“What do you want to be when you grow up?” – that horrid question that every teen gets asked at least 20 times a year. Many of us struggle to find a career path, even through sixth form or college, and that is nothing to be ashamed of. On this topic, I was able to converse with two brilliant engineers based in San Francisco, California: Michael Rubin (software engineer at Groq, previously at Google) and Daria Soboleva (software engineer at Cerebras, previously at Cisco). Here are some things that we talked about, to help you decide if engineering is the way to go.
When questioned about what makes their jobs fulfilling, both parties agreed that it was having created something tangible that had a visible impact on the world around them, rather than just the plans or write-ups for an idea. All you need is the tenacity to transform something from fantasy to reality, and everybody has the potential for that, so do not be discouraged if currently you feel as if you don’t.
If approaching the industry is what seems daunting, then Soboleva also commented on how stepping out of your comfort zone and coming across obstacles is part of the process of growth, no matter what profession you end up with. This is Daria’s story:
“When I was young, I really liked problems where it is hard to find an answer to, or no one else tried it before, or challenges like “only guys can code, girls cannot do it”. These challenges made me a strong believer that I would like to break this stereotype with my personal example, and overcoming those challenges, I gained experience in the field, I learnt that there are so many interesting problems in engineering that are not yet tackled to resolve. I started loving it, and now it makes me enjoy my work more than thinking about stereotypes.”
If problem solving, making a difference to the world, commitment, and having interest in this field rather than just the money are qualities you have or are willing to improve on, then you will make an excellent engineer!
Ok, now that we know IF we want to be an engineer, let’s look at the HOW. One key message from Rubin was that “No one can stop you but yourself. All you really need is the internet, and resilience”. Some of us may hear and see all these people who are the same age as us, partaking in a prestigious programme, or doing work experience for an established company; don’t let comparison demoralise you, but instead motivate you.
Moreover, there seem to be some misconceptions regarding the job requirements of an engineer. Not to trivialise the requisite for good analytical and mathematical expertise, however “engineering is all about creativity”, says Rubin. Upon talking to him, I also realised that the importance of language should not be underestimated – the ability to communicate your thoughts and ideas is what will elevate you in the industry to begin with.
Having a developed skill set is therefore essential to being a good engineer, and Michael Rubin believes this is done through “always being open to things”. There is a phrase in Latin that has been circulating my mind for years, and that is “carpe diem”, meaning “seize the day” (this can be used in a similar fashion to YOLO). What do you have to lose from attending those virtual lectures or doing that online course (which can all be found on google)? Even if engineering is not for you, put in the work and you’ll see results.
“Once you’re on top, it is usually just a few moments of celebration…don’t be afraid to always think about what’s next.” – Daria Soboleva
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