Author Archives: ENGRing Success Podcast

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

Daily writing prompt
How do you unwind after a demanding day?
View all responses

by Daniel Dahlinger

After a long day at work, it’s essential to take some time for yourself to unwind and recharge. Here’s how I like to spend my evenings to help me relax and refocus for the next day.

Dinner with my wife

One of my favorite things to do after a demanding day is to have dinner with my wife. We catch up on each other’s day, discuss upcoming plans and simply enjoy each other’s company. It’s a great way to connect and decompress after a busy day. Usually this is done on the couch, while watching That 70’s Show, and dodging attempts from our dogs to steal a bite of our food.

Take the dogs for a walk

After dinner, I like to take our dogs for a walk. Walking outside and getting fresh air helps me to clear my mind and reduces stress. Plus, our dogs always make me smile and remind me of what’s truly important in life. If it isn’t a walk, then it’s fetch in the backyard… well, fetch with Twyla and Luka just herds. If it’s raining… then indoor fetch is the activity of choice!

Work on my passion project – the ENGRing Success Podcast

Once we’re back home, I like to spend some time working on my passion project – the ENGRing Success Podcast. This project allows me to explore my interests, share my knowledge with others, and connect with like-minded individuals. I find it’s a great way to unwind and focus on something that brings me joy. On the average night, I’ll troll through Reddit and interact with people, schedule social posts for the next day, and add to the script for the next podcast episode. On special nights, I’ll do an interview, like my latest interview with Marc LeVine of Thermosystems USA and The ABCs of Control Systems Engineering.

The Office Before Bed with Bailey Cat

Last but not least, the last bit of my day is when I get to wind down with something familiar – The Office. Watching The Office while hanging out with Maddie and our cat, Bailey, is the perfect mindless activity that allows my mind to follow it’s routine into a calm headspace, and then I’m out like a light!

By following this daily routine, I’m able to disconnect from the stresses of work, spend quality time with my loved ones, and pursue my passions. Everyone’s routine for unwinding after a demanding day will be different, but I encourage you to find what works for you and prioritize self-care. Your mind and body will thank you.

What do you do to unwind after a long day?

Listen to the latest episode of the ENGRing Success Podcast on your preferred podcast provider or embedded here!

Spotify Player:

YouTube:

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Ep. 38 The ABC’s of YOUR ENGINEERING CAREER with Marc LeVine (The ABC’s of Control Systems Engineering and Thermosystems USA)

I had such a blast filming this episode of the podcast with Marc. Marc is such a wonderful guest and a wonderful advocate for engineering career development. He’s MUCH further along than I am in this space and I’m so grateful that he took the time to share his expertise and advice on the podcast. It’s really worth a listen.

Episode 38 of the ENGRing Success Podcast

About our Guest

⁠Marc LeVine⁠ is the Talent Acquisition and Learning and Development Leader for ⁠Thermosystems⁠, a full-service control systems integration company that works in the industrial EPC and and Architect Engineer industries.

Marc has an extensive background in human resources and talent development in the  engineering and professional services industry, and has worked for companies of all sizes, ranging from startups to fortune 500 companies!

In addition to his role with Thermosystems, he is the founder of “⁠The ABC’s of Control Systems Engineering⁠”, a twitter/linkedin page and website blog dedicated to helping control systems engineers grow in their careers!  He publishes a ⁠daily newsletter on LinkedIn⁠ called “⁠Career Tips for Engineers⁠” and is also the founder of the ⁠“Jobs and Careers Advice Forum” on Facebook⁠ and Twitter in which he also offers career and job searching advice to others. When it comes to engineering career and talent development, Marc is THE GUY.

In this episode

We talk a little bit about Marc’s journey into the world of engineering talent development and recruiting, and then hit hard on essential topics like the process of evaluating talent, the importance of soft skills, what to put on a good resume, and how to invest in yourself and your career as an aspiring or early-career engineering professional!

