| Many engineers are more willing to solve a | | | | of your unique projects is another. There are |
| complicated Fluid Dynamics problem or analyze a | | | | numerous other ways to communicate your business |
| water network then market their own business to | | | | to interested audiences. |
| prospective clients. It is not because engineers are | | | | The marketing skills and techniques can be learned |
| not capable of marketing, it is just that marketing is | | | | through continuing education courses that are tailored |
| simply outside of their comfort zone. Engineers train | | | | for the engineering business. The two main sources |
| for sometimes decades on solving highly technical real | | | | for continuing education are seminars and study |
| world problems. For the most part engineers are | | | | courses. Seminars are held on a specific date and |
| accustomed to seclusion to concentrate on | | | | time. Attendees are required to register and be |
| complicated designs and analysis, while marketing has | | | | present throughout the seminar to receive a |
| the perception of requiring a more gregarious person, | | | | Completion Certificate with Professional Development |
| an extrovert. Fortunately the skills required to | | | | Hours. Seminars are usually either held at a specific |
| perform well at marketing are teachable. | | | | location or on the internet. |
| As an engineer progress in their careers they move | | | | The other main option is study courses. Study |
| away from technical analysis and design to managerial | | | | courses can be completed over a couple of |
| tasks. The head of an engineering department | | | | weekends at the Community College or at your |
| spends perhaps 95% of his day on management and | | | | convenience on online through a continuing education |
| maybe 5% on engineering. The lowly Project | | | | website. Since engineering marketing is very unique |
| Engineer will spend 95% of his day on technical | | | | the likelihood of finding a course at the Community |
| designs and analysis, and maybe 5% on a | | | | College and is acceptable to the State Licensure |
| management task. Due to a lack of business skills, | | | | Board is about null. There are several online websites |
| some engineers are unable to make the leap from | | | | that do offer engineering business courses with |
| engineering to management. | | | | professional development hours. Most of these sites |
| Since business skills are teachable, the engineer can | | | | either tend to offer mostly courses on technical |
| continue his education through training seminars and | | | | topics or offer courses in a multitude of other |
| courses. Once the engineer comprehends the | | | | disciplines besides engineering. A few websites do |
| marketing concepts, he will understand that like | | | | actually provide courses specifically for the business |
| engineering market is a process that can be easily | | | | of engineering. The best way to find these sites is to |
| broken down into individual steps. The engineer will | | | | search the internet with the key words "engineering |
| also learn that the marketing for engineering business | | | | business continuing education". |
| is not like marketing for any other type of business, | | | | Most of the State Licensing Boards require |
| and that an engineer is quite capable of performing | | | | Professional Engineers to renew their professional |
| many different types of marketing campaigns. An | | | | licenses periodically with a minimum number of |
| engineer will be pleased to know marketing | | | | continuing education units. These units are usually |
| engineering services do not require television and | | | | Professional Development Hours (PDH) or Continuing |
| radio advertisements or elaborate magazine | | | | Education Units (CEU). One PDH is equivalent to one |
| advertisements. Engineering marketing requires only | | | | hour of course education, and one CEU is equivalent |
| one thing; communicating your knowledge about your | | | | to ten PDH or ten hours of course education. |
| business to prospective clients. | | | | In this article we have discussed the different |
| For the most part the vehicles utilized to | | | | sources for engineering marketing courses that offer |
| communicate this knowledge are very familiar to the | | | | engineering continuing education credits. The transition |
| engineer. Most engineers are familiar with writing | | | | from engineer to manager can be difficult, but there |
| technical reports and making presentations on | | | | are resources available to obtain the necessary |
| technical analysis and designs. This skill is also used in | | | | knowledge. Acquiring the necessary management |
| marketing. Turning some of these reports into articles | | | | skills can be the difference between a good and a |
| for trade magazines is a form of marketing. Speaking | | | | bad engineering manager. |
| at a convention or professional organization on some | | | | |