How to survive as a young engineer in tough times

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How to save your ass as a young engineer when you don’t have your first job

How do I prepare myself for my first job?

This report is garbage, do it again!

What does engineering practice have to do with how (and where) wolves piss?

Principles to follow:

“There are always good jobs for good people” (ron neufeld)

question is.... are you one of them?

Words from the faithful:

“Tight job situations provided opportunities for me and my classmates to pursue alternative, creative and interesting career directions” (Tamara McCaw ‘91; Abbott Point of Care, Ottawa)

“I would very much appreciate your honest opinion on ---- (i.e. work ethic,professionalism, and whether you would hire ---- as an entry-levelengineer). Specifically, would ---- be the kind of person that would work very hardunder tight deadlines and with ever-changing project requirements? Is ---- easyto get along with and does ---- pull their weight? Companies in the biotech sectorare really only interested in the come-early, stay-late types that will put the jobfirst.” (Mary Wojtyk, Sci’01 worked in the Cambridge MA biotech world (Acambis –now SanofiPasteur - and then Biogen, until 2007. She made the new vaccinesagainst smallpox, Japanese encephalitis and West Nile. At Biogen, she workedon drugs against MS (Avonex and Tysabri) and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, as wellas a host of others that are still in development. She decided to return to schoolto study medicine, and entered the Albany Medical College in 2007 and isconcurrently finishing up a Master's at Harvard in Biotechnology ProjectManagement. She describes life as “grand”.)

Even more principles to follow:

Professionalism matters!!

this has something to do with how you conduct yourself

how you think, act, respond, behave, learn, work....

Professionalism who? what?

Dummies guide to learning and professionalism:

1.Learning isn’t about marks.2.Learning is a life long adventure.3.Learning is about life.4.People who know how to learn become an important asset to an employer5.I used to think that learning was necessary to speed up a career path.6.I now think it is about getting a good job and keeping it.7.It justifies the high salary you will be paid.8.It helps to make one wise, creative and an asset to any company.9.It helps one to be an interesting person.

Is there more to professionalism?

1.Communication isn’t about passing “technical communications”.2.Communication is how professionals work and practice.3.Communication ability matters and helps people succeed.4.Obama is an outstanding communicator. When he speaks, nations listen.5.Communication is about clear organization and presentation of ideas.6.Communication is about presenting ideas effectively in your own words.7.Professionalism is about acknowledging the source of the ideas that are not your own.8.Professional communication is about proofreading your text (10 times or more if necessary) till it is right.9.Professionalism is like the wolves. Wolves piss on the corners of their territory to establish their claim (Watch the movie Never Cry Wolf)10.Signing your name to a technical report is like the wolves pissing... as you are taking ownership of that document, you are taking responsibility for defending its content.

What else do you want to preach about, O’ holy one?

The Mark of the Professional:

1.can be the iron ring, but the ring doesn’t excuse unprofessional behavior or attitudes2.someone who values and speaks the truth, regardless of the consequences3.a person who seeks opportunities to support and encourage colleagues4.a professional never speaks behind another person’s back5.someone who takes responsibility, but also gives credit6.someone who can be trusted7.a person who is honest8.hockey players who fight are not behaving professionally no matter what “the code” states

When do I become a professional?

1.the day you get your first job?2.the day you receive your iron ring?3.graduation day?4.the day you are P.Eng’ed?5.should it have happened already?6.when does the process end?

Any more advice Sherlock?

Yes, love what you do....and do what you love.

or

Figure out what you love to do...

Then do it