Daniel Dahlinger

(yes it’s more than just yet another free ad for Toastmasters)

Professional development is a crucial aspect of any engineering career. It’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and innovations, as well as to continuously build your skills and knowledge to advance in your career. One way to pursue professional development is by seeking out various organizations and resources that offer opportunities for growth and learning. Below are some examples of resources that can help young professionals in engineering to build their careers.

Professional engineering associations are one of the most popular and comprehensive resources for professional development in the engineering industry. There are many professional organizations that cater to specific engineering disciplines, such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). These organizations offer a wide range of resources and opportunities for professional development, such as conferences, webinars, and technical publications. Being a member of one or more of these organizations can help young professionals to stay informed about the latest trends and developments in their field, as well as network with other professionals in their industry.

Continuing education courses are another valuable resource for engineers seeking professional development opportunities. Many universities and colleges offer continuing education courses for engineers to build their skills and knowledge in specific areas. These courses can be taken online or in person, and can range from short workshops to more in-depth certificate programs. Examples of online platforms that offer engineering courses include Coursera, EdX, and MIT OpenCourseWare.

Industry certifications are also important for young professionals looking to advance in their careers. Certifications such as the Professional Engineer (PE) license, which is required for engineers who work on projects that directly impact public health and safety, demonstrate expertise in specific areas of engineering. Other certifications, such as the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or the LEED Green Associate, can demonstrate proficiency in energy management or sustainable design practices. Achieving industry certifications can help young professionals stand out from their peers and advance in their careers.

Toastmasters is a non-profit organization that helps people improve their public speaking and leadership skills through a network of local clubs. Participating in Toastmasters can help engineers develop their communication skills and build confidence when presenting their ideas or proposals to colleagues, clients, or stakeholders. Effective communication is critical for success in any career, and Toastmasters provides a supportive environment for individuals to develop their public speaking and leadership abilities.

In addition to these resources, many employers offer professional development opportunities for their employees, such as training programs, tuition reimbursement, and mentorship programs. It’s important for young professionals to take advantage of these opportunities and continuously invest in their professional growth and development. By pursuing professional development, engineers can not only improve their skills and knowledge, but also increase their value to their employers and advance in their careers.

In conclusion, pursuing professional development is essential for any engineering career. There are many different resources and opportunities available, including professional organizations, continuing education courses, industry certifications, and Toastmasters. By continuously building your skills and knowledge, you can advance in your career and make a greater impact in the engineering industry.

Interested to learn more? Links to all the organizations mentioned above here:

1. Professional engineering associations:

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): https://www.asme.org/
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): https://www.ieee.org/
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): https://www.asce.org/

2. Continuing education courses:

• Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=engineering
• EdX: https://www.edx.org/learn/engineering
• MIT OpenCourseWare: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/engineering/

3. Industry certifications:

• Professional Engineer (PE) License: https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/what-pe
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM): https://www.aeecenter.org/certifications/certified-energy-manager-cem
• LEED Green Associate: https://www.usgbc.org/credentials/leed-green-associate

4. Toastmasters:

• Toastmasters International: https://www.toastmasters.org/

by Daniel Dahlinger

Greetings from New Orleans

So you may be wondering why there hasn’t been an episode in the last few weeks… or you may not because that’s normal behavior too!

The answer – it’s been Mardi Gras! Maddie and I were blessed to have many friends come through our doors for the past two weeks but now parade season is finally over, and in line with the new beginnings that the end of Mardi Gras brings, we now begin the process of nesting and getting ready to welcome our child into the world… and I get to start podcasting again as my podcast room no longer has guests inside!

So… new episode coming soon. I promise. Some things just are worth the wait!

Donating to podcasts like this one is a great way to show your support for the content you love. By donating, you are helping to keep the podcast alive and allowing it to grow and reach more people. Plus, your donations will help fund more interesting content and cool projects! So why not show your appreciation and help make this podcast even better by donating today?

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. Just got laid off? Offer to work for FREE!

2. Let me take pride in toxic work culture 😍

3. Not sure who’s crazier: the poster OR the 19% of people who thinks it’s ok to cold call on Christmas

Career Questions

4. What are Credit hours in college?

5. Is Utility Coordinator engineering?

6. Why don’t engineers rule the world?

7. How can you combine writing with engineering?

8. Signed a job offer, then received another with %30 raise. Would you take the second offer?

9. Experiencing racism at work: what do i do?

10. Any other recent grads still amazed by how much free time they have now?

11. I lied to my boss about my reason for resignation he caught me out in my lie

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 Consulting and Construction 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/0Pclog68AY1ArXm5PiApCX?si=KbqFimdQT6iK3Os2G4Jnkg&utm_s

Donating to podcasts like this one is a great way to show your support for the content you love. By donating, you are helping to keep the podcast alive and allowing it to grow and reach more people. Plus, your donations will help fund more interesting content and cool projects! So why not show your appreciation and help make this podcast even better by donating today?

