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Anonymous Poster

How Do I Become a Master Engineer?

04/02/2009 3:50 AM

Dear all Gurus..

How to be a master in engineering? What aspect that junior engineer shall prepare to achieve the goal, to be a great engineer?

And which one is better, to be a generalist or specialist?

Thank you..
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user-deleted-1105
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Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

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Location: Harlow England
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#1

Re: How To Be A Master in Engineering?

04/02/2009 4:09 AM

Do stuff!
Understand the stuff you do and why it works, understand the stuff you do and why it doesn't work.
Don't be afraid of making mistakes...the man who never made a mistake never made anything.
Be a generalist...in fact do anything and everything.
Question how everything you use and see works...how exactly does your Mum's sewing machine work?
Be a generalist and when you have mastered everything concentrate on the stuff you enjoy most.

The prob with specialists they can miss the cross fertilization between disciplines which the generalist will see.... mind you, conversely the specialist can use his skills to fix other stuff.
(Our remotely actuated door lock at work stopped working, but my experience with crossbow trigger mechanisms meant I could fix it in a few minutes...much to the amazement of everyone)
Above all enjoy it all.
Del

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edignan
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Engineering Fields - Systems Engineering - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member

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Location: Borrego Springs
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Good Answers: 62
#2
In reply to #1

Re: How To Be A Master in Engineering?

04/02/2009 11:21 AM

The answer I would have given!

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Milo
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: "Dancing over the abyss."
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#3
In reply to #1

Re: How To Be A Master in Engineering?

04/02/2009 9:18 PM

Good answer, (As usual, Del) to which I would add only,

BRING YOUR PASSION!

Do what you love and love what you do.

milo

PS: keep a journal or notebook of solved problems, I'm still using mine from the early 1980's...

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Steve S.
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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#4

Re: How Do I Become a Master Engineer?

04/14/2009 7:09 AM

Read, read, read, read, read....... I don't know how many times I have heard people say they just have no interest or time for reading trade journals. I have subscriptions to four or five and I read all of them. I also participate in several online forums geared toward engineering issues.

Listen, listen, listen, listen, find someone or if possible several someones that are masters at what they do and listen. Listen to everything they say. Learn from it. I have had the privilege of knowing several of the greatest engineers in my field, and I have soaked up every bit of wisdom that I can from them.

Share, share, share. Find a junior engineer to mentor. Answer questions at forums like this. Doing so will only make you better. I have known some engineers that by qualification and experience should be known as masters of the field, but because they never shared no one knew and no one benefited from their knowledge. That is sad and a shame.

If you don't invest time and energy in being excellent at your profession and in building up the members of that profession, you will never be at the top of it.
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