The yadayadayada

Don’t miss a blog post or a podcast episode, subscribe to my newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ENGRingSuccess.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the on podcast on Anchor or on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ENGRingSuccess⁠⁠⁠⁠

Top tier supporters – shout out each episode of the month for $10 monthly donation.

Follow along on all social medias: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ENGRingSuccess⁠⁠⁠⁠

To submit your question, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠daniel@ENGRingSuccess.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe on YouTube to watch short excerpts of podcast episodes addressing specific topics: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj86alc3a7_A_PibgYpkWFg  ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Daniel is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Trinity University’s B.S. in Engineering Science and currently works in Commercial Management in the Engineering and Construction Consulting Industry.

All views expressed on this podcast are his own and do not reflect the opinions or views of his employer.

Music by Maxgotthetracks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Pclog68AY1⁠⁠⁠

78 – Finding Your "Hidden Gem" – Civil Engineer in Iraq to Design Team Lead in D.C. w/ Sairan Aqrawi – Engineering Success – The Engineering Career Podcast

Sairan Aqrawi began her engineering journey at the University of Mosul in Iraq where she studied Civil Engineering. After starting her Civil Engineering Career in Iraq, Sairan was evacuated to Guam as part of Operation Pacific Haven, from where she was eventually granted political asylum and began her life in the United States. Sairan has since extended her engineering career here in the United States, culminating now to her role as a Design Coordinator Team Lead for her regional Transit Authority. In addition to her engineering career, Sairan has leveraged her experience to mentor professionals in all stages of career transition, from immigrating to the United States to her current niche, where she helps mid-life women grow their impact and income in their career.I had such a wonderful time interviewing Sairan and hope you enjoy listening to this interview as much as I enjoyed hosting it!https://www.instagram.com/sairanaqrawi/https://www.sairanaqrawi.com/Don't miss a blog post or a podcast episode, subscribe to my newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ENGRingSuccess.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the on podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ENGRingSuccess⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Top tier supporters – shout out each episode of the month for $10 monthly donation.Follow along on all social medias: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://engringsuccess.com/link-in-bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To submit your question, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠daniel@ENGRingSuccess.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube to watch short excerpts of podcast episodes addressing specific topics: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj86alc3a7_A_PibgYpkWFg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daniel is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Trinity University's B.S. in Engineering Science and currently works in Commercial Management in the Engineering and Construction Consulting Industry.All views expressed on this podcast are his own and do not reflect the opinions or views of his employer.Music by Maxgotthetracks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Pclog68AY1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  1. 78 – Finding Your "Hidden Gem" – Civil Engineer in Iraq to Design Team Lead in D.C. w/ Sairan Aqrawi
  2. 77 – AI to Get A Degree; Researching Your Future Team; Quit Job to Travel; Non-Engineering Tasks
  3. 76 – Is Chemical Engineering Dangerous?; Project Controls; In-House Public Sector vs Consulting Firm
  4. 75 – Email Etiquette; Un-Funded PhD; Hating Your Coursework; Personalization of Salaries
  5. 74 – Unlocking the "Third Element" – Leverage Emotional Awareness into Career Success w/ Randy Lyman

“What job would you do for free?”

Daily writing prompt
What job would you do for free?
View all responses

by Daniel Dahlinger

So WordPress said this was a good idea for me to write about… as a daily writing prompt. Ironic. I can’t possibly think of a job that I would do for free, so this concept is ridiculous to me. I’m not even going to bother reading all the other responses to this asinine question.

Am I insane for this? I mean I’d volunteer my time at a non-profit that I care about but I quite literally cannot think of a “Job” that I’d do for free. I’m certainly not currently in a position to work for free and I cannot currently imagine a near future where I’ll be able to do so, but maybe once I approach that time I’ll think of it… in the meantime I’ll be stacking my pennies.

Anyways, another day, another question!

