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Deterministic versus reductionist thinking in the AE industry
Morrissey Goodale outlines how reductionist and deterministic thinking hinder AE firm growth and why they should be avoided.
Why your next new hire should be an intern
If you don’t already, invite a high school or college student to shadow you for a day
Taking ownership of your career
When beginning your career journey, it's important to learn, absorb, engage and grow to find success and thrive. Four tips are highlighted.
Women in healthcare design are making an impact
Abbie Clary, director of CannonDesign's global health practice, discusses the future of healthcare design, what it takes for women to lead in male-dominated industries and more. See video.
How remote working helps people share knowledge, experiences
Working remotely is forcing people to collaborate and coming up with more innovation solutions in new ways, which can inspire and build confidence in a team.
Teambuilding strategies to optimize talent
Building the foundation for a strong team requires a clear vision and recognizing the unique talents and skills each worker brings and optimizing them for the entire team.
Learn from one another whenever possible
Engineers, regardless of their skill or experience, can always learn something new and should strive to gain knowledge from all corners to be a better employee and mentor/mentee.
Why women are creating new paths in the construction industry
Women are paving new roads in and beyond the construction industry, and are helping change leadership and inspiration
Career advice for aspiring engineers
Southland Industries engineers provide insight and career advice on what it means to be an engineer
Why engineers should get involved
Whether it is with a professional organization, within your community or in the workplace, getting involved can open many doors for young professionals
How my study abroad experience has helped me in the workforce
When I found out about the opportunity to join around 40 other students on a trip across Europe to study architecture from the other side of the world, I figured I would give it a shot.
Three pieces of advice for taking a leadership role in your professional association
Here are the three most important steps to take to position yourself for a leadership role in your association of choice.
How can I manage change successfully within my organization?
Are there qualities that a leader needs to have to successfully manage change?
Improving your client’s experience
We know that a strong client experience is what keeps clients happy. But what we’ve wrestled with is learning what the best client experience looks like, because often it can look different for each client.
Communicating with fellow engineers
What’s the best way to connect? Like many other responses to questions about engineering, the answer is “it depends”
Why Talent Strategy Should Influence Organizational Strategy and Master Planning Efforts
As organizations refine their long-term strategies, the emphasis on integrating talent, technology, and real estate perspectives into master planning efforts becomes critical.
So, now what do I do with my degree?
Young professionals are overwhelmed with the amount of knowledge, skills and experience they are expected to have as soon as their degree is conferred upon them
International project management with Dave George, Architecture and Engineering Program Management Expert
It’s critical that you incorporate the host nation’s requirements and that your designs are constructible in that country.
Owner Perspective: Project Success Hinges on Partnership at All Levels
With innovations in technology, there is not a single person on a new project that understands 100% of all the building systems and how they work together.
Demystifying the Translational Workplace: Six Strategies for Open Innovation and Knowledge Transfer
The 21st century has seen remarkable healthcare breakthroughs. These advances are largely driven by the speed at which organizations can translate scientific discoveries to applications that benefit patients and communities.
How to retain and recall what you read
Follow these three steps to remember what you’ve read or learned.
Using lean methods to find process improvements
Be involved in improving the work environment around you.
Hear from an engineer: What does the future have in store
In honor of Engineers Week, we asked several professionals around the country to share a piece of advice with the next generation of engineers and pick out what future engineering technology they are most excited for.
The Workplace Tango: How to Leverage Design and Culture’s Two-Way Relationship for Better Workplaces
Far too often, company leaders view the workplace as a container that responds to existing culture and not a change agent to inspire culture change.
Keeping relevant
Staying up-to-date with engineering trends will allow you to quickly shift if change is necessary.
The Benefits of Keeping MEP and Civil Engineering Under One Roof
The ongoing cooperation between MEP and civil engineering teams keeps projects more organized, transparent, and cost-effective.
How to grow and manage a successful co-op/internship program
Consider factors that make your co-op program unique from other engineering firms.
Set new engineering habits
These four engineering trends may help you decide what to change in the new year.
Finding purpose in a job
What keeps an employee happy? It turns out it’s not just money.
