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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:


    I am sorry that while the US and the UK speak the same language we have different slang expressions and spelling (checks= cheques).


    "Cookie Cutter" does not relate to ones tools sets. It relates to baking cookies and stamping out the same thing over and over again. Another term might be dogma.


    Example Calling your doctor and he tells you take two aspirins and see him in the morning. 


    Regarding your reference to the "Battle of Orgreave" and the miner's union- I had to look it up, as it happened after I left the UK.  Ms. Thatcher just means the poll tax to me, but that is another story.


    I will say that my respect for the miner's union died after their major strike just post WW2.


    Peter Brooks MIET

    Palm Bay Florida USA
Reply
  • 0
    Hello Roy:


    I am sorry that while the US and the UK speak the same language we have different slang expressions and spelling (checks= cheques).


    "Cookie Cutter" does not relate to ones tools sets. It relates to baking cookies and stamping out the same thing over and over again. Another term might be dogma.


    Example Calling your doctor and he tells you take two aspirins and see him in the morning. 


    Regarding your reference to the "Battle of Orgreave" and the miner's union- I had to look it up, as it happened after I left the UK.  Ms. Thatcher just means the poll tax to me, but that is another story.


    I will say that my respect for the miner's union died after their major strike just post WW2.


    Peter Brooks MIET

    Palm Bay Florida USA
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