Professionalism Is Key to Career Growth for Mechanical Engineers
Professionalism Is Key to Career Growth for Mechanical Engineers
Technical skills may open doors for mechanical engineers. But professionalism helps these professionals build trust, demonstrate reliability, prove adaptability, and advance their careers.
Recent mechanical engineering graduates may enter the workforce with strong technical skills. But it takes more than that to have a successful career. Developing professionalism is critical for advancing to the next level.
But what does professionalism mean?
The dictionary definition of professionalism is “The skill, good judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well.” So, technical skills are part of the equation. But it goes beyond that to your behavior and your character.
“It’s how you demonstrate certain characteristics in your work,” said Chris Olson, mechanical manager at Sargent & Lundy, who has served as a mentor for the ASME L.E.A.D. program (which stands for Leadership, Education, and Development). “For example, it includes reliability, integrity, and respect for the work you’re doing and for others around you.”
Tiffani Teachey, senior mechanical engineer at Westinghouse Electric Company, said professionalism is about “how you consistently show up” with integrity, accountability, and respect.
“It’s not just about appearance and titles. It’s about trust and character,” said Teachey, who mentors interns and young engineers at her company. “Can people rely on your work and your word?”
In addition to being trustworthy and respectful, there are a variety of other key characteristics of behaving in a professional manner. It requires developing your “soft skills,” including:
• Communication
Your technical skills are key as you work on engineering projects, but you also need strong verbal and written communication skills, so you can explain your work to both engineers and non-engineers, Teachey said.
Additionally, in today’s digital world, Olson added, you’ve got to be able to communicate in a variety of different ways. This includes using email, video calls, and other forms of electronic communications to get your ideas across. This requires understanding the proper etiquette and ensuring the correct tone. Both can be easily misconstrued in a text or email.
• Reliability
Being reliable—consistently showing up on time, meeting deadlines, and delivering quality work—plays a big part in being a professional, Teachey said. “There’s a lot of pressure. And I see a lot of young ones who struggle with deadlines,” she said. “But being realistic and telling people you’re struggling is also important.” That’s another place where good communication skills come into play.
To be reliable, you need strong time management skills as well, Olson said. “How you manage your time is critical because you’re never working on one project at a time. So, you need to be able to prioritize and figure out what’s most important in that moment.”
• Accountability
It’s important for engineers to take ownership of their work. “Young engineers often need specific direction. I try to grow them out of that very quickly,” said Olson. “We need people who have the ability to work on their own. And, once they finish a task, to identify what comes next without having to be told. That kind of independent thinking is a skill we look for.”
Teachey says that part of owning your work means that “if you make a mistake, you are able to admit it. That’s how credibility is built early in your career.”
Taking initiative is also a big part of being accountable for your own work and career, she added. “Go beyond what’s required. Ask questions. Seek and take advantage of opportunities,” Teachey recommended.
• Adaptability
“We want engineers who are adaptable,” Olson said. “You might think you have one set of data. And all it takes is one visit to the field, and suddenly that data is changed substantially. So, you have to be able to change and think on your feet and address how those changes affect your project.”
• Conflict resolution
Unfortunately, when working with others, conflicts are bound to come up from time to time, said Olson. It’s important to know how to handle those situations in a professional manner.
“People will be people, and you’ve got to have strong conflict-resolution skills to be able to diffuse those problems and figure out how to work together,” he said.
• Teamwork
Engineers are often working on team projects. So, you need to be a good team player. To do this well you need all the skills previously mentioned, including communication, reliability, accountability, adaptability, and conflict-resolution skills.
“I want people who are going to be willing to do what is needed for the team to succeed and not just looking out for themselves—people who go the extra mile,” Olson said.
While professionalism is valuable for any young professional, it’s even more important for mechanical engineers.
“The work we do as engineers directly impacts public safety, so we have higher expectations placed on us for ethical behavior,” Olson said. “There are codes of ethics we’re expected to follow.”
According to Teachey, “In engineering, it’s important to understand that whatever decision you make, it can affect lives. So, it takes professionalism to the next level, and it carries a different weight.”
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Ethics plays a major role in an engineer’s entire career. And while public safety is a huge factor, there are other considerations as well, Olson said. “Be it ethics in business, public safety, or dealing with government affairs, how they carry themselves and do that work is really important. So, we want to instill that early on.”
And professional behavior for a mechanical engineer should continue even after hours to protect your own reputation and that of your organization.
“The industry is small, and people will see you even when you don’t think you’re visible,” Olson said. “Even if you’re not on the clock, you should carry yourself like you are when you’re out in public. So, for example, if you go to the ballgame, be sensible and control your behavior. Don’t drink excessively or act foolish.”
Social media is another public place in which to be careful, Teachey said. A lot of people don’t think about their professional reputation when posting on social media, but your posts are out there for the world to see—and they can exist for many years to come.
Whether it’s oversharing private details of your life or engaging in political arguments, social media content can impact both your current and future jobs. “Before you post something, pause and ask yourself, ‘If a future employer or client sees this, would that be OK?’” Teachey advised.
There are many ways young mechanical engineers can develop professionalism. Teachey and Olson offer the following recommendations:
• Find a mentor. Seek out an experienced engineer and meet with them regularly. They will provide feedback and guidance that will help you grow.
• Network with others in the field and make sure they see your professionalism. Those relationships will help you find opportunities to advance your career.
• Join professional organizations like ASME. That will help you build your network and provide educational resources.
