The Global Engineer: Succeeding Without Boundaries

by Terrance Malkinson

Globalization is linking national economies in new ways. Nations are transitioning from distinct economic entities to essential segments of one global economy. Likewise, business competition comes from everywhere, requiring engineers to develop a global perspective. The international competition for talent is intense. In today's world, no country can remain isolated or impose barriers to international talent and trade. More and more, global work teams are becoming commonplace as engineers are being assigned to projects that have an international component. Assignments across national borders or even between cultures within a single country now occur regularly. Further, experts predict that by 2005, components for more than half of the products built in the United States will originate offshore.

To be successful in this global environment, you must develop personal, social, business and cultural global literacies. You must become competent in the international business environment and hone your multicultural awareness. Cultural etiquette is particularly important. As stated by Rosen and Digh (2001), "in the new borderless economy, culture doesn't matter less; it matters more." You’ll find a host of guidebooks and educational providers available for learning cultural etiquette skills.

Your Global Skills Checklist

As an engineer in today’s global workforce, you must be able to complement your technical skill with many other critical skills, including:

• Being able to analyze other cultures’ needs, and design products and services to fit those needs

• Understanding the business environment of the countries where your products and services are made, bought or sold

• Being aware of customs, laws, and ways of thinking in other countries

• Being self-confident yet humble, listening and learning from people whose value systems differ from yours

• Having some command of the necessary language

• Imagining, forecasting, analyzing and addressing the potential of local economies and cultures

• Understanding and accepting other cultures’ attitudes, behaviors and beliefs without compromising your own

• Valuing your own cultural heritage while acknowledging its strengths and weaknesses

• Learning about other countries’ key business and political leaders and being aware of their philosophies

• Understanding local negotiating strategies

• Understanding e-business and having the electronic skills required for international communication

• Balancing efficient and effective business global travel with family responsibilities

• Understanding international banking and foreign currency exchange

• Being able to unite individuals' diverse skills and interests into a common purpose

• Knowing about other countries’ commercial, technical and cultural developments

• Understanding other locales’ environmental issues

International experience will broaden your perspective, increase your global understanding and make you a more interesting person and more valuable employee.

Where to Go for Assistance

International work opportunities range from long-term, paid positions to short-, medium- and long-term volunteer positions. You can find resources and assistance related to international careers from the government, universities, books, the Internet, and professional journals. The U.S. Department of State (http://www.state.gov/) and other sites offer web-based information on traveling, living and working abroad.

Specific Guidance for Undergrads

One interesting source of information is the Global Engineering Education Exchange, an international program designed specifically for undergraduate engineering students http://www.iie.org. This website provides a wealth of information for engineering students who want to study abroad. In addition, the Global Journal of Engineering Education http://www.eng.monash.edu.au/uicee/gjee/globalj.htm publishes a variety of articles about education for global engineering careers.

Know Before You Commit

Those who are considering applying for employment in other countries should take the time to research foreign recruiters’ résumé and interview expectations, as the differences may be substantial. Language fluency, for example, is always an advantage but may not necessarily be an essential job requirement. Understanding, tolerance and respect for other cultures, however, are always essential. And remember, if you work with an agency that advertises itself as an international recruiter, check it out thoroughly before making any commitments.

There are many paths to a global engineering career, and additional new paths will likely emerge in the future, as business becomes even more complex, and as the number of players, suppliers and entrants into the global economy increases. That being said, take charge of your career. Find the path that suits your needs and skills best, and then follow it.

References and Further Reading

Buckeridge, J. A. Y2K Imperative: the Globalization of Engineering Education. Global Journal of Engineering Education, 4(1): 19-24, 2000.

Caspersen, R. Encouraging Engineers to Learn Cross-Cultural Skills. Global Journal of Engineering Education, 6(2): 135-137, 2002.

Debroy, B. Editor. Perspectives on Globalization and Employment. New York: United Nations Development Program, 1999.

Elbakidze, M. Globalization: A Bibliography with Indexes. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. ISBN 1-59033-203-2. 2002.

Funck, B., and L Pizzati. Labor, Employment, and Social Policies in the EU Enlargement Process. Washington: The World Bank, ISBN 0-8213-5008-0, 2001.

Hammond, A. Which World? Scenarios for the 21st Century. Washington: Island Press, ISBN 1-55963-575-4, 1998.

Jones, R.C., and B.S. Oberst, Education for International Practice.

Kuhnke, R.R. The Training of Tomorrow’s Engineers — Challenges of Change. Global Journal of Engineering Education, 4(3): 257-261, 2000.

McCall, M.W., and G.P. Hollenbeck. How To Train Leaders for A Global Perspective. Harvard Business School: Working Knowledge, 2002. (Excerpted with permission from Developing Global Executives: The Lessons of International Experience, by Morgan W. McCall and George P. Hollenback, HBS Press, 2001.)

Ramos, F.V. Educating the Global Engineer. Global Journal of Engineering Education, 4(1): 7-12, 2000.

Riemer, M.J. English and Communication Skills for the Global Engineer. Global Journal of Engineering Education, 6(1): 91-100, 2002.

Rosen, R., and P Digh. Developing Global Literature Leaders. Training and Development, 55(5): 70-81, 2001.

World Economic Situation and Prospects 2003. Department of Economic and Social Affairs and UN Conference on Trade and Development. ISBN 92-1-109144-6, 2003.

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Terrance Malkinson is a proposal manager/documentation specialist; an elected Senator of the University of Calgary; international correspondent for IEEE-USA Today's Engineer; and editor of the IEEE Engineering Management Society Newsletter. Opinions expressed are the author's.