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Career advice from senior or retired engineers

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


 

   


Parents
  • Hello Roy:


    I am now ready to discuss your 5 th paragraph  in your message from August 19 th 2019.


    The answer about using a cookie cutter approach to engineering (use of mathematical formulas) depends on if the engineer is working on a bleeding/leading edge technology or trailing edge technology.


    Usually meaningful models are not developed until much later in the process.


    As an example, currently there is no good model for determining the corrosion properties of metallic alloys placed into humans and used in hip replacements.


    Peter Brooks

    Palm Bay Florida USA 

Reply
  • Hello Roy:


    I am now ready to discuss your 5 th paragraph  in your message from August 19 th 2019.


    The answer about using a cookie cutter approach to engineering (use of mathematical formulas) depends on if the engineer is working on a bleeding/leading edge technology or trailing edge technology.


    Usually meaningful models are not developed until much later in the process.


    As an example, currently there is no good model for determining the corrosion properties of metallic alloys placed into humans and used in hip replacements.


    Peter Brooks

    Palm Bay Florida USA 

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