titles
titles
(OP)
Those of you that make hiring decisions what sorts of titles impress you on resumes for engineers?
The way the workplace is headed engineers are doing so many varied functions it is hard to capture their responsibilities with titles. Should it always contain the disciple like Mechanical or Electrical? Do ranks like senior or staff mean anything?
The way the workplace is headed engineers are doing so many varied functions it is hard to capture their responsibilities with titles. Should it always contain the disciple like Mechanical or Electrical? Do ranks like senior or staff mean anything?





RE: titles
RE: titles
RE: titles
I'm with dgowans, zero is overstating their value.
David
RE: titles
Even though he was a contractor, the point is skills, education and experience.
RE: titles
For Example: Someone with a Title like Engineering Manager that highlights current experience like making drawing changes and doing detail design work is clearly not what I would envision as a person that suites the Engineering Manager title.
If you're asking the questions relative to how to make your resume look "good" then simply put in all your experience, responsibilities, and tasks and/or have multiple resumes highlighting different strengths depending on the position for which you are applying.
RE: titles
RE: titles
RE: titles
RE: titles
"implemented XYZ, reduced cost by blah blah"
"designed blah"
"expert user of FEA program blah"
I want to hear about specifically what you did. Not the team did while you were on vacation. And I don't really care to see a bunch of Dilbert type jibber jabber like "team player able to leverage core competencies"
Thats just crap that people put down because they think it looks good. Everyone thinks they are team players even if they are a-holes.
RE: titles
TTFN
RE: titles
Makes absolutely no difference.
HVAC68
RE: titles
Well, it would depend on the position you are trying to fill?
If I was looking for a petroleum engineer, some keywords may be:
- engineer
- petroleum
- names of my competitors
- names of major projects
- maybe graduation date (depending on level of experience needed)
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: titles
RE: titles
Is that that the same as "I could care less"?
RE: titles
Experience is key no matter what the title is. However, in the reference to the "Dragonslayer" title above...it was important but only because it was different and got attentionn. However...if you were to use "P*rnstar" on a business card or resume...it will most likely find the waste basket. So if you must have a title...choose wisely!
RE: titles
From my college youth, "Dragonslayer" (give it a google with the keyword "sex" and see what you get) was a title of dubious distinction and if I read it on a business card today I would most likely give it the credence of "P*rnstar".
Frank "Grimey" Grimes
RE: titles
Let's face it titles are mostly BS.
RE: titles
RE: titles
Frank "Grimey" Grimes
RE: titles
Ed-
RE: titles
I happened to run into one of these on a recent project. I knew him from his previous employement as a technician where he was, to use precise psychological terminalogy, a "Doofus". With his change in employers, a magic wand was waved, and --ting!--, he was a "sales engineer".
In subsequent conversations wherein he tried to obfuscate, flim-flam, snowball and cover up shoddy work by his company, I had a rather irate conversation wherin I opined that if he was an "engineer, then I was the Prince-Consort to the Czarina of all the Russias.
old field guy
RE: titles
I started a new thread...I'm curiuos to hear your responses...I know others will be too.
What's important on a resume´...
thread731-173724
RE: titles
ATTORNEY AT LOVE
and he'd hand them out to girls he met on campus.
Wes C.
------------------------------
No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
RE: titles
RE: titles
Edson-
RE: titles
"Why would a company NOT want to advertise that they have degreed engineers?" Maybe because not all of their engineers have degrees?
"Is a P.E. one more step up the ladder or is it a parallel achievement?" In some fields it is an achievement. In some industries or jurisdictions it is irrelevant, or perhaps, of the same level of achievement as being able to cook a good curry, nice to have, but not a deal breaker. Others will disagree.
"Then please explain why ALL engineer’s do not have one?" In my case, because I can cook a good curry. Having a PE (or its equivalent) would have made no difference, so far as I can tell, to my career. Neither has cooking curry.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: titles
The biggest reasons for engineers not to bother with licensure is the "industrial exemption", which I'll leave for someone else to describe since I'm in a field in which pretty much all of us get licensed.
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376
RE: titles
RE: titles
http
There is also FAQ765-10, "Why should an Engineer become licensed?"
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376
RE: titles
However, I DO NOT consider myself an "Engineer", as I am not licensed....yet...
RE: titles
A law student who graduates, usually then articles for a couple of years. Then, they take the bar exam (of whatever state they are in/want to be in). If they pass, then they are considered full fledged lawyers.
An engineering student who graduates, ususally then works (or in the old days, apprentice) for a couple of years. Then, they take the state PE exam (of whatever state they are in/want to be in). If they pass, then they are considered full fledged engineers.
The difference is that the bar association does not let people who are not members of the bar practice.
Somehow, engineering associations let people who are not members practice.
Does this make a good analogy?
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: titles
I have found the title "engineer" to be extremely subjective. I have seen everyone from rodmen with 3rd grade educations to PhD/PE's being called engineers. This law about the title of engineer sounds a little bit strange. I would like to know more about it. If this is true, what are we calling locomotive operators these days?
RE: titles
For instance typically in aerospace/defense PE isn't usually required and isn't of as much significance. Of course when you get layed off from a job in an industry that doesn't require PE and start looking somewhere you need one you'll wish you had it.
I was starting to pursue equivalent of PE in UK before I came to US. Now in California I find it's going to be time consuming and expensive to obtain it and in the industry I find myself in not required so, although I may regret it later I'm not actively pursuing it at this time.
RE: titles
There are other people who are able to use the title "engineer", in addition to PE/P. Eng:
- locamotive engineers (guy who drives the trains)
- military engineers (at least Canada and US, as long as they are in the military/retired)
- steam/boiler engineers (if they hold a Class 1-4 "steam engineer" ticket)
I may be missing some, but these are some examples.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: titles
For example, if your resume says that you were a "Project Engineer" for company XYZ in 1995 and you are still a "Project Engineer" for coampany XYZ in 2007, it raises the question of why there has (apparently) been no progression in one's career. Especially if responsibilities have not changed as well. It is then up to the potential candidate to explain and it just throws another curveball in the process.
Personally, I like to ask my boss for periodic reviews on my performance and ask for expanded responsibilities where deserved. I also feel that a corresponding change in title is quite appropriate under these circumstances.
My 2 Cents.
JS.