How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
(OP)
I recently offered the manager of five young engineers to be an on-premises unpaid, part-time mentor/coach/resource. I have 38 years of structural engineering experience.
First, I asked him how he thought he was doing with mentoring and developing his subordinates. His reply was that he could probably do better. Then, I mentioned that I was thinking of offering to be available in a structural design office, part-time, unpaid. I explained that I was retired, but restless, and that I wanted to give back to the profession by sharing my experience and wisdom. His reaction was that it sounded like a good idea. However, on further discussion, I got the distinct impression that he really had no interest in persuing the idea, and that there was an underlying concern that having a mentor in the office would reduce billable hours.
If you manage young engineers, my question for you is this: If you were offered the opportunity to have a very experienced senior engineer in your office a couple of days each week to be an un-paid mentor to your young engineers, what would you do?
First, I asked him how he thought he was doing with mentoring and developing his subordinates. His reply was that he could probably do better. Then, I mentioned that I was thinking of offering to be available in a structural design office, part-time, unpaid. I explained that I was retired, but restless, and that I wanted to give back to the profession by sharing my experience and wisdom. His reaction was that it sounded like a good idea. However, on further discussion, I got the distinct impression that he really had no interest in persuing the idea, and that there was an underlying concern that having a mentor in the office would reduce billable hours.
If you manage young engineers, my question for you is this: If you were offered the opportunity to have a very experienced senior engineer in your office a couple of days each week to be an un-paid mentor to your young engineers, what would you do?





RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
If I can't get a warm and fuzzy for those two things, anything beyond is irrelevant. I have a business to run, so a 50%-capable employee working 40 hours is better than a 70% capable one working 20.
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
But if that 20% extra effectiveness keeps the young engineer from making a $10,000 mistake, you will have made up for the fewer hours he spent that week.
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
Training young engineers is engineering work. It has value. It can be done by people being paid to do it, or not at all.
Want that badly to do it? Take pay for it. They don't want to pay? Don't do it. Feel conflicted about taking the money because you're retired? Donate it to charity. But don't volunteer to do work for a for-profit company for free. Your unpaid work has consequences for people who ARE being paid to do that work, or should be.
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
Another way is to contact a start-up firm, probably by young engineers again as part time, but at a nominal rate. I speak from experience with two such firms, one still "in need" mainly reviewing what goes out. The "thank you"s keep coming.
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
How about contacting your local professional engineer's society? This could be a good activity or event for them. I am on the local chapter committee of a technicians and technologists association, and I am trying set up some skills seminars. Knowledge, skill and professionalism is what we are selling. Anything we do to enhance these is good.
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JHG
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
I'm not sure I would want another person mentoring my staff unless I knew of and agreed with that person's work habits
The OP may want to consider working in Junior Acheivement or local high school technology programs or tutoring college students
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
RE: How much do you REALLY want to mentor young engineers?
Mentoring was inherent for most of us over 50. We learned from engineers who were more experienced in engineering "life" not just engineering ritual. Processes and techniques were passed along one-on-one, or collectively as standard policy and techniques were developed. Today, no one has time to develop anything....they barely have enough time to get projects done and remain competitive.
I have mentored numerous engineers in my career and will continue to do so. As they grow, they need less and less of my input, as it should be. When I work myself out of a mentoring job for each engineer I mentor, I consider it a plus!