Marvin M. Christensen
Retired Member

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

A: My biggest lesson learned was not to feel I was above the folks out in the control room running the plant. My approach was to learn to work with them as a team and both of us play off of the knowledge we brought to the table.

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

A: Being honest and building trust with fellow workers, management and family was the main key. Obviously you have to be competent and have integrity to build the trust. Learning to listen more than you talk also helps build trust and lets people know that you think they have some input to making the system work.

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

A: I read a lot of technical journals about the technology I was working with. I also attended some professional conferences to hear what others in my field were doing. I bought textbooks related to the work I was doing at the time.

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

A: Be persistent and don't oversell yourself. Be honest and straightforward with any interviewers. Go after what you will have fun doing in life since you have a long time to work. If you are not having fun, it makes for a long workday. Sometimes a bit smaller salary is better value if the job is one that you really like. Consider the total "pay package", which includes benefits, and work enjoyment.

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

A: ASME played a role in influencing my career. When I was doing pressure vessel design, I stayed up-to-date with the ASME pressure vessel criteria. I also read and attended some ASME conferences.