Young Workers: U Nd 2 Improve Ur Writing Skills

This is from a research study done on young professionals in Minnesota:

"A generation ago, employers were still lamenting the poor technical abilities of their entry-level workers. Well, that's not much of an issue anymore, thanks to the omnipresence of computers, cell phones and the Internet.

In a survey of 100 human resources executives, only 5 percent said that recent college graduates lacked computer or technology skills, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the outplacement firm.

The problem now is more basic. Nearly half the executives said that entry-level workers lacked writing skills, and 27 percent said that they were deficient in critical thinking.

It seems that some young employees are now guilty of the technological equivalent of wearing flip-flops: they are writing company e-mail as if they were texting cell phone messages with their thumbs.

In response, employers are sending a message of their own: When you're in the office, put on those dress shoes and start spelling your words correctly, and in full.

Survey Results

Human Resources executives were asked: "What skills do entry workers lack the most?"

Respondents could select more than one answer.

Written communications 45%
Critical thinking 27%
Other 27%
Workload time management 9%
Listening 5%
Computer/Technology 5%
Verbal Communication 0"

TBL: I love texting and being efficient in doing so, but we must make the transition to using proper writing in our professional emails!

A Match Made in Engineering (ICC that is)

Most of you came to ICC to start your engineering education. But a few came here to meet your life-mate. First came Rick and Crystal, today Sami and Josh got married, and now Teresa and Ryan are engaged! Whenever I can make it a former student's (in this case students'!) wedding, I do. It is a great experience to see you progress through this step in life and often your friends are my friends too! 5 of the people in today's wedding party were ICC Engineers...plus many more guests. Here are some pictures.

Help

Hi and Help!

I am teaching Intro to Engineering right now. Our students are having one of the best experiences we have ever had. We are working really hard to combine 1. exposure to engineering principles, 2. exposure to engineering through doing (like the canoe experience), 3. exposure to careers in engineering by touring (yesterday we went to Boston Scientific -- thanks Alisha and Kari), and 4. exposure to real engineers. This is where I need your help.

I would like to be able to walk into class each day and show a highlight of a former student who is now an engineer (and I mean engineer in the broadest sense...see my former blog about being an engineer!). Here is my request:

Please send me an email with the following information:
name:
high school:
years at comm college:
transfer university:
major and year of graduation:
list of different places you've worked:
current job description (a paragraph here would be helpful):
thing you like best about being an engineer:
favorite class in college:
piece of advice to first year engineering student:
and a picture (any picture will work...even none if you don't want)

THANK YOU... THANK YOU... THANK YOU!

Aluminum Foil Canoe

Want to know what's going on at ICC Engineering?

Today, at Blandin Beach, Itasca Community College Engineering students raced the aluminum foil canoes they designed and built. Each of the 18 teams had one roll of duct tape, 100 square feet of aluminum foil, and 72 pieces of lath. They were allowed to use glue guns to connect the pieces of wood. Student groups joined either the stock class, where they used paddles to propel their craft, or the modified class where they could use any type of motor. Many engineering principles were learned by the students as they completed this project. Specifically, they learned the fluid engineering principles of buoyancy, stability, and hydrodynamics -- their boats had to float, not tip, and move efficiently through the water. The canoe race consisted of starting at one buoy, traversing 100 yards to another buoy which they circled and then raced back to the beginning. The top two scores were boats from the stock class which raced the course in 46 seconds each.

Grad School

Should you do it? If yes, in what?

My answer to the first question is yes. Grad school has a couple of important benefits - first it can open the doors to some jobs that weren't before and second it shows great initiative which many employers look positively upon. I couldn't have my job without a masters degree. There aren't many such jobs that require the advanced degree, but there are some.

Degree area - Well there are two main areas: engineering or business/management. The answer here, depends upon your ultimate career goals. If you want to ultimately work in the management side of things, then obviously you should head that direction. The degree can open the doors sooner and wider. If you really like hard engineering, then engineering makes sense.

Another option is to use your masters to expand your boundaries like I did. Even though my bachelors degree was in civil engineering, I got a masters in mechanical, thus opening my options up to two very broad career paths.

TBL: As engineers we have committed ourselves to be lifelong learners. Getting a masters degree (or two) along the way is a great option.

P.S. Get somebody else to pay for that degree. Don't take it out of your own pocket.

Office Socialization

Do the people at your place of work ever get together outside of work for socialization? If yes, great. If not, you are missing out. The time spent over a beer and pizza with group of co-workers and their significant others is time well spent. The next time you pass in the hallway, the nod and the smile are brighter and the workplace is a better place to be. Your co-workers and even bosses become your friends and work is a much better place to go when you get to be with your friends. If you are in the "no" category and want to move to the "yes", then be the leader and set up an evening where people get together. If the first one isn't well attended, be patient and plan another. It will almost always catch on.

TBL: Being social with your co-workers will lead to a better work environment.

From Amanda

In all fairness to guys, here is an actual conversation two girls I met today had at the table during a training seminar. . . .

Nice girl "So, what projects are you assisting with?"
Evil wench (with an offended look on her face and in bitchy voice) "UGH! I don't ASSIST anybody. My boss only has me leading projects."

She was 100% serious with this comment even though she had been working here for less than 2 months. Nice girl continued to be polite. Later evil wench was telling us more about herself and said this. . . . .

"I'm arrogant, that's just how it is."

So I don't know who she was trying to impress or if she really thought that technique was working, but guys aren't the only ones who are aggresively insecure :-).