Education is key to a successful career, so be a lifelong learner.

People often work in situations where a job is so structured that they are not encouraged to do or try new things. In fact, they may actually be discouraged from it. Decisions on workflow may be overly rigid or may have been designed under different working conditions.

It’s often a case of, “if it’s comfortable and it works, why change it?” Or the feeling that, “questioning may cause problems, so why bring it up?” It’s important to remember that the reason for change in any situation is that there may be better ways of accomplishing the task, be it improving design flow or your work environment.

Since engineering is not a stagnant field, processes change as new information is gathered and issues arise. At some point, we must adapt new policies and procedures to allow for them. People who get too comfortable with doing things the way they have always been done can find themselves unexpectedly looking for a new job, so it is best to make every effort to keep up with the industry and grow. Even if the “golden years” are not far off, learning is good for the brain, so don’t let yourself get complacent!

Take a good hard look at your employment situation. What can you do to make the job more meaningful to you and others? What can you do to find new challenges while increasing your chances of long-term employment? What situations are out of your “comfort zone” and how can you improve your comfort range? Get involved in your design community and find new solutions.

One of the easiest ways is to get involved in the design community is through networking. The benefits can be amazing! Knowing others in the business can give you someone to bounce ideas off of, answer questions, and an opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Talk to people about their knowledge to learn how they got it. They can also offer insights on how they go about doing their job or about any new opportunities. Although engineering tends to be a solitary field, people are usually generous in sharing their knowledge with others. They may also be a great resource for new positions that become available when the time is right.

Designers have many options available for networking. Conferences are opportunities to discuss a single issue or many. There are always options to attend meetings in the local area, such as the Designer’s Council, SMTA, software meetings, and presentations sponsored by vendors. If there are no meetings in an area, volunteering a little time to help start one helps you and others. Even if the designer is at an isolated location, he or she can network through Internet forums by asking questions or joining in discussions.

Another way to help your career is to continue to get as much education as possible. Go to every class that is available in your area, even if it is about a technology that you do not use now. It may not be a technology your company is currently using, but you will be “a star” if you know something about a subject, should the company decide to adopt it.

There are also Webinars on a variety of subjects, with the first Virtual Conference having only recently taken place. If it is difficult to get away from your desk assignments, ask if you can make up the time at a later date. Attend conferences, even if you have to pay for it yourself! Think of it as an investment in your future and your career, much like a return to college might be. Talk to vendors and speakers and ask questions during their classes. Seek any certifications that are available, as these will be good for your career as well. They give credibility to the knowledge you have acquired.

The ways to get involved in your company are varied. If there are multiple software tools used, learn them. You might not be equally proficient with all of them, but it shows others that you are willing and able to help out when the need arises. At a minimum, you will know the strengths of various software tools and be better able to do any translation work. This applies to Pro E and Autocad work too.

Remember to read data sheets and application notes, and share that information with others to show that you understand the circuit, and that as a member of the team you can contribute to the project. Attend design review meetings to keep current with decisions being made, and give input from the designer’s point of view. Make yourself the person who can work with everyone involved on a project, so that if some of the project is jobbed out, you can be the person who can handle the interaction between companies.

Lastly, read books, magazines and use the Internet to learn about topics of intereste to you and your company. Many conference speakers have web pages where you can get extra information and understand the differences of opinion in the available information. Let the people you work with (engineers, manufacturing, quality, etc.) know that you have articles or books they might be interested in, and share and discuss things with them. Use your creativity to find new ways to define your job and yourself in it, and then sell yourself to the powers that be! PCD&F

Susy Webb is a senior PCB designer at Fairfield Industries in Houston, TX, and is a regular speaker at the PCB Design Conferences; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..