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 ENGRing.success@gmail.com

In this weekly episode, Daniel is joined yet again by Luke Callahan to talk about building a brand, more about LinkedIn Lunatics; and respond to more career questions

Career Advice: Building your brand

What is a professional brand? Luke and Dan take a cursory level dive!

LinkedIn Lunatics

1.  Things you can learn from armed robbery

2. It didn’t happen just once but 6 times

Career Questions

3. Future of Chemical Engineers without O&G

4. Asked for the salary range. Got told: “Buddy, you’re rustling some feathers here…”

5. Should I reschedule my interview for my exams?

6. Best way to prepare for 21 credit semester?

7. Fiancé and I are having a debate… is the short name for calculus “Calc” or “cal”.

8. What advice would you give an overworked person serving the final two weeks of notice period?

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 Consulting and Construction 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/0Pclog68AY1ArXm5PiApCX?si=KbqFimdQT6iK3Os2G4Jnkg&utm_source=copy-link

Check out the latest episode of the podcast here:

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 52:19
2. 77 – AI to Get A Degree; Researching Your Future Team; Quit Job to Travel; Non-Engineering Tasks 53:27
3. 76 – Is Chemical Engineering Dangerous?; Project Controls; In-House Public Sector vs Consulting Firm 49:08
4. 75 – Email Etiquette; Un-Funded PhD; Hating Your Coursework; Personalization of Salaries 50:59
5. 74 – Unlocking the "Third Element" – Leverage Emotional Awareness into Career Success w/ Randy Lyman 48:33

by Daniel Dahlinger

Credit hours are a fundamental part of the college experience, so if you’re pondering attending college, it’s good for you to have a basic understanding about credit hours and how they work!

What are credit hours?

Credit hours are units of measurement used in college to indicate the amount of time a student spends in class for a particular course. They represent the amount of work a student is expected to complete for a course, both in class and outside of class.

Each credit hour typically represents one hour of class time per week over the course of a semester. This means that if you’re taking a 3-credit hour course, you can expect to spend 3 hours in class each week for the duration of the semester.

Credit hours are also used to determine how much work a student is expected to complete outside of class. This includes things like reading assignments, writing papers, and completing projects.

Why are credit hours important for you when planning a semester?

Credit hours are used to determine how much a student is expected to study and complete assignments outside of class. The general rule of thumb is that students should expect to spend 3 hours outside of class for every 1 credit hour of coursework.

For example, if you’re taking a 3-credit hour course, you can expect to spend an additional 9 hours per week studying and completing assignments outside of class. This is in addition to the 3 hours you’ll be spending in class each week.

It’s important to keep in mind that the amount of work required for a course will vary based on the subject and the specific course. Some courses may require more time outside of class, while others may require less.

What about money?

Credit hour costs: Credit hours typically have a cost associated with them, which is known as tuition. The cost of credit hours can vary depending on the institution and the specific program. It’s important to keep in mind that the cost of credit hours can add up quickly, so it’s important to plan ahead and budget accordingly.

Your mileage may vary. Some universities (generally larger state schools) charge tuition by the credit hour. Other universities, like the Liberal Arts school I attended (Trinity University) will charge different tuition rates based on your student status. For example, part time students (students taking less than 12 hours) paid a lower tuition rate, while all full time students (12-18 credit hours) all paid the same amount in tuition, so there was an incentive to take up to 18 hours each semester for students looking to maximize the value of their tuition!

How do they impact my degree?

Credit hours are also used to determine how many courses a student needs to take in order to complete their degree. Most degrees require a certain number of credit hours to be completed in order to graduate.

For example, a bachelor’s degree typically requires the completion of 120 credit hours. This means that in order to earn a bachelor’s degree, a student will need to complete a certain number of courses that add up to 120 credit hours. For example, my engineering degree at Trinity University required 129 credit hours total.

The number of credit hours required for a degree will vary depending on the specific program and the institution. Some degrees may require more credit hours, while others may require fewer.

How many credit hours should I take?

My opinion is that 15-18 hours is the range you should be in each semester if you’re on a traditional student path to finish your degree in four years as a full-time student. The typical credit hour load for a full-time student in a semester is 15-16 credit hours. However, the number of credit hours you should take will depend on your individual circumstances and goals. Some students may prefer to take a heavier course load and graduate more quickly, while others may prefer to take a lighter course load and have more time for other activities. It may be helpful to speak with an academic advisor or counselor to determine the best course load for you. Going above 18 hours is not advisable.

