Engineering Career TV Anthony Fasano

How to Get out of an Engineering Job that’s not Moving you Towards your Life Goals



Q: How can I get out of an engineering job that's not moving me towards my goals?

Welcome to episode #37 of Engineering Career TV. The theme for today's episode is: How to Get out of an Engineering Job that’s not Moving you Towards your Life Goals.

I spend almost all of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted by engineers around the world.  The questions are typically focused on professional development for engineering professionals, especially relevant to practicing engineers.

You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.

Let's jump into today’s topic: How to Get out of an Engineering Job that’s not Moving you Towards your Life Goals. This topic is based on a question from Yiannis, who asks the following:





Q: Hello I graduated from Cardiff University in the UK as a structural engineer and for the past two years I have been working in Bahrain as a site engineer. Although I want to work as a Structural Engineer, the only reason that I followed this opportunity in Bahrain was because I believed that with site experience I could easily eventually work as a structural engineer. What do you think about this and what steps should I do in order to follow my dream and become a structural engineer? 

A:  The full answer can be seen in the Engineering Career TV video above, but here are a few of the main points:





Sometimes finding another job isn’t that easy and the more jobs you get, the more harmful to your resume, because hopping around doesn’t look good to recruiters or HR managers and that could pose a problem down the road for your career. 

If you get a job that is not helping you towards your goals, try to stay as long as possible and learn from that job everything you can that will help you eventually reach your goals.

It is always important to move towards your goals, but sometimes not at the expense of jumping around from job to job in the first few years of your career.

There's nothing wrong with looking for another job in the meantime.

Get the most you can out of this job and if you find another job, make sure that the second job has long-term potential if you're going to make that move. 





Resources mentioned in today's Engineering Career TV:

Ask a Question

The Engineering Mastermind

The Engineering Management Accelerator

I hope you found this episode of Engineering Career TV helpful.



Finally, to watch some of our other episodes, and get alerted to new ones, please subscribe to our show: YouTube (click here) and/or iTunes (click here).

What questions do you have about getting out of an engineering job that's not moving you towards your goals?



If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download.



Download the Productivity Routines



To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP

Engineering Management Institute

Author of Engineer Your Own Success

3 Tips for Finding the Right Mentor as an Engineer



Q: How can I find the right mentor as an engineer?

Welcome to episode #36 of Engineering Career TV. The theme for today's episode is: 3 Tips for finding the right mentor as an engineer.

I spend almost all of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted by engineers around the world.  The questions are typically focused on professional development for engineering professionals, especially relevant to practicing engineers.

You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.

Let's jump into today’s topic: 3 tips for finding the right mentor as an engineer.  This topic is based on a question from Ron, who asks the following:



Q: I'm an electrical engineer with both my BS and MS degrees in engineering. I'm roughly five years into my professional career and it’s been extremely challenging for me to find great engineering mentors to help me develop and take my career to the next level.  I've decided to start studying to get my PE license and having that career coaching and guidance from someone experienced within my specific field is what's absent in my professional journey. What are some good tips for helping me connect with experts in my industry for a potential mentor/mentee relationship? 

A:  The full answer can be seen in the Engineering Career TV video above, but here are a few of the main points:





Find somebody that might be invested in you in some way, shape, or form.

Talk to someone in your professional association.

Go back to your alumni association and more importantly your engineering alumni association if they have an engineering alumni association. 

Look for people in your field.





Resources mentioned in today's Engineering Career TV:

Ask a Question

The Engineering Mastermind

The Engineering Management Accelerator

I hope you found this episode of Engineering Career TV helpful.



Finally, to watch some of our other episodes, and get alerted to new ones, please subscribe to our show: YouTube (click here) and/or iTunes (click here).

What questions do you have about finding the right mentor as an engineer?



If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download.



Download the Productivity Routines



To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP

Engineering Management Institute

Author of Engineer Your Own Success

Dread going to Work? Then Find your Superpower Today!



Q: Do you dread going to work every day?

Welcome to episode #35 of Engineering Career TV. The theme for today's episode is: Dread going to Work? Then Find your Superpower Today!

I spend almost all of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted by engineers around the world.  The questions are typically focused on professional development for engineering professionals, especially relevant to practicing engineers.

You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.

Let's jump into today’s topic: Dread going to Work? Then Find your Superpower Today!  This topic is based on a question from Tammyrae, who asks the following:





Q: After 28 years of civil engineering and project management, I am at the point where I dread going to work. I have lost interest in doing what I am doing and while it could be the massive size of the problem handed to me, which can only be minimized, not fixed, or it could be that I have simply lost faith in the firm as the talent has fled and I am stuck doing things way outside my realm, or perhaps it's just time to hang up my CAD station and go find a new career.  

A:  The full answer can be seen in the Engineering Career TV video above, but here are a few of the main points:





Figure out what your superpower is.

Your superpower is the thing that if you were to do it during the day, you would completely lose track of time.  And you could do it for 4 to 5 hours. Take a break and then go right back to it again and do it for another 5 hours. 



Maybe the answer for you is to start your own small firm now where you get to go back and do some of the things you really love to do that would be considered your superpower. 

Determine what you love to do and try to put yourself in a position to do that as often as possible.





Resources mentioned in today's Engineering Career TV:

Ask a Question

The Engineering Mastermind

The Engineering Management Accelerator

I hope you found this episode of Engineering Career TV helpful.



Finally, to watch some of our other episodes, and get alerted to new ones, please subscribe to our show: YouTube (click here) and/or iTunes (click here).

What questions do you have about dread going to work?



If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download.



Download the Productivity Routines



To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP

Engineering Management Institute

Author of Engineer Your Own Success

How to become the Best Civil Engineer While still in School



Q: Can you become a good Civil Engineer while you are still in school?

