http://engineering.com RSS feeds for ENGINEERING.com 60 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5742/The-Joy-of-Discovering-A-New-Discipline.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5742 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5742/The-Joy-of-Discovering-A-New-Discipline.aspx Have you ever wondered if you studied the right discipline? That's something that my colleagues and I debate often. When you chose your field of study, you don't really know anything about what a [fill in discipline here] engineer really does in the run of a day. It's the kind of thing you can only figure out by doing it. That means you've got to chose a discipline and go for it, and there's no way of knowing for sure if you're going to be into it. This leads to a lot of engineers who feel as ... Pat Sweet Mon, 20 May 2013 14:32:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5742 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5733/Why-Understanding-Culture-Will-Get-You-Further.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5733 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5733/Why-Understanding-Culture-Will-Get-You-Further.aspx Engineers aren't known for their anthropological acumen. What's anthropology you ask?  Why it's the study of humankind; societies and culture and their development to be exact.  'But I work exclusively in the U.S. and I don't need to know about other cultures or societies, I interact with only one - American (or Canadian...or Indian...or French).'  Think again.  Even within your macro-societal group there are aggregate societies, aggregate cultures.  Why do you think no ... Christian Knutson Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5733 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5714/Why-Engineers-Must-Learn-to-Become-Artists.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5714 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5714/Why-Engineers-Must-Learn-to-Become-Artists.aspx If you went to engineering school in Canada, you've probably heard the slogan "Engineers Rule the World", or ERTW. My friend Erica Lee Garcia recently posted a challenge to ERTW, suggesting that engineers should spend their time trying to save the world as opposed to ruling it. In fact, Engineers Save the World has been the Engineers Without Borders rallying cry since 2009, in sharp contrast to the idea of ruling it. I'm a much bigger fan of saving the world than ruling it. It occurs to me, thou... Pat Sweet Tue, 14 May 2013 02:09:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5714 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5710/Treat-Your-Next-Interview-Like-a-Press-Conference.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5710 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5710/Treat-Your-Next-Interview-Like-a-Press-Conference.aspx Think your VP position or partner status means that you’re not vulnerable to having to find a job?  Think again.  In the past year I personally know of several colleagues who have been offered the chance to find a new opportunity.  And I too am in the midst of navigating a transition.  Even successful engineers have to be ready for an interview, so treat your next interview like a press conference. Having recently gone through a two-day battery of tests and an interv... Christian Knutson Mon, 13 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5710 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5699/How-One-in-Ten-Thousand-Engineering-Students-Stood-Out-in-the-Crowd.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5699 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5699/How-One-in-Ten-Thousand-Engineering-Students-Stood-Out-in-the-Crowd.aspx I have had the pleasure of speaking for engineers and engineering students across the country about my book Engineer Your Own Success. Last September, I visited Austin, Texas, where I spoke to the engineering students at the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin. The school, ranked 11th in the country for engineering, has about ten thousand engineering students. After speaking for the students one evening, I attended the American Society of Civil Engineers (AS... Anthony Fasano Wed, 08 May 2013 20:01:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5699 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5676/Go-Ahead-Bite-Off-More-Than-You-Can-Chew.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5676 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5676/Go-Ahead-Bite-Off-More-Than-You-Can-Chew.aspx In most cases more is usually considered better.  More sales leads turn into more opportunities for clients.  More billable hours lead to more profit.  These are good examples, however, this isn't a universal law.  More of one thing doesn't always lead to more of a good thing.  Some times it can lead to a bad thing, especially if you're someone who's prone to taking on projects or tasks simply because you know you can do the work.   If you're "that person", the... Christian Knutson Mon, 06 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5676 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5654/Want-to-be-Successful-in-Your-Work-Answer-These-Four-Questions.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5654 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5654/Want-to-be-Successful-in-Your-Work-Answer-These-Four-Questions.aspx There is an enormous body of knowledge published with a million different tips, tricks, or shortcuts to position you to kick-it on the job.  The problem is that it’s impossible to assimilate all of this information and then, more importantly, do something spectacular with it.  Reading the material provided by others (yes, like me) who have a notion of what works through observation and successful application of some number is great.  That is great, if you face exactly the sa... Christian Knutson Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5654 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5630/Which-Communication-Skill-Is-Most-Important.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5630 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5630/Which-Communication-Skill-Is-Most-Important.aspx Which communication skill is most important: listening, writing, or speaking?  Given the nearly non-stop use of email and social media in every aspect of your life you might respond immediately with “written communications”.  Given a few more moments to think about it, you might choose “spoken communications” over writing.  You spend a lot of time engaged in conversations on your mobile or face-to-face.  But in both cases you’re off the mark.&nbs... Christian Knutson Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5630 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5643/The-Best-Advice-Anyone-Ever-Gave-Me-as-a-Young-Engineer.