Salaries fall slightly, job outlook remains high
Job satisfaction is high, and employees are generally positive. Compare your salary and company structure to find out where you stand against others in your field.
Don’t reinvent the wheel, refine the heck out of it
Arriving at the final answer can be arduous and time consuming without a path to follow.
AEC industry strategy briefing: fat and happy? Get back to the gym
Watch this video to learn more about how to keep your engineering firm in good shape.
AEC Industry Strategy Briefing: Negative Assessments. Pure Gold!
Learn how to react to negative assessments in a way that will benefit you and your firm.
Who’s going to take your job?
Older workers are retiring, and there are too few junior team members to take their places.
Women in engineering Q&A
Contributed by Katherine Dewkett, Lynne Putnam, Kelly Rosofsky, Crystal Weatherington, Rachel Vandenberg, Josephine Schuster, Pamela Kistner & Jamie Moehling
Three ways to prepare your firm for sale
Business owners need to maintain proper reporting and financials, build a forecast, and build trusted relationships.
Tracking the fitness of buildings
Without measurement and verification, even the most efficient product or system won’t do the trick.
Engineering—a vocation and a vision
Engineers and building professionals often see themselves as fulfilling a vocation. But there are not enough junior-level people to fill in the gaps.
What millennials expect in the workforce
Organizations need to adapt and understand what millennials want in a work environment.
40 Under 40 winners shine
The 2018 40 Under 40 winners are full of knowledge, innovation, and exceptional dedication to buildings and engineering.
A torturous, terrific tracking exercise
By tracking each little thing we did throughout the workday, we learned what was important—and how to shed the less important or time-wasting things.
Six trends in engineering hiring for 2018 and beyond
In 2018, engineering companies are shifting their tactics when it comes to hiring, and some of these trends may be surprising—even to those in the industry.
Choosing Engineering: Creating That Which has Never Been
Choosing Engineering as a career path means working to create new perspectives and opportunities.
Engineering Week: Changing the Conversation Around Engineering
Engineering is no longer exclusively for people who love science and math. Engineering can be a fulfilling career for creative types as well.
New Year’s habits
Though Jan. 1 has come and gone, it’s never too late to start a habit that will benefit you in upcoming months.
How parental leave policies can benefit your bottom line
Promoting a healthy work-life balance aids recruiting and retention for architecture and engineering firms.
How to create productive working relationships
Understanding how to properly communicate with decision-makers is key to a successful building project.
Profile of a consulting engineer
Building professionals continue to work more hours on smaller teams. What does your job look like?
How to instill work ethic into millennials
Work ethic is part of an individual's personal values and much like a company's corporate values, they must be taught and modeled daily.
Staffing disconnects
A recent research study shows there is a disconnect between what junior staff need and what they’re getting at their firm.
Five tips on how to get published in trade publications
Expand your professional portfolio by contributing to trade magazines.
To mentor and be mentored: What does it really look like?
Debunking mentorship myths within the engineering industry.
Six principles for mastering the art of project management
Project managers reveal their secrets to success.
Mentoring creates a competitive advantage
Developing and maintaining a mentoring program within an organization can help grow the bottom line.
How engineering firms can enhance value through software and intellectual property
Enhanced technology will provide the tools to create more value for engineering firms.
Workplace insight: State of the American workplace
While the findings of Gallup's state of the American workplace report are great tools for creating productive and innovative workers, company-level assessments are necessary tools as well.
Balancing risk and reward while processing nondisclosure agreements in a M&A process
NDA documents are legal contracts that came take time to execute. Educated buyers and sellers can avoid some of these typical issues that challenge efficient processing and enable a smoother transaction.
Three principles to successful project management
Respect, praise, and embracing grace is the foundation of effective leadership.
How to update your LinkedIn profile for career advancement
A LinkedIn profile can help position you for the next step in your career.
Top 4 job-hunting tips
Finding a job in engineering takes skill, focus, and persistence.
How to become an expert communicator
Having proper and effective communication skills—oral and written—are vital to career development.
How to develop a speech into a must-attend event
Understanding the audience is vital to a successful speech and growing your reputation within the industry.