Episode 37

Bikini Interview; No Fraternization; Good GPA; EngD; PE License vs. Masters; Terminated after Notice; 3-5 Years for Entry Level; First White Collar Job

by Daniel Dahlinger

We’re into a great cadence and it will keep on keeping on.

Don’t miss a blog post or a podcast episode, subscribe to my newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠www.ENGRingSuccess.com⁠⁠⁠

Support the on podcast on Anchor or on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ENGRingSuccess⁠⁠⁠

Top tier supporters – shout out each episode of the month for $10 monthly donation.

Follow along on all social medias: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ENGRingSuccess⁠⁠⁠

To submit your question, email ⁠⁠⁠daniel@ENGRingSuccess.com⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn Lunatics/Career Craziness

⁠1. I interviewed a girl in her bikini the other day⁠

⁠2. Sent from my former boss to his staff⁠

College Advice

⁠3. What’s a “good” GPA in engineering?⁠

⁠4. What to do with 2.7/4 gpa?⁠

⁠5. Ut austin v.s Georgia Tech v.s Berkeley Undergrad⁠

⁠6. Should I pursue an EngD degree?⁠

⁠7. What makes a good Engineering School good?⁠

Career Questions

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠8. What do you think of a work environment where a lot of people send e-mails without taking care of how it looks (aesthetically and grammatically)?⁠

⁠⁠⁠9. PE license or Masters (Mechanical Engineering)?⁠

⁠⁠⁠10. Job told me to leave after I put in my notice⁠

⁠⁠⁠11. How to leave job when projects aren’t done?⁠⁠

⁠⁠12. For the love of all that is holy PLEASE stop putting jobs up as “entry” level and then ask for 3-5 years of experience.⁠

⁠⁠⁠13. When to tell company I accepted another offer?⁠

⁠⁠14. I run part of my husbands business, should I put that on my resume?⁠

⁠⁠15. Is it possible to start a structural firm straight out of college?⁠

⁠⁠16. (F) 28 Application Engineer salary don’t feel adequate⁠

⁠17. Just landed my first white collar job. Any advice?⁠

Subscribe on YouTube to watch short excerpts of podcast episodes addressing specific topics: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj86alc3a7_A_PibgYpkWFg  ⁠⁠⁠

Daniel is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Trinity University’s B.S. in Engineering Science and currently works in Commercial Management in the Engineering and Construction Consulting Industry.

All views expressed on this podcast are his own and do not reflect the opinions or views of his employer.

Music by Maxgotthetracks: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Pclog68AY1⁠

Episode 36: Take Home Interviews; Paycut to work remote; Career Fair Advice; Faking Golf Ability; and more!

by Daniel Dahlinger

Episode 36

Well guys, this was a fun one. I got a LOT of questions in a short time, with less than last time technical difficulties! Check out the support links below and the links to all of the questions discussed in this podcast if you’d like to join the discussion on Reddit!

And did I mention… I’m writing a BOOK?!?!?!?

Don’t miss a blog post or a podcast episode, subscribe to my newsletter on ⁠⁠www.ENGRingSuccess.com⁠⁠

Support the on podcast on Anchor or on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ENGRingSuccess⁠⁠

Top tier supporters – shout out each episode of the month for $10 monthly donation.

Follow along on all social medias: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ENGRingSuccess⁠⁠

To submit your question, email ⁠⁠daniel@ENGRingSuccess.com⁠⁠

LinkedIn Lunatics

⁠⁠1. Found one in the wild – a take home assignment for a marketing role⁠

⁠⁠2. “We anticipate moving *very quickly*”⁠

Career Questions

⁠⁠3. Boss said to work remotely . And salary will be decreased based on what i was spending on transportation ?⁠

⁠⁠4. How important is going to a “big name” college for engineers? ⁠⁠

⁠⁠5. Handing down some wisdom for you guys attending career fairs.⁠

⁠⁠6. My boss asked if I can play golf and I said I can but I have never played…. How do I prepare?⁠

