Significant Career Lesson From An Engineer II At Kleinfelder Inc
Alan, an Engineer II at Kleinfelder Inc., emphasizes patience as the most crucial lesson learned, stating that "patience is key" and that "nobody's perfect from the start." The importance of networking and seeking mentorship is also highlighted, with Alan advising new industry entrants to "reach out to people that have been there before" for guidance and diverse perspectives.
Patience, Networking, Mentorship, Continuous Learning, Industry-Specific Skills
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alan Iannaccone
Engineer II
Kleinfelder Inc
University of Portland 2018
N/A
Engineering - Mechanical
Energy & Utilities
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Patience is crucial in the field of engineering, as there is a significant amount of information to learn and master.
2. There is often a disconnect between what is learned in college and the realities of the job, requiring additional learning and adaptation.
3. Networking and seeking help from experienced professionals is highly valuable and beneficial for career growth and success in the field of engineering
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
To someone just entering the industry, I would advise them to be patient. There's a lot of information to learn, and patience is key.
Mechanical engineering in college didn't directly correlate to being a utilities engineer, so I had to learn many things from scratch. I remember getting frustrated when I first joined the company, feeling like I was missing something or didn't know exactly what I was doing.
But that's normal with every job; nobody is perfect from the start. Everyone begins somewhere, and you just have to trust the process.
Another thing I would tell someone starting in the industry is to reach out to people who have been there before. There's a large, accessible network of people. If you haven't done something, chances are they have.
Taking advice from someone with more seniority or experience is always beneficial. It never hurts to reach out and ask. It's better than being shy or afraid to ask for help.