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Engineers

A place for Engineers and Engineering students to network with each other.

Network Leader: Brendan OConnell
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Veronica Concept Solutions is hiring highly motivated and talented people who contribute to our organizational success through leadership and dedication. In the return, we provide excellent benefits, growth and career opportunities, training and development, and a fun and friendly work environment and supportive management who care. ~Please see our openings at www.concept-solutions.com~

1 week ago from Engineers

 
Brendan OConnell I am working on a web design project and was wondering if anyone could share examples of websites they find useful for work.

32 weeks ago from Engineers

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Tom: presently unemployed so not using any right now, but I still enjoy going into the AIChE site to see what they are offering for new free articles ...Morepresently unemployed so not using any right now, but I still enjoy going into the AIChE site to see what they are offering for new free articles and webinars. When I was involved in HMI/SCADA programming, I used to use: http://www.citect.com/mycitect frequently for support.
29 weeks ago
Brendan OConnell: Thanks Tom and best of luck.
29 weeks ago
 
TOP IDEA: James Biskey How can professional organizations (IEEE, etc.) stay relevant now that so much networking and industry knowledge can be found outside those orgs for free? I'm an IEEE chapter chair and I see sections struggling to reach younger electrical engineers who are more web savvy and do their own networking outside of IEEE. What unique things can professional orgs bring to the table? How can they be more useful to younger, web savvy people in their fields? How do you encourage change in orgs like this?

79 weeks ago from Engineers

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Russell Friesenhahn: @multiple - I didn't mean the research blog would necessarily be linked to IEEE. It was just kind of a random thought and maybe not quite on ...More@multiple - I didn't mean the research blog would necessarily be linked to IEEE. It was just kind of a random thought and maybe not quite on topic. I was imagining the early days of wikipedia.

I just don't think everything should be behind a paywall.

@James - re "IEEE making itself useful" IEEE sends a ton of email about conferences and their deadlines or perhaps I just happened to sign up for those notifications. I think IEEE does a decent job of providing information that I might not otherwise find. So kudos for that!
78 weeks ago
Ian Pereira: Networking events.
When I lived in Toronto, our chapter organized networking breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and "Engineering Eqtiquette" events ...MoreNetworking events.
When I lived in Toronto, our chapter organized networking breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and "Engineering Eqtiquette" events with guests from companies around Toronto. These went over quite well for interested students, recruiters, and the recruited alike and many participants landed summer or post-grad jobs at these firms.

Costs were usually highly subsidized by industry and supplemented by our engineering and computer science departments.
30 weeks ago
 
Veronica ~Employer Open House~ Wednesday, July 13, 2011 Hyatt Place Oklahoma City Airport 1818 South Meridian Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73108 The Open House will feature 3 different sessions throughout the day to accommodate your schedule. Session 1: 7am - 9am Session 2: 11am - 1pm Session 3: 4pm - 7pm The Open House Flyer is attached or visit at http://www.turbo-enterprise.com/Downloads/Open%20House%20-%20OKC.pdf

30 weeks ago from Engineers

 
Pete Collins The company I work for is trialling social networking. I'm one of the early adopter "connectors" and think that it is really promising but not enough people are engaging with it. Have you had any experience with this where you work? http://wp.me/puFgS-7l

65 weeks ago from Engineers, Consultants R US, London, UK, London Brazen Careerists and Brazen Bloggers3 more

 
Becky Benishek The Talent Shortage Survey from ManpowerGroup is out! Find out what positions employers are struggling to fill (engineering is #4 in the U.S.)--and why there's such a disconnect: 3/4s of employers surveyed globally claim lack of experience or skills as the primary reason for difficulty filling positions--yet only 1 in 5 employers are interested in training to fill the gap. Download the report from http://press.manpower.com .

