on Career Survival - IEEE-USA

Introduction
I’m very happy to be writing the introduction to this eBook. The papers included can help you find
success in today’s challenging job market. As a volunteer, I have been involved with career issues
with IEEE-USA for 20 years and this compilation is one of the best we have ever offered to members.
Just think about the past 15 years: in the early 90s, we had a Peace Dividend that delivered high
unemployment; the mid-90s saw the “New Economy” that delivered a boom and a bust. Today, we
have globalization and outsourcing — which, depending on who you talk to, are a boon or a bust for
engineers. The one constant has been change. And the skill we all need is the ability to survive in a
changing world.
You need to understand the changing business eco-system and what the changes mean to engineers.
Skills still reign supreme and you need to assess yours constantly to ensure you are a viable
candidate for available job market opportunities. You’ll find these articles increase your situational
awareness of the marketplace.
When we hear the words situational awareness, many of us think of a pilot where situational awareness
is critical for safety. But stop and think about your career and job, and how situational awareness
is just as critical to your long-term career growth. Are you aware of what is going on at your office,
in your company, or in your industry? Has your company won or lost important contracts? Is the
technology your industry built around growing or declining? Awareness and knowledge about such
things can help you in career planning and skills development.
In these articles you’ll learn how to assess the market and yourself, how to stay competitive, and
what steps to take to survive and remain competitive in the marketplace. You can find out employers’
perspectives, and what employers are looking for in the chapter from Elizabeth Lions, a technical
recruiter in Oregon. This chapter is very important, as it lays out a series of questions that you should
have answers to before an interview. Even if they aren’t asked directly, you can use this self-knowledge
in your responses to other questions. Debra Feldman also addresses this topic as she helps you
think like an employer.
Debra Feldman, a frequent contributor to TE on career issues, makes the first of several appearances
in this book writing on how to reach decision-makers when you don’t know them, by getting the
“gatekeepers” to take a call or make an appointment.
How to find a good boss is the topic of a paper from Don Christiansen, a former editor of IEEE Spectrum.
Think about the kind of person you want to work with, as you explore companies you want to
work for. Know their culture and how engineers are treated there.
You can accomplish career success by planning for it, including building networks and contacts before
you need them. Knowing what you want out of your career makes it much easier to find a job
you’re looking for. Debra Feldman writes about building a network using cold calling, a scary thought
to most of us, but something that can pay enormous returns.
ieee-usa eBooks