⁠⁠7. Is my boss being unreasonable?⁠

⁠⁠8. HS Teacher wanting to switch to the Construction Management/Civil Engineering field⁠

⁠⁠9. 6 figures first job for evil inc.?⁠

⁠⁠10. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” How do you answer this if you don’t want to move up the ladder?⁠⁠

⁠⁠11. How to leave job when projects aren’t done?⁠

⁠12. I made a huge career/college mistake⁠

⁠⁠13. What jobs can I get that are “non technical” or not related to chemical engineering?⁠

⁠14. “Fired? Care to explain?”⁠

⁠15. Why can’t I achieve a high mark in my courses? What am I doing wrong?⁠

⁠16. Accounting student interested in engineering⁠

Subscribe on YouTube to watch short excerpts of podcast episodes addressing specific topics: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj86alc3a7_A_PibgYpkWFg  ⁠⁠

Daniel is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Trinity University’s B.S. in Engineering Science and currently works in Commercial Management in the Engineering and Construction Consulting Industry.

All views expressed on this podcast are his own and do not reflect the opinions or views of his employer.

Music by Maxgotthetracks: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Pclog68AY1

Episode 35

Episode 35 of the ENGRing Success Podcast

Don’t miss a blog post or a podcast episode, subscribe to my newsletter on www.ENGRingSuccess.com

Support the on podcast on Anchor or on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ENGRingSuccess

Top tier supporters – shout out each episode of the month for $10 monthly donation.

Follow along on all social medias: https://linktr.ee/ENGRingSuccess

To submit your question, email daniel@ENGRingSuccess.com

LinkedIn Lunatics

1. Boss bragged about firing his mom and I don’t understand why..?

2. Want to hear the craziest experience I had during a job interview?

Career Questions

3. Switched teams, should receive offer letter?

4. Should I ask why employees I’ve trained were promoted before me?

5. Should I apply for a job if my vacation is in 2 weeks?

6. Advice after being fired from an internship?

7. A friend of mine was looking for a job yesterday. This must be hella illegal, right?

8. Saw a job ad from my company for another position of my same role, but with a much higher starting “salary”

9. Received an entry-level EIT offer. Am I crazy to be expecting more?

10. Offered promotion and got humiliated

11. How Do I Flex to My Manager about My High Performance?

12. New job and nervous to ask for two week vacation. Help!

13. Senior in HS. Need some advice with electrical engineering in college (undergraduate)

Subscribe on YouTube to watch short excerpts of podcast episodes addressing specific topics: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj86alc3a7_A_PibgYpkWFg  

Daniel is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Trinity University’s B.S. in Engineering Science and currently works in Commercial Management in the Engineering and Construction Consulting Industry.

All views expressed on this podcast are his own and do not reflect the opinions or views of his employer.

Music by Maxgotthetracks: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Pclog68AY1

Soft Skills Every New Engineer Needs

by Daniel Dahlinger

1. Communication

As an engineer, you’ll be working with many people, including colleagues, managers, clients, and stakeholders. Therefore, it’s important to communicate your ideas, solutions, and recommendations effectively. Good communication is key to project success, and it can help you build stronger relationships with your colleagues.

Here are some effective communication strategies:

  • Be clear and concise: Avoid technical jargon where possible and use simple language that’s easy to understand. Try to convey complex ideas in a way that’s straightforward and easy to follow. Organize your thoughts before speaking and use tools effectively to communicate your point.
  • Listen actively: Active listening means paying attention to the person who’s speaking, asking clarifying questions, and repeating back what you’ve heard. This approach shows that you’re engaged and interested in the conversation.
  • Use visuals: Visual aids like diagrams, charts, and graphs can help you communicate complex ideas more effectively. They can also help your audience understand your ideas more quickly and easily.

