June 23, 2022: Happy International Women in Engineering Day (INWED)!
Did you know that despite making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, only 16.5% of engineers are women (inwed.org.uk)? As a woman-owned engineering firm, we recognize the vital role our firm plays in encouraging and inspiring the next generation of girls into engineering careers. Today, we connected with a few of our brilliant female engineers here at Legacy Engineering to ask them what advice they have for women starting out in engineering.
“Every engineer should own a pair of muddy boots. Anything you design, go out and see how your work translates from paper to a tangible 3-D project because there is nothing quite like seeing your project come to life” – Kathleen Cabe, PE, Director of Environmental Engineering
“Start looking for internships early in your college career. Real-world experience is so important in determining what you want to do and where your skillsets are. We are always looking for interns to join our team and would love to hear from you.” – Sara R. Fila, PE, MRED, President
“Find a good mentor and join a local organization that allows you to network and surround yourself with other professional women engineers that can help you develop.” – Jaimie Moore, Project Manager
“Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you, even if they intimidate you. Be open to experiencing and learning new things so you can figure out what you like and don’t like in your field of engineering. ” – Madeline Schrott, Project Engineer
“My advice is to be an advocate for yourself and don’t be afraid to speak up. It’s hard at first, but it gets easier and even an unsuccessful suggestions can lead to positive discussion that wouldn’t have happened without your initial thought.” – Jessica Jones, Project Engineer
“Never stop learning, whether it’s the latest trend in the industry, or something unique about a client you will be working with. All these things will make you stand out!” – Meghan LeCaptain, Project Engineer
Thank you to all the women within our firm and throughout the industry who have broken barriers and are changing the world! We celebrate you today, and every day. If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about a career in engineering, please visit: www.legacy-eng.com/careers – we look forward to working with you one day in the near future.