Holly Blair

Engineering Possibilities Holly Blair

Engineering Possibilities: A Soft Skills Guide for Young Engineers Generally speaking, engineers are not known for their outstanding social skills. When making the transition from university to working as an engineer, a gap often develops in the ability of some young engineers to achieve results, effectively communicate with others and attain a sense of balance and purpose in their lives. This gap can be frustrating and even become detrimental to their early careers and their ultimate success in life. The skills that made an engineer successful in school are not necessarily the same skills that will make that engineer successful in their work environment. Unlike university where there was a set curriculum of technical skills to develop in order to become an engineer, the curriculum of soft skills required for success in the workplace is undefined, vague, often unknown and unique to each individual. Most young engineers are left to fend for themselves and learn on the job, in a true "trial by fire" style. This unguided and uncertain approach to personal and professional development often proves unreliable and unsuccessful for many young people in the early years of their careers. Engineering Possibilities is written out of the possibility of compassion and connection, to help guide young engineers along their journey into the "real world." Inspired by the author's own journey to discover her authentic self and her passion for helping others, the intent of this book is to inspire young professionals to effectively develop the soft skills required for their success and to begin to become authentically connected to their purpose and direction in life.