2. Teamwork

Most engineering projects involve working in teams, and being a team player is essential for project success. Here are some skills that can help you work effectively in a team:

  • Collaboration: Effective collaboration means working together to achieve a common goal. This requires active listening, sharing ideas, and building on each other’s strengths.
  • Conflict resolution: Disagreements are a natural part of working in a team. Good conflict resolution means finding a way to resolve conflicts in a way that’s fair and respectful to everyone involved. Avoid holding unnecessary grudges and make sure you’re giving people the benefit of the doubt.
  • Empathy: Empathy means putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and trying to understand their perspective. This skill can help you build stronger relationships with your colleagues and foster a more positive work environment.

3. Time Management

Good time management is essential for engineers who are juggling multiple projects with tight deadlines. Here are some time management strategies that can help you be more productive:

  • Prioritize tasks: Start by making a list of all the tasks you need to complete, then prioritize them based on their importance and urgency. Use tools to organize your tasks and track status and completion.
  • Break down projects into smaller tasks: Large projects can be overwhelming. Break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks to make them more achievable.
  • Set realistic goals: Be realistic about what you can achieve in a given day or week. Set goals that are achievable but also challenging. This is part of communication. Communicate achievable timelines to people who rely on you. It’s better to communicate realistic timelines that are not exactly what people want, than to miss critical deadlines when you could’ve forecasted the miss sooner.

4. Adaptability

The engineering field is constantly evolving, and engineers need to be adaptable and flexible to keep up with changing technologies and project requirements. Here are some skills that can help you adapt to new challenges:

  • Problem-solving: Good problem-solving skills are essential for engineers who need to find innovative solutions to complex problems. This requires dedication and effort prior to asking others to do things for you or walk you through step-by-step.
  • Critical thinking: Critical thinking means analyzing information to make informed decisions. This skill can help you evaluate new technologies and identify the best solutions for your projects.
  • Quick learning: The ability to learn quickly is essential in the fast-paced engineering field. Willingness to step into new things and learn without asking redundant questions along the way is important and will increase your professionalism.

5. Leadership

As engineers progress in their careers, they may be called upon to lead projects or teams. Here are some leadership skills that can help you be an effective leader:

  • Delegation: Effective delegation means assigning tasks to the right people and providing clear instructions and expectations.
  • Mentorship: Mentorship means helping others develop their skills and achieve their goals. This approach can help you build stronger relationships with your colleagues and foster a more positive work environment.
  • Accountability: Accountability means taking responsibility for your actions and holding yourself and your team members accountable for project outcomes. This approach can help you build trust with your colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Reliability: take responsibility for your actions and hold yourself accountable for your work.

As an engineer, you’ll need more than just technical skills to succeed. Soft skills like these are critical to your career success.

Call for 5 Star Reviews!

by Daniel Dahlinger

Did you know that if you give me a 5 star review on apple podcasts, I’ll read it on my podcast?

Leaving a 5-star review for the ENGRing Success Podcast is one of the best ways to support the show. By doing so, you’ll be helping others discover the podcast, and you’ll be showing your appreciation for my content.

Furthermore, if you leave a 5-star review, I will read it on the next episode of the podcast and post it on the ENGRing Success Hall of Fame on the website. This is a great opportunity to publicly support the podcast and share your thoughts about the show with others.

So, if you enjoy the ENGRing Success Podcast and want to support it, please consider leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Your support means a lot to me, and it helps the podcast grow and reach new listeners. Thank you!

Here’s the link to the show on Apple Podcasts:

Episode 34 Five Star Reviews

Latest 5 star reviews:

Hidden Gem!!

ENGineeRing success is truthfully one of my favorite podcasts. Daniel answers a lot of questions I have as a woman in engineering. I appreciate his segments and how he integrates social media. I always find that most engineering podcasts are stuffy or out of touch. Here, I like hearing from my generation. I feel like I found a hidden gem podcast!

Kelsey+, 01/20/2023

Groundbreaking podcast for the engineering community!!

Daniel’s podcast is the only engineering podcast that i would even consider listening to. His voice is engaging and i love the way each episode flows perfectly. Overall would recommend to anyone in or outside the engineering community!

kgoldwait, 01/20/2023

Best podcast for young engineers!

