Hello everyone! I am a recent graduate (graduated 2024), I already passed the PE Structural exam and I am currently studying for the SE exam. Because of the work experience requirement in Utah, I still have two years more to get my PE Civil license. I have this strong desire to be an entrepreneur, I know it’s hard but I know it’s worth it. My internal battle is that almost every structural engineer I have talked to recommend I have at least 7-9 years of experience before I even consider doing my own thing. This discourage me from wanting to stay in engineering, I was hoping to start my own thing as soon as I got my PE license, something small like doing residential observations and providing stamped reports or something like that. I don’t really care what I do as long as it’s my own thing. What are your guys’ thoughts? Am I just being unrealistic with my goals? Any thoughts @Zane Pucylowski as the most experience engineer here? I appreciate everyone in advance!

LinkedIn headshot A good friend of mine, Alex runs a reverse recruiting agency, helping people get their dream job. He just put out a perfect post. You can have all the qualifications in the world, but if you don’t put the right pieces in place, it’s not going to matter. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alexshinkarovsky_jobsearch-ugcPost-7478054803034705934-670K/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAB9zOGMB9-S7-vm7qRdjcLVd07IFV6Ag0I8 Homework for step one Make sure that your Linkedin profile picture looks professional Not a picture that you were standing with somebody and you crop them out A selfie at a weird angle A professional headshot There are so many apps that do this well now with AI Alex recommended two… Betterpic & Secta Labs Yes, these things do cost money but spending a few hundred or even a few thousand to be in a position to change your life for the better is worth every penny! Homework for today is change that profile pic if it’s not representing you as the engineer that you are!

Step 1: Get your LinkedIn profile updated! Banner, title, dates, keywords, connections, professional memberships. Get it all to flow and match. 'But Zane, I don't know what to put on my profile' ...... well, find 10 people that are 5 to 10 years ahead of you in the industry / job you want to work and pattern them. They all have a gearbox in the background, you have a gearbox in the background. They all have blue shirt and tie on in their photo, you have blue shirt and tie on. They all joined ASME, you joined ASME. Pattern for success. Get this done and post below with your link / questions / results.

I would really like to obtain a solid understanding of the growth that I can undergo in Structural Engineering, what is required to be successful in this field, and how I can get started on climbing the ladder

He never would have found them. And they never would have found him. On paper, Sana Moran and the firm I placed him with were not a match. Different worlds. Different paths. No overlap. But both sides had one thing in common. They were willing to ask for help. That is the whole story. I did not have some secret list. I had two people who stopped trying to figure it out alone and let someone connect the dots. Here is what Sana said after: “A true privilege and blessing to have worked with Bill. The future is very bright for anyone who gets the opportunity to have him find and connect you to your next chapter.” That outcome did not come from working harder in a vacuum. It came from a decision. The decision to say I need to get through this fast, learn what I do not know, and move on to the next thing. Action is key. Everybody knows that. But action by itself is just motion. Action with direction is where it gets good. That is the difference between spinning for a year and landing the exact thing you wanted in weeks. Most people stay stuck because asking for help feels like falling behind. It is the opposite. The fastest people I know are the ones who get help the soonest. Watch the video. Then ask yourself where you are still trying to white-knuckle something alone that someone could shortcut for you in a week. 👇 If you have a question or need that, you’re looking for an answer, drop it in here, let’s see if we can connect some dots