Practical career advice for engineers / Radovan Zdero.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zdero, Radovan, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Engineering--Vocational guidance.

Engineering.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (199 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, 2022.

Summary:

Written by an experienced engineer, Practical Career Advice for Engineers: Personal Letters from an Experienced Engineer to Students and New Engineers is a series of personal conversation-style letters that offers practical career advice to all engineers. It guides them through their entire career from early education, to professional certification, on into the workplace, and eventually to retirement. Important topics such as how to acquire leadership skills, improve communication skills, and develop the business side of engineering, as well as how to find a good engineering job, are also addressed. The book guides engineers on how to make good career decisions, using precise and systematic processes. It offers inspiration and insight to student engineers and working engineers on how to have successful and satisfying educations and careers. It can also help experienced engineers to more effectively guide and mentor new engineers. It explores the important topics of creativity, ethics, intellectual property, and scientific principles in engineering and at the same time weaves real-world stories, concepts, diagrams, and tips throughout the book in the form of personal letters perfect for quick and easy comprehension. The book targets all engineers working in all disciplines, all industry sectors, and all locations. Engineering students can also learn more about a career in engineering and what they need to do to prepare for it by reading this book. Radovan Zdero, PhD, CEng, MIMechE, has decades of experience as an engineer and a mentor to engineers. His engineering background includes a master's degree in aerodynamics (McMaster University, Canada) and a doctoral degree in biomechanics (Queen's University, Canada). He is a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and a Professor in the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (Western University, Canada). He has published many scholarly research articles in peer-reviewed engineering, science, and medical journals. He is also the editor of the engineering textbook Experimental Methods in Orthopaedic Biomechanics. Contact the author: dr.zdero@hotmail.com

Contents:

Intro

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

Acknowledgments

Author

Preface

Part I: Basics

Letter 1. What's an Engineer?

A Basic Definition

A Jack of All Trades

Strengths and Weaknesses

So, What's the "Take Home" Message of This Letter?

Letter 2. The Different Types of Engineers

Chemical Engineer

Civil Engineer

Electrical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Engineering Spin-Offs

Career Dead End?

Letter 3. A Brief History of How Engineers Built Civilization

The Agricultural Revolution (c.8000 BC)

The Ancient Mesopotamians (c.3000 BC-c.500 BC)

The Ancient Egyptians (c.3000 BC-c.300 BC)

The Ancient Greeks (c.700 BC-c.30 BC)

The Near and Far Eastern Civilizations (c.500 BC-c.1100 AD)

The Ancient Romans (c.400 BC-476 AD)

The Medieval Byzantines (476 AD-1453 AD)

The Western Europeans (c.900 AD-c.1600 AD)

The Knowledge "Revolutions" (16th-19th centuries)

The Technological "Ages" (20th-21st centuries)

What Lessons Can We Learn From Engineering History?

Part II: Preparation

Letter 4. To BE or Not to BE: Studying Engineering in University

Some General Thoughts on BE Degrees

Task 1. Lectures

Task 2. Assignments

Task 3. Quizzes, Tests, and Exams

Task 4. Hands-on Labs and Projects

Task 5. Work Practicums

Tactic 1. Personal Organization Skills

Tactic 2. Learning Styles

Tactic 3. Study Buddy or Group

Tactic 4. Speaking and Writing Skills

Tactic 5. Performing Well on a QTE

Letter 5. Why (and Why Not) to Get a Master's or Doctorate in Engineering

Master's Degree

Doctoral Degree

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Will I Be Too Specialized?.

So, What's the "Take Home" Message of This Letter?

Letter 6. Professional Engineering Status: Societies, Certifications, Designations

What's the History of the PES?

What's a Modern-day PES?

Why and How Do You Join a PES?

What Are the Benefits of a PES?

What Are the Drawbacks of a PES?