37 weeks ago from myFootpath, Job Resources and Career Coaching, Engineers and GenYJourney: Tips, Insights, Experiences For Young Professionals2 more

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Becky Benishek: I know! It's a sad, vicious circle. Somehow you've got to get the skills on your own before you know what the job really entails. Or so it seems.
34 weeks ago
Regina Richardson: Welcome to Catch-22 in application. The ROI is not guaranteed to the company b/c there's no guarantee that you won't leave them once you get ...MoreWelcome to Catch-22 in application. The ROI is not guaranteed to the company b/c there's no guarantee that you won't leave them once you get "schooled" and are even MORE attractive to recruiters, leaving them with the same gaping hole.
34 weeks ago
 
Russell Friesenhahn A friend asked me if they should warn a new coworker about their boss's idiosyncrasies or let them find out for themselves. My friend says that at times they feel like they work for Dr. House (from the TV show). Seems like it could be a rough work environment but what should they say to the newcomer, especially when they do not have a level of trust with this new person yet.

40 weeks ago from Engineers

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Cheryl Roshak: I wouldn't put it in a negative spin but you could help out the newbie by saying in a more positive light that what makes the boss happy is this ...MoreI wouldn't put it in a negative spin but you could help out the newbie by saying in a more positive light that what makes the boss happy is this or that, without saying he has idiosyncrasies that are difficult to work with. It's like giving a head's up and how to win his heart rather than what to look out for. This I think might help more. I think to let her sink or swim is not being fair to her. Just my opinion. :)
39 weeks ago
Russell Friesenhahn: All great advice guys! @Cheryl-- Very good positive way to look at this situation. I'll make sure to pass all this stuff on!
39 weeks ago
 
Veronica Concept Solutions celebrates its 12 year anniversary! See our job openings at www.concept-solutions.com

46 weeks ago from Engineers

 
Ahmad Nauman Khawaja My favorite subjects are biology and physics and I am very excited that biomedical engineering is a field that combines both and even though I love tackling hard problems that involve analytical thinking am not very good at Maths(I am taking calculus right know). So my question is how do I know if Biomed Engineering is the right field for me, what are the advantages and disadvantages of this field and what am I up against, also are there a lot of jobs for this field? Thanks

47 weeks ago from Engineers

K. Alexander Ashe: You need to follow your passion. Passion can motivate you at 3 am after you've been up for the last 24 hours straight studying and skipping ice ...MoreYou need to follow your passion. Passion can motivate you at 3 am after you've been up for the last 24 hours straight studying and skipping ice cream socials and happy hours. If you have a passion for innovation and helping people then you are probably in the right field.

You will need to be very strong in mathematics to succeed in engineering. There are a few strategies for improving your math skills: meet regularly with your math profs and take note of their teaching methods and the books in there office, go to all of the Teacher Assistant help sessions, join study groups with the A students, use Khan Academy (http://www.khanacademy.org/), find good math reference books, and/or get a tutor.

Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis on Biomedical Engineering for career salary and growth estimates: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172031.htm


47 weeks ago
Tom: check out this thread... Morecheck out this thread... http://www.brazencareerist.com/conversation/807624 there are some ideas for testing yourself for career direction and personality type. Find other similar tests and decide if high level engineering feels right. It did not for me, but I had to learn by trial and error through my coursework - no massive amts of info at my fingertips back then. Once out in the field of chem eng'g, I landed in process/production work and that was just ok - I did fine but it didn't feel comfortable. I finally got into project work and loved it. Within eng'g fields there are many aspects - some demand the highest level of math, others more moderate levels. If you are struggling with calculus right now, get some help as Keith mentions. But, here is my thought - no amount of outside help can give you that inner confidence you will need to be successful in the long run unless you are able to eventually grasp the concepts on your own. If you get some help and suddenly things start to make sense and you find you no longer need the help, then you'll be fine - often it just takes the right assistance to get someone on the right track to succeed on their own.
47 weeks ago
 
Jessica How do I know if a career as a biomedical or biochemical engineer is right for me? I am pursuing this major when I attend college in the fall and I just want to know if I'm genuinely fit for this type of career. There are a couple engineers in my family, but I want to make sure this is the right path for me.

