Significant Career Lesson From a Hardware Engineer at a Top Tech Company
Bob's most significant career lesson centers on the importance of strong "soft skills," specifically being assertive and advocating for one's needs and career growth; the hardware engineer emphasizes the need to "derive your own career," proactively identifying desired areas of work and actively communicating these goals to management to shape their career trajectory.
Communication, Career Development, Self-Advocacy, Career Planning, Work-Life Balance
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Bob Buckley
Hardware Engineer
Fortune 10 Tech Co.
UNL
UCSB
Engineering - Mechanical
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Develop strong communication and assertiveness skills to advocate for your needs and contributions within a team.
2. Actively participate in shaping your career trajectory by identifying desired growth areas and communicating them to your manager.
3. Regularly assess your personal and professional goals to align your career path with your aspirations and proactively seek opportunities that fulfill them.
Transcript
Q11: Significant lesson - career
What is one lesson that you have learned that's proven significant in your career?
I think it comes back to soft skills. Really working on soft skills, being a good communicator, being assertive about my own needs and contributions on the team.
When I first started, even in this role, I was a little more passive, thinking that others would fight for me. Every culture is different; it depends on the culture and the workforce you have, but it's kind of expected here to be your own advocate.
Also, something that early in my career I didn't know, but I appreciate more, is to not forget about how you want your own career to develop. Understand how you want to grow, the areas you want to work on, and advocate for that.
Advocate for yourself in steering your own career rather than having your boss dictate it. Maybe there's a lot of design work and a lot of test work. If you really want to just set at a computer and do simulations in design, but you don't give that feedback to your manager or ask for that, they might say, "Okay, I want you to be the test expert and never touch design again."
I think it's worthwhile to spend time thinking for yourself. I still do this; I think it's good to do this your whole life. Really take stock of what you want out of life and your career, and how you can make that happen. How you can work to grow in the ways and seek opportunities that you really want in your life.
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