Chris Sunderman
Senior Software Engineer
ASME South Texas Section Chair

Q: When you first started your career - what was the biggest lesson learned on the job?

A: Politics and social interaction can be as important to your career success as your quality of work.

Q: What is the underlying foundation for career success today?

A: Continuing education and keeping yourself flexible (i.e. willing to do any reasonable job).

Q: How do you keep up-to-date within your industry?

A: : Reading articles on-line, the ASME magazine and other magazines. In addition, keep reading books both for pleasure and knowledge.

Q: What advice would you give a recent engineering graduate looking for work?

A:

1. Don't typecast yourself into finding a "perfect" job. Most engineers change jobs after a few years, and usually doing something completely different. Be willing to try something even if is not "perfect".
2. Look outside of your "perfect" region. If you want to work in a particular industry to get the best job you may have to move to a new area. If your "perfect" region has just one company doing that work, what happens if they go out of business? Remember, the older you get, the harder it will be for you to move. Might as well do it when you are young.
3. Don't assume you know everything about resumes and interviewing. You don't. Seek advice.
4. Utilize ASME. Go to an ASME meeting and network. You might find opportunities that you would not find elsewhere.

Q: Has your involvement in ASME changed or influenced your career path?

A: Yes, but the results are not really obvious. By volunteering, I have gained leadership, organizational, interpersonal and networking skills. Each of which has improved my job performance and lead to opportunities that I would not gained otherwise.