Here’s how I would classify the credit hours per semester

• ≤12 credit hours = part time
• 13-14 credit hours = light load
• 15-16 credit hours = normal load
• 17-18 credit hours = full load
• > 18 credit hours = insanity

Conclusion

In summary, credit hours are a key part of the college experience. They are units of measurement used to indicate the amount of time a student spends in class for a particular course, and are used to determine how much work a student is expected to complete outside of class. I hope you found this summary helpful!

FAQs

What is a credit hour?

A credit hour is a unit of measurement used in college to indicate the amount of time a student spends in class for a particular course. It represents the amount of work a student is expected to complete for a course, both in class and outside of class.

How many hours do I need to take to be considered a full-time student?

Full-time students typically take at least 12 credit hours per semester. However, some institutions may consider students who are taking a lesser course load to be full-time if they are participating in a specific program or are classified as a graduate student. It’s important to check with your institution for specific policies regarding full-time enrollment.

How much do credit hours cost?

The cost of credit hours can vary depending on the institution and the specific program. It’s important to check with your institution for specific tuition costs for credit hours.

Can I transfer credits from one institution to another?

In some cases, students may be able to transfer credits from one institution to another. It’s important to carefully review the transfer credit policies of the institution you are planning to attend to ensure that your credits will be accepted.

What is the maximum number of credit hours I can take in a semester?

The maximum number of credit hours a student can take in a semester will vary depending on the institution. Some institutions may have policies regarding the maximum number of credit hours a student can take in a semester, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with your institution’s policies.

Can I take fewer credit hours and still graduate on time?

The number of credit hours you need to take in order to graduate on time will depend on your individual circumstances and the requirements of your degree program. Some students may be able to take fewer credit hours and still graduate on time, while others may need to take a full-time course load in order to graduate on schedule. It’s important to speak with an academic advisor or counselor to determine the best course load for you

What happens if I don’t complete the required number of credit hours for my degree?

If you don’t complete the required number of credit hours for your degree, you may not be able to graduate. It’s important to carefully plan your course load and make sure you are on track to meet the credit hour requirements for your degree. If you are having trouble completing the required credit hours, it may be helpful to speak with an academic advisor or counselor for assistance.

By Daniel Dahlinger and Chat GPT

With the recession looming, tech layoffs ongoing and many people in a position where they may been needing to interview for a job, I figured… why not ask my lovely friend Chat GPT how to prep for a job interview. As always, my original thoughts will show up in italics.

1. Research the company and the specific role you are interviewing for. This will help you understand the company’s mission and values, as well as the skills and experience that the role requires. It’s important to generally understand the mission and values of the company so that you’re not going in blind!
2. Review the job description and make a list of the specific skills and experiences that the employer is looking for. And also know how to talk about how YOU POSSESS THOSE SKILLS!
3. Prepare answers to common interview questions. Some common questions include:

• Tell me about yourself
• Why are you interested in this role?
• What relevant experience do you have?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?

4. Practice your answers out loud with a friend or family member to make sure they are clear and concise. Good idea, you don’t want to sound rehearsed, but you do need to be able to present yourself in a manner that is organized.
5. Dress professionally for the interview. It is important to make a good first impression, so make sure you are well-groomed and dressed in business attire. I’d say yeah, this is kinda important but also make sure that you’re not completely out of fashion for the place you’re interviewing at. I’d say a good rule of thumb is dress a little bit nicer than the day-to-day attire at that office. Do they wear button downs? Throw on a jacket. Do they wear jeans and polos? Throw on a button down. Etc, etc, etc…
6. Make a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Asking questions shows that you are engaged and interested in the role. Some potential questions include:

• What do you enjoy most about working for the company?
• Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with?
• What are the biggest challenges for someone in this role?
• What is the purpose of this role? What problem are you trying to solve by filling this role?
• What does a successful hire look like for you? What should I plan to accomplish in my first 6 months in this role?
• What does the day-to-day look like? How much time should I expect to spend in meetings?
• Also ask any questions related to deal-breakers when it comes to compensation, benefits, and work-life balance. I’d even consider getting the matter of compensation out there if it wasn’t already established and you’re interested in the role.

7. Review the location of the interview and plan your route in advance. Make sure you arrive at least 10-15 minutes early to give yourself time to settle in and compose yourself. Very good idea.
8. Bring copies of your resume, cover letter, and any other relevant documents to the interview. This will allow you to refer to your experience and accomplishments during the interview. Yep. Good advice here.
9. During the interview, maintain good eye contact and engage with the interviewer. Listen carefully to their questions and take a moment to think before answering. BLAH BLAH BLAH sure I guess this is good advice!
10. At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for their time and express your interest in the role. If appropriate, you can ask about the next steps in the hiring process. Yep, good advice!

