A long time ago in a galaxy far far away ...
Well, maybe not a galaxy but a different country:
I started as a System Test Engineer for SiemensVDO Automotive Romania with high hopes for the future and longing with starry eyes at the job the Systems Engineer in my projects was doing. I remember thinking he was so lucky to be born in Germany and having so many opportunities.
This role didn't even exist in any of the offices in my country. An impossible aspiration. A glass ceiling!
But ...
One day while coming down the stairs lost in thought about testing needs and next steps ..
Well okay: I was rushing to grab a coffee. I had coffee in mind too ...
My boss's boss stops me on the stairs:
"We need to talk.."
But before I tell you what happened to need to know this:
I never planned to be a system engineer. I graduated Electronics and Telecommunication with a Multimedia specialisation. Thought I will be an electronics or electrical engineer, in automation or maybe a web developer.
Then I started working in Automotive Testing. I thought I will make a career in V&V.
I was making great progress to that end, doing everything from executing and creating tests, to test strategy and management. I grew to accumulate a good understanding of the systems I was testing, their actual vs desired behaviour and what the Customer expected from them. To be able to suggest improvements that made sense.
To see the BIG Picture!
But then something happened. Something unexpected changed my life and put me on a different path and I'm glad it happened. It opened up so much possibility.
And it can change YOUR life too.
We need to talk!
[Ok, this is it. I'm toast!] - I thought..
ok, ok ... I won't drag it out any longer ... to the point:
It wasn't that. He shared his plans to create a Systems Engineering department locally and thought he should start it with me.
ME??
It was my wildest dream, but still ...
And everything changed. It wasn't easy. It was a lot to learn and even more to practice. To transfer the appropriate know-how locally from Germany and France and ..
That's how I became the first System Engineer in Romania across 3 sites.
I had great mentors and fantastic people around to support. I had a chance but it was a lot of hard work. And finding my way.
A lot of questions of what I should learn and where from. Much uncertainty that could make anyone insecure.
ANYWAY ...
Did you know that you could shortcut all that? All you need is the chance and the WILL.
Young People are now finishing Systems Engineering degrees but don't know where to start.
I had good mentors but a trial an error path. I first learned what I need to get my job done in this company. Only later structured and formalised all that so I could confidently work ANYWHERE.
The world is different today: YOU know where to start. And a mentor or coach can guide and accelerate your development far ahead where you could go on your own. Because they know what's out there, what makes sense to learn and when.
I could have very well not make it if anything was different (like changing company earlier) BUT you don't have to rely on luck to stumble on suitable mentors like I did.
The reason why others pay me $$$ to help them progress faster?
Now you know!
It's not only about Systems Engineering. It's about how to develop and progress in Engineering or Tech environments in General!
It doesn't matter if you are a SW, Mechanical or Electrical Engineer. I'm helping people structure their work and structure the project they work on.
Don't worry if you are not leading the project. There's no such thing as "just" a team member: you will stand out of the rest when your contribution and suggestions improve the project. So you will advance faster.
Better: you KNOW where you are going. And have a plan to get there!
All know-how that I share with you is acquired and tested hands-on in very diverse engineering environments. And like you I never stop learning more.
I still keep doing more hands-on work on contracts for various companies BIG and small. Systems Engineering always works, even when they don't call is SE. Or they don't even know that's what I'm doing. But they always see the value it returns and that their projects transform from chaos into order.
And the people that work with me get free coaching. No one complained getting ahead yet :))
Latest feedback I just received:
We now know what we are doing. The next steps are clear. We can see what we have to do and why. And what is genuinely important!
You need a coach? You found me. You KNOW what you want to do!
Still deliberating? Hurry: I only have 2 more spots left.
Feel free to follow me on LinkedIn and why not: get in touch!
P.S.: You think your Company needs help with a project? Be so kind and send them my way. You can share this link: https://use.toth.al/profile/services
Thanks!
Until next time,
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Alex Toth, CSEP MINCOSE
Systems Magician
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