47 weeks ago from Engineers

K. Alexander Ashe: Hey Jessica. I am an Industrial Engineering. I work a the National Institutes of Health, a federal government agency. I manage a team of engineers ...MoreHey Jessica. I am an Industrial Engineering. I work a the National Institutes of Health, a federal government agency. I manage a team of engineers and biosafety experts that validate biosafety labs. This is one area that may fall under biocontainment/biomechanical engineering. I'd be delighted to connect you with other engineers working in this field.

As for choosing a major, I knew I wanted to be an engineer from an early age. The major you choose is just a stepping stone. I know many engineers that have gone into business or law. Engineers are hard-working, analytical problem-solvers who are very comfortable working with numbers and complex problems. If you like to solve complex problems, possess intellectual curiosity, and you want to use your knowledge to improve the world you definitely should be an engineer. Keep in mind that you will have other career options after graduation (law, medicine, business, non-profit) but your engineering studies will help you throughout your entire career.

47 weeks ago
Tom: I think back and wonder at how little I knew about chemical engineering when I selected it as my career choice. Turned out I did not care for some ...MoreI think back and wonder at how little I knew about chemical engineering when I selected it as my career choice. Turned out I did not care for some jobs but really liked others... if the discipline itself holds a strong interest for you, the other challenge will be finding the aspect that you will enjoy the most so will be most successful. I was lucky to experience a great deal working for a large company - production, tech support, environmental, projects, etc. I found out that project work was most satisfying to me.

There is no sure fire way to know in advance but you can try to do some research about yourself - here is one possible resource: http://www.onetcenter.org/

There are also the personality test like: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp but I think you can find one more detailed. I know the one I took asked far more questions.

And like Keith said - try to talk to those in different areas of the field.


47 weeks ago
 
Cynthia Welch I'm currently an associate product manager for a telecom company. I'm looking to move forward in my career. I have an int'l business/finance background but would like to continue in the technical marketing field. What applications and software programs should I master in order to move to the next level? Several jobs state MBA prefered however the executive MBA programs dont stress any technical programs. Should I bypass and learn some new skill and if so which ones?

48 weeks ago from Engineers

 
Mark W. Eric Fitch, MIT mech. engineering grad, is CEO of PurposeEnergy, Inc. whose company's slogan is "Saving the earth, one beer at a time. The slogan is catchy and a goal which he has attained. He invented and installed an anaerobic methane digester at Magic Hat Brewing Co. which extracts energy from the spent hops, barley and yeast left over from the brewing process — and it processes the plant's wastewater. The article at http://tinyurl.com/66ouqcs also mentions other brewers and solutions.

50 weeks ago from Beer, Economics and Finance, Engineers and Green and Environmental industries2 more

Megan Atkinson: Awesome article, Mark! Thanks for sharing it. I have always been fascinated with anaerobic digestion - primarily in landfills. But I might just be ...MoreAwesome article, Mark! Thanks for sharing it. I have always been fascinated with anaerobic digestion - primarily in landfills. But I might just be in love with them now that they can help the brewing industry. Too stinkin' cool.
50 weeks ago
Mark W.: I'm glad you liked it Megan. The funny thing is the way I happened to "find" my way to the article. I listened to Radio Health Journal ( MoreI'm glad you liked it Megan. The funny thing is the way I happened to "find" my way to the article. I listened to Radio Health Journal ( http://tinyurl.com/6k3wadg ) on the radio yesterday morning and one of the guests was Jonathon Bloom at the Wasted Food website ( http://tinyurl.com/dxvu2h ). One of the recent links mentioned this article at the Boston Globe. I went to the Boston Globe but was only able to read one page. If I wanted to read more I had to sign up to their site. Instead I found the article at another news source - Washington Examiner. So even though it was some work and a little bit of tracking using bread crumbs, it was worth the effort!
50 weeks ago
 
Brendan OConnell Lynn Bellenger, chair of National Engineers Week 2011, discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by 21st-century engineers. http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2011/02/experts-corner-qa-lynn-be...

