List of Contributions

I wouldn't discount putting down internet activities on a resume as long as it doesn't go down a questionable rabbit-hole. Case-in-point was a temp worker in our office that didn't have experience doing computer drafting work. In a conversation with him, he mentioned a deep interest in an online mapping ...

It seems odd that the statement was made that a promotion does not guarantee a raise. There has to be a financial incentive to take on more responsibilities - it's the way the world works. Find a way to track the projects you have worked on and the percentage of work compared to all other staff who have ...

I grew up in the 1970's with the growth of the environmental movement so learned habits back then that I've continued. Recycling aluminum cans and newspapers was something I did to earn money. I continue it today because it is a waste of natural resources not to do it. My parents used public transportation ...

It helps to be aware of any particular difficulties in getting a work permit in a particular country. The way that can be possibly sidestepped is to work for an American company that is doing projects overseas. When I worked for URS Corporation (Now part of AECOM) in the early 2000's there were opportunities ...

There are plenty of possibilities. State DOT's should have staff writing the specs for larger highway projects throughout their respective states. Here in Wisconsin they have several engineers that work in the Construction Materials area. They help to write the Construction and Materials Manual: ...

You may want to consider looking for other positions besides project engineers or civil engineers. There always is a need for construction inspectors, CAD drafters, survey crew personnel, etc. The pay may not be as good as an entry level engineer but the knowledge and experience you gain is still relevant. ...

Always have pre-construction meetings with all of the stakeholders present including contractors, subs, designer, project engineer, inspectors, etc. Everyone should be clear of their role in the project and share contact information, especially emails and cell numbers. Many questions are brought up at ...

There are two big factors that I see in making a decision about college. 1. Job - Where you will work. Do you have as your goal working as a design engineer for an international engineering firm on mega-projects or will you be comfortable working for Iowa DOT, for example? An undergrad degree from MIT ...

I wish I would get more feedback from my employees and ask for it as often as I can, yet receive none.The only time I received some was in a disciplinary meeting with an employee who would show up late or sometimes not show up without calling. He accused me of being a "bad manager" but didn't say exactly ...