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What will my mindset need to look like in order to be thankful for the work that I'm able to provide as an engineer without feeling like I'm becoming stagnant in what I do? #Fall25
I'm a sophomore studying electrical engineering and I'm just curious what the dynamic looks like between being confident in your work and wanting to outgrow your position or climb the so called "ladder."
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Indrani’s Answer
Hi William ,
Hope you’re doing well. Sharing a bit from my own experience: continual learning in the background is essential at work. Always make sure you’re staying updated with the latest developments in your field.
It also helps to regularly ask your manager to involve you in challenging projects. These opportunities not only accelerate your learning curve but also increase your visibility within the team and organization.
All the Best !
Indrani
Hope you’re doing well. Sharing a bit from my own experience: continual learning in the background is essential at work. Always make sure you’re staying updated with the latest developments in your field.
It also helps to regularly ask your manager to involve you in challenging projects. These opportunities not only accelerate your learning curve but also increase your visibility within the team and organization.
All the Best !
Indrani
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi Josiah,
This is a very good question.
Career growth has many aspects to consider. Usually, being your very best self in your current position is a very helpful mindset irrespective of the level you are at. A good performance management system looks at talent as a critical resource for success. Therefore, primary focus is on recruiting talent at all levels of the organization. A People Balance Sheet (PBS) is a business process that provides the foundation for mapping careers for the organization's workforce. Every individual employee is assessed on both potential and performance. A high potential and high performance individual is automatically considered a high flyer, for instance. Each individual is appropriately placed in the potential-performance grid. Career discussions form part of the performance appraisal process. Career discussions with your manager (the role you report into) help marry your personal interests to that of the organization - tradeoffs are often necessary. This way, your career path within the organization is, provisionally, mapped out for you. Contingencies do occur, though - your career path can change based on business imperatives. Often, it's necessary to progress sideways, in order to attain both breadth and depth, before moving upwards. This way, the candidate is sufficiently solid enough to embrace the challenges that come with promotion. The pathways are variable for different individuals based on what they bring into the process: ambition, zeal, curiosity, urgency, flexibility, love for challenges etc. Individual Development Plans are implemented for all those that have been identified as cover for all critical roles in the organization. A given individual maybe cover for more than one role (usually two and occasionally three depending on the versatility of the individual). Excellence and ability to realize one's full potential are, as such, critical requirements for career growth. It's possible, in practice, to move from lower echelons of power to the very top.
This is a very good question.
Career growth has many aspects to consider. Usually, being your very best self in your current position is a very helpful mindset irrespective of the level you are at. A good performance management system looks at talent as a critical resource for success. Therefore, primary focus is on recruiting talent at all levels of the organization. A People Balance Sheet (PBS) is a business process that provides the foundation for mapping careers for the organization's workforce. Every individual employee is assessed on both potential and performance. A high potential and high performance individual is automatically considered a high flyer, for instance. Each individual is appropriately placed in the potential-performance grid. Career discussions form part of the performance appraisal process. Career discussions with your manager (the role you report into) help marry your personal interests to that of the organization - tradeoffs are often necessary. This way, your career path within the organization is, provisionally, mapped out for you. Contingencies do occur, though - your career path can change based on business imperatives. Often, it's necessary to progress sideways, in order to attain both breadth and depth, before moving upwards. This way, the candidate is sufficiently solid enough to embrace the challenges that come with promotion. The pathways are variable for different individuals based on what they bring into the process: ambition, zeal, curiosity, urgency, flexibility, love for challenges etc. Individual Development Plans are implemented for all those that have been identified as cover for all critical roles in the organization. A given individual maybe cover for more than one role (usually two and occasionally three depending on the versatility of the individual). Excellence and ability to realize one's full potential are, as such, critical requirements for career growth. It's possible, in practice, to move from lower echelons of power to the very top.
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Electrical Engineer, Software Developer, and Career Mentor
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Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
To truly enjoy your work as an electrical engineer and avoid feeling stuck, try to balance confidence in your current skills with a curiosity for learning. Be proud of what you can do, like designing circuits and solving problems, while also exploring new topics and technologies. Growth can happen in many ways, whether you're deepening your expertise, trying out new areas, or taking on different projects.
To keep progressing, consider keeping a journal of your skills and insights, setting goals that mix short-term achievements with longer-term exploration, and taking time to reflect on your progress. Great resources for learning more about electrical engineering include All About Circuits, EEWeb, MIT OpenCourseWare, and YouTube channels like EEVblog, GreatScott!, and ElectroBOOM. Practicing gratitude, celebrating small successes, and breaking big goals into smaller steps can help you appreciate your work and stay motivated. With this approach, you can feel good about your contributions and keep growing without feeling guilty or frustrated.
To keep progressing, consider keeping a journal of your skills and insights, setting goals that mix short-term achievements with longer-term exploration, and taking time to reflect on your progress. Great resources for learning more about electrical engineering include All About Circuits, EEWeb, MIT OpenCourseWare, and YouTube channels like EEVblog, GreatScott!, and ElectroBOOM. Practicing gratitude, celebrating small successes, and breaking big goals into smaller steps can help you appreciate your work and stay motivated. With this approach, you can feel good about your contributions and keep growing without feeling guilty or frustrated.