People who responded to my post about engineering not being the way to get rich:
Dean Kamen, Gates, Jobs and the like are not doing engineering. They are doing management. My point was that if you are a purist and want to deal with the details of engineering and design, you'll not be getting...
Greg,
No way do I think that introducing cheaper labor at home is a way to counter low-cost foreign competition! I want to keep our wages up.
Another comment by another poster was 'isn't that what H1-B visas are for?' Yes!
Corporations complain that they can't get enough engineering labor and...
The best thing is to just request that the people are hired. And never cease to request that the people are hired. And once those contractors start to be hired, your problem will be solved.
The whole contract engineering phenomenon is a tragedy because it illustrates the fact that engineering...
I also recommend getting it expunged. I've given a character witness to authorities for a reprieve, on behalf of a fellow engineer, despite the fact that I consider his crime highly offensive to me. I have a clean record and nothing in common, but don't think it should continue to keep him from...
I think that, given the situation with price competition from engineers in the developing world, we need to encourage innovators of all sexes, races and ages to enter the engineering workforce.
Given that, I find both the SWE and other special-interest organizations such as NSBE are both...
If someone wants wealth, then engineering is not the place for them. It's nearly impossible to become rich.
If someone values life experience, engineering is a great profession because, if you are flexible and look hard, you can get a job that allows you to travel the world and experience...
Many of the most senior engineers in my company started out as techs in the 1970's before going to get BS degrees. A good company promotes or hires people into the levels where they provide the most value. If you start as a tech in one company, you'll run across someone in another company that...
Every unhappy engineer that I know leaves the job if he feels he is underpaid, and then states that reason during the exit interview without asking for or accepting a counter offer. As other people mentioned, everyone knows that the counteroffer comes with stigma and retribution.
Eventually...
If you go through a headhunter, it is clear that you were just having someone job shopping for you and have no particular interest in company X. Maybe you aren't even serious about changing jobs.
A headhunter is about the 3rd lowest form of life after car salesmen, pimps and realtors. If you...
I'm with Mike, I would want to hear a story about working through school. Too often, you get people who were good at math and science, so the HS guidance counselor told them they were an engineer even though they had no interest. So you get a guy who is a scientist/mathematician/academic who...
I recommend staying away from any automotive job that is based on you knowing a particular software package, CAD, FEA, CFD, etc. Most of the large companies are attempting to farm this work out to engineers in India, Brasil, China and Poland. This doesn't happen easily, because the guys there...
Sounds like you are already on the path to success. Being quiet, listening more and talking less have resulted in my success and promotion within engineering ranks in my company.
Sit back in your next meeting and listen to what people with under 5 years experience are saying, and you'll...
Some additional thoughts:
If you're going to become a traveling guy, or expat, you need to consider what the accomodations and provisions are going to be like. If possible, contact an employee through Linked-in or another online network. Ask them about the travel policy and foreign assignment...
Bechtel, Fluor, Jacobs, Shaw, and the like as Sam74 mentioned, but I think it would be a mistake to spend time in a foreign satellite office so early in your career. You become marginalized in the greater organization..just some faceless guy over in place x. Instead, work at the HQ for a while...
I graduated BSMET from an ABET accredited school in the USA. Here is my experience after about 8 years in Industry. I don't think my case is exceptional for MET grads.
- I've always been titled 'engineer' and worked alongside BSME's and MSME's doing the same work that they do. I'm often...
