brooks MIET

    Palm Bay Florida USA
Reply
  • 0
    Hello Roy:


    Here are my comments concerning the second and third paragraphs:- Regarding Chartered Engineers- 


    In my 40 years working in the US I have never met a Chartered Engineer or seen any Employer who wanted to employ one.


    I believe the reason for this is that they look at Chartered Engineers as being a seed for the introduction of Engineering Unions into their company.


    The general perspective in the US is that Unions were controlled by the Mafia or by Communists.


    The relocation of manufacturing and research facilities from the north east (Boston) and central north (Chicago) areas down to the south (Florida) and west (Santa Clara and Phoenix), was desire to break the power of the Unions.


    Some states like Florida have "Right to work" laws which prevent unions from requiring a person to be union member after hiring by a company.


    Peter Brooks MIET

    Palm Bay Florida USA
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