Daniel brings up interesting topics, offers helpful information for both engineering students and working professionals, and is great to listen to. Love this podcast!

ERB Tucker, 01/20/2023

Ep. 34 Commuting; Hustle Culture; Bullied by Direct Report; Top Uni with Bad Academics?; Job Hunting; Secondary Income; Burned Out Sophomore

Support the on podcast on Anchor or on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ENGRingSuccess

Top tier supporters – shout out each episode of the month for $10 monthly donation.

Follow along on all social medias: https://linktr.ee/ENGRingSuccess

To submit your question, email daniel@ENGRingSuccess.com

LinkedIn Lunatics

1. Not what I expected to find on my LinkedIn feed

2. So, are we supposed to fall in love with commuting now?

3. Wife died unexpectedly so he posts about it on LinkedIn the next day and makes it about his career. Lunatic or not?

Career Questions

4. Is it laziness or lack of ambition if you don’t want to engage in hustle culture anymore?

5. Should I apply for a job if my vacation is in 2 weeks?

6. Is my direct report bullying me?

7. is it possible to get into top university with poor academics??

8. Anyone commute 70+ miles to work?

9. Just got terminated- what to do in this situation?

10. Boss found out I’m job hunting. How to walk back?

11. Do you have a secondary source of income? If so, what is it?

12. Any tips for a burned-out sophomore?

13. Where can I find companies that do 4 day work weeks and remote?

Subscribe on YouTube to watch short excerpts of podcast episodes addressing specific topics: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj86alc3a7_A_PibgYpkWFg  

Daniel is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Trinity University’s B.S. in Engineering Science and currently works in Commercial Management in the Engineering and Construction Consulting Industry.

All views expressed on this podcast are his own and do not reflect the opinions or views of his employer.

Music by Maxgotthetracks: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Pclog68AY1

So you still haven’t gotten your EIT yet…

by Daniel Dahlinger

Engineering is a diverse and rapidl

y evolving field that plays a critical role in shaping our world. As such, it’s essential for young professionals to stay competitive in the job market and stay on top of the latest industry trends and practices. One way to demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to the field beyond getting your engineering degree is by obtaining an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification. In this article, we’ll explore why getting an EIT is important and how you can prepare for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, the first step towards gaining a Professional Engineer (PE) License.

The Importance of an EIT Certification An EIT certification is an official recognition that a young professional has completed a rigorous education and training program in engineering fundamentals. Obtaining an EIT certification demonstrates a level of competence and dedication that can help open doors to job opportunities and career advancement. It’s also a necessary step towards obtaining a PE License, which is required for certain engineering roles that directly impact public health and safety.

Preparing for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam The FE exam is the first step towards obtaining an EIT certification. This exam is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of young engineering professionals in a variety of disciplines, including civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and is offered in a computer-based format. The exam is typically offered twice a year, in April and October (this is the case for me in Texas), and the registration fee varies depending on the state or jurisdiction where the exam is being taken.

Preparing for the FE exam can appear like a daunting task, but there are many resources available to help young professionals succeed. The best time to take the exam is as soon as possible. The closer that you take it to your graduation date, the better. Additionally, there are numerous study guides, practice tests, and review courses available both online and in-person. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) provides a variety of (paid) resources to help young professionals prepare for the FE exam, including a comprehensive exam specification guide and practice exams. The NCEES also publishes pass rates for the FE exam on its website (https://ncees.org/engineering/fe/pass-rates/), which can be a useful benchmark for young professionals to gauge their preparedness. Additionally, with a little bit of creativity, I’m sure you can find some free resources (wink wink nudge nudge send me an email.)

