Abandon Nest

Analyzing the last six months on the job, I realize that there are three very important lessons that I’ve learned about the business world and engineering in general. Today, I’d like to go over them broadly. Perhaps someday this will help you to cope better with new assignments and jobs. Do you have any lessons you learned from a co-op or internship? Let’s hear them. Here’s mine:

• Look further than the specifications - If you’re an engineer, you can’t just look a spec and accept it at face value. First, you need to understand why the specification reads the way it does. Then, you have to evaluate if everything in the spec applies to your project. Only at this point can you make a determination of how to form a plan to evaluate compliance of your project with this specification.
• Communication is key! - Every day I write on this blog to my adoring fans (that’s you). I communicate how tos, insight, and advice on everyday things. However, in the work force communication is even more paramount. Without the ability to communicate, you won’t be going anywhere, and may even end up on the fast track to failure. In an ever expanding global world, you need to be able to communicate with international colleagues, and that can be difficult at times. Work on your verbal and written skills, and you’ll be ahead of the game.
• Connection between work and business impact - This is something that really isn’t taught in school. For every action that you take at a company, there should and will be some sort of business impact. You may be spending money or you may be saving money. Maybe you’ll gain greater market share as the result of a change. Perhaps your safety factor will change. No matter what you do, the result of your design and analysis will always be a net change in the business somehow. A lot of people don’t pick up on this and it affects them deeply.

After 6 months in the corporate world, these are the things that I’ve learned. Have you worked in a corporate environment? What kind of things has it taught you? Let me know, and let the readers know too!