Building a winning team
Mentoring, training, and educating entry- and mid-level engineering team members will pay off in the long run.
Practicing the art of good research
In a growing digital age, engineers need to ditch the instant-gratification mentality and develop in-depth research skills.
The coming engineering shortage
The engineering industry must address the skills gap.
The recipe to becoming a principal engineer
Start developing your skill set early.
The culture of successful leadership
Everything about business begins with people.
Justify your actions
Unless more of us step up and take action in our company, community, and country, indifference will simply take over and not a lot will get done.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, September 5-11: Lowering fan energy use, avoid self-sabotaging your engineering career, LED lighting specifications, more
Articles about lowering fan energy use, avoid self-sabotaging your engineering career, LED lighting specifications, MEP Giants, and LEDs for retrofit projects were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, September 5-11. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.
Selecting education to enhance your career
Consulting engineers have a wealth of options to expand their knowledge: webcasts, in-person education, and manufacturers’ coursework.
How to avoid self-sabotaging your engineering career
Avoiding certain mindsets can mean professional success in your engineering career.
The future of professional engineers: talent and career preparation
Young engineers are an important resource for firms—recruiting, training, and retaining fresh talent is important for a company’s future success. Here, engineers with experience in attracting and developing new talent share advice to help their professional development while increasing their value to the company. Many professional engineers practice various methods to reach out to new, potential talent and have great industry advice.
The future of professional engineers: communication
Young engineers are an important resource for firms—recruiting, training, and retaining fresh talent is important for a company’s future success. Here, engineers with experience in attracting and developing new talent share advice to help their professional development while increasing their value to the company. Engineering firms address how senior and new talent communicate.
The future of professional engineers: retention
Young engineers are an important resource for firms—recruiting, training, and retaining fresh talent is important for a company’s future success. Here, engineers with experience in attracting and developing new talent share advice to help their professional development while increasing their value to the company. Engineering firms also discuss how they are retaining new talent and the progress of young engineers.
The future of professional engineers: training and mentoring
Young engineers are an important resource for firms—recruiting, training, and retaining fresh talent is important for a company’s future success. Here, engineers with experience in attracting and developing new talent share advice to help their professional development while increasing their value to the company. Engineering firms have a number of different training programs, formal, and informal mentoring programs for new talent.
The future of professional engineers: recruitment
Young engineers are an important resource for firms—recruiting, training, and retaining fresh talent is important for a company’s future success. Here, engineers with experience in attracting and developing new talent share advice to help their professional development while increasing their value to the company. Many engineers have varying methods regarding how they recruit new talent.
New job launch control—a dissenting view
Make an impression that will last and don’t hold back.
Three tips to mull over when starting a project
Learn to communicate effectively throughout the life of a building project.
Three ways to ease succession planning
Address common challenges with ownership transition.
Support power engineers of the future, today
The IEEE Power & Energy Society consists of more than 33,000 power engineering technical professionals worldwide. Deadline for IEEE PES Scholarship application is June 30.
Are you a 21st-century leader?
Leaders can position themselves as leaders, rather than waiting.
Finding passion in your work
Time for a gut check: Are you passionate about what you do?
Five tips for hiring the right talent
Don’t lose the war for engineering talent. Staffing plans facilitate company growth.
Changing the narrative
Rethinking ways to attract and retain African-American women in academic engineering — while understanding the intersection of race and gender — has never been more important. These women are showing the way.
Begin as you mean to carry on
The first day on the job will set the tone for success.
Pitching yourself and presenting your ideas effectively
Based upon a “classic” from the SWE Learning Center webinar series, timeless insights on how to effectively present oneself bear repeating.
Lead your engineering firm into the future
Two ways to handle succession planning: prepare the next generation for leadership and attract talented millennials.
How to spot and tap emerging trends
Get ahead of the pack by proactively feeding your brain and passively recognizing emerging trends.
Workplace trends demand greater depth and breadth of skills
Success in today’s workplace calls for expanded capabilities, from demonstrating technical expertise to meeting with clients, or working with teams across disciplines, companies, and countries. The implications are vast, particularly for millennials.
