This article is part of our exclusive career advice series in partnership with the IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society.
When thinking about influencers, you might initially consider people with a large social media following who have the power to affect people with an interest in fashion, fitness, or food.
However, the people closest to you can influence the success you have in the early days of your career in ways that affect your professional journey. These influencers include you, your management, colleagues, and family.
Take control your career
You are—or should be—the most prominent influencer of your career. Fortunately, you’re the one you have the most control over.
Your ability to solve engineering problems is a significant determining factor in your career growth. The tech world is constantly evolving, so you need to stay on top of the latest developments in your specialization. You also should make it a priority to learn about related technical fields, as it can help you understand more and advance faster.
Another trait that can influence your career trajectory is your personality. How comfortable are you with facing awkward or difficult situations? What is your willingness to accept levels of risk when making commitments? What is your communication style with your peers and management? Do you prefer routine or challenging assignments? How interested are you in working with people from different backgrounds and cultures? Do you prefer to work on your own or as part of a team?
Most of those questions don’t have right or wrong answers, but how you respond to them can help you chart your path.
At the same time, be cognizant of the impression you make on others. How would you like them to think of you?
How you present yourself is important, and it’s within your control. Lead with confidence about your abilities, but don’t be afraid to seek help or ask questions to learn more. You want to be confident in yourself, but if you can’t ask for help or acknowledge when you’re wrong, you’ll struggle to form good relationships with your colleagues and management.
Learn about your company’s leadership
Your immediate supervisor, manager, and company leaders can impact your career. Much depends on your willingness to demonstrate initiative, accept challenging work, and be dedicated to the team.
Don’t forget that it is a job, however, and you will not stay in your first role forever.
Develop a good business relationship with your manager while recognizing the power dynamic. Learn to communicate with the manager; what works for one leader might not work for another. Like all of us, managers have their idiosyncrasies. Accept theirs and be aware of your own.
If your supervisor makes unachievable performance demands, don’t immediately consider it a red flag. Such stretch assignments can be growth opportunities, provided an environment of trust exists. But beware of bosses who become possessive and prevent you from accepting other opportunities within the organization rather than viewing you as the organization’s investment in talent.
Make it a priority to learn about your company’s leadership. How does the business work? What are the top priorities and values for the company, and why?
Find out the goals of the organization and your department. Learn how budgets are allocated and adjusted. Understand how the engineering and technology departments work with the marketing department, system integration, manufacturing, and other groups.
Companies differ in structure, business models, industry sectors, financial health, and many other aspects. The insight you gain from your managers is valuable to you, both in your current organization and with future employers.
Form strong relationships with coworkers
Take the time to understand your colleagues, who probably face similar issues. Try to learn something about the people you spend most of your day with attempting to solve technical problems. What do you have in common? How do your skills complement each other?
You also should develop social connections with your colleagues—which can enrich your after-work life and help you bond over job-related issues.
As a young professionalyou might not fully understand the industry in which your employer operates. A strong collaborative relationship with more experienced colleagues can help you learn about customer needs, available products and services, competitors, market share, regulations, and technical standards.
By becoming more aware of your industry, you might even come up with ideas for new offerings and find ways to develop your skills.
Family ties are important
You’re responsible for your career, but the happiness and well-being of those close to you should be part of the calculus of your life. Individual circumstances related to family—a partner’s job, say, or parents’ health or children’s needs—can influence your professional decisions.
Your own health and career trajectory are also part of the whole. Remember: Your career is part of your life, not the entire thing. Find a way to balance your career, life, and family.
Planning your next steps
As engineers and technologists, our work is not just a means to earn a living but also a source of fulfillment, social connections, and intellectual challenge. Where would you like to be professionally in 5, 10, or 15 years? Do you see yourself as an expert in key technical areas leading large and impactful programs? A manager or senior executive? An entrepreneur?
If you haven’t articulated your objectives and preferences, that’s fine. You’re early in your career, and it’s normal to be figuring out what you want. But if so, you should think about what you need to learn before planning for your next steps.
Whatever your path forward, you can benefit from your career influencers—the people who challenge you, teach you, and cause you to think about what you want.
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