What an Energy Engineer at Resilient Buildings Group Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Energy Engineering Industry
Jake, an energy engineer, advises that while subject matter expertise is valuable, "focusing on core skills and strengths" and being a "self-advocate" are more crucial for success, especially in interdisciplinary fields like energy engineering. The ability to demonstrate "motivation and...quick learning" ultimately outweighed deeper subject matter expertise in securing their current role.
Problem-Solving, Communication, Motivation, Career Development, Job Search
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jake Gehrung
Energy Engineering
Resilient Buildings Group
University of New Hampshire
N/A
Environmental & Related Sciences
Energy & Utilities
Consulting
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. The balance between subject matter expertise and core skills is crucial for success in energy engineering, with core skills and self-advocacy often outweighing specialized knowledge.
2. Real-world application prioritizes problem-solving abilities and a demonstrable eagerness to learn over specific prior experience in energy or mechanical engineering.
3. Motivation and a proven ability to quickly learn and adapt are highly valued attributes when entering the field, even surpassing subject matter expertise in certain cases.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
For me, I think it was similar to what many people have heard in other roles, not just energy engineering. When you're an undergraduate student, you learn a lot. When you enter the real world, knowing subject matter is important, but the balance is often not prioritized correctly.
Even being aware of this, I still didn't balance it correctly. I was pleasantly surprised in my role that focusing on your core skills and strengths when entering any job is so much more important than getting an A+ in some energy class. This is especially true in this very new and interdisciplinary space.
I didn't have energy or mechanical engineering experience when I entered this role. It was because I had a lot of motivation and had demonstrated with my past experiences that I was a quick learner and generally interested in problem-solving. This is how I was able to get the role I have now.
I later learned that someone more qualified from a subject matter perspective, but less driven, did not get the role. It just goes to show how important that is. I think that's an important lesson for everyone, no matter what job you're looking for.