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5643 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5643/The-Best-Advice-Anyone-Ever-Gave-Me-as-a-Young-Engineer.aspx Regardless of your age or experience level as an engineer, I bet that you can think of one or two pieces of advice that were instrumental in your engineering career development. I certainly can, and I would like to share them with you in this post. I started off my career as a civil engineer right after my undergraduate studies. When I started my career, even though I had been exposed to a lot of different classes, I had no idea what specific discipline of civil engineering I wanted to pursue. ... Anthony Fasano Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:19:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5643 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5621/Engineers-Need-A-Good-Understanding-of-the-World.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5621 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5621/Engineers-Need-A-Good-Understanding-of-the-World.aspx Forget the fact that you’ve never traveled outside the U.S. or that you don’t posses a passport.  Or that your definition of “foreign travel” is that time you visited Cancun for spring break.  The world isn’t flat.  It’s small, interconnected, and what happens in some obscure corner of a place you’ve never heard of can affect you.  You don’t need to necessarily like this fact, but you do need accept it and prepare for it.  ... Christian Knutson Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5621 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5586/Failure-Happens-So-Be-Agile.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5586 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5586/Failure-Happens-So-Be-Agile.aspx It's inevitable that some projects, both work-related and life-related, will fail.  It’s a simple fact that you can't achieve success without embracing this risk.  In order to be best prepared for accepting this risk, then mitigate it and be ready to respond when it becomes a reality, you need to be agile.  Being agile enables you to recognize that failure leads to learning, enabling you, or a team you may be leading, to adapt and overcome. The sooner you determine that f... Christian Knutson Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5586 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5596/Mr-Engineer-Check-Your-Comfort-Zone-at-the-Door.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5596 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5596/Mr-Engineer-Check-Your-Comfort-Zone-at-the-Door.aspx This last great recession changed a lot of things, for a lot of people. As a nation, we are arguably on the road to recovery. But make no mistake: things are different!   During the recession, companies were forced to do more with less. Fewer staff typically meant longer hours, and greater requirements imposed on the surviving workforce. Well, a funny thing happened along the way, companies found they could actually be quite profitable operating under those circumstances.  Than... L. Eric Culverson Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:39:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5596 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5573/Always-Consider-How-an-Engineering-Job-Will-Affect-Obtaining-Your-PE-License.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5573 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5573/Always-Consider-How-an-Engineering-Job-Will-Affect-Obtaining-Your-PE-License.aspx Something that is very important to consider before accepting any engineering job is how it will affect your ability to obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) license, or if you reside outside of the US, whatever certification your country holds for engineers. In order to get your PE license in the US, you must first earn a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program. Next, you must pass what’s called the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. In addition to these two requirements... Anthony Fasano Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:03:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5573 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5552/Hacking-Your-Life-For-What-Reasons.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5552 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5552/Hacking-Your-Life-For-What-Reasons.aspx The onslaught of “get things done” software tools, books and blog posts about great tips (1.7B hits on Google!) is mind-boggling.  It seems that there must be an infinite number of ways to get things done faster, easier and more organized.  I ask:  for what reasons?  So you can free up time to do more pointless things?  Before investing time in developing tips and tricks to eek out more seconds in your day, make certain you know why. It seems elementary that... Christian Knutson Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5552 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5480/Youve-Got-to-Be-Good-at-Gauging-Your-Own-Performance.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5480 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5480/Youve-Got-to-Be-Good-at-Gauging-Your-Own-Performance.aspx In any job you’re doing you’ve got to be good at gauging your own performance.  It doesn’t matter if you’re working in a government organization, a private firm, or doing free-lance work, developing the processes and skills to clearly assess your own performance is a necessity.  Unfortunately, however, we’ve grown up in organizational structures that tells us the person we work for is best suited to gauge our performance.  While the boss is definitely... Christian Knutson Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5480 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5511/Seven-Interview-Etiquette-and-Attire-Guidelines-for-Your-Next-Engineering-Job-Interview.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5511 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5511/Seven-Interview-Etiquette-and-Attire-Guidelines-for-Your-Next-Engineering-Job-Interview.aspx The day has come, and you are getting ready to head out to the engineering job interview that you worked tirelessly to land. The following are some guidelines to adhere to with respect to interview etiquette and attire. I know some of these may seem totally obvious, but you would be amazed on what some people wear, say, and do during interviews. 1.  Familiarize yourself with the location of the interview well in advance of the actual date. Please don’t just trust Google Maps or a $0.... Anthony Fasano Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5511 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5460/Theres-Always-Enough-Time-for-Whats-Important.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5460 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5460/Theres-Always-Enough-Time-for-Whats-Important.aspx Is the problem that there’s not enough time or is it not enough focus on what’s really important?  After two decades of working tasks, issues, problems and challenges I contend that it’s the later: a lack of focus on what’s really important.  