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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 Lisa:


    Indirectly you have just raised a concern I have concerning the IET E&T daily publications.


    The IET doesn't appear to use "due diligence" before publishing many of these type of articles.


    Ask yourself why companies like BAE would spend money to take and publish formal surveys?  It is rather like auto manufacturers publishing surveys on how good their cars are going from 0- 180 mph.


    Whenever the necessary links are defined in the IET articles I go back to the original press release and then request a full copy of the actual survey from the authors.


    If and when I get a copy I frequently go to the authors and question them about missing or questionable data.


    I sometimes get them to admit that the company has jazzed up the press report to make it more quotable.


    University press releases are the worst offenders.


    Peter Brooks MIET

    Palm Bay Florida USA 


Reply
  • 0
    Hello Lisa:


    Indirectly you have just raised a concern I have concerning the IET E&T daily publications.


    The IET doesn't appear to use "due diligence" before publishing many of these type of articles.


    Ask yourself why companies like BAE would spend money to take and publish formal surveys?  It is rather like auto manufacturers publishing surveys on how good their cars are going from 0- 180 mph.


    Whenever the necessary links are defined in the IET articles I go back to the original press release and then request a full copy of the actual survey from the authors.


    If and when I get a copy I frequently go to the authors and question them about missing or questionable data.


    I sometimes get them to admit that the company has jazzed up the press report to make it more quotable.


    University press releases are the worst offenders.


    Peter Brooks MIET

    Palm Bay Florida USA 


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