When the Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) in Scotland wanted to showcase great examples of engineering in the country, it made sense to employ a bit of teamwork.
After all, this is something engineers are actually very good at.
The result is ICE has linked up with the popular North Coast 500 (NC500) tourism route to tell the story of civil engineering in the Highlands through bridges, power stations, buildings and canals.
Many of the ten sites are projects by Thomas Telford, the renowned Scottish engineer and ICE’s very first President. They include the Kessock Bridge, the Kylesku Bridge, Glascarnoch Reservoir, Kishorn Yard – a former oil rig fabrication yard – Stoer Lighthouse, Dounreay and the Caledonian Canal.
According to Alasdair Couttie, from ICE’s Highlands and Islands branch, the campaign is all about telling the story of the infrastructure on which communities depend, in order to help us understand the extent to which civil engineering transforms lives.
Well, it’s certainly got s1jobs thinking about what it takes to make your mark as an engineer. And while our top tips may not guarantee fame on the scale of Thomas Telford, they could make you an expert in your own field of expertise.
Be master and commander
Whether it’s in civil, mechancial, electrical or any of the other many specialisms in engineering, it’s vital you become technically sound in your field as early as possible. This will provide the bedrock for your career – though you’ll still need to stay up-to-date on technical trends and advances.
If you want to be the best, imitate the best
Find the best engineer in your workplace or among your pals and try to learn from him or her. This could be through a formal mentoring relationship or simply by appreciating how someone develops their talents.
Walk the talk
Try to ensure whatever you say, or promise, will be honoured. There’s nothing worse than an engineer who fails to deliver or simply forgets what they’ve promised to do. Being able to follow through is a sign of reliability.
Be willing to learn
Ask pertinent questions, pay attention to detail and show interest. And remember: even Mr Telford knew being prepared to admit you don’t know everything is a sign of strength not weakness.
Never stand still
Constantly improving personally and professionally through training, coaching, reading and further study is what true pros do to make their mark.
If you want to map out a great future in Engineering start by checking out s1jobs.