Question for anyone who has worked in the engineering industry for awhile

[Special K]

I got a BSEE last spring and turned down a job offer to go to engineering grad school. The school is paying for everything, including living expenses, so I figured 2 years for even an MS wouldn't be a huge investment, even if it doesn't end up benefitting me much later on.

Anyway, this is a top 10 program (at least, according to USN&W) and needless to say, there are a considerable number of people in my program who I can tell are significantly more intelligent than I am (or at least it sure seems that way).

Now, my question to those of you who have worked at an engineering firm for awhile is this - how much does intelligence correlate with success in the company? Most likely engineering graduates will go on to some entry to intermediate level design position, then advance to senior design positions, then possibly management, right?

My concern is that I will have no chance of advancing if I am competing against these people for raises and promotions. I figure that if we are working on projects in the company similar to what we are working on in our classes, they will beat me every time, just like they do in the classes, simply because they are more intelligent. I feel like I really am trying my best in my courses, but my best just isn't as good as theirs. Is there any way to get ahead without necessarily being the most intelligent designer? Does anyone have any specific, anonymous examples of people in their company that are relevant?

I realize that not every position in the company involves actual engineering design skills, but most people in engineering management were engineers at one time, right? How can you advance beyond that level if there are always people more intelligent than you out there?

 

[bonkers325]

intelligent people get raises and promotions. also, the chances of you working with someone who is in your graduating class is slim.

edit: and to answer your question about engineering management, you climb the ladder with experience. your wits get you far, but your know-how gets you to the top.

 

[her209]

A graduate degree defintely cannot hurt you when looking for an job in the electrical engineering field.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: Special K
I got a BSEE last spring and turned down a job offer to go to engineering grad school. The school is paying for everything, including living expenses, so I figured 2 years for even an MS wouldn't be a huge investment, even if it doesn't end up benefitting me much later on.

Anyway, this is a top 10 program (at least, according to USN&W) and needless to say, there are a considerable number of people in my program who I can tell are significantly more intelligent than I am (or at least it sure seems that way).

Now, my question to those of you who have worked at an engineering firm for awhile is this - how much does intelligence correlate with success in the company? Most likely engineering graduates will go on to some entry to intermediate level design position, then advance to senior design positions, then possibly management, right?

My concern is that I will have no chance of advancing if I am competing against these people for raises and promotions. I figure that if we are working on projects in the company similar to what we are working on in our classes, they will beat me every time, just like they do in the classes, simply because they are more intelligent. I feel like I really am trying my best in my courses, but my best just isn't as good as theirs. Is there any way to get ahead without necessarily being the most intelligent designer? Does anyone have any specific, anonymous examples of people in their company that are relevant?

I realize that not every position in the company involves actual engineering design skills, but most people in engineering management were engineers at one time, right? How can you advance beyond that level if there are always people more intelligent than you out there?

>> how much does intelligence correlate with success in the company?
ZERO. All that matters is that you get things done corectly and on time. if you can't do that, you can have a PhD and it's equivilent to toilet paper.

And start reading Dilbert if you want to now what hte real world is like. That cartoon is dead on accurate.

We have an enginer at my company that is as high as she can go and she ahsn't got a clue on how to do ANY ENGINEERING!

Engieneering management (project leads,,etc) are typically ex-engineers. See Dilbert principle. .... Those that can do, those that can't are managers.

As for most of your questions, sounds like you should have taken the job offer.


EIDT: I'm a software engineer.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: Special K
I got a BSEE last spring and turned down a job offer to go to engineering grad school. The school is paying for everything, including living expenses, so I figured 2 years for even an MS wouldn't be a huge investment, even if it doesn't end up benefitting me much later on.

Anyway, this is a top 10 program (at least, according to USN&W) and needless to say, there are a considerable number of people in my program who I can tell are significantly more intelligent than I am (or at least it sure seems that way).

Now, my question to those of you who have worked at an engineering firm for awhile is this - how much does intelligence correlate with success in the company? Most likely engineering graduates will go on to some entry to intermediate level design position, then advance to senior design positions, then possibly management, right?

My concern is that I will have no chance of advancing if I am competing against these people for raises and promotions. I figure that if we are working on projects in the company similar to what we are working on in our classes, they will beat me every time, just like they do in the classes, simply because they are more intelligent. I feel like I really am trying my best in my courses, but my best just isn't as good as theirs. Is there any way to get ahead without necessarily being the most intelligent designer? Does anyone have any specific, anonymous examples of people in their company that are relevant?

I realize that not every position in the company involves actual engineering design skills, but most people in engineering management were engineers at one time, right? How can you advance beyond that level if there are always people more intelligent than you out there?

>> how much does intelligence correlate with success in the company?
ZERO. All that matters is that you get things done corectly and on time. if you can't do that, you can have a PhD and it's equivilent to toilet paper.

And start reading Dilbert if you want to now what hte real world is like. That cartoon is dead on accurate.

We have an enginer at my company that is as high as she can go and she ahsn't got a clue on how to do ANY ENGINEERING!

Engieneering management (project leads,,etc) are typically ex-engineers. See Dilbert principle. .... Those that can do, those that can't are managers.

As for most of your questions, sounds like you should have taken the job offer.


EIDT: I'm a software engineer.

Yea I know that's what is important, but my concern is that because they are more intelligent, they will get things done faster, and therefore will make better employees. But again, I suspect it's not as simple as a classroom project in a real company, so maybe there are other factors here.

EDIT: Your title seems pretty self explanatory. Are your complaints about your job specific to the company you work for, or your job function/industry in general?

Anyone else?

 

[Special K]

bump... come on, I know there are a lot of engineers on here.

 

[kranky]

I've worked in an engineering group for many years. I'm not an engineer (never took a single course) but a lot of people think I am just because of my position. None of our project managers are engineers. The VP of Engineering has an MBA but is not an engineer.

Think of your career as having two potential tracks - engineering itself, and management. A lot of great engineers are terrible managers. Managers need people skills, which many engineers lack.

There are very few assignments which are given to a single person. Most things require working as part of a team with other engineers. There is plenty of opportunity for people to shine even if they aren't the most intelligent because there are lots of tasks that need to be done aside from the "pure" engineering work.

Take one example - application engineering. They don't invent or design new products. They analyze the customer's requirements and figure out how to meet them by using existing products, putting the pieces together to achieve the desired end result. They make sure that what they propose can actually be built instead of dreaming up a solution which is impractical even though it might work in theory. They remember what worked in the past and what didn't. They draw on the experiences of others so they don't have to know everything themselves.

The best application engineers I know aren't necessarily the most intelligent, but they work to stay current on what is available in the marketplace, and have good interpersonal skills. They have good attention to detail - keeping track of project schedules, all the paperwork that must be completed, following up with other people.

The super-intelligent engineers might fit in well in R&D but that's certainly only one of many engineering jobs.

The engineering management track absolutely requires more management skill than engineering skill, yet that engineering background is also invaluable.

Don't fall into the trap that more intelligence=better engineer. It's a factor, but only one.

 

[Cattlegod]

in the engineering world the formula is 60% confidence/drive and 40% intelligence.

That is for 100%, most people only add up to 50-60% total, usually lacking in the confidence/drive area.

 

[spidey07]

Its who you know, not what you know.