Driven to win
Each year’s group of 40 Under 40 award winners stands above its peers professionally and personally. Do you know someone like this? Nominate them today.
Women in engineering: a review of the 2014 literature
SWE’s assessment of the most significant research found in the past year’s social science literature on women engineers and women in STEM disciplines.
Six ways to develop high-performance teams
Functional engineering teams must be built on a solid base.
Three risks facing consulting engineers
Prepare for these business calamities to avoid risk.
Expand responsibilities with business development
By standing out, engineers can make an impact at their firm.
What employers want
Learn to balance both your technical and interpersonal skills.
Relax, rejuvenate, reinvigorate
American workers—engineers in particular—can benefit from taking a much-needed vacation.
Five keys to selecting an equity partner
Selecting the right private equity partner is like getting married—know your partner.
Your questions answered: How to thrive in the ‘nontraditional’ engineering work world
Engineers' jobs and workplaces are rapidly changing. Take this advice to ease the transition.
Inspiration for innovation
Looking backward helps to see forward that innovation is needed, and that innovation needs hard work and collaboration.
Your questions answered: Selling in or selling out: deciding which ownership transition path to take
What’s the succession plan for your engineering firm? Nick Belitz of Morrissey Goodale responds to unanswered questions from the July 31 webcast event.
It’s not personal, it’s just business—or is it?
Leaders who seek and embrace ways to manage inherent personal aspects of business will create great companies.
Executive thinking and decisions
Follow these three management tips to succeed as an executive.
Planning for the future
Succession planning is key for any company. Whether it’s a formal program or less formal mentoring, putting a plan in place will ensure your engineering firm’s future success.
Three tips for effective mentoring
Mentoring young engineering employees is key to their success.
Work smarter, not harder
By incorporating new tools and ideas into the engineering process, firms can enhance their business development in several shrewd ways.
Is an international assignment right for you?
Consider these 5 questions if you’d like to work abroad.
Women, minorities in engineering
Both women and minorities face similar challenges in the engineering workplace.
Stay ahead of the curve
Use these three resources to stay on top of your engineering game.
Where do ideas come from?
Ask some basic questions to generate new ideas.
Top 10 business trends to watch in 2015
Engineering firms should watch these business and technology trends as we move into 2015.
Engineering education takes a global approach
An increased appreciation of the value of diversity has helped fuel an emphasis on engineering education that includes international study and an overall global focus.
Four trends to watch in 2015
Engineers should keep tabs on these four trends as they start planning for 2015. Things to watch: water, workforce development, smart technologies, and the health care industry.
Seven keys to higher team productivity
Building a project team? Use these seven tips.
Transforming battery technology
From the nickel-iron batteries made for the first electric automobiles in the early 20th century— to the efforts of today’s engineers and scientists to improve capabilities — the potential applications for batteries have grown far beyond vehicles and raise critical issues.
Are you recruiting the best candidates?
Ask these seven questions to determine if you’re hiring wisely.
Global collaborations introduce great possibilities
Scientific and technological collaborations across countries and cultures can offer more than exciting breakthroughs — as significant as those may be — by making inclusion a priority. When women’s contributions are acknowledged, and developing countries have access to adequate resources, such collaborations also offer hope to create the greatest global good.
Bad bosses, not money, are driving AEC professionals to leave their jobs
According to a new survey conducted by Morrissey Goodale LLC, nearly a quarter (24%) of AEC firm leaders reported that a poor relationship with the boss was the primary reason why their latest key hires left their previous firms.
Everything starts with an idea
Spend more time thinking—you’ll help your clients more.
Giving back
By volunteering, you can give back to your community, inspire a future engineer or scientist, and learn about yourself.
Women engineering leaders in academe 2014
Reflections on the insights and perspectives gleaned from more than a decade of tracking and interviewing women engineering deans.
Second Generation Bias – A Subtle but Powerful Presence
Deeply embedded and frequently unconscious cultural and organizational biases can be challenged both through small “wins” and by establishing policies that take a whole organization rather than a women-only approach.
Suggestions for a long, fulfilling career
Take these suggestions to heart for a successful career.
