Balancing Act
(Figure)
For example, wireless computer communications and bioengineering systems, two cross-boundary industry sectors that were in their infancy a decade ago, are now experiencing revolutionary growth. Engineers for these areas are in high demand.
The economy is booming and engineering graduates who can help create new enterprises, either within an established company or in a startup, are often fought over by potential employers or investors. This heady activity can mislead young professionals into thinking that their careers will always be on the fast track. That may not necessarily be the case, however, unless they look ahead and prepare for the inevitable changes.
"Sure I was confident that I was ready for an engineering career with the tools I learned in college," says Amy Galarowicz, Glatt Air Technologies, a member of IEEE's Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) program and membership development chairwoman of the IEEE North Jersey Section. "However, they proved to be just the beginning. I quickly realized that more than just current, academic credentials were going to be necessary to get where I wanted to go."
The best and worst of times
We are practicing our profession in an extremely exciting, yet volatile time. Organizational flattening and downsizing, radical industry-sector transformation and engineering employment expanding faster in smaller companies and consultancies than in large corporate entities demand an agile engineering work force ready to respond at a moment's notice to an increasing number of new opportunities.
How can you prepare for this new career milieu? It is likely that engineers in industry will find formal practice-oriented education at the master's level of great value. Thus, I encourage all engineers to consider continuing their formal education beyond the bachelor's degree level-but not necessarily immediately following the baccalaureate. Many engineers, especially recent baccalaureate graduates, are anxious to get on with practicing their careers. They will find great benefit in pursuing a practice-oriented master's degree while working or later on ,when a more defined career focus will yield a better choice of curriculum. In any case, there is a healthy variety of alternatives for good-quality, cost-effective learning opportunities, especially those provided by professional societies that do not require enrolling for an advanced-degree program.
Sure solutions
Here are a few pointers to approach lifelong learning and retain professional vitality with a minimum burden to your finances and personal or professional lives:
1. Make lifelong learning your responsibility. While some employers require and provide ongoing professional training, only you can determine where you need to build your skills to reach your goals. Accept the responsibility and make a plan to keep ahead.
2. Build into your schedule time for continuing-education opportunities. It will take some effort, but it will pay off in the long run. It has been demonstrated that employers prefer to hire and sustain employees who are interested in maintaining their professional skills.
Similarly, investors in your entrepreneurial ideas will look for evidence of your personal educational investment to minimize their investment risks.
"Different employers require different technical skills, and it is virtually impossible for any individual to have them all," says Peter Lewis, a professional engineer and managing director for IEEE Educational Activities. "However, if your résumé indicates previous accounts of continuing education, it becomes clear to your current or prospective employer that you express an interest in becoming more technically vital."
3. Stress non-technical skills equally. Although contemporary technical skills are the lifeblood
of an engineering career, it is important that engineers focus on entrepreneurial, broad-impact and holistic skills, such as writing, preparing reports, giving presentations, understanding economics and knowing the history of technology.
4. Affiliate yourself with a professional organization. Many engineering organizations, such as the IEEE, offer lifelong learning opportunities by providing their members with an array of educational opportunities.
5. Volunteer your time in a professional society. Volunteering in these organizations offers you the opportunity to become involved in many committee activities that often build essential skills such as budgeting, giving presentations and teamwork-all increasingly important components of an engineering career.
Professional organizations will help you "learn by doing" so you can apply the skills in the workplace.
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