51 weeks ago from Engineers

 
Dan Corbett MBA Lessons Learned #3: Team Collaboration Tools I recently completed my MBA at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business and have been looking back at my notes from the effort. While the courses have decidedly improved my knowledge base, perhaps the most important lessons occurred supplementary to the classroom.... http://www.dancorbett.net/2010/08/12/mba-lesson-3-team-collaboration-tools/

74 weeks ago from Rocky Mountain Networking, Graduate Students, Entrepreneurs, Engineers and Denver Careerists3 more

Tom: old post, but I'm new to BC and see no one commented here... first, I find it odd you had to look back at your notes, sounds like the lessons you ...Moreold post, but I'm new to BC and see no one commented here... first, I find it odd you had to look back at your notes, sounds like the lessons you learned did not sink in... or maybe you just posted this to direct people to your blog. Regardless, it is a decent opening for discussion and I am sad to see so little here. I returned to grad school in 2007 to get my MBA after a layoff at age 54, so I obvious had far more real world experience than nearly all the rest of my classmates combined. For me, it was my experience with teams and project management that helped me in the classroom. Most teams were assigned to ensure diversity and conflicting personalities existed. My biggest challenge was using my skills to help keep teams focused on the goal and diffuse arguments as well as keep those more introverted from being ignored. Keeping the lines of communication open and active for everyone is critical to coming up with the best solutions. It was especially challenging when I was not the team leader and the leader was not doing a good job leading. Keeping everyone on task and on schedule was generally not an issue, pretty much all classmates were motivated and solid contributors. For me, I found the supplementary aspects to classwork put much of my leadership and management classwork into practice and helped to refine my leadership and management abilities - exactly as designed! Also for me, the most important lessons were in the classroom. Being a chem eng and engaged in more tech work than business, I learned a great deal in finance and related areas, as well as international business. The MBA rounded out my knowledge of business and helped me to refine my management and leadership abilities. Unfortunately, it has done nothing to help me start a new career or find a new position.
51 weeks ago
 
Cynthia Welch thanks to everyone that posted comments about how they use Skype. Your comments were very much appreciated. It's great to have a forum where we can communicate about such topics.

52 weeks ago from Cloud Computing and Engineers

 
Ed Mejia I just finished my undergrad in Civil Engineering Technology. I will take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam this April. Afterward, I want to take the LEED Green Associate certification exam. I want to pursue a career in my field. Do you think this would be a good path to follow as a young engineer? What doors can open for me by taking this exams? Would graduate school be an option?

52 weeks ago from Engineers

Edward Antrobus: I can't comment on the LEED certification, but the FE is very important. Most larger firms are going to require the FE, and it's necessary to take ...MoreI can't comment on the LEED certification, but the FE is very important. Most larger firms are going to require the FE, and it's necessary to take the PE later on in life. My understanding is that Professional Engineer certification is required for going into business for yourself in engineering.
52 weeks ago
Tom: I'm a ChemE. In our world the fe/pe is of limited value unless you are dealing with regulatory issues or working in the public sector. In my ...MoreI'm a ChemE. In our world the fe/pe is of limited value unless you are dealing with regulatory issues or working in the public sector. In my younger years at big companies, there was never a need, and frankly, I did not know of a single engineer at either BFG or Oxy that had a PE. That said, working for a small, private company, it was useful at times, basically to certify certain regulatory programs we were required to establish, and it eliminated the need for the company to hire a licensed operator as long as I was able to oversee the operation.

From what I know of the civil eng'g world, the fe/pe is far more valuable since even in the private sector, the work often involves public projects or public operations such as water sytems. Nearly every civil eng I know has a PE. So you would be giving yourself more options for employment. If you want to work in the green building sector then you should go for for the LEED cert. If you have no interest, then why bother? It is doubtful that LEED will benefit you if your passion is building roads and bridges. But, it is a growing field so if you have an interest, then you will need the certification. I'd only recommend grad school if you have a strong desire to focus on one area.
52 weeks ago
 
TOP IDEA: Aurian Campbell I find that in my industry there is a certain amount of business banter that must occur prior to being able to make a genuine business connection. As a mental aid for networking functions, I've come up with this idea of a "credibility threshold" (that I illustrate using a nerdy graph: http://bit.ly/hnP9xP) that I feel must be reached before valuable networking can occur. Does this happen in your industry? Do you have to prove you're worth listening to before you can network effectively?

