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Letters: Education, running, light bulbs
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Kai Ryssdal: That music from us means it's time for letters from you. We'll start as many of you are this month with school and getting back to it. A couple of weeks ago we did a story on what colleges are doing to offer more "practical" majors, fields of study that will help graduates actually get ahead when they get their diplomas.
We quoted business executives as saying what they really want are employees with critical-thinking skills. Eric Bennett from Kansas City, Mo., would love to meet some of those executives.
ERIC BENNETT: I have an engineering degree, and I have changed career paths three times, continued education, plus have a proven record of creative problem solving. I have looked nationally for new opportunities and yet over nearly the past decade, I have been without a pay check over 40 percent of the time. Perhaps what business say they need and really want are not the same thing.
Let's keep it on education here for just a second because last week's commentary from George Mason University economist Tyler Cowen didn't sit well with some of you. Professor Cowen theorizes that higher education works something like a placebo, convincing graduates they are smarter and more prepared for the working world than non-graduates are.
Because, he said, studying things like Walt Whitman isn't really going to give students a leg up on landing that first job.
Dan Eastwood from Waukesha, Wis., wrote to disagree.
DAN EASTWOOD: Learning itself is a critical skill, which is gained through study., That study might be biology, business, physics, physiology, zoology, or even Walt Whitman. A college degree is an indication that the student is teachable and capable of jumping through the higher hoops of their profession.
As part of our series on what economists do for fun, Justin Wolfers' analysis of his own running hobby sparked some strong reactions. Brad Serwer of Olney, Md., wrote in to say sometimes the benefits of an activity can outweigh the costs.
JUSTIN WOLFERS: As both a runner and a cardiologist, I recognize the difficult balance of work and recreation. Considering the fact that this "hobby" has such a positive impact on an individual's health, the time spent running really is a small price to pay.
And finally, light bulbs. We reported last week on a new European law phasing out incandescent bulbs in favor of more energy-efficient compact fluorescents or CFLs. And this one's on me.
I set up our story about German consumers stockpiling incandescents by saying CFLs give off a colder light than old-fashioned bulbs do. Andrew Beldecos from Atlanta, Ga., was just one of many who wrote in to set me straight.
ANDREW BELDECOS: I am a professional lighting designer. When my clients view incandescent next to various colors of fluorescent, the client will almost always choose the warm tone fluorescent light source as a more natural and desirable selection.
If you've got a bright idea, or a question, or a comment drop us a line.
I can sympathize with Eric Bennett's complaint.
Since earning my Electrical Engineering degree 11 years ago, I've been unemployed about 30% of it, and have had more than 10 'contract/career positions' since 2002.
What I've learned in my short and painted engineering career is that when a college or high school counselor tells you about 'great opportunities' and 'shortages of' people in a particular career field or discipline, you should take it with a grain of salt.
More often that not, the 'opportunities' that are out there are opportunities to do the job for less than the going rate...and much less than what they'll have to pay 'senior' engineers to continue in their job.
In other words, don't believe everything you hear.
My advice to you is to incorporate.
Go to trade shows representing yourself. Blog about whatever technology or industry-trend you see. Have business cards made up. Press the flesh. Give yourself a year and burn through your savings doing it. It'll eventually pay off.
In other words, step out of line.
This may not sit well with some of your former employers, but we already know how they feel about you.
Make something of yourself. Compete. Express an opinion critical of certain companies or industries with which you're familiar.
Sooner or later, someone will hire you, if for no other reason than to shut you up.
Eventually, a consulting firm will find you. Convince them you have 'expert knowledge' about a particular aspect of technology. Most of the people staffing these firms have less experience than you, even though you've only been in the industry for 5 years.
They'll find the work for you, because they don't want you competing with them.
Believe in yourself and your own worth, and someone else will.
I'm seeing 'consolidation' across many disciplines of engineering, and this has me working from at home mostly; at scale pay.
Firms that were historically 'Civil Engineering and Architecture' have leveraged existing local government contacts to pick up contract work on new broadband projects (financed with stimulus money) that those same governments would like to implement.
To do so, they've picked up Telecommunications and Electrical/Electronics Engineers like me who were 'outsourced' or 'downsized'.
That said, be prepared to travel and work weird hours, and the work will be there for you.
Good luck, Eric.
