Description
Book SynopsisThis is the most complete career resource guide book for engineers dealing with the non-technical side of engineering. It provides career advice for engineers at all stages of their careers, whether newly graduated, mid-career, or soon-to-be-retired. This book provides many real world, practical, proven, common sense career tips supported by actual work and experiences/examples. Tips deal with problems the engineer may encounter with supervisors, co-workers and others in the corporation. The book provides step-by-step guidance on how to deal with career problems and come out ahead.
Trade Review"This all-inclusive guide will serve as an excellent resource for engineers at any stage of their careers. Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, professionals, and general audience." (Choice, 1 March 2011)
Table of ContentsPreface xix
Acknowledgments xxiii
About the Author xxv
Part 1 Successful Career Planning
1 Successful Careers Start with You 3
2 Developing a Successful Career Plan 11
3 Career Trategies: What Works and What Doesn’t? 41
4 Successfully Making a Job or Career Change 59
5 Strategies for Getting Your Next Promotion 69
6 Career Discussion Guide for Employees, Managers, and Mentors 75
7 Thementoring Process and Value to Your Career 87
8 Stuck in a Dead-end Job? What to do to Break Out 103
9 My Career Has Plateau, Now What? 107
10 How New Graduates Can Successfully Transition Into Industry 111
11 Phases of Retirement Planning: Beginning with the Young Engineers 119
Part 2 Company Structures, Organizations, and Barriers Impacting Your Career
12 How Company Size Affects Your Career 135
13 The Corporate Ladder: Careers Open To You 143
14 Invisible Company Barriers Stopping Your Career Growth 157
15 Getting Ahead In Product-Oriented Organizations 163
16 Getting Ahead In the Functional-Matrix Organization 167
Part 3 Determining the Criteria By Which You Are Measured and What It Takes to Get Better Performance Ratings as Well As Promoted
17 Determining How the Company Measures Your Performance 173
18 Determining the Informal Criteria By Which You Are Assessed 191
19 The Leading Reasons Engineers Are Not Successful 203
Part 4 Improving Your Performance on the Job and Standing Out From Your Peers
20 The Engineering Process in Your Company: Learning the Business 221
21 Team Skills: Essential for Successful Engineers 253
22 Generating Career Advancing Ideas 263
23 Getting Promoted Whether Your Project Is Successful or Unsuccessful 277
24 How to Ask For A Raise: It Is Easier Than You Think, Even In Bad Times 289
25 How to Get Your Next Promotion 297
26 People Networking: A Vital and Indispensable Career Skill 307
27 Accomplishing More in Less Time and Getting Organized For Success 325
28 Your Internet Image: It Could Be Sabotaging Your Career 345
29 The Importance of Maintaining A Company Calendar 351
30 Join an Engineering Society: Enhance Your Career 357
Part 5 Successfully Dealing With Difficult People at Work (People Skills)
31 Dealing With a Difficult Boss 363
32 Diversity—Endorse It Or Be Left Behind 377
Part 6 Lost Your Job? Looking for a New Job? Strategies to Make You Successful!
33 Time to Change Jobs Or Stay 383
34 Using the Company’s Job Opening System To Your Benefit 387
35 surviving layoffs, corporate takeovers, mergers, shutdowns, and reductions in work force 397
36 Understanding the Job Search Process 415
37 Self-Inventory 421
38 Searching and Finding Jobs 427
39 Creating Resumes That Get You Interviews 437
40 Cover Letters That Will Impress Employers 449
41 Why Portfolios Are Important For Engineers 455
42 Interviewing 461
43 Following Up, Getting an Offer, and Negotiating 475
44 Relocating and Starting the New Job: Tips To Make It Easier 483
Part 7 Further Education and Lifelong Learning
45 How to Get an Education From Your Company 495
46 Getting A Master’s Degree: So Worth It! 505
47 Lifelong Learning: Growing or Decaying 513
Part 8 Financial Planning
48 Basic Financial Management 101 519
Part 9 Fast Track Advancement and Career Accelerators
49 Getting On the Fast Track for Advancement 533
Part 10 Be a Consulting Engineer
50 What Is a Consulting Engineer? Is This the Right Choice For You? 545
51 Setting Up and Building Your Consulting Business 553
Appendix A Career Planning Workbook 571
Appendix B Self-Inventory Workbook 589
Appendix C List of Engineering Societies 595
Appendix D Notes 601
Index 605
