My challenging engineering career lasted 44 years, with five employers -- Foster Wheeler Corp., PSE&G, Burns & Roe Enterprises, Tighe-Firtion-Carrino, and City of Newark. I hope some lessons I learned can help a younger mechanical engineer.
On The Job
Listen to your supervisor. Follow specific directions. Supervisors normally evaluate performance annually, and upon retirement, recommend a replacement. Management takes these recommendations seriously.
Check carefully. An error early in a project can’t be easily changed during project design and may lead to missing a completion date. On my first fast-track project, my supervisor told me that all engineering and drawing checks must be completed prior to releasing a component for fabrication. Save rechecking calculations or design drawings.
Don’t be afraid to make field inspections yourself. Relying on others can backfire --inspection results can have legal or financial ramifications. An error missed by improper inspection could delay plant production.
Make tough decisions. When supervising four mechanical engineers, I reviewed design drawings and signed off as licensed professional engineer. My supervisor told me that our engineers were so good that I didn’t have to review design drawings, but should just sign off. I felt this action violated rules for licensed professional engineers. It took me three weeks to locate another position and leave the organization.
Transfers Are Tricky
Be careful with transfer requests. At Foster Wheeler, I started as steam department proposal engineer. Over four years, very experienced engineers taught me power boiler design, select burners and pulverizers. Recognizing that I’d need boiler operating and start-up experience for my career development, I decided to work elsewhere.
I requested a transfer to the service department, without explaining why. My manager resisted, because he’d lose a seasoned engineer. The personnel department overruled him. My excellent service department training included starting up and adjusting equipment, and conducting ASME boiler performance tests.
The district service manager told me I was being groomed for promotion. Six months later, I requested a transfer back to my original office, for family reasons. My supervisor said that management’s dislike of transfers on short notice might affect my career adversely.
Looking back, I wish I had:
a. Considered all ramifications of a transfer, including effects on dependents, travel allowance, company car, etc.
b. Made transfer requests in writing.
c. Stated reasons for a transfer, and a specific time frame for returning to the previous job.
As a manager, don’t refuse transfer requests. Ask the reason. If it’s valid – more money, different work schedule, etc. – try to correct the situation. With no stated reason, consider granting the transfer because this employee probably doesn’t want to work for you or the group.
Career Moves
Get a professional engineer’s license, which definitely helps career mobility. A licensed job candidate may receive preference. Some positions require a P.E. license; most consulting engineering firms require them for senior levels.
Seek opportunities matching your priorities. During interviews with the City of Newark, I was offered the assistant director of engineering job. Instead, I chose a supervising engineering position. I could earn more as an engineer, with overtime pay (not available for assistant directors).
Aim high. Request an appropriate salary. Ask upfront about medical benefits, relocation allowances, living expenses, company car, pension, and overtime policy. I was loaned to a power plant as chief engineer. They soon asked to hire me directly. I accepted the position permanently, because I was well liked by plant personnel, would have no remote field assignments, and could someday retire with benefits.
When leaving a job, don’t criticize anyone. Someday, you might work with this person again, or even return to your old company.
Finally, no one is indispensable. My father retired in 1973 after 30 years with the same company. His retirement party was a lavish luncheon. As lead engineer on a large project, I felt I couldn’t be spared for a day. How foolish I was! I still regret that I did not attend this party.
During my years with Burns & Roe, my son said, "I don’t see Dad very much." Plan your career … but make sure you include family time, too.
[Adapted from "A Retired Mechanical Engineer Looks at Lessons Learned," by Raymond J. Wojcik, ASME Life Member, for Mechanical Engineering, December 2008.]
During my years with Burns & Roe, my son said, "I don’t see Dad very much." Plan your career … but make sure you include family time, too.
Raymond J. Wojcik
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