53 weeks ago from Global Careers and Business, Engineers and Future Leaders1 more

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Linda A. Hamilton: Aurian: When I'm in a conversation with younger professionals what strikes me is attitude. If we're engaging in a good sales conversstion and they ...MoreAurian: When I'm in a conversation with younger professionals what strikes me is attitude. If we're engaging in a good sales conversstion and they don't come off as arrogant and egotistical, when or if the conversation gets to a point where they may not know the answer I seek I may continue working with them recognizing their youth and inexperience. However, if their head is in the clouds and they come off like they know more and are wiser because youth has it while age doesn't, I will walk away either leave or avoid them. Respect is earned. If they earn my respect I will continue to work with them if I'm in a buying mood.
53 weeks ago
Aurian Campbell: Thanks so much for your comments! It's something I've been thinking about a lot, so I really appreciate the feedback :-).

@Tom - I think you hit ...MoreThanks so much for your comments! It's something I've been thinking about a lot, so I really appreciate the feedback :-).

@Tom - I think you hit the nail on the head re: younger people - just be interested in learning and ask good questions. You raise a good point about audience, though, too. The credibility threshold for a client would be completely different than for a colleague, and I know I'd use different tactics for crossing the threshold with an engineer than I would with an exec. I suppose it comes back to the old "know your audience" adage.

@Linda - you are so right that attitude makes or breaks it. I've seen many and enthusiastic young professionals crash and burn when they are faced with more experienced professionals for just that reason. There is a fine line between confidence that allows you to engage with those more experienced than you, and arrogance that will turn them off entirely.
53 weeks ago
 
Cynthia Welch I’m working on a marketing project at work and was wondering who do you know that uses Skype. How do you personally use Skype? Do you use it professionally or only for is it only personal use? What companies have you been in contact with that use Skype?

55 weeks ago from Engineers

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Amy: I've only used Skype personally. we contact family members and generally show craft projects or new furniture arrangements in the house. Our ...MoreI've only used Skype personally. we contact family members and generally show craft projects or new furniture arrangements in the house. Our kids love it (they are very small) because they can interact better with their grandparents.
54 weeks ago
Tom: skype has turned out to be a great tool for keeping in touch. I use it personally, initially just for some video chatting with family. However, we ...Moreskype has turned out to be a great tool for keeping in touch. I use it personally, initially just for some video chatting with family. However, we are now living in Oslo Norway so I bought a subscription with a US phone number. So now for $6.99/mo, I have unlimited calling to the US and if I am on wifi, it doesn't cost me any data usage. My wife got it initially when she came over here for a company conference in the summer. she uses it both personally and for business, so the US office can call her US number and avoid the int'l call charges. That said, I was not overly impressed by the quality and would not consider it for critical phone discussions due to some poor connections and dropped calls. But, since their recent outage, I have noticed a marked improvement in quality. If it continues, I'd not hesitate to recommend them.
53 weeks ago
 
Aurian Campbell Hey Brazen Engineers - If there are any Chems among us, I thought I could put in a quick plug for AIChE's ChEnected site: http://chenected.aiche.org/. Enjoy!

74 weeks ago from Engineers

 
Amanda Edgington I have been invited to the final step in the interviewing process for a position as a plant operator, and was told it would be an interactive day. We would be split into groups with other candidates and given a project to work on for the day to see how we work in groups and fit in with the company structure. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this type of interviewing style and could give some insight on what to expect or any suggestions on preparing.

