Chemical Engineering January 2018 - 59

her next position since the competition
is intense for the often limited positions.
Also, engineers have become
more productive, thanks to advances
in technology and computation tools,
and therefore firms need fewer engineers
to do the same work. As a
consultant who now assists a major
corporation in talent recruitment, I
often quickly see several hundred
applicants for a posted position, and
this trend is likely to continue.
Ideas for the future
There is no ironclad approach to ensuring
an uninterrupted engineering
career, but I have developed some
ideas to help assist in guiding young
engineering professionals. These
ideas do not supplant the need to stay
current with technologies and innovations,
but they offer opportunities to
increase your value to future employers.
Here are some thoughts that will
be discussed in later sections:
1. Strive to become a technical expert
in a specific facet of your engineering
discipline, so that you
are recognized for this knowledge.
2. Develop a diverse " toolbox " of
skills.
3. Become knowledgeable in contract
development and maintenance,
since this has become a
key component of every project.
seeking engineering
4. Consider
work on infrastructure enhancement
projects, since these generally
do not face foreign competition;
at least in the U.S. (in
many other countries, as well),
infrastructure-related engineering
work promises to be strong over
the next 20-40 years.
5. Remain flexible on work location
and be willing to relocate.
6. Consider starting your own
business.
1. Become a technical expert. At
the heart of your engineering career
should be the goal of being the best
you can be in your chosen field. But
even among all engineering professionals
there are those who distinguish
themselves by becoming
experts in their fields. Professionals
who wish to be recognized as
" best in class " devote their careers
toward honing their skills in a particular
area. They generally become
involved in code activities and write
technical papers on their area of expertise.
These professionals often
become very important to engineering
companies because they represent
a trusted source to go to, to find
" final answers " on complex technical
matters, and often the professional
recognition they garner within their
industry sector can help their company
to attract business. Such experts
generally survive cutbacks
within their companies, and if they
are displaced, are generally quickly
absorbed by other companies that
recognize their skills.
2. Build your " toolbox. " Another
way to improve your value is to involve
yourself in as many different facets
of work as possible, even though
you may not consider some areas
your " sweet spot. " By having different
areas of expertise, you will be able to
more easily switch to a different area
in the event your work area becomes
soft. Broader experience also allows
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Chemical Engineering January 2018

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