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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 Peter


    The worst stress by far that I have experienced in my working career was when my company sent me on a one week long residential leadership development course ran by a highly respected company specialising in this sort of thing.  It might benefit some people but I found it awful and I took quite a long time to get over it!  At this time I was a very successful leader of my department, but everyone had to go.  Some years last I drove past the organisation where this took place near Ross-On-Wye in England, and it sent shivers up my spine, brought it all back!
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  • Hello Peter


    The worst stress by far that I have experienced in my working career was when my company sent me on a one week long residential leadership development course ran by a highly respected company specialising in this sort of thing.  It might benefit some people but I found it awful and I took quite a long time to get over it!  At this time I was a very successful leader of my department, but everyone had to go.  Some years last I drove past the organisation where this took place near Ross-On-Wye in England, and it sent shivers up my spine, brought it all back!
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