• Take on challenging opportunities in your job. This will help you make a name for yourself and get a reputation for doing great work.
Taking these steps will help boost your professionalism. And by combining technical expertise with professional behavior, you’ll stand out, earn trust, and build a happy and successful mechanical engineering career.
Claudia Hoffacker is an independent writer in Minneapolis.
But what does professionalism mean?
The dictionary definition of professionalism is “The skill, good judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well.” So, technical skills are part of the equation. But it goes beyond that to your behavior and your character.
“It’s how you demonstrate certain characteristics in your work,” said Chris Olson, mechanical manager at Sargent & Lundy, who has served as a mentor for the ASME L.E.A.D. program (which stands for Leadership, Education, and Development). “For example, it includes reliability, integrity, and respect for the work you’re doing and for others around you.”
Tiffani Teachey, senior mechanical engineer at Westinghouse Electric Company, said professionalism is about “how you consistently show up” with integrity, accountability, and respect.
“It’s not just about appearance and titles. It’s about trust and character,” said Teachey, who mentors interns and young engineers at her company. “Can people rely on your work and your word?”
Developing soft skills
In addition to being trustworthy and respectful, there are a variety of other key characteristics of behaving in a professional manner. It requires developing your “soft skills,” including: • Communication
Your technical skills are key as you work on engineering projects, but you also need strong verbal and written communication skills, so you can explain your work to both engineers and non-engineers, Teachey said.
Additionally, in today’s digital world, Olson added, you’ve got to be able to communicate in a variety of different ways. This includes using email, video calls, and other forms of electronic communications to get your ideas across. This requires understanding the proper etiquette and ensuring the correct tone. Both can be easily misconstrued in a text or email.
• Reliability
Being reliable—consistently showing up on time, meeting deadlines, and delivering quality work—plays a big part in being a professional, Teachey said. “There’s a lot of pressure. And I see a lot of young ones who struggle with deadlines,” she said. “But being realistic and telling people you’re struggling is also important.” That’s another place where good communication skills come into play.
To be reliable, you need strong time management skills as well, Olson said. “How you manage your time is critical because you’re never working on one project at a time. So, you need to be able to prioritize and figure out what’s most important in that moment.”
• Accountability
It’s important for engineers to take ownership of their work. “Young engineers often need specific direction. I try to grow them out of that very quickly,” said Olson. “We need people who have the ability to work on their own. And, once they finish a task, to identify what comes next without having to be told. That kind of independent thinking is a skill we look for.”
Teachey says that part of owning your work means that “if you make a mistake, you are able to admit it. That’s how credibility is built early in your career.”
Taking initiative is also a big part of being accountable for your own work and career, she added. “Go beyond what’s required. Ask questions. Seek and take advantage of opportunities,” Teachey recommended.
• Adaptability
“We want engineers who are adaptable,” Olson said. “You might think you have one set of data. And all it takes is one visit to the field, and suddenly that data is changed substantially. So, you have to be able to change and think on your feet and address how those changes affect your project.”
• Conflict resolution
Unfortunately, when working with others, conflicts are bound to come up from time to time, said Olson. It’s important to know how to handle those situations in a professional manner.
“People will be people, and you’ve got to have strong conflict-resolution skills to be able to diffuse those problems and figure out how to work together,” he said.
• Teamwork
Engineers are often working on team projects. So, you need to be a good team player. To do this well you need all the skills previously mentioned, including communication, reliability, accountability, adaptability, and conflict-resolution skills.
“I want people who are going to be willing to do what is needed for the team to succeed and not just looking out for themselves—people who go the extra mile,” Olson said.
A higher level of professionalism
While professionalism is valuable for any young professional, it’s even more important for mechanical engineers. “The work we do as engineers directly impacts public safety, so we have higher expectations placed on us for ethical behavior,” Olson said. “There are codes of ethics we’re expected to follow.”
According to Teachey, “In engineering, it’s important to understand that whatever decision you make, it can affect lives. So, it takes professionalism to the next level, and it carries a different weight.”
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And professional behavior for a mechanical engineer should continue even after hours to protect your own reputation and that of your organization.
“The industry is small, and people will see you even when you don’t think you’re visible,” Olson said. “Even if you’re not on the clock, you should carry yourself like you are when you’re out in public. So, for example, if you go to the ballgame, be sensible and control your behavior. Don’t drink excessively or act foolish.”
Social media is another public place in which to be careful, Teachey said. A lot of people don’t think about their professional reputation when posting on social media, but your posts are out there for the world to see—and they can exist for many years to come.
Whether it’s oversharing private details of your life or engaging in political arguments, social media content can impact both your current and future jobs. “Before you post something, pause and ask yourself, ‘If a future employer or client sees this, would that be OK?’” Teachey advised.
Tips for building professionalism
There are many ways young mechanical engineers can develop professionalism. Teachey and Olson offer the following recommendations:• Find a mentor. Seek out an experienced engineer and meet with them regularly. They will provide feedback and guidance that will help you grow.
• Network with others in the field and make sure they see your professionalism. Those relationships will help you find opportunities to advance your career.
• Join professional organizations like ASME. That will help you build your network and provide educational resources.
• Take on challenging opportunities in your job. This will help you make a name for yourself and get a reputation for doing great work.
Taking these steps will help boost your professionalism. And by combining technical expertise with professional behavior, you’ll stand out, earn trust, and build a happy and successful mechanical engineering career.
Claudia Hoffacker is an independent writer in Minneapolis.
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