It doesn't cost a thing - On Recognition - 303 words

“So what else are you prioritizing in your job search?” I asked.

“Well, recognition for one,” the Mechanical Engineer replied.

“Oh, how so?”

“Yeah, I want to know that my work is making an impact on the business, and the role I’m playing to drive projects forward is valued,” he explained.

At first, I was caught off guard. Recognition isn’t the norm when people list priorities. I expect to hear things like flexibility, product focus, and career advancement.

But talking through it with him, it made a ton of sense. You put so much of yourself into your role. Why wouldn’t you want to work somewhere that values you?

I think it’s one of those things plenty of people feel but don’t talk about openly since it might come off as entitled. It seems like recognition, is the impact of their work brought to light. 

One thing I see all too often when talking with an engineer is they list roles and responsibilities on their resume. Few list the impact of these responsibilities.

Things like new revenue/increased market share, efficiencies gained, risks reduced—the value their work created. And when I ask, I normally hear something like they don’t have that kind of information readily available.

This is a two-sided dilemma, engineers are missing out on some of the most important information they could leverage when discussing raises, promotions, or on the hunt. It shows that they understand their business and how they play an important role. 

Employers are missing out on helping tie in the “why” behind an engineer's work, as in why what they do matters. 

This is an opportunity for managers to drive more buy-in from employees, and for engineers to better understand how their work matters. 

And the beauty of it, is it doesn’t cost a thing.