Commuting

I would love to take public transportation to work, but it has not worked out for me in MA. I do try to carpool when possible, and it's nice to have someone else in the car sharing the drive. That is something to consider with any new job. Some companies organize car or van pools, so be sure to look at all your options. If the company does not have this available, maybe you can take the initiative to see who is interested.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Hoping you have a happy and safe holiday season, especially everyone that will be traveling. It is nice to spend Christmas with family and friends, especially since I do not see them much during the year.

Happy New Year!

Exercise your mind

The importance of building your vocabulary and keeping your mind sharp is something I hear a lot about these days. There are books, puzzles, and even video games to improve your memory, vocabulary, and reflexes. I haven't had an English class since high school, so it is important to me to keep up my knowledge of the language. I noticed I am having a harder time spelling words that would have come easily to me a few years ago. I want my writing abilities at work to improve, so that is part of the reason why I volunteered to write for this blog. The games, puzzles, and crosswords I work on will also help to exercise my mind. If you find yourself in the same situation, it might be worth buying a book of mind teasers (and it will be fun, too!).

You are in charge

I am grateful to have been able to share my journey with you, and hope my advice has been helpful.

Each person's experience after college is different, and it's up to you to drive the direction your life takes. Don't expect to find your dream job right out of school, but learn from your experiences so that you can guide the development of your career. It will be you and you alone that is responsible for your career, so take charge and be proactive. Continually assess the pros and cons of your job so that you can make informed decisions when new opportunities arise.

And don't forget the importance of balance in both your life and work -- work will be always be there tomorrow. Sometimes it's better to step back and really think about what is the priority in your life.

Good luck!

When a crisis attacks

Work is not always fun; it usually comes with stress and pressure. Crises come up and that is the nature of engineering. It is our job to solve the problems that arise. I have realized that you should not get upset if you encounter an issue at work, whether large or small, since the world is not a perfect place. Things happen. People are looking to see how you deal with the situation. Do you stay calm and focused, or do you have a nervous breakdown? What is your plan of action to find a solution? Can you find the solution within a reasonable amount of time while presenting the evidence to justify it? All of these things should be considered, and you should try to deal with the problem rationally while respecting those people on your team.

Today I celebrate my two year anniversary at my first engineering job, how exciting!

Make connections

When I went back to Michigan for Thanksgiving, my Wednesday flight was delayed until Thursday morning. I recognized a fellow Michigan alum and was able to chat with him during our wait. It is important to make connections, whether it is at your job or someone you meet through other ways. I got my first engineering job through a classmate at U of M, so you never know who will be the one to help you in your career.

What is also important is not to burn bridges. If there is someone at work whom you do not get along with, that's fine but don't say or do things that could come back to hurt the advancement of your career. That person could become your project lead or your boss, or vice versa. If you are planning to leave the company, you may need these same people to be your references. I have heard stories of people that have not made good decisions related to their relationships with coworkers, so just think before you act because you don't want to damage your image and career.