The best engineers understand systems, have an innate curiosity, never stop learning and have worked outside of an engineering department.
In may case it took me some 20 years to understand that I'd never be a top engineer because I wasn't detail oriented enough but I really like and had a knack for systems. The systems I currently work with are: computers, networks, software, people and business systems. I'm having a blast as an enterprise architect but couldn't credibly do the job without the trajectory and having made a few detours along the way to sales, marketing, a failed startup, management and project management.
While I don't exactly use my BSEE it has provided me with a solid background. It's nice to be able to talk to the electrician about the 3-phase power in our computer room or to be able to calculate how many BTU/hr. a piece of equipment will need or why cables need to be terminated.
I'd have to say I agree with the "trajectory" approach as it has worked for me.
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The best engineers understand systems, have an innate curiosity, never stop learning and have worked outside of an engineering department.
In may case it took me some 20 years to understand that I'd never be a top engineer because I wasn't detail oriented enough but I really like and had a knack for systems. The systems I currently work with are: computers, networks, software, people and business systems. I'm having a blast as an enterprise architect but couldn't credibly do the job without the trajectory and having made a few detours along the way to sales, marketing, a failed startup, management and project management.
While I don't exactly use my BSEE it has provided me with a solid background. It's nice to be able to talk to the electrician about the 3-phase power in our computer room or to be able to calculate how many BTU/hr. a piece of equipment will need or why cables need to be terminated.
I'd have to say I agree with the "trajectory" approach as it has worked for me.
Larry