Growing up, I had two visions for my professional future: one was becoming a teacher, just like my parents, as I enjoyed learning and, better yet, teaching what I had learned. The second was pursuing a career in law simply because I could talk myself out of any situation, and so I thought I would do well as a lawyer. Needless to say, despite these childhood aspirations and the years I spent imagining myself in these roles, life took me down an entirely different path, and I ultimately found myself in neither of those professions.
As I made my way through the Jamaican educational system, I developed an interest and love for math. I did very well in my mathematics classes, and my dad, being a math teacher, served as an in-home tutor. My love for math particularly the manipulation of numbers drew me closer to the profession of accounting. In my latter years of high school, I began to take classes geared towards this field and later began my early college years pursuing a degree in Accounting.
However, my career path changed again when I accompanied my aunt, (who was the principal of a prominent Detroit high school) and her students to “Tech Day.” This event invited high school students to local universities to explore STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). At the University of Michigan Tech Day, I joined the computer engineering group and shadowed them to learn about their curriculum and career prospects. After this experience, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in electrical and computer engineering.
Upon returning from Tech Day, I immediately consulted my program advisor about switching from Accounting to Electrical and Computer Engineering. The transition proved straightforward since I had only completed one year of coursework primarily general education requirements with just a single Accounting class. I excitedly began my new career path by earning an associate degree in General Studies with a Pre-Engineering focus, then transferred to Wayne State University to complete my Electrical and Computer Engineering degree.
During my junior year of college, I was awarded a co-op/internship at a Detroit-based utility company. This experience helped me narrow my career path to electrical engineering specifically within the utility industry. In 2004, after graduating with my bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering, I began my career at that same utility company as an Associate Engineer. Currently, I am the Manager for the Central Design team where I am leading a highly engaged team of over 30 engineers and technicians.
So how did I progress from Associate Engineer to Engineering Manager? I had a plan, set clear goals, and worked strategically to reach my current position and continue advancing in my career journey. I utilized the following 3 steps to advance my career:
- Break down goals into 3 timeframes (short-term, mid-term, long-term)
- Develop specific skills relevant to my desired role
- Build strategic relationships with mentors and industry leaders
A. Break down goals into 3 timeframes (short-term, mid-term, long-term)
1. Short Term goals (1-2 Years)
These are goals that can be achieved within a 1 to 2 year timeframe. They should be realistic tasks that you can accomplish relatively quickly. When I started as an associate engineer, I learned there were three engineering classification levels I needed to progress through over time. I met with my leader to understand these roles and what was needed to progress through them. The first role was the transitioning from Associate to Staff engineer which typically takes 2 to 3 years and required developing my electrical engineering skills by shadowing more senior engineers and taking on increasingly complex projects with minimal supervision.
2. Mid Term Goals (3 – 5 Years)
The next level was transitioning from Staff Engineer to Senior Engineer. This advancement took longer and required additional responsibilities. I needed to develop specific expertise in my field, which at the time was protection and controls engineering. I attended conferences and classes focused on that field and applied that knowledge to lead at least one major project to demonstrate initiative and expertise.
3. Long Term Goals (5+ Years)
These goals in the 5+ years timeframe should be derived from your short-term and mid-term achievements and represent a pivotal point in your career trajectory. These goals require strategic vision and patience and involve significant professional advancement such as reaching leadership position or making substantial contributions to your industry.
For me, it came down to either becoming an Engineering Specialist or an Engineering Manager. I chose the leadership/manager path, which meant I needed to acquire higher education to be considered for such roles. I returned to school and obtained an MBA, which helped me secure promotions to leadership roles.
While these objectives may seem distant at first, they serve as the north star that guides your overall career direction and provides context for your shorter-term decisions and investments in professional development.
Action: Take pen to paper and map out these 3 timeframes. As you accomplish your short-term goals, your mid-term goals become your new short-term goals, and your long-term goals become the new mid-term goals. You will then develop new long-term goals, continuously advancing your career trajectory.
B. Develop specific skills relevant to my desired role
To advance my career as an Electrical Engineer, I needed to cultivate skills directly aligned with my target positions. For each role transition, I identified key competencies through job descriptions, conversations with people in those positions, and industry research. As I moved from technical engineering roles to leadership roles, I focused on developing:
- Technical expertise in my specialty area (protection and control engineering)
- Project management skills to handle increasingly complex projects
- People leadership skills including communication, conflict resolution, and coaching.
- Financial understanding to see how my engineering work affects the company’s goals
Action: As you create your career goals, identify key skills needed to function effectively in your desired role. This may require obtaining training, certifications, or even an advanced degree. Write these requirements down and develop a plan to accomplish them.
C. Build strategic relationships with mentors and industry leaders
Building strong professional relationships was crucial to my career advancement. I intentionally sought out mentors both within and outside my organization who could provide guidance and insights specific to my career goals. These relationships helped me:
- Access hidden opportunities not publicly advertised
- Gain candid feedback about my strengths and development areas
- Learn industry trends and emerging challenges
- Secure advocacy for high-visibility projects and advancement opportunities
I approached relationship-building systematically by identifying potential mentors whose careers aligned with my aspirations, preparing thoughtful questions before each mentoring conversation, following through on advice received, and offering value in return through my unique perspectives. Remember that effective networking isn’t just about collecting contacts, it’s about cultivating meaningful professional relationships built on mutual respect and value exchange.
Action: Identify individuals whose career paths align with your aspirations and ask if they would consider mentoring you. If someone declines, thank them politely and continue your search. Once you establish a mentoring relationship, dedicate one of your early sessions to discussing your career goals using the three timeframes (short-term, mid-term, long-term) outlined earlier.
In conclusion, career advancement doesn’t happen by chance, it requires intentional planning, continuous skill development, and strategic relationship building. By breaking your goals into manageable timeframes, developing relevant skills for your target roles, and cultivating meaningful professional relationships, you create a roadmap for sustainable career growth. This approach has proven successful not only in my journey from Associate Engineer to Engineering Manager but also for colleagues I’ve mentored along the way. (Yes I become a mentor and enjoy giving back to others) . Remember that career development is a marathon, not a sprint, patience and persistence are essential as you work toward your professional aspirations. I encourage you to start implementing these strategies today, adapting them to your unique circumstances and industry, and watch as they propel you toward your career goals.
