By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Experienced contractors have discovered foolproof ways to transfer solutions, methods, procedures and designs over the course of an engineering assignment. Naturally, they follow the firm’s protocol for archiving drawings and recording design-related information and changes. But savvy veterans take additional steps to leave a navigable trail for future engineers to follow. “Don’t […]
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By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman You’ve probably heard the expression there’s no “I” in team. But must your personal goals always take a backseat to the priorities of your engineering team? The short answer is: no. While being on a team requires give and take, with some forethought and finesse, it’s possible to advance your contracting career […]
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By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Once you get some contract experience under your belt, you’ll probably find that a chronological resume is not the best way to present your capabilities to an engineering manager. The traditional format – which starts with your most recent project and works backwards – could draw attention to occasional gaps in your […]
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By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Obtaining your first contract engineering assignment may take some effort. But once you get your foot in the door, you may never have a better opportunity to enhance your income and reputation. If engineering managers offer you additional assignments, you can sidestep competitors, decrease interview and idle time, and improve your negotiating […]
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By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman It can happen to anyone. You mistakenly call the engineering manager by the wrong name, lose your train of thought mid-sentence or provide the wrong answer to a technical question during an interview. Relax, even veteran engineers usually bumble a question or two. The key is how you recover from a misstatement, […]
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Separate yourself from the competition by conveying a compelling professional identity By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Being successful isn’t always enough. You may need to bundle your assets and present them in a way that captures the attention of busy engineering managers. In a prior article, we talked about why engineering contractors need a brand. To quote […]
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By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Whether you’re drafting your resume or preparing for a networking event or interview, the best way to convey your accomplishments is through a captivating story. We’re not suggesting that you tell tall tales, but rather that you weave real outcomes and skills into a dynamic narrative. Without storytelling, your achievements may seem uninspiring, […]
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By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman If you think branding is only for movie stars, professional athletes or consumer-driven companies like Coke or Proctor & Gamble, think again. Whether you’ve been an engineer for nine months or nine years, you’ve earned a reputation. And since recruiters and engineering managers are influenced by what they hear and read about […]
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By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Are you able to interpret technical and design information and present those ideas to clients in a way that’s easy to understand? Are you calm and composed under pressure? If you answered yes to those questions, you’re in luck. A Harvard University study revealed that 85 percent of jobs and promotions happened because of a candidate’s […]
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By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman The phone interview has become a popular screening tool for busy engineering managers. Within an hour, he or she can speak with several contractors, ask about their relevant skills and experience, and pare down the number of contenders for an upcoming project. But phone interviews can be nerve-racking especially for novices, since […]
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