From Tuition to Promotion by Mike Spack

Please forgive me for straying from my traffic theme this week, but I want to let you know about my new book - From Tuition to Promotion (available here at Amazon.com and hopefully coming soon to Barnes & Noble). 

The book was inspired by my co-teaching the civil engineering senior design class at the U of MN.  I've come to realize folks with professional degrees (accounting, engineering, architecture, etc.) are taught very little about the working world in their undergrad programs.  From Tuition to Promotion tracks Chris through the ups and downs of his first three years on the job, hopefully giving some insight on how the beginning stages of a career will play out.

From the back cover of the book:

You’re Hired.  Now What?

What’s it like to sit in a cube from 9 to 5?  How should you interact with your boss?  What kind of work assignments will be best for you?  How can you make the biggest impact?  How will you make it through the world’s most boring meeting?  What do you need to do to get that promotion and raise?  These questions (and many more) are ones Mike had when he started his career as a civil engineer - the same kind of questions his students at the University of Minnesota have. Your professors don’t talk about these issues and your boss probably won’t either. 

That’s where this book comes in, as a guide for not only surviving but thriving in the first three years of your new career.  It’s honest advice that your boss may not want you to hear, because sometimes the company’s interests won’t line up with your interests. 

Let Uncle Mike be your first mentor!

Thanks for indulging this little bit of self promotion.  I'll get back to traffic stuff with my next post.

Comments

[Micah]

That looks like a great idea! I'll have to check it out.
Also, I'm not sure if you have seen this or heard of any problems similar to this but I thought it was interesting.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/led-traffic-lights-dont-melt-snow-do-cause-accidents/