Featured Guest Blogger: William Merunka
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In the engineering world, there are numerous professional organizations. Some are focused on a general discipline of engineering, and some are focused on a specific area of an engineering field or based on regional locations. One of the biggest organizations out there is the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Recently I have read lots of debate on whether or not this particular organization is useful and worth the membership fee that they charge. Personally, I feel that professional organizations offer valuable opportunities for all of their members, and it is the members responsibility to make the most of the organization. In this article I will talk about some of the opportunities that are available through the ASCE.
One of the opportunities that I recently found on the ASCE website is a mentoring and protégé program. When the economic recession hit, one of the budget areas that a lot of companies cut back on was career development. While this would save the company some money upfront, in the bigger picture it could cost the company money as engineers look for positions with companies that will offer career development opportunities. For those engineers who do not have a development program, ASCE mentoring program could be a valuable tool. Using the ASCE mentoring program you will team up with another engineer who could be in the same state as you, or on the other side of the country. The mentoring is done mostly online or through phone conversations. However, this is all dependent on the individuals involved and how much they want to get out of it. This program gives all engineers the opportunity to participate in a mentoring program, and also gives you first hand insight on how the industry works in other geographical regions.
Another valuable tool is the various amounts of educational workshops and seminars that they hold. For those engineers who want to be more than just an office worker, you will need to stay on top of your game and keep up with the latest trends in the industry. While learning about the latest trends and techniques, you also get to meet a lot of new engineers. They may seem like just another engineer, but you never know when that person might call on you to help solve a problem, or when you may need their assistance. Networking is an important part of career development, and these seminars give you unlimited amount of networking opportunities. In some states you will even be allowed to apply these classes towards your required continuing education credits.
While younger engineers may feel overwhelmed with proving that they can be a great engineer, there is a pipeline for them to get involved with ASCE and build up their skills. This opportunity is called the Younger Member Groups. These groups are for engineers from fresh out of college up until around the age of 35. While you are not restricted from participating in ASCE events, the younger member groups are focused on the development of younger engineers. Each group is governed by their own elected members, so the activities will vary from group to group. If your local group does not have an activity that you would like, you can make a suggestion for the event or offer to help run the event. The opportunities are endless and are limited only by your imagination and your desire. In general, these groups focus on the development of young engineers, and help them build their engineering and networking skills with engineers of similar experience level. For most people, especially younger individuals, it is easier to connect with people with similar experience as opposed to throwing them in to a group with engineers who have 30-40 years of experience. While the older engineers would have more experience and a greater insight, it may be harder to connect to them due to the large age gap.
Overall, the benefits of being involved with a professional organization are limited only by the individual member. If you expect to pay a fee one time a year and automatically become a better engineer, than your mindset is completely wrong. You will get out as much as you are willing to put in. If you pay the membership fee and don’t take advantage of the resources they offer, you are only hurting yourself. In this day and age, it is essential to stay on top of your game if you want to continue to be successful. ASCE and other professional organizations are perfect organizations to keep you at the top of your game.
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Anthony Fasano, P.E., aka Your Professional Partner, founded Powerful Purpose Associates after he realized that it was the development of his soft skills that helped him to become an associate partner at a reputable engineering firm at the young age of 27. With history as a civil engineer, Anthony is now a nationally recognized executive coach and inspirational speaker, specializing in the areas of engineering career development, as well as leadership. He uses his highly effective coaching and speaking techniques through affordable programs to help engineers develop their soft skills, work through blocks, prioritize effectively, set clear goals and achieve their maximum potential.
I think the discussion of professional organizations should begin with “what can we give back?” rather than “what can we get out of it?” Our careers are based on our professions, those professions give much to us.
English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon challenged us with these words: “I hold every man a debtor to his profession; from that which man has a course to seek countenance and profit, so ought they of duty to endeavor themselves, by way of amends, to be a help and ornament there unto.” A little formal for today, but we get the idea. Another Englishman, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, more bluntly reminded us of our giving responsibilities when he said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
Throughout my career, I have frequently heard engineers and other professionals explain why they do not actively participate in professional societies or why they once did, but dropped out. Typical explanations:
• I didn’t get anything out of it.
• Costs too much.
• Too busy.
• Same old same old.
Often times, these individuals share these thoughts while sitting in their offices. They are surrounded by bookshelves and files containing journals, technical magazines, conference proceedings, and manuals of practice. The vast majority of these useful products were prepared by volunteer members of professional societies (not paid staff or compensated consultants). Examples of such professional societies within the engineering profession are NSPE, ASCE, ASME, APWA, AIChE and IEEE, all of which rely on volunteers to do most of the work.
Sometimes the “I get nothing out of this” person is actually at a professional society meeting. They pay the fee, eat the meal, benefit from the presentation, and go home. They seem oblivious to the volunteer investment needed to plan, conduct, and follow up on the event. The dollars they paid were a small part of the event’s total “cost”.
We are indebted to our chosen professions and ought to act accordingly.
Stu, while I believe it is very important to give back to the profession, unless somebody feels like they have received something, it is very unlikely that they will give of their time and energy.
While engineers may be surrounded by journals, manuals, conferences material, it is highly possible for them to still see no advantage of professional development. It’s all about their motivation and why are they surrounded by all this material. It is possible that engineers go to these events because their company requires them to go to a certain number of seminars a year, or maybe they do it because it would get them a raise. The profession needs to come together and help these “office workers” find that motivation and desire to want to give back.