Pass Rates for the FE Exam According to the NCEES, the average pass rate for the FE exam across all disciplines in 2021 was 74%. However, pass rates can vary depending on the discipline, with some disciplines having higher or lower pass rates than others. For example, the pass rate for the mechanical engineering discipline was 75%, while the pass rate for the electrical and computer engineering discipline was 66%. It’s important to note that the pass rate is not a reflection of the difficulty of the exam, but rather an indication of the preparedness of the test takers. And in my opinion, if you start preparing either while in school or right after graduating, with a few weeks of familiarizing yourself with the format of the questions and the exam reference guide, you’ll be exceptionally well prepared.

In conclusion, obtaining an EIT certification and eventually a PE License is a critical step in advancing your engineering career and demonstrating your knowledge and dedication to the field. Although preparing for the FE exam can SEEM challenging, there are many resources available to help you succeed. By taking advantage of these resources and preparing diligently, you can increase your chances of passing the exam and opening doors to exciting career opportunities.

Interested in paid resources? See non-affiliate links below (wink wink nudge nudge if you run one of these paid places PAY ME):

  1. NCEES FE Exam Prep Materials: The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) offers a variety of exam prep materials, including practice exams, review courses, and study guides. You can find them all here: https://ncees.org/engineering/fe/prep-materials/.
  2. PPI2Pass: PPI2Pass offers a variety of study materials, including review courses, practice exams, and flashcards. You can find their FE exam prep materials here: https://ppi2pass.com/fe-exam.
  3. School of PE: School of PE offers online and on-demand review courses for the FE exam.

Not sure if you meet the eligibility requirements? Check your state’s professional engineering website:

  1. Alabama: https://bels.alabama.gov/
  2. Alaska: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ProfessionalEngineers.aspx
  3. Arizona: https://engineers.az.gov/
  4. Arkansas: https://www.pels.arkansas.gov/
  5. California: https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/
  6. Colorado: https://dpo.colorado.gov/AES/Engineers
  7. Connecticut: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing–Investigations/Engineers/Engineers
  8. Delaware: https://dape.org/
  9. Florida: https://fbpe.org/
  10. Georgia: https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/31
  11. Hawaii: https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/engineers/
  12. Idaho: https://ibol.idaho.gov/IBOL/BoardPage.aspx?Bureau=PEL&PkgID=PEL
  13. Illinois: https://www.idfpr.com/profs/PE.asp
  14. Indiana: https://www.in.gov/pla/pe.htm
  15. Iowa: https://plb.iowa.gov/board/engineers-land-surveyors
  16. Kansas: https://www.ksbtp.ks.gov/
  17. Kentucky: https://pels.ky.gov/
  18. Louisiana: https://www.lapels.com/
  19. Maine: https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/engineers/index.html
  20. Maryland: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/pe/
  21. Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-of-professional-engineers-and-land-surveyors
  22. Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-89334_72600_72603_27529_27542—,00.html
  23. Minnesota: https://mn.gov/aelslagid/boards/peel/
  24. Mississippi: https://www.pepls.state.ms.us/
  25. Missouri: https://pr.mo.gov/engineers.asp
  26. Montana: https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/pel
  27. Nebraska: https://ea.nebraska.gov/
  28. Nevada: https://nvbpels.org/
  29. New Hampshire: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/engineers/index.htm
  30. New Jersey: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/pels/Pages/default.aspx
  31. New Mexico: https://www.sblpes.state.nm.us/
  32. New York: https://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pels/
  33. North Carolina: https://www.ncbels.org/
  34. North Dakota: https://www.ndpelsboard.org/
  35. Ohio: https://www.peps.ohio.gov/
  36. Oklahoma: https://www.ok.gov/pels/index.html
  37. Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/boee/Pages/default.aspx
  38. Pennsylvania: https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/EngineersLandSurveyorsandGeologists/Pages/default.aspx
  39. Rhode Island: https://www.bdp.ri.gov/professions/engineers/
  40. South Carolina: https://llr.sc.gov/pels/
  41. South Dakota: https://dlr.sd.gov/engineers/
  42. Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/pe.html
  43. Texas: https://pels.texas.gov/

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