Hello young engineers,
The economic recession and the trend of using social networks (Facebook), it seems that the young people today are too busy with sharing photos, status, check-in, … but less thinking clearly, insightful, things that help you contemplate and perfect yourself to improve your competitiveness in the work environment. This is not a good sign and it will probably have consequences after a few years.
In order to contribute a voice for career topics for young people (new to the profession), I posted this article. It is a collection of things that I find interesting after reading an article in the New York Times about the current social trends and contemplating that it is quite true to my own development process. Hopefully, it will also be useful for some readers.
The article mainly talks about what is considered “important” that society needs from an engineer in terms of creators, making products that are useful to society and socially “rewarded”. Here is the article content:
Quite a few of us as young people often want things to be “fast”. For example, I have to learn ABC skills because people are feverish because of it, I have to work at XYZ company because there is a high salary and I can get rich quick, … Making decisions is relatively hasty without the need to weigh, measure, think, concerns, … have and will make many people pay with time and opportunity. That explains why we often encounter complaints, sadness, dissatisfaction with our work. One thing has been concluded: When you do something, the important factor is not “speed” but in “direction.” If you go in the wrong direction, the faster “speed” will make things worse faster. That is why young people should spend more time determining exactly “direction” for themselves before “accelerating”.
If the concept of an employee is a seller of “products” is creativity and labor, then the customer is the society that we are serving. “Success” at work will then be measured by the quality of “products” you provide to society and their satisfaction. The more satisfied they are, the more rewards you will have. With such a simple mindset, let’s consider together what society today is “wanting” you to have good qualities in other words, let’s see how you should equip yourself. ok Hopefully the following will help you improve yourself and find the right direction for you.
(These trends are summed up from sociological observations and studies, not by me)
Fast or Slow but Quality, don’t hover in the middle: With the modern social characteristics, when the life cycle becomes hustle, society or narrower, your company needs people who can come up with solutions quickly (to soon meet customers), help them to surpass competitors. If you can’t Quick, work really well. The reason is simple: If you are not fast enough to meet the task, take the quality of the solution you make to compensate. There will be no reward for the “middle” (No Fast and No Quality).
Having Vision and Thinking: In today’s society, when a lot of work is undertaken by machines and jobs that are “skillful”, “familiar with hands”, … are transferred to places where there are cheap labor, you will only be able to find great opportunities or rewards if you have vision and thinking. In times of knowledge economy, thinking and ideas are much more valuable than labor. “Thinking” or “creativity” is itself the necessary characteristic of “engineers” for a long time. Learning the “skills” is also very good, however, make sure you take the time to develop knowledge that fosters your vision and thinking. If there is only “skill”, sooner or later you will be replaced and the real value is not much.
Systematic work: Generally, you do everything “process”. If you do everything according to inspiration, according to the “gift” will result in what you are taking the effort to do will be of no value to what you will do in the future. A systematic way of working will help you solve problems in your work scientifically, save time and give you the opportunity to approach greater things.
Always ask the question “Why”: “Why” is a question that helps find the problem, thereby getting an effective solution. “Why” also helps you make improvements and innovations while working. Practicing the habit of asking “Why” questions with what’s happening around you every day, you’ll always find yourself filled with ideas and creativity.
In addition, there is one thing that I want to advise young Vietnamese engineers, do not limit your language skills to “read” and “listen”. Develop both “speaking” and “writing” skills. Through nearly a decade of observing the students, I thought that the skills of “speaking” and “writing” of some of you are too weak and that it directly affects the opportunities at work and the following life. This is yours.
“Speaking” here means your expression of opinions when participating in discussion topics (on forums, websites, seminars, seminars, …). By “Speaking”, you come up with your point of view, get exactly what you want from the interlocutor and, more importantly, it helps you become more personal, more perspective and more valuable. “Talking” is absolutely free, but a lot of you are doing it as expensive.
“Writing”, at a different angle, is an activity that helps you organize, store and develop thinking. At the closest perspective, if you are a creative person, developing new ideas for work, “Writing” will help you do these things much better. Try it.
Facebook goes a little bit, delves a bit, learns how to do science, observe and ask questions, often express one’s own thoughts, and record what interests are ways that can help You improve your “quality” yourself at work and gradually, it will work on your achievements.
Of course, not every day or two but you can do all these things, but if you don’t start, the process will last forever.
Wish you have the right choices for your career and reap much success.