Professional and Career Topics

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Ben Walpole Aff.M.ASCE
Editor
American Society of Civil Engineers
Reston VA
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This is a really important question and one I ask often.  At the most recent T&DI conference, we had an outstanding speaker who talked about multi-generational workplaces and communication preferences were at the heart of the conversation.  Although I am a boomer, my preference are more Gen Z as I am steeped in social media.  IG and LinkedIn are my go to places for a lot of connections and information.  I do like to read sometimes and listen often.  Good quality podcasts are valuable and for me need to be less than an hour in length.  Reading material that is a summary with a link to a deep dive resonates with me, too.

I look forward to seeing what others prefer...I hope that those who respond will identify their generation (actual and/or preferred style).

Thanks for starting this conversation.

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Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., AICP, ENV SP, F.ASCE, H.ITE
Atlanta, GA
ASCE President Elect
Transportation Strategic Advisor, GHD
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This one is tough for me. There is just so much information out there that I don't even fully know what works best before it is overwhelming no matter how it is delivered.

I typically prefer email for industry-related content, but it can also get to be way too much very quickly. If I get a lot of work-related emails and an industry email right afterward, I'm a lot less likely to actually read the one from the industry organization. 

I think it helps when there are very specific email lists you can subscribe to or unsubscribe from for individual organizations. For example, I'm not really into reading news articles at work, but I do want to know about upcoming events or online conversations that may interest me.

I like LinkedIn for connections to people I meet in industry, but I'm not spending much time on there reading articles. 

I use Instagram for fun, and I kind of like that to be separate from very serious content. So things like industry outreach videos, "why I chose engineering," or lighthearted content feel like they fit there more than something like an article on sustainability or legislative activity.

I have unsubscribed from most print publications because they piled up without me getting back to them, but at the same time, I don't always get to looking at the online versions either.

I am more likely to skim short content in email form than to click through multiple articles in an email since the shorter content can more easily be slipped in between other tasks than setting aside a larger segment of time to look at it all.

Not that any of this so far was super helpful, but I guess I'd summarize it as

• I generally want a separation between the media I use for entertainment and the media I use for technical correspondence
• The ability to curate what I do and don't receive from individual organizations is useful to me
• The ability to adjust the frequency of correspondence is a plus

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Heidi C. Wallace, P.E., M.ASCE
Tulsa, OK
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Hi Ben,

That's a great question! I believe communication preferences really depend on both age and cultural context - especially the country where one lives. Personally, I used to prefer Instagram for a while (and my daughter is all about TikTok - in moderation, of course 😊).

But as things changed, I found myself spending more and more time on ASCE platforms - reading, sharing, and engaging with content here. I'm also a big fan of LinkedIn - it's such a dynamic and versatile space. Unlike niche communities focused only on engineers or cat lovers, LinkedIn brings them all together in one feed. That said, some people still prefer more privacy and tailored spaces - which is totally valid.

Honestly, I now read blogs and discussion threads on ASCE like it's a morning ritual - and sometimes I even write my own here.

One more thought: not every platform has to copy others, but I do think ASCE could benefit from a "shorts"-style feature - something like brief videos where members share insights, lessons learned, or unique experiences. Platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn allow people to talk about anything - even engineers talk about cacti! But on ASCE, short videos could be more focused: curated topics, educational value, voices from the community - from professors, early-career professionals, or international members. Learning from each other in a modern format could really bring value and spark new conversations.

Thanks again for bringing this up - I look forward to seeing how ASCE continues to evolve!

Warm regards,
Darya Stanskova

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Darya Stanskova Aff.M.ASCE
Cost Estimator, Construction Engineer, Power Engineer, Project Manager
Clearwater FL
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Great question.

I find myself on LinkedIn and TikTok the most often. In the interim, I'm active in a few groups on multiple platforms from WhatsApp, MightNetworks, Facebook just to name a few.

While I have two podcasts and used to listen to podcasts daily either on my daily commute or driving between construction sites, now I only listen to them during flights.

My preferred forms of content include livestreams, webinars, short form video then long form video and written posts with pics/graphics. I've never been a Twitter fan but started using it when I livestreamed on Periscope years ago. Now I don't use Twitter at all.

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Michele Heyward A.M.ASCE
Denmark SC
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