A UCR alumnus of the School of Business, Darin Anderson has remained closely involved with the Highlander community ever since. He served as chair of the advisory board for the School of Business, chair of the UCR Foundation Board of Trustees and is a Regent Emeritus of the University of California. Today, he leads Salas O'Brien, a leading engineering, architecture, commissioning and technology firm based out of Santa Ana, CA. 

In our latest Career Corner Q&A, Anderson shares his career recommendations for today's engineers, from essential skills to current industry trends, to the importance of making meaningful and long-lasting professional connections. 

Apart from hard skills-based knowledge learned in classes, what are the most important professional skills an engineer should develop that would set them apart from others in the field?

Each of the 850 engineers and team members in our organization determines what success looks like for themselves. You may choose to model yourself after one person or several people you admire. The team members who succeed in our organization consistently demonstrate an unrelenting desire to learn, develop and grow. This is not only in technical skill development, but also in communication and leadership skills. You must consistently go outside your comfort zone to find growth. Most people don’t. They are afraid to fail, look stupid to their peers, and/or may not know where to start. Sometimes they don’t have confidence in themselves, or think they may not be the most qualified. As a result, they don’t initiate.

Going to UCR and graduating in engineering gives you a SOLID foundation. Most importantly, you have the ability to learn and problem solve. Take the initiative, continue to learn, develop and invest in yourself. Those who are the most successful, work hard, communicate very well, are able to make a decision/recommendation when needed, really think about why they are doing something, initiate and help lift up others, and don’t expect to be celebrated.

Be patient in your career. Make sure you enjoy the work, enjoy the people, and that those people are supporting and developing you. This is so important. Leave a position if you are not enthusiastic about what you are doing. Look for opportunities where you believe in what the company represents and feel it is a supportive environment for you. If and when you do find that place, don’t leave. Be patient. Your talent will be recognized, you will have opportunities to grow, and your income and professional rewards will follow.

What are the top industry trends you’re seeing when it comes to engineering career paths?

Wow, there are so many opportunities in engineering. The ability to understand, analyze and simplify complex subjects as well as make decisions is a critical skill. The U.S. is annually short millions of graduating engineers and seeks talent from other countries. Whether you are doing product design, software design, chemical/fluid dynamics, building/civil design, or AI, the opportunities are boundless. In ten years, you likely will be working on something that you didn’t even know existed. Again, it’s the ability to learn, critically examine, make decisions, collaborate with people with complementary skill sets that will bring success. Further, having knowledge and understanding of other disciplines in engineering is very important, so you develop an appreciation for perspectives that others can bring to problem solving.

What advice do you have for students entering the job market during a recession such as the one we are currently experiencing?

Obviously, this is a challenging time and unemployment is very high. This however, is also temporary. Before COVID, the unemployment for engineers was 0%. It will go back to that soon. My philosophy is to work with a company that you are going to learn a lot and that will provide you with boundless paths within the company and/or open doors if you decide to move somewhere else. Be as selective as you can. You are responsible for creating your story. Any good employer in the future will ask you why you chose to work at a certain company and why you left. Have a good narrative and be thoughtful about it. Understand why you made the decisions that you did and more importantly, understand how an employer will react to your story. Would you hire yourself?

What common mistakes or pitfalls should an engineer avoid early on in his/her career?

Don’t be afraid to take on anything. Have a great attitude. Show you are creating value. What are you producing? How long do you have to deliver? How much did we bill our client for my work? Everything you do builds your reputation/character. Your employer is watching your attitude and commitment to getting the job done with no excuses. Are you reliable, are you thinking, can you be trusted? The more value you bring, the more opportunities you will get. The same is true on the down side. With a bad attitude and not working well with others or being willing to make the extra effort, you might find yourself out of a job.

Many career opportunities begin with networking. What advice do you have to make a good first impression?

Opportunities are created by the exceptional work you do and how you work with others. That is your signature. It is important to invest in people who you are interested in and can learn from too. Personally, I have never applied for a job except right out of college. All of my career opportunities came from people that I knew. They were familiar with me, had worked with me, trusted me and knew how I could help them or their organizations.  I never “networked” with people for the intention of getting a job. I always look forward to meeting other professionals from whom I can learn, share experiences, and build a relationship. It really is as simple as making connections without the intention of what’s in it for you. For me, the richness of life is about relationships, and helping other people without the expectation of it being reciprocated. You will be pleasantly surprised how well that works. I have relationships after 20 or 30 years that still reach out to me and while we haven't talked in a while, they know me, trust me and we help one another.

What are your biggest recommendations for interviewing?

In an interview: 1) do your homework and understand what the company does and what you would be doing, 2) arrive early, 3) be properly attired and groomed, 4) make a personal connection with the interviewer to the extent possible. Remember they likely do a lot of these, so take an interest in who they are and ask about their experience at the company. If you see something personal on their desk that has a connection point to you (baseball pictures, ballet, skiing, etc.) take an interest and ask about it. Most importantly, be engaging, be articulate, and speak from a place of confidence. They would not have interviewed you if you weren’t qualified on paper. Now they want to hear and learn about you. Are you a fit, are you someone they can trust, someone they would like to work with, will you get along with others, have the right demeanor? They want to learn what you are all about.