Setting Goals

An individual is able to achieve a lot in a career. Working under a Professional Engineer, especially one with passion and experience, helps an engineer in training (EIT) to see what can be accomplished in a career. A young engineer should set lofty goals – short, medium, and long term – and then strive toward them.

Knowledge

Discipline and thoroughness of an individual’s work can be practiced at any point in one’s career, but engineering experience can only come with time. Working under a PE helps provide a knowledge base to answer questions. A seasoned PE has a career’s worth of experience and having the ability to ask questions to one is very beneficial. By understanding and absorbing the answers, a young engineer has the opportunity to rapidly advance his/her expertise.

People and Business Skills

College is great for teaching engineers the math, physics, and science needed to receive a diploma, but it often fails to prepare engineers for the social and business skills necessary for the job. Attending business meetings with a PE aids a young engineer in addressing questions that may arise from clientele. It is an engineer’s responsibility to know every single component of his/her design and be able to justify even the smallest parts.

Ethics

The code of ethics for the National Society of Professional Engineers states that “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public” and “Perform services only in areas of their competence.” By being mentored under a Professional Engineer, an EIT is reassured he/she is learning the safest practices and is receiving accurate knowledge.