Most of us get this, but if you’re working in an organization where someone else is setting your priorities and handing you the tasks/issues/problems, what do you do to get back to focusing on what’s really impo... Christian Knutson Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5460 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5481/A-Simple-but-Comprehensive-Five-Point-Plan-for-Becoming-a-Powerful-Engineering-Leader.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5481 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5481/A-Simple-but-Comprehensive-Five-Point-Plan-for-Becoming-a-Powerful-Engineering-Leader.aspx I often draw on quotes in my career to provide inspiration and motivation to strive towards my goals. However, I recently found a quote that not only provides inspiration, but also actually gives you a very simple, very comprehensive blueprint for being a strong engineering leader. In this post, I want to share the quote and expand on the five guidelines it presents. The quote is as follows: "A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A b... Anthony Fasano Thu, 21 Mar 2013 01:26:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5481 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5431/Good-Conversations-Start-with-Preparation.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5431 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5431/Good-Conversations-Start-with-Preparation.aspx Talking in every professional situation requires advanced thought.  Even if you're an old pro at the pitch business, you still need to prepare.  Otherwise you’re not going to be ready for questions or additional veins of conversation that dive into, or build off of, what you say.     I was reminded of the need to prepare for conversation possibilities recently on a phone call.  Expecting no more than a short, fifteen-minute introduction of my firm and some ba... Christian Knutson Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5431 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5445/Engineers-Give-Your-Prospective-Employers-a-Glance-at-How-You-Would-Work-for-Them.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5445 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5445/Engineers-Give-Your-Prospective-Employers-a-Glance-at-How-You-Would-Work-for-Them.aspx This is a guest post by engineering career coach Anthony Fasano, P.E. of Powerful Purpose Associates. Anthony is giving away a special webinar for Engineering.com readers on his website. Read to the end of the post to find out how to get it. Recently, at one of my Engineer Your Own Success seminars, an engineer came up to me on the break after I had just finished talking about resumes and interviews. He told me an interesting strategy that he had employed successfully on several accounts when... Anthony Fasano Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:48:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5445 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5391/Not-Getting-Your-Message-Through.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5391 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5391/Not-Getting-Your-Message-Through.aspx Communicating is everything. This is an absolutist statement, but it’s true.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a senior principal in a firm, a mid-level project manager, or a starting design engineer: your ability to communicate is vital to your success.  It’s also vital to the success of those depending on you.  If you’re not getting your message through, then you’re not accomplishing all that you can accomplish and in some cases, may even be causin... Christian Knutson Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5391 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5390/Take-Control-of-Your-MeetingsPlease.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5390 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5390/Take-Control-of-Your-MeetingsPlease.aspx Meetings exist to get things done.  Meetings also exist to accomplish a set of specific items during a set period of time.  Unfortunately, somewhere in the course of human history they also became a venue for filibustering and pontification.  If you’re entrusted to run a meeting, then please, take control of it and use them for what they’re intended for: getting things done. Recently I sat through a meeting with over twenty highly competent, educated people.  Eac... Christian Knutson Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5390 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5386/Where-Do-You-Find-the-Faith-to-Leave-Your-Engineering-Job-in-This-Economy.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5386 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5386/Where-Do-You-Find-the-Faith-to-Leave-Your-Engineering-Job-in-This-Economy.aspx This is a guest post by engineering career coach Anthony Fasano, P.E. of Powerful Purpose Associates. Anthony is giving away a special webinar for Engineering.com readers on his website. Read to the end of the post to find out how to get it. An engineer recently asked me the question: How do I step out on faith or not be afraid to leave my government job (comfort zone), where I am stagnant and not using my mighty engineering skills, to become a great engineer? I feel like I'm missing out. But... Anthony Fasano Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:08:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5386 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5347/How-to-Obtain-LinkedIn-Recommendations-that-Will-Seriously-Boost-Your-Engineering-Career-and-Overall-Reputation.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5347 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5347/How-to-Obtain-LinkedIn-Recommendations-that-Will-Seriously-Boost-Your-Engineering-Career-and-Overall-Reputation.aspx This is a guest post by engineering career coach Anthony Fasano, P.E. of Powerful Purpose Associates. Anthony is giving away a special webinar for Engineering.com readers on his website. Read to the end of the post to find out how to get it. One of the nice features about LinkedIn is that you can ask for a recommendation from anyone that you are connected to. In my opinion these recommendations are very credible, because they must come from the person you have asked. In other words, you can&rsq... Anthony Fasano Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:52:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5347 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5329/Lead-Follow-or-Get-Out-of-the-Way.aspx#Comments 0 http://engineering.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=5986&ModuleID=429&ArticleID=5329 http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/JobArticles/ArticleID/5329/Lead-Follow-or-Get-Out-of-the-Way.aspx You’ve no doubt heard this phrase at one time or another.  It show’s up repeatedly in business books about leadership, sometimes it’s espoused by sports commentators on a Sunday afternoon, and you may have even used it yourself a time or two.  I know I’ve said it a few times during my career, stated as a means to show my constant drive for excellence and need to have the latitude to carry out my assigned duty.  And to spur along those following me…or... Christian Knutson Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:5329