75 weeks ago from Engineers

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Stanley Lee: I think just be yourself. If you try to fake it, people will notice and it will look bad on your honesty. Even if you get through, you would then ...MoreI think just be yourself. If you try to fake it, people will notice and it will look bad on your honesty. Even if you get through, you would then have to fake it every day (which opens up a can of worms). Good luck!
74 weeks ago
Adam Fendom: I've never been hired by a new plant startup, but again it sounds to me like you've already got the job. So congrats.

Best advice i can give ...MoreI've never been hired by a new plant startup, but again it sounds to me like you've already got the job. So congrats.

Best advice i can give would be to be charming and outgoing, there is a big chance that the people who've already been appointed to senior positions (teams are hired from the top down) will be wandering about scouting for people to ear mark for their team. Again shake those hands and say your name! Get remembered (positively) and you'll have a job.
The other option will be that they'll sit you down with a group of people/team for the team/group activities, and maybe two or three of that group/team will be people that have already been hired, and the group table you sit at might be where they plan on putting you in the plant or members of your future prospective department. In that case, be sure not to:
**Humiliate anyone in your group
**Be too bossy
**dominate
(hey it can happen, you won't automatically love everyone, and they won't automatically love you).

If it is all groups around tables stuff, Be sure during the "coffee-breaks" to shake hands and mingle, that's the part where people will get noticed for jobs in other departments outside of where HR thinks you should work. Getting snatched by another departments boss is a good thing, that's gonna mean that there are two people outside HR who want you to work in the organisation, and at least one person who going forward now has a vested interest in your success.

I'm not saying don't be yourself, just be your most charming and engaging self! which is tough.

A more cynical me, might suggest that you have some business cards (maybe even just cards with your name and university on it? if you don't have any business cards) to hand out. I'm not sure about that, and the idea springs from my problem that being charming, outgoing and engaging is something that i have trouble turning on... and i can be forgettable in a room full of people. I'd bet money on someone in the group doing it though.
I've never hired grads (or mass hired) but my memory for names is shocking, so if i was given a card... might help. Keep that for the mingling though, not any table or group activities.

Seriously, the the number one thing i've noticed that makes the difference about whether i get the job or not is my attitude. If i'm enthusiastic (literally asking "when can i start?") about the job/position, seals the deal. Also, show zero negativity, about anything!

Again, of course i could be way off base! but please let us know how it turns out, and good luck!

-A
74 weeks ago
 
Felipe engines are nice...word Dan

75 weeks ago from Engineers

 
Dan Corbett Tips for MBA Success I recently completed my MBA at the University of Colorado - Boulder and have been looking back at my notes from the effort. While the courses have decidedly improved my knowledge base, perhaps the most important lessons occurred supplementary to the classroom. Post #1: Team Building, Performance, and Leadership http://www.dancorbett.net/2010/07/13/mba-lessons-1-team-building-perform...

76 weeks ago from Engineers, Venture Capital, Rocky Mountain Networking, Denver Careerists and Business Development3 more

Travis Power: I am almost done with the Engineering Management Program at CU Boulder and have similar comments. In teams, the most important thing is to ...MoreI am almost done with the Engineering Management Program at CU Boulder and have similar comments. In teams, the most important thing is to determine motives of the "shareholders" (teamates)before starting. My best team experience have been aligned by their expectations especially when they are letter grades.

By asking expectations and what teamates want out of the team, what they want to learn, etc, you will be more likely to engage everyones interests when breaking up tasks.

In many situations it also will make sense to elect a leader but don't forget to assign responsibilities to the position. Get your teamates buy-in because in some cases the leaders opinion may be used as a tie-breaker but it should be previously agreed upon.

