Engineering Your Career

Negotiating your path to success in engineering’s changing work world.

When to Embark on a New Engineering Position

Posted by Jack O'Brien on November 13, 2007

Should you move from that company of long standing? Are you waiting patiently for the retirement party and that “gold watch”? Last weekend I sat down for coffee with a design engineer from an industrial lighting products company. With him were two of his twenty-something-year-old kids, helping Dad gather tools for a career move. They were as interested in advice for their own career ...... Read More

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Industries: Careers

Making an Engineering Career Move

Posted by Jack O'Brien on September 28, 2007

Last time, we begin the examination of factors to consider in making a job change from the big picture perspective. How about from the personal perspective? Remember the line from Alice in Wonderland? “If you don’t know where you’re going any road will lead you there.” The impetus behind any career move should begin with your life plan. What do you want to do with your ...... Read More

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Industries: Careers

Considering the moment and motivation to accept a new engineering job offer … or not

Posted by Jack O'Brien on July 31, 2007

Recently I worked with a frustrated design engineer who had been with the same company for fifteen years and felt unappreciated. When his company elected to move their operations fifteen miles further north of the current location, he made a determination to look at other career opportunities. The company move doubled his daily commute. It also helped ease the pangs of disloyalty he felt consideri ...... Read More

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Industries: Careers

What Do Recruiters Want? Part Three: Using the DIG Formula

Posted by Jack O'Brien on July 2, 2007

I hear the complaints all the time… “Recruiters respond to me and promise results they never deliver. What do engineering recruiters want?” One of the most frustrating aspects of an engineering job search is developing a relationship with a recruiter. Do they call you up, promise results and never hear from them again. Sound familiar? If so, I’m sorry. Let’s talk ...... Read More

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Industries: Careers

What Do Recruiters Want? Part 2: One Recruiter’s Approach to Engineering Recruitment

Posted by Jack O'Brien on June 14, 2007

Why should you care what recruiters want? This is a fair question unto itself. I am presenting this short series of blogs to address the question of what recruiters want so that you can work more effectively with an engineering recruiter by stepping into his shoes. Ultimately, matching your needs and goals to that of a fine engineering company is the formula for career change, but a recruiter can ...... Read More

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Industries: Careers

What Do Recruiters Want? Part 1: The Recruiter’s Role

Posted by Jack O'Brien on June 6, 2007

The recruiter’s role in the job search process is a mystery to many people, including many recruiters. We are asked to support and advance the interests of all sides in the emotionally charged interview process. I suggest “all sides” because we not only represent the best interests of candidate and employer, but we must also represent ourselves, our firm, our industry and over ...... Read More

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Industries: Careers

What Do Engineering Candidates Want? Part 3: Finding Thicker Ice

Posted by Jack O'Brien on May 29, 2007

Discussing the reasonable manager last time begs the question about long-term job security. If you work for a tyrant or an organization that doesn’t value your input or ideas, what recourse do you have? Voting with your feet assumes that you can find equivalent work. A series of short tenured positions suggests to the prospective next employer inflexibility on your part, or worse. The ...... Read More

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What Do Engineering Employees Want? How About a Little Respect?

Posted by Jack O'Brien on May 7, 2007

Rodney Dangerfield could never get any respect. “I sent my kid to a private (engineering) school…He won’t tell me where it is!” Today a tale of two managers, one a CFO with minimal people skills, the other an enlightened president (and public speaker), who encourages managers in keynote speeches to ignore the old saw “The customer is always right." He suggests, " ...... Read More

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What Do Engineer Candidates Want? Part 2: Goal Setting

Posted by Jack O'Brien on April 24, 2007

“Better to shoot your arrow at the sun and hit only an eagle, than to shoot at an eagle and hit only a rock.” If you’ve deeply considered your strengths and passions and want to pursue them to completion, you must write them down. I know, I know. You’ve been hearing this since birth, but have you? When was the last time you pulled out your goal sheet and looked at it? I ...... Read More

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What Do Engineering Candidates Want? Part One: Making the Decision to Change

Posted by Jack O'Brien on April 18, 2007

I have a friend who startled me recently, saying “I hate my job. I wish they would just fire me.” How many of us are in just such a place, where we are waiting for others to control our fate? Are you unhappy, unproductive or unfulfilled? “Be careful what you wish for” begins the ancient Chinese proverb, “you may get it.” So, what’s wrong with that ...... Read More

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What Do Employers Want? Part Three: Fire in the Belly

Posted by Jack O'Brien on April 10, 2007

A design engineer I placed recently shared with me some of his experiences on the job search. Jim said that he had never expected his search to last so long or to be so emotionally taxing. One employer related to him that they liked his skills but needed an individual with “personality.” Ouch. Hopefully, many of you will not be told that you lack a personality, but I often receive a ...... Read More

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What Do Employers Want? Part Two: Motivation

Posted by Jack O'Brien on March 30, 2007

Everyone wants to be wooed and pursued … even employers. The motivation question lies behind a huge part of the interview process, especially when speaking with a competitor. Last blog entry, we looked at qualifications, the first of three questions present at every interview: “Can you do the job?” The next question is “Why do you want it (and us)?” Mostly, peopl ...... Read More

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