Welcome to episode #34 of Engineering Career TV. The theme for today's episode is: How to become the best civil engineer while still in school. 

I spend almost all of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted from engineers around the world.  The questions are typically focused on professional development for engineering professionals, especially relevant to practicing engineers.

You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.

Let's jump into today’s topic: How to become the best civil engineer while still in school.  This topic is based on a question from Carl, who asks the following:





Q: I am currently completing the third year as an undergraduate at Cal State University Northridge. My question is this: What do you think are some key moves that I could be doing now to groom myself to soon be a civil engineer looking for a position in (fresh) water resources management. I am a returning student completing my bachelor's degree in civil engineering.  

My first career started with digging ditches and humping lumber and ended in construction management. I chose civil engineering because I have committed myself to addressing climate change and I knew that my knowledge in construction could be valuable in this endeavor. I am focusing on water resources management and I am driven to work in fields such as drought mitigation, watershed restoration, flood mitigation and forest restoration. 

A:  The full answer can be seen in the Engineering Career TV video above, but here are a few of the main points:





Talk to people that are successful in your industry.

Ask questions and find out how they got to where they are.

Execute on their answer.

Go to the best in the field and find out what they have done to succeed and then imitate them.





Resources mentioned in today's Engineering Career TV:

Ask a Question

The Engineering Mastermind

The Engineering Management Accelerator

I hope you found this episode of Engineering Career TV helpful.



Finally, to watch some of our other episodes, and get alerted to new ones, please subscribe to our show: YouTube (click here) and/or iTunes (click here).

What questions do you have about becoming the best civil engineer while you are still in school?



If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download.



Download the Productivity Routines



To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP

Engineering Management Institute

Author of Engineer Your Own Success

Consider Non-Engineering Careers for Engineers...is it a good thing to do?



Q: Is Considering Non-Engineering Careers for Engineers even an Option?

Welcome to episode #33 of Engineering Career TV. The theme for today's episode is: Considering non-engineering careers for engineers.

I spend almost all of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted from engineers around the world.  The questions are typically focused on professional development for engineering professionals, especially relevant to practicing engineers.

You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.

Let's jump into today’s topic: Considering non-engineering careers for engineers. This topic is based on a question from Adam, who asks the following:





Q: I work for an engineering procurement and construction firm as an engineer at a project site. Due to the type and stage of the project, I am scheduled to be laid off. There are possibilities that I could extend my employment with the firm by taking a position in a non-engineering role.   

Would you recommend to a young engineer that wants to stay in engineering that they take on a non-engineering role while they seek another engineering position with a new firm or should they avoid the non-engineering position and take the layoff while seeking new engineering employment (assuming they have some savings and weren't living pay check to pay check)? 

Either way, I plan to seek a new engineering position, I'm just concerned what would look better to a future employer.

A:  The full answer can be seen in the Engineering Career TV video above, but here are a few of the main points:





There is no reason to put yourself into financial debt just because you don’t want to take a non-engineering role temporarily.

In terms of your career overall, a more relevant question would be, should you take a role in a non-engineering job for a long period of time for whatever reason?

I think ultimately the answer to that question comes back to you and your goals.

The last thing you ever want to do is to get off the track to your goals.





Resources mentioned in today's Engineering Career TV:

Ask a Question

The Engineering Mastermind

The Engineering Management Accelerator

I hope you found this episode of Engineering Career TV helpful.



Finally, to watch some of our other episodes, and get alerted to new ones, please subscribe to our show: YouTube (click here) and/or iTunes (click here).

What questions do you have about considering non-engineering careers for engineers?



If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download.



Download the Productivity Routines



To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP

Engineering Management Institute

Author of Engineer Your Own Success

Going back to school at a later age in your career...is it a good thing to do?



Q: Is going back to school at a later age in your career a good thing to do?

Welcome to episode #32 of Engineering Career TV. The theme for today's episode is: Is going back to school at a later age in your career a good idea? 

I spend almost all of the Engineering Career TV episodes answering questions that have been submitted from engineers around the world.  The questions are typically focused on professional development for engineering professionals, especially relevant to practicing engineers.

You can submit questions for the show by clicking here.

Let's jump into today’s topic: Is going back to school at a later age in your career a good idea? This topic is based on a question from Jay, who asks the following:

 

Q: I graduated with my physics bachelor's degree and am currently working as a "test engineer" testing physical and mechanical properties. Before that, I worked as an engineering intern for a company doing vehicle dynamics and performed the roles of a technical translator as well.  



I plan on heading back to school to finish my mechanical engineering degree in a year or so. By that time, I will be about 27-28 years old. My question is: 

 

1. Will I be at a disadvantage in terms of gaining initial engineering employment due to my age?

2. Will my work experience allow me to leverage a higher starting salary? 

A:  The full answer can be seen in the Engineering Career TV video above, but here are a few of the main points:





It depends on how you brand yourself, how you market yourself and how you represent yourself and also what the hiring companies needs are.

Make every effort to completely leverage your experience and market yourself through the resume and the job interview process.

Make sure you are getting that point across to employers and in getting that across to them, ensure that they see the value in that.





Resources mentioned in today's Engineering Career TV:

Ask a Question

The Engineering Mastermind

The Engineering Management Accelerator

I hope you found this episode of Engineering Career TV helpful.



Finally, to watch some of our other episodes, and get alerted to new ones, please subscribe to our show: YouTube (click here) and/or iTunes (click here).

What questions do you have about going back to school at a later age in your career?



If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download.



Download the Productivity Routines



To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP

Engineering Management Institute

Author of Engineer Your Own Success