School of Mechanical Engineering
Global Engineering Professional
Seminar
ME 290 Agenda Week 9 1. Last quiz today. 2.
Photo assignment (handout) & signups. 3. Editing
sessions begin tomorrow. 4. Many new
supplemental seminars now listed!
5. Today: Professional Profiles – Three segments
6. Next week: Prof. Meckl, Professional Ethics
Courtney’s Review Sessions
› Room 101—inside the “Thermo Area”
› Schedule—before and after class, also Friday
afternoons beginning at 1:30 p.m.
› Opportunity to discuss 1. What should go in and
what should stay out 2. Development!
› Work with three worksheets: 1) Getting started,
2) Developing content, and 3) Editing/Format
Purdue University Global Engineering Programs
The Global Professional Profile
A document that conveys a current identity of a
mechanical engineer in training who has
particular technical interests and the intention
to become a contributing professional in a
world that is increasingly interdependent and
where major challenges are emerging.
(Recall from Week 2—”Professionalism”)
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Global Engineering Professional Profile
–
About 1000 words, presenting professional
credentials and interests
–
Divided into at least three developed segments
– 1.
Introduction, 2. Credentials and
Experience, and 3. Interests, Goals, Vision
–
Print-out due November 13, in class (Week 12)
–
.pdf format, posted NSF GlobalHub/Tools
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Resources
› “Bolles’ 20 Questions,” WSJ, “Extreme
Interviewing,” Getting Started Worksheet,
Development Worksheet, Editing and Format
Worksheet
› Samples: “personal statement” part of
school application (posted on website);
LEEDS” profile from WIF (pp. 512-514);
scholarship application; faculty program
director global profile.
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Personal statement claims
› Argument: 1. I love design and have had a
great undergraduate engineering experience. 2.
I have pursued independent projects and
internships that offered interactive and
humanitarian opportunities.3. I have a good idea
of what is ahead and I want that (Ph.D. program
in design/generative energy).
› Implied Argument: 1. I care. 2. I’ve already
learned much about how to get things done.3.
Investing
in Engineering
me would Professional
result in good
returns. 6
Global
Seminar
Notice structure
› Introduction is an overview of the entire
document, similar to a formal report.
› Segments address different aspects of
qualifications, probably specified by NSF
› Organized by time-line internally, first talking
about UG experience, then recent research
experience, and finally desire to undertake
Ph.D. program.
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Notice what was not included:
›Hometown (could use as an aside, e.g.,
“kid from Kansas”…but only as relevant to
larger narrative), high school, family,
hobbies, sports, religion, friends.
›Any item in the above list could be
relevant, but would be based on the
connection to engineering projects, plans,
goals.
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Compare to Resume
› Strengths: The “dots,” or “resume items” are
connected, but with minimal information
addedThe profile is good even though we don’t
get to know the writer very well.
› Missed Opportunities: Larger themes of
“vision” and “unique perspectives.” Building a
compelling narrative that connects with large
issues—global imperatives, ethical
responsibilities.
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Professionalism—recall discussion
› Expertise—specialized knowledge
–
Certified academic programs (for
engineering, “ABET”)
–
Life-long learning
–
Active in peer community
› Morality—special responsibility
–
Protect general welfare, First Canon, ASME
Code of Ethics
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Global Profile—presents:
› Professional summary that
–
introduces you as a mechanical
engineering professional
–
who has specific credentials and
experience and
–
who is committed to taking action to
address the challenges we must
contemplate if we are to continue inhabiting
the planet.
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Profile Objectives
› Convey your professionalism—two
components:
– Specialized knowledge: certifications,
progress through academic programs,
specific concentrations in advanced course
sequences, technical project work, reports,
publications.
– Special responsibilities: service work inside
and outside the profession, knowledge of
impending technical issues.
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Persuasive Profiles will also:
› 1) Establish credibility of the author.
› 2) Provide logical argument supporting the
desired conclusion—author is an informed,
capable, and committed professional.
