Words from the Wise
ASEE members and leaders in industry reveal lessons they learned the hard way.
Welcome to Prism’s brand-new Career Corner! In this section, you’ll find guidance on jobs, careers, and office politics.
For our first column, we asked our members what they wish they could tell their younger selves at the start of their careers.
“I really enjoy doing X, so I’m gonna try Y and if it doesn’t work out I’ll do X.” No! Do X from day one—you’ll save yourself a lot of time.
Rob McKee
Assistant Teaching Professor
Department of Bioengineering
Faculty Director of Education Abroad
University of California, Riverside
Dream big! You will have more opportunities come your way than you can possibly imagine (my mom used to tell me this, too). Don’t let your dreams be limited by what you can see.
Jenna P. Carpenter
ASEE President
Dean and Professor, School of Engineering
Campbell University
Something I wish I had known when I graduated back in the Stone Age is the importance of communication, both written and verbal. I was under the delusion that engineers spend 40 hours/week doing calculations. I have never known any engineer that does that. Hand calculations are rare since important calculations have been computerized. While schools do a much better job than when I was a student, communication is still one of the top weaknesses consistently identified in numerous surveys concerning new engineering graduates. Both schools and students need to focus much more attention on this important skill.
Chuck Baukal
Director
Koch Engineered Solutions Institute
Be real. Engage as a collaborator and team leader, with a common goal of getting these voluntary learners (aka students) the knowledge and skills to contribute and add value for themselves and their future teams. Don’t be cast as a judge, adversary, or hurdle; work to engage. Know that some students won’t buy into the common goal; don’t let that get you down as you focus on developing your own skills for communicating and building rapport. You want people to feel safe in questioning, thinking, testing, making mistakes. Learning is a messy, fascinating process. Have fun.
Holly Shulman
Professor of Ceramic Engineering
New York State College of Ceramics
Alfred University
My advice would be to improve your self-awareness using validated personality and career assessments. Consequently, this will increase the likelihood that you are pursuing a career path that leverages your strengths and aligns with your interests. Visit the career services office on campus for access to these kinds of assessments and a coach to help with processing the results.
Jeremi London
Past Chair, ASEE Commission for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Associate Professor of Engineering Education
& Instructional Innovation Lead on the Innovation Campus
Virginia Tech
Talking openly about your struggles will help you find advocates and allies who can help you overcome those struggles and will open space for others who are also struggling. However, be aware that the systems you move through can be very powerful and are not set up for change, so be sure to take care of yourself while fighting to make things better.
Kaitlin Mallouk
ASEE PIC IV Chair
Associate Professor and Provost Fellow for Faculty Development
Experiential Engineering Education
Rowan University
Make sure you find your support community early on. Mentors have different roles depending on your different needs. Find mentors in your academic unit and department, but also expand to your college, university, and town. I’ve found that having a support network that expands the boundaries of campus has helped me with balancing my different needs and finding ways to maintain healthy balance between my life and work.
Homero Murzi
Chair, ASEE Commission for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering Education
Virginia Tech
Don’t be wary of jumping from the “technical track” to the “management track” as you progress in your career. It is somewhat analogous to moving from a graduate student to a faculty member. While you are no longer doing the technical work yourself, you will be helping others do technical work and will continue to learn and grow intellectually. And it also pays better!
Jeffrey N. Phillips
Chair of Engineering
Hanover College
I would tell my younger self to not try to fit the mold that you think everyone else fits into, because that mold is probably neither accurate nor the one that is the best way for you to make a difference. Remember that what you bring to bear in your career is unique, and probably necessary to those around you.
Brian Kirkmeyer
Senior Assistant Dean for Student Success
Miami University
While the future seems uncertain, be open to the opportunities that present themselves. Each experience is a unique tool in your tool belt that will be useful. Remember to value your time and people will respect it.
Adrian Rodriguez
Lecturer
University of Texas at Austin
Engineering Content Developer
zyBooks, a Wiley brand
If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self, it would be to have confidence in myself and faith that my best is good enough. I think that’s good advice for most young professionals, especially as they make the transition from being a student to an educator.
Doug Tougaw
ASEE President-Elect
Dean of Engineering
Valparaiso University
Lift as you climb. Despite how we may have been conditioned, life and work aren’t a competition, so practice stewarding behaviors that advocate for and elevate others. Be kind, inclusive, and supportive of those around you, especially people from historically marginalized and excluded populations. Finally, examine your positionality, reflect on it regularly, and leverage your power for the benefit of the collective. Together, we can make the world better.
Meagan Pollock
Incoming Chair, ASEE Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Founder, Engineer Inclusion
Take your dreams and times them by 10—you are capable of so many more things than you can even imagine. You stand on the shoulders of giants who have come before you and are your ancestors’ greatest dream fulfilled.
Sarah L. Rodriguez
Associate Professor, Engineering Education
Virginia Tech
Missed your opportunity to contribute? We’ll publish a roundup of additional advice received in a future issue. Send your thoughts to prism@asee.org.