Lastly, decide on a method for communication. I'm a distance student, so my teams have to decide on how we'll communicate. Typically this involves scheduled meetings a week in advance, skype for communication during meetings, and some sort of file sharing webapp so we can share docs throughout the project. We've used google docs for this.
76 weeks ago
 
Pete Collins Should you take a gap year before college/university? I ended up taking two "gap years" before I went to university, but I prefer to think of them as a time when I did interesting things, and surely that shouldn't be constrained to just a year? http://wp.me/puFgS-S

77 weeks ago from Brazen Bloggers, Wordpress Bloggers, Social Entrepreneurs, Engineers and Location Independent3 more

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stephen levine: My guess is that when to take a gap year (or 2) is a matter of personal preference. I went straight from high school to college because I thought ...MoreMy guess is that when to take a gap year (or 2) is a matter of personal preference. I went straight from high school to college because I thought that if I ever lost my momentum I'd never go back. The result was that I pushed myself through college and did not get the most out of the college experience. I think a year or two of maturity (in my case maybe more) might have helped me make better choices, but I don't think there's a "one size fits all" rule.
77 weeks ago
Clare Herbert: The term 'gap year' is a little vague. It depends what you do with the time, I think. I've been alternating between paid work, volunteering and ...MoreThe term 'gap year' is a little vague. It depends what you do with the time, I think. I've been alternating between paid work, volunteering and traveling since I left college and am know settling down into a 'proper' job. What you do with the year is more important than what you call it. IMHO.
76 weeks ago
 
Kelly Seiler Casting call for this new TV show! Its called Nerd Girls... a reality show about stylish women engineering students who get to do awesome projects. Watch the video; it looks awesome! http://www.nerdgirls.com/casting

77 weeks ago from Engineers

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Kelly Seiler: Did you watch the video? It looks like they're going to focus on engineers helping the world and touch on some of the perception challenges women ...MoreDid you watch the video? It looks like they're going to focus on engineers helping the world and touch on some of the perception challenges women face. Of course since it's TV it's somewhat fashion focused... you can only ask for so much ;)
77 weeks ago
Chris Gammell: I watched it and I didn't like it...granted, it was only for the casting call. To be honest, they're targeting the wrong type of woman/girl. You ...MoreI watched it and I didn't like it...granted, it was only for the casting call. To be honest, they're targeting the wrong type of woman/girl. You can't sell engineering as sexy, it just won't ever be. You can sell it as making a difference (which like you said, they're doing), but it looks like they're adding the "style" aspect to appeal to a wider audience. That's the problem. You have to find the young women that are intrigued by designing things and taking things apart (like the MAKE magazine kind of projects for kids). If you don't have that, you've lost the battle because regardless of how much "style" there is, it still requires an underlying curiosity and willingness to dig into problems.
77 weeks ago
 
TOP IDEA: Pete Collins How does your company communicate with you, and within itself? I work in a large company and the emphasis is still on "top-down" communication. http://petejamescollins.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/how-do-large-companies-...

81 weeks ago from Engineers, Blogging Ideas, Wordpress Bloggers, Economics and Finance and UK3 more

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Pete Collins: Hey Kelly. Out of interest, how big is your company? I'm still interested in the idea of how many you need for a "critical mass" to make wikis ...MoreHey Kelly. Out of interest, how big is your company? I'm still interested in the idea of how many you need for a "critical mass" to make wikis and other social tools self-sustaining. Seeing as we both work for engineering firms, I'd have thought our companies would be ideal for this kind of thing. I wonder if engineering is a conservative profession (which is usually a good thing in this case!).
Thinking out loud, perhaps communication within groups (not just companies) is best at very small and very large scales, but poorer in the middle. Two people working together should be able to communicate very well, as would any group up to a small-office-full. At the other end, the huge number of Wikipedia users and editors keep that ticking along very nicely. Perhaps large companies have both too many people for face-to-face interaction to be effective, but too few to get the critical mass to use social media effectively. There's definitely a blog post in that I think.
81 weeks ago
Kelly Seiler: My company is as big as they come... 120,000+ employees. We have enough employees to make the wiki self sustaining. It isn't promoted within the ...MoreMy company is as big as they come... 120,000+ employees. We have enough employees to make the wiki self sustaining. It isn't promoted within the company - I only happened to find out about it by accident. Even if people find it most don't really realize that they can edit stuff.
81 weeks ago
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