What Every Engineer Should Know About Career Management (Paperback)

by Mike Ficco (Author)
Key Phrases: passionate malcontents, many corporate cultures, senior folks, Manage the Development, Alternate Career Paths, Framing the Corporate Landscape (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Thanks to their education, experience, and general philosophical orientation, many engineers fail to notice critical issues in the workplace that can directly impact their career advancement and day-to-day job satisfaction. This text focuses on career management, and the accompanying importance of human and social interactions in the office. Although framed in the engineering environment, it provides observations on people skills relevant to all occupations. Using an informal, yet professional style, the author takes a mentorship approach by offering suggestions and anecdotes devoid of lecturing.

Broken Into Two Distinct Parts

Part I specifically addresses the life and career advancement of the engineer, beginning with school student and advancing to the seasoned professional. Along the way, it explores various stops, diversions, and alternatives, including a view of the corporation as a living organism with its own unique personality that responds to stimuli of the world. Part II discusses engineering projects, product development, schedules, budgets, and related topics. This portion of the book is not about project management, but rather the interaction of engineers and managers working on projects in a corporate environment. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: CRC; 1 edition (June 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420076825
• ISBN-13: 978-1420076820
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,170,244 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for young engineers!, August 5, 2008

By	James L. Chen "Retired Senior Systems Engineer" (Bowie, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What Every Engineer Should Know About Career Management (What Every Engineer Should Know)

I am a retired engineer with 33 years of engineering experience, and with a son currently attending college and working towards an engineering degree. This book is a must read for any young engineer. The author correctly states that engineering academia prepares the student for the technical and scientific challenges of engineering, but not for the real world. This book goes a long way in preparing a young engineer for the realities ahead of them. By addressing ideas of styles of management, personalities of bosses and co-workers, and the organizational politics that can be encountered, the author provides excellent scenarios and anecdotes that are valuable to a young engineer in the process of shaping his/her career. I would hope that the academic community would use this book as a springboard in preparing students for transitioning from their student years to a successful career in engineering.

5.0 out of 5 stars Necessary reading for all engineering graduates! , July 11, 2008

By	J. May (Philadelphia PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

He summarizes the life of an engineer to the tee. I wish I had this insight when I first started my engineering career. Better yet, I wish my previous bosses had this book. (I may have to send them blind copies!)

It is an easy read with great anedotes.

I can honestly say I have experienced every situation described here in the 16 years I have been in the engineering field.

Hopefully it will save some of you from the pitfalls, I have fallen into.