Survival Techniques for the Practicing Engineer [Hardcover]

• Gives experience-based, highly realistic guidance to a cross-section of young and even established engineers
• Delivers practical guidance and acts as a handy resource so that lessons do not have to be learned the hard way with numerous errors, and costly problems
• Includes real world examples and case studies from a 45 year veteran in the engineering field

About the Author xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

1 Getting Ahead 1

1.1 Finding your Niche 1

1.2 Twenty Rules to Remember 5

1.3 Calculated Risk Versus Reward 8

1.4 Advancement 9

1.5 Learn from Observing Failures 10

1.6 Keep Good Records of what you have done 12

1.7 Flexibility in your Career 17

1.8 You’re Known for Your Work 17

1.9 Ethical Behavior in Engineering 19

1.10 Humor in the Workplace 20

1.11 Self-Preservation when Documenting your Analysis 21

1.12 Don’t be Overwhelmed 22

1.13 Providing Guidance to Others 23

1.14 The Technical and Managerial Ladder to Advancement 24

References 26

2 The Politics of Engineering 27

2.1 What to do 27

2.2 What not to do 28

2.3 Disenchantment with your Job 30

2.4 Conducting yourself in a Meeting 33

2.5 Organize and Prioritize 35

2.6 Do as much as you can for your Colleagues 36

2.7 The Catch 22 of Engineering Project Work 37