› 3) Demonstrate heartfelt commitment to future
professional action, based on both technical
understandings and moral responsibilities.
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Classical terms (Aristotle):
1.
Ethos—your credentials & character
(who you are)
2.
Logos—your reasons (your logic,
your “case”)
3.
Pathos—your empathetic
understanding of the needs and
desires of your
community/audience/clients
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Translations:
› Character—evidence of professional attributes such as
commitment to life-long learning (I am curious!), work
ethic (I never quit!), and integrity (I speak the truth!)
› Academic credentials—Brint, “In the Age of Experts”
points out that formal academic study is essential—that
information belongs in your profile. Also include
experience and evidence that shows both competence
and professionalism (logos).
› Vision—your views about the overlap between your
professional engineering competence and the major
global challenges faced on this planet in this century.
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Resources—Identifying Challenges
› 1. National Academy of Engineering website
discusses global Grand Challenges
› 2. ASME ME Magazine, professional
commentary on current issues
› 3. ME Faculty Seminar Presentations, e.g., Prof.
Fisher, Prof. Shaver
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A few of the NAE Areas
› Economical solar energy
› Carbon sequestration methods
› Engineering of medicines
› Access to clean water
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Resources—Credentials
› 1. Begin with current resume.
› 2. Add back items not fitting on that single page
presentation!
› 2. Include “non-school” achievements that
function as credentials—robot toy reverse
engineering, etc.
› 3. Worksheet is basic guide.
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Resources—Identity
1.
Begin with basic data, de-select the “too
personal”/not relevant; delete any element
that does not contribute to profile purpose.
2.
Focus on overlap between “total person”
and “professional mechanical engineer.”
3.
Strive for positive, data-driven description.
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Some recommendations
› 1. Begin “easy”—make lists (to start, see profile
worksheet).
› 2. Try not to be too “linear”—if new material doesn’t fit
exactly, just indicate that and go forward.
› 3. Provide “sign posts” for future work as you develop
a discussion—what else needs to be added?
› 4. Compose in limited time periods—period varies with
people and with task.
› 5. Use “incubation” power—let text “soak” before
revising.
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Some explorations…
› 1. After “facts” are selected, identify “events”
that illustrate those facts.
› 2. After “goals” are identified, build “scenarios”
that would illustrate what attaining those goals
would mean.
› 3. After “qualities” are identified, find
illustrations that show the impact of those
qualities on actual outcomes.
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Personal vs. Professional
–
“Personal” can mean “individual,” as in “personal
information.”
–
“Personal” can mean “not professional, “ as in
“personal business.”
–
“Personal” can mean “too private” for any except
close friends and family, e.g.,, “Don’t ask personal
questions.”
–
Making culture-appropriate choices about what is
personal and what is professional is interpreted as
part of professional competence.
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“Professional” information
–
Factual
–
Relevant to task
–
Affirms the individual as a professional
–
Affirms the professional community
–
Avoids: appeals to class/caste identity,
claims to special knowledge or capability
unrelated to professional domain, calls for
non-universal criteria.
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Profile Advantages
› Author has opportunity to “connect the dots,”
provide the “big picture”
› Author has control, “author/authority,” because
the media is print (hypertext, e-text)
› Author does not have to risk de-selection on the
basis of credential “list” (e.g., resume)
› Author has opportunity to construct the future in
discussing
and
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Globalinterests
Engineering
Professional
Profile Disadvantages
› Text is static, not interactive
› Text is formal and distant, does not convey same
intensity as F2F
› Profile requires extensive investment in writing and in
re-writing
› Not as “standard” as the resume which may be “logged”
using key word software
› Needs motivated reader whether distributed off-line or
not.
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Next :
› 1. Developing segments, introduction,
credentials, goals.
› 2. Integration and formatting
› To begin, find stories that illustrate what you
wish to convey in the profile. Use the
worksheet as a guide to map out and
sequence materials.
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