Productivity power tools
Harness the power of cognitive science to enhance your productivity. Change your workday in these three ways.
Technology, entertainment, and design: Ideas worth spreading
We all look to find inspiration in our lives, and TED talks are popular for this very reason. They furnish a continually updated source of information, motivation, common-sense advice, and entertainment that is easy to share.
Build success via relationships
A business’ success does not rely solely on its experienced engineers or research reports. Relationships with individuals are vital to business development and professional advancement.
A Call for Inclusion
Supporting the diversity of the profession and broadening participation in engineering are dual goals that will help transform STEM disciplines.
Building skills with social media, webinars, and blogs
Typically associated with personal and recreational activity, social media has a pivotal role to play in career development.
Top five things female engineers should know
Female engineers, take this career advice to heart.
The art of engineering consulting—Part 1: Getting started
Here are three steps to starting an engineering-consulting practice.
10 ways to improve strategic planning
These 10 tips will give business leaders strategic planning tools to set the direction for their firm’s success.
Take initiative in your engineering career
By focusing on opportunities, career advancement is possible at any point.
Top 10 things to include on your resume
Look at your resume from the interviewer’s perspective, not your own.
The power of one: Making a difference personally, professionally
Each person has the unique ability to have an impact on the environment around him.
How to manage your boss
Master these three tactics to optimize your relationships with superiors.
Five tips on how to delegate
Delegation is leadership—here are the secrets for effective delegation.
Tackle workforce issues in three ways
At the NEBB Annual Conference, speaker Shirley T. Ramos discussed engineering workforce issues, including retention and management.
Demand what you’re worth
To gain more respect, demand what you want—or even say no.
Executive coaching isn’t just for the C-suite
How coaching can support career goals at all levels.
Video: Business management for decision makers
What do engineering managers need to create effective strategic plans? Watch this video to learn more.
SWE offers online career development conference
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) will host its first online career development conference in March.
Female engineers should get creative
An enhanced focus on creativity in engineering along with a reduced emphasis on classical tool collection may encourage women students to remain in the profession.
Supervisors, managers: Win the war, not the battle
Be sure you know the ultimate goal.
How to offer your expertise to solve your client’s problem
Use these four steps to ensure a successful expert-client relationship.
And the engineering beat goes on
Finally—one of the kids sees the engineering light.
Have you written a fan letter lately?
Taking the time to recognize the efforts of your peers, colleagues, or clients could make all the difference.
Doing real things
Getting your hands dirty on the job can teach invaluable skills.
Five reasons high school students should choose engineering
A flexible career path and positive job outlook are among the benefits of pursuing job in engineering.
Managing micromanagers
How to deal with a micromanager. Or, how to not be a micromanager.
A senior moment
Deep thoughts from one of the nation's senior engineers.
Finding your natural motivation
Several books offer resources for employees and managers to help boost that internal drive to excel.
Mentor tomorrow’s engineers—and possibly your future boss
Set aside time to listen to the wisdom of our young engineers.
Engineers take charge of upskilling for career development
The 2013 Kelly Global Workforce Index shows a new wave of empowered engineers who understand that investing in skills is central to staying relevant.
Step away from the keyboard
Building strong personal relationships based on trust and confidence in your colleagues will continue to be the cornerstone of your professional success.
Managing your future as a supervisor
Use these five tips to proactively manage your professional transition to management.
Empathy engineering
The best way to be practical and usable is to completely understand your customer.
Open protocol
Can technology make you smarter? Maybe not, but it can make you more efficient.
Ingredients for a quality onboarding program
There are a number of ways to welcome new hires that can be critical to building positive employee-employer relationships.
How to jump-start a new hire
The first 45 days of a new hire’s job are the most important.
Age with dignity—and a protégé
Engineers need to work with Generation X and Y employees to shore up their firm’s knowledge base.
A glimpse into the future of engineering
Today's mentors create tomorrow's engineers.
Business travel: Mitigating a necessary evil
Make travel easier, more efficient, and more relaxing
Preserving your firm’s tribal knowledge
Succession planning is key to ensuring your firm’s future success.
Finding a leadership and management balance
Balancing leadership through management is critical.