Any more advice ChatGPT?

One additional tip is to prepare for potential behavioral questions. These are questions that ask you to describe a specific situation from your past and how you handled it. For example, the interviewer might ask “Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle the situation?”

To prepare for these types of questions, it can be helpful to think of specific examples from your past experience where you faced a challenge and overcame it. This will help you provide specific and relevant answers during the interview.

Thanks ChatGPT!

Here’s what I’m doing to build mine.

by Daniel Dahlinger (kinda)

__

1. Choose a Niche: Before you start creating your channel, you need to decide what type of content you’ll be creating. Think about what kind of videos you want to make, and what topics you’d like to cover.

2. Create Your Channel: Once you have your niche in mind, you can create your YouTube channel. You can do this by signing into your Google account and going to youtube.com/create.

3. Create Quality Content: Quality content is key to building a successful YouTube channel. Try to create content that is well-produced, engaging, and informative. You’ll want to focus on creating videos that your audience will find valuable.

4. Promote Your Channel: Once your channel is up and running, you’ll want to start promoting it to get more viewers. You can do this by using social media, email campaigns, and other strategies.

5. Analyze Your Performance: It’s important to track your progress and measure the success of your channel. You can use YouTube Analytics to see which videos are performing best, and how your audience is responding to them.

by Daniel Dahlinger (kinda)

Engineering is an incredibly rewarding and challenging field, but it is also one that requires dedication and hard work. Here are some tips for those who are considering a career in engineering:

Learn the fundamentals: A strong foundation in mathematics, physics and other scientific principles is essential for success in an engineering career. Take the time to learn the basics of these subjects and make sure you understand them thoroughly.

Get practical experience: Engineering is a hands-on field, so it’s important to gain practical experience. Look for summer internships or other engineering-related jobs that you can use to develop your skills.

Network: Establishing strong professional relationships is key to success in engineering. Make sure to attend networking events and get to know people in the field.

Keep up with technology: As technology advances, so do the skills required to be a successful engineer. Stay informed about the latest developments in the field and make sure you’re prepared to use them.

Be open to change: The field of engineering is constantly evolving, so it’s important to be flexible and open to new ideas. Be willing to adapt to new technologies and trends.

by Daniel Dahlinger (kinda)

AI generated content is in non-italicized text. Written content is in italicized text.

—

AI writing assistants are increasingly getting popular in the workplace. Some companies use them when they need to generate content for a specific topic or niche. While digital agencies use them to generate all kinds of content for their clients.

The most common types of AI writing assistants are blog post generators, article generators, and social media content generators.

There are many benefits to using these AI tools, including saving time and increasing productivity; however there are some challenges that come with it as well.

Challenges with AI Writing

—

There are many challenges that come with AI writing. First of all, the quality of generated content is not as high as human content. Secondly, it’s hard for the AI to understand context and meaning in the text.

The biggest challenge is that there are no standards for evaluating how good or bad this type of content is.

Case and point, this content is trash. If I were to rely on this content, then I would be producing terrible content. The key here is using the AI writing to help with the brainstorming, organizing and starting block parts of content generation.

Benefits to AI Writing

—

AI writing assistants are increasingly getting popular in the workplace. Some companies use them when they need to generate content for a specific topic or niche. While digital agencies use them to generate all kinds of content for their clients.

There are many benefits to AI writing, but the most important one is that it saves time and also helps you focus on your strengths. For example, if you know that you’re not good at generating blog post ideas, then you can just let an AI assistant do it for you and then just edit the text once it’s done.

Look how limited this is. I mean, the first paragraph is repeated from my intro paragraph. BOO. Also look at how this is written. Once you can spot AI writing, you should know that maybe… just maybe… that’s not the content you should be using to inform your decision making. This is scary stuff!

Places you should look out for AI Writing

AI Topic: Use cases for AI writing tools; keywords: AI writer, interview, job post, advertisement, blog post, advice column

—

AI writing tools are being developed to help us with our everyday tasks. They can help us with interviews, job posts, advertisements, blog posts and advice columns.

The AI writer can generate a resume for you. It can also take over the task of interviewing people and asking them questions that are relevant to the position.

Yep, these are the use cases that AI writing is advertised for.

Conclusion: Avoid Being Influenced by AI Writing in your Everyday Life

—

The article is about how we should be cautious of AI writers because they are not human and they are not good at writing.

We should always be on guard when it comes to AI writers. We should take care to avoid being influenced by their content in our everyday lives.

Thanks AI bot! I’ll close with that.