March 2022
Women’s History Month 2022
As part of Women’s History Month, we asked the female engineers of Keast & Hood to share a few thoughts and their responses have been inspiring and encouraging. We’re proud to be a majority women owned firm with a large number of female engineers from the Partner and Associate level to Project Engineers and Structural Designers. Take a moment to read about what pushes the women of Keast & Hood forward, what they wish they had learned sooner, and some of the best career advice they’ve received.
Something you wish you learned sooner?
You don’t have to do it all. It is ok to ask for help. A successful project is a team effort— so surround yourself with a good team. Relatedly—it’s important to remember that whether you are leading the team or you are just part of the group, strive to be a supportive and dependable collaborator.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. No one is perfect. We all mistakes and it’s often in making mistakes that the most valuable lessons are learned.
Other people’s success does not detract from your own.
The value of your network, and that one of the best ways to build your network is to follow your interests.
Ask meaningful questions. Communicating clearly and directly is a difficult skill to learn, but once it’s mastered, you can go anywhere.
How to advocate for myself and ask for help. You would be surprised by how often people are willing to help when you are honest about what your goals and needs are. You’ll never know if you don’t ask.
The importance of networking and MAINTAINING professional relationships. Through college, internships, professional organizations, etc. we cross paths with so many people. It’s important to stay in touch with the people you meet along the way.
Best advice you’ve received so far in your career? Keep asking questions. Never stop learning. Never discount the experience of others. They know more than you think, even if they’ve learned it in a different way. There are no silly questions. Better to feel a little silly and ask the question than suffer the consequences of NOT asking the question. It’s okay to admit when you don’t know something. When you are first starting out in your career as a young engineer, you are not expected to know everything. Don’t be afraid to ask tons of questions and pick the brains of your colleagues.
A saying or mantra that pushes you forward? It’s simple and silly, but: “You got this.” Constantly hyping myself up when I feel in over my head and reminding myself that I’m capable. “There’s plenty of room in the world for mediocre men, but there’s no room for mediocre women” – Madeleine Albright Be your own advocate! Do one thing every day that scares you. “One decision at a time.” It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the big picture, but for your own sanity it’s important to break things down into manageable pieces. Time is precious, so determine what is important and make time for it.