Seven Key Lessons Learned by an EIT in Starting His Own Engineering Company

The following is a summary of Session 20 of my podcast, The Engineering Career Coach (TECC) Podcast with Anthony Fasano, PE. I will summarize the main points in this post here; however, you can also listen to the show through the player below or by subscribing on iTunes. I offer a career-changing tip at the end of each podcast session.

In this session of the TECC Podcast, I interview Matthew Mangano, EIT, a young engineer from New Jersey who recently relocated to San Diego, where he started his own engineering company.

During the session, Mangano lays out the following lessons, which he learned during the process of starting and building a small engineering consulting company:

1. The online job-application process is like sending your resume into a black hole. It should be avoided at all costs. Instead, you should lean on your network and/or get out into the community and start to build one.
2. Your EIT and PE credentials will boost your credibility tremendously and show employers and clients that you are serious about advancing your engineering career. You should obtain these credentials as early on as possible.
3. Collect as much advice from mentors and experienced engineers as possible by specifically asking for their suggestions and insights. However, understand your goals and filter the advice you receive—utilize only the information that will help you continue to move toward your goals.
4. Go with the flow in your engineering career and make the most of what comes to you, but also attack opportunities when they present themselves. Matt had a job where he was contracted by an engineering company that ultimately gave him the option to become a full-time employee with benefits or remain as a contract employee. Matt decided in 72 hours to remain as a contract employee, start his own firm, and then seek other clients/work, and he is still doing very well on his own today. He attacked the opportunity.
5. Go above and beyond in your engineering career. When Matt studied engineering in New Jersey, he never learned seismology, but seeing an opportunity in San Diego, he bought a book and taught himself. Achieving your goals won’t always be easy, but if you identify a goal and put the work in to achieve it—you will do so.
6. Develop your networking skills and utilize them to build relationships in your community. Matt says that when you share a similar passion for something to someone else, you can develop a strong connection with them. Matt’s biggest career opportunity came through a recreational soccer league that he joined when he moved to San Diego. Opportunities don’t just come in groups associated with engineering.
7. When it comes to starting an engineering business, Matt cited the following as important: networking again, you must sell yourself, you are the product, quality of work is of the utmost importance, you must be able to see the big picture but also focus, and confidence is key. Matt also states, “Having your own business is VERY demanding of your time; it is also very hard to leave work at work.” Overall, Matt loves the freedom, flexibility, and control over his engineering designs that come with having his own business.

Matt gives several other strategies and tips during this podcast session.

If you have thoughts or comments about starting your own engineering company, please leave them below.

This is a guest post by Anthony Fasano, PE, author of Engineer Your Own Success. Anthony found success as an engineer at a very early age and now writes and podcasts to help other engineers do the same. Visit Anthony’s website at EngineeringCareerCoach.com for free engineering career advice and other resources.