Comments on: Stuff You Don’t Learn in Engineering School: Skills for Success in the Real World http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/ Your one stop shopping information center. Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:49:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Brandon Stiltner http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/comment-page-1/#comment-775 Brandon Stiltner Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:10:28 +0000 http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/2009/11/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/#comment-775 This is a great book for engineers in their senior/4th year of school or engineers who are entering the work force. But, if you've long passed those stages in your life, then its still a beneficial book to read too. He does a good job at explaining how to be better at the so called "soft skills" where our training as engineers is (typically) lacking. He claims that, although schools are great at teaching the science, math, and all around technical side of engineering, they are usually poor at teaching these soft skills (writing, presenting, etc.) There are great tips in the book on how to be more effective at meetings, how to be better at managing your time, relieving stress, etc. Whats great is the chapters are (mostly) unrelated so you can read them in any order that you choose... In fact, he recommends it. I have personally used some of his tips on "being more effective at meetings" and can say that they have helped me be a better at my job. Lastly, he doesn't orient the book toward a specific type of engineering, but to all engineers in general. I would recommend this book to any graduating engineers who are going into the "real world". Rating: 5 / 5 This is a great book for engineers in their senior/4th year of school or engineers who are entering the work force. But, if you’ve long passed those stages in your life, then its still a beneficial book to read too. He does a good job at explaining how to be better at the so called “soft skills” where our training as engineers is (typically) lacking. He claims that, although schools are great at teaching the science, math, and all around technical side of engineering, they are usually poor at teaching these soft skills (writing, presenting, etc.) There are great tips in the book on how to be more effective at meetings, how to be better at managing your time, relieving stress, etc. Whats great is the chapters are (mostly) unrelated so you can read them in any order that you choose… In fact, he recommends it. I have personally used some of his tips on “being more effective at meetings” and can say that they have helped me be a better at my job. Lastly, he doesn’t orient the book toward a specific type of engineering, but to all engineers in general. I would recommend this book to any graduating engineers who are going into the “real world”.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Anomaly http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/comment-page-1/#comment-774 Anomaly Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:13:53 +0000 http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/2009/11/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/#comment-774 It's a quick read with nothing but the meat and potatoes as far as the relevant information is concerned. Perfect for most engineers looking for an informational source that helps explain typical scenarios at the workplace that "do not compute". Rating: 4 / 5 It’s a quick read with nothing but the meat and potatoes as far as the relevant information is concerned. Perfect for most engineers looking for an informational source that helps explain typical scenarios at the workplace that “do not compute”.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/comment-page-1/#comment-773 Anonymous Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:41:21 +0000 http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/2009/11/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/#comment-773 The book was very readable and filled with insights. I was particularly fond of the chapters on assertiveness and leadership. The book has an excellent combination of helpful business and social tips, reasons to learn them, and methods to gain these traits for yourself. Rating: 5 / 5 The book was very readable and filled with insights. I was particularly fond of the chapters on assertiveness and leadership. The book has an excellent combination of helpful business and social tips, reasons to learn them, and methods to gain these traits for yourself.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Rohit Saboo http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/comment-page-1/#comment-772 Rohit Saboo Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:54:13 +0000 http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/2009/11/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/#comment-772 Every engineering graduate should definitely read this book. It is concise, lucid, and to-the-point. <br /> <br />I do not quite agree with the title in its entirety. We do learn quite a few of these things at engineering schools. However, in our relentless pursuit of gaining technical knowledge, we keep learning these things at a much lower priority. Chapter 15, "Having Fun" describes something, which is actually quite real. I have personally experienced this, where our professors would sometimes force us to go ahead and have some fun. Carl Selinger mentions many such important things, which the engineer needs to be good at including writing and communication skills. <br /> <br />Carl Selinger starts by referring to Dale Carnegie's famous book "How to make friends and influence people". This makes the reader, develop very high expectations about the book. Despite his best effort, his style does not live up to the standards of Carnegie. Unlike Carnegie's book, there are not many third-person examples or experiences, which have been discussed. This sometimes lends a preaching style to the writing, which can become annoying. <br /> <br />For someone who is inexperienced, freshly graduated and has never been taught any of the things which the book discusses about, will find it difficult to comprehend and realize the importance of learning these skills. This is primarily because Carl largely mentions personal experiences. A naïve reader might critique the book as being too one-sided. Overall, the book is very good as a reference. Rating: 5 / 5 Every engineering graduate should definitely read this book. It is concise, lucid, and to-the-point.

I do not quite agree with the title in its entirety. We do learn quite a few of these things at engineering schools. However, in our relentless pursuit of gaining technical knowledge, we keep learning these things at a much lower priority. Chapter 15, “Having Fun” describes something, which is actually quite real. I have personally experienced this, where our professors would sometimes force us to go ahead and have some fun. Carl Selinger mentions many such important things, which the engineer needs to be good at including writing and communication skills.

Carl Selinger starts by referring to Dale Carnegie’s famous book “How to make friends and influence people”. This makes the reader, develop very high expectations about the book. Despite his best effort, his style does not live up to the standards of Carnegie. Unlike Carnegie’s book, there are not many third-person examples or experiences, which have been discussed. This sometimes lends a preaching style to the writing, which can become annoying.

For someone who is inexperienced, freshly graduated and has never been taught any of the things which the book discusses about, will find it difficult to comprehend and realize the importance of learning these skills. This is primarily because Carl largely mentions personal experiences. A naïve reader might critique the book as being too one-sided. Overall, the book is very good as a reference.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Laynie Weaver http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/comment-page-1/#comment-771 Laynie Weaver Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:48:38 +0000 http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/2009/11/stuff-you-dont-learn-in-engineering-school-skills-for-success-in-the-real-world-2/#comment-771 This book is a great toolbox to start my career. The examples and tips given in "Stuff You Don't Learn in Engineering School" are truly helpful. I plan on keeping it available for referencing at each and every profession that I explore in the future. <br /> <br /> Rating: 5 / 5 This book is a great toolbox to start my career. The examples and tips given in “Stuff You Don’t Learn in Engineering School” are truly helpful. I plan on keeping it available for referencing at each and every profession that I explore in the future.

Rating: 5 / 5

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