Why Civil Engineering Training Should Be Short and Efficient
A few months ago, a coworker messaged me with a question. The response only needed three sentences, but I walked over to their desk and spent the next 20 minutes over-explaining things. I love sharing what I know, but sometimes a quick answer is the better answer.
This is the second of the seven learning needs for civil engineers: short and efficient.
Engineering is full of smart people with a lot to share. The training we get is often longer than it needs to be, whether it's an answer to a question or an overly detailed course. When it covers more than we need, people skip the training or avoid asking questions.
How it usually goes
Take everyone's favorite, the Department of Transportation (DOT) specs. Anyone who has worked with them knows how overwhelming they can be for someone new. Picture two options. Someone drops the big DOT spec book on your desk and tells you to go read it. Or someone spends 30 minutes giving you an overview of how it's structured and where to look. Most people would pick the overview.
Why it matters
When training is short and efficient, it actually gets done.
Follow along for the third learning need, coming next week.
About the Author
Laura Oxsen is a dual-licensed Professional Engineer and Certified Learning & Development Specialist, and the founder of Oxsen Learning. She built her training courses from real experience mentoring engineers through these exact workflows.
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