Milwaukee School of Engineering - EMF Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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Page Forty-seven

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 m u X'4-TEE 1920 EMF JST Aimtrr to tin (graduates Although the following comments arc given primarily for the ‘‘Gradu- ating Engineers,” the graduating “E’ectrotechnicians” and “Electricians,” will no doubt find it of interest to them also. The writer has had a number of years of experience in the electrical field and believes he is in a position to write an article of this nature. W hether or not he succeeds in his attempt will be left to your own good judgment. Before I go any further, I believe it would be appropriate to mention that this article is based on the writer’s experience after leaving school several years ago. As a matter of fact I have found my experience to be a typical one of the college graduate entering the electrical field, as a means of making a live- lihood. The first thing it is necessary to do after leaving school is to find em- ployment. Some of us have been more fortunate than others in being em- ployed on a part time basis, while attending .school. To those who have been so employed my advice would be to remain with vour old employer. This will depend upon the circumstances in each individual case. If you have found your work of an interesting nature and if the opportunities for ad- vancement are good, it would be unwise to leave the employer who accom- modated you by giving you part time employment. Every one of us, although interested in electricity as a whole, has developed a liking for some particular branch of the field, be it motors, con- trollers. scientific investigations, etc. Those who have been less fortunate in not being employed after school will find it to their advantage to become connected with the manufacturer of the line in which they are particularly interested. You will find that to be your least difficulty. We will take it for granted that your services have been engaged. It is a common mistake for college itfen to demand large salaries immediately after leaving school. The majority of them learn in a very short time, to their advantage, that they are practically worthless to a manufacturer until they have been trained in the particular field they enter. For this reason you will find that you will be required to work for a small compensation until you are broken in. The time required to break in a new man depends entirely upon the individual. As you become more and more familiar with your work you will find that your compensation has gone up proportionately to your increased value to your employer. The majority of the fellows realize that the amount of compensation they receive depends upon their progress. The writer knows of a few cases where compensation is still based on medi- eval methods. Cases like these, however, are few and far between. It requires but a short time to learn that the investment you have made (attending school) is a paying one. Mr. O. W. Werwath has a very valuable saying, and if followed you will find it to be of great benefit to you. I am quite sure you have all heard it but for those who have not, I will repeat it here: “DON’T SLEEP WITH OPEN EYES.” You will receive a very valuable education by following the advice given in the above five words. You should realize that it is absolutely necessary to learn the smallest details of the business in which you become engaged. Page Forty-tight