Part III: Principles

Letter 7. The Science of Engineering

The Lifecycle of Engineering Products

The Scientific Method for Engineers

The "5 Golden Tools" in the Engineer's Toolbox

Letter 8. The Art of Engineering

Ask Questions

Play Around

Play Right Brain Games

Do Some Brainstorming

Welcome Mistakes

Take Breaks

Read and Watch Science Fiction

Letter 9. The Business of Engineering

Common Business Aspects of Engineering

The Story of the Engineer Who Took Care of Business

Letter 10. The Ethics of Engineering

The Wheel of Engineering Ethics

True Tales of Engineering Gone Wrong

Letter 11. The Personal Traits of an Engineer

Curiosity

Creativity

Skepticism

Objectivity

Orderliness

Focus

Persistence

Hands-on Practicality

Self-Motivation

Collegiality

Shrewdness

Joyfulness

Part IV: Workforce

Letter 12. Where Do Engineers Work? University, Industry, Government

University Jobs for Engineers

Industry Jobs for Engineers

Government Jobs for Engineers

Letter 13. Start Your Engineering Career: How to Get a Good Job

What's Your Engineering Dream Job?

Writing a Cover Letter and Resumé.

Cover Letter

Resumé or CV

Applying for Jobs via Websites

Applying for Jobs via Networking

Interviewing for an Engineering Job

Getting Rejected for an Engineering Job

Getting Offered an Engineering Job

Letter 14. Keep Your Engineering Career: How to Make Your Boss Happy

B Stands for "Boss

E Stands for "Explore

F Stands for "Faithful

A Stands for "Available

S Stands for "Skilled

T Stands for "Teachable

Letter 15. Advance Your Engineering Career: How to Climb Ladders and Cross Bridges

Climbing Ladders and Crossing Bridges

What Are the Pros and Cons?

Make an Action Plan for Change

Some True Stories of Engineering Careers

Letter 16. Personal Organization Skills for Engineers: The "Clompass" Strategy

Overall Strategy: The "Clompass

General Tips

My Journey Toward Personal Organization

Letter 17. Communication Skills for Engineers: Speaking and Writing

Speaking Skills

Types of Speaking

Tips and Tricks for Speaking

Writing Skills

Types of Writing

Tips and Tricks for Writing

Letter 18. Leadership Skills for Engineers: How to Lead Others Effectively

What Is a Leader?

Leaders Have Vision

Leaders Make Plans

Leaders Recruit Teams

Leaders Train People

Leaders Mobilize Resources

Leaders Achieve Win-Win Goals

Leaders Ask Good Questions

Leaders Support People's Ideas

Leaders Give Credit

Leaders Are Reliable

Leaders Know How to Follow

Leaders Know When to Quit

So, What's the "Take Home" Message of This Letter?.

Letter 19. From Screws to Space Stations: All Engineering is Important

The Story of the Screw

The Story of the Space Station

Which Is More Important?

Letter 20. Have an Engineer's Eye: Watching for Future Technologies

How Do Science and Technology Progress?

Why Should Engineers Embrace the Future?

Which Resources Can Keep Engineers Up-to-Date?

A Few Real-Life Stories

Letter 21. Protect Your Intellectual Property: Patents, Copyrights, and More

How Can You Protect Your IP?

Why Should You Legally Protect Your IP?

How Can Your IP Be Violated?

Part V: Aftermath

Letter 22. Engineering Your Retirement

Active Engineering Society Member

Adjunct or Emeritus Professor

Ambassador-at-Large

Board Member

Engineer-at-Large

Freelance Consultant

Mentor-at-Large

Scholarship Benefactor

Technology Fair Participant

Web Show Host

Writer or Author

Your Final Contribution

A Few Shining Examples

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

"Written by an experienced engineer, this book is a series of personal conversation-style letters that offers practical career advice to all engineers. It guides them through their entire career from early education, to professional certification, on into the workplace, and eventually to retirement. Important topics such as how to acquire leadership skills, improve communication skills, and develop the business side of engineering, as well as how to find a good engineering job are also addressed. The book guides engineers on how to make good career decisions, using precise and systematic processes. It offers inspiration and insight to student engineers and working engineers on how to have successful and satisfying educations and careers. It can also help experienced engineers to more effectively guide and mentor new engineers. It explores the important topics of creativity, ethics, intellectual property, and scientific principles in engineering and at the same time weaves real-world stories, concepts, diagrams, and tips throughout the book in the form of personal letters perfect for quick and easy comprehension. The book targets all engineers working in all disciplines, all industry sectors, and all locations. Engineering students can also learn more about a career in engineering and what they need to do to prepare for it by reading this book"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-00-319308-0

1-000-43459-1

1-003-19308-0

1-000-43456-7

9781003193081

OCLC:

1245246932