One out of three people who works with me is an engineer. I’ve learned a lot from engineers about feeling stuck in their careers, and I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to move forward. It boils down to this:
Myth
Engineering is a meritocracy. The people with the best ideas get recognized, get promoted, and have the most fun in their careers.
Suffering
It’s not working out this way for me. Therefore, I’m not as smart as I thought I was. Therefore, I’ll double down on work and miss out on the rest of my life. Or, therefore, this industry is inherently broken and I should leave.
Reality
Good ideas get you in the door. To grow and sustain a career, engineers need tools beyond the technical.
Tools beyond the technical
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Win others over to your vision, in your organization and beyond, using the right approach at the right time.
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Drive imagination and problem solving and take joy in your work.
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Get clear-eyed about the the purpose and impact of your work and make changes deliberately. Develop the peace of mind that comes from doing what you were meant to do in this world.
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Cut through procrastination and build your work around the efforts that make the biggest impact.
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Rather than being knocked over by your feelings or ignoring them till they explode, learn from your feelings while acting from your values.
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Prepare well and build a reputation as someone who operates with purpose and integrity.
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Set boundaries clearly and fairly, with the understanding that balance is good for you as well as your team.
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Read how forces like race, class, gender, sexuality, ability and immigration status affect your organization and your place in it. Respond strategically and ethically, without falling into traps like doing unpaid work as the “diversity person” or causing more harm than good as a would-be ally.
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For engineers who are in management or thinking about making that move, clarify your values as a manager and put them into practice. Motivate your people, address performance problems, make an impact in the business, and nurture people’s careers.
I love talking with engineers about their careers, from the pleasure and adventure of building something new to the ick of hard layoffs or burnout. If the ideas here resonate for you, let’s connect.