Use personality typing to increase profits
Personality typing can be a valuable tool in helping your firm transform the way it does work, which can be a significant advantage in this economy.
Know the lien rights for engineering services
Consult with an attorney to ensure the proper legal procedure is followed to maintain and perfect that lien.
How to make meetings better
It’s up to you to make meetings more effective. Here are four ideas.
Master these 10 common graces
The consummate professional rounds technical skills with a few common graces.
Presentation Skills That Sell You and Your Ideas
Speaker: Danielle Turcola, President, Professionalism International Inc.
Creating Your Firm’s Design Standards and Quality Assurance Program
Speaker: Brian Rener, PE, LEED AP, Manager, electrical platform leader and manager of quality assurance, M+W Group, Chicago
Differentiating Yourself from the Rest of the Engineering Stiffs
Speaker: Peter C. Harrod, PE, Cosentini
Networking to Develop Your Business
Speaker: Brian Alcorn, PE, LC, Franchise Owner and Trainer, Referral Institute
How To Spin Off A New Consulting Firm
Speaker: Mike Walters, PE, LEED AP, Principal, Confluenc Inc., Madison, Wis.
Two Paths: Engineering or Business
Speaker: John Suzukida, PE, Owner, Lanex Consulting
Mentoring: Making the Match
Speaker: Amy Smith, PhD, Vice President of Research and Training, The Ivanovich Group
Keynote Presentation: America’s Energy Future: Partly Windy, Slightly Sunny, and as Uncertain as the Weather
Branko Terzic, PE, Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions
Unlocking balance and brilliance in the STEM fields
Ensuring more opportunities for women in STEM careers is essential.
Managing your future
Learn these five tips to proactively manage your professional future.
Networking on rails
First build the tracks (relationships), before trying to move freight on them (getting referrals).
The art of asking a good question
Asking good questions as an interviewee is an art, not a game.
Your personal development toolkit
A few tools will help you better yourself in relationships and on the job.
As the tortoise taught the hare, activity beats inactivity every time
Recently I was coaching a U11 boys soccer team, and after practice I had a great conversation with another coach that reminded me of the Aesop’s Fable: The Tortoise and the Hare. There are a lot of life lessons to be gleaned from that fable, but one that I am reminded of is that consistent activity beats inactivity every time.
Managing your online footprint
Navigating social media tools like LinkedIn and Facebook are key to your online presence.
Engineers satisfied with career, survey finds
An ASQ survey found that most engineers are satisfied with their career choice, though many agree their career is also quite challenging, particularly while pursuing their degree in college.
Business development: How to win more work
An engineer provides his perspective on how to win more work by engaging the staff, building your business, and then winning the bid.
Discovering your work-life balance
Managing your time between work and life isn’t simple, but finding a balance is possible.
Unleash communications from their e-mail chains
Communicating is key to an engineer’s job, and it is our professional responsibility to do it well—and correctly.
Building better professional relationships
Learn to communicate in a professional manner, while building strong relationships.
Building and maintaining your professional brand
Take the time to create your own personal and professional brand.
Blinding flashes of the obvious
Challenge yourself to spend a day with those who use your designs.
To excel, change perspective
Develop your engineering career by expanding your worldly view and volunteering with various groups.
Engineering jobs remain strong, financially lucrative
While unemployment remains high, the demand and pay for engineers--especially electrical engineers--remain high.
Opening doors for staff success
Proficient managers create access to opportunities for their employees to thrive.
Are your career and company compatible?
Your career trajectory is closely related to your company’s management and direction.
Successful engineering in the 21st century
It was once both necessary and sufficient to be technically competent; now it is only necessary.
Leaders doing the right things
By being deliberate and focusing on doing the right things, you’ll be spending your time correctly
The makings of a mentor
Several qualities are essential to being a high-quality mentor. Mentees should seek out these abilities when finding a mentor to boost career growth.
Communicating so others hear
Communication skills are critical to your career and will help you see things from the other person’s point of view.
Clear communication equals cash
If you communicate clearly and accurately, you create sales opportunities, increase your hit rate and productivity, and lower your costs.
