Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Salaries: What You Can Expect to Earn

Engineering is a lucrative and stable career path that offers excellent earning potential, especially for those who pursue licensure. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step towards becoming a Professional Engineer (PE), which opens up additional career opportunities and higher pay. If you have passed the FE exam, you are designated as an engineer-in-training (EIT). So, how much money can you expect to make as an engineer-in-training? Let's take a closer look.

In this Blog,

1. The FE Exam and Licensure

2. Starting Salaries for FE Engineers

3. Factors that Influence FE Salaries

4. Career Advancement and Earning Potential

5. Average Salaries by State

The FE Exam and Licensure

The FE exam is designed for recent graduates and students who are close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree from an accredited program. Passing this exam is the first step to becoming a Professional Engineer. The FE exam is a 6-hour computer-based test that covers subjects like mathematics, statistics, chemistry, engineering economics, ethics, and more. The exam is closed book, so examinees must memorize formulas and concepts.

After passing the FE and working for a minimum of 4 years under a PE, engineers can take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. This test goes more in-depth into a specific engineering discipline. Once licensed as a PE, engineers can offer their services directly to the public and earn the stamp of a professional engineer. Having a PE license offers more career advancement opportunities, greater earning potential, and enhanced engineering status.

Starting Salaries for FE Engineers

Most engineers take the FE exam either in their final year of an engineering undergraduate program or soon after graduation. What is the starting pay range for these EITs?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for entry-level engineers in 2022 was $83,700 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). However, pay varies significantly based on your engineering field and geographic location. Here are some starting salary ranges for common engineering disciplines (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023):

• Civil engineering: $60,000 - $89,940
• Mechanical engineering: $60,000 - $96,310
• Electrical engineering: $60,000 - $104,610
• Chemical engineering: $60,000 - $106,260
• Petroleum engineering: $60,000 - $131,800

Of course, these are just ballpark figures. Salaries can differ drastically depending on the working experience, industry, company, state, and cost of living. For example, an electrical engineer at a tech firm in Silicon Valley will likely earn more than the same role in a smaller Midwest city. New graduates may also receive signing or retention bonuses that boost first-year pay.

Factors that Influence FE Salaries

What causes such wide variations in salary offers for EITs straight out of school? Here are some of the key factors:

• Location: Engineering salaries vary greatly between geographic regions. Roles in high-cost-of-living urban areas tend to pay more.
• Industry: The engineering field and industry impact pay. Some of the highest-paying sectors include oil/gas, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, and software development.
• Company size: Large multinational corporations typically offer higher compensation than smaller businesses.
• Prestige: Well-known and respected engineering firms garner top talent by providing above-average salaries.
• Demand: Trendy engineering disciplines like software and computer engineering may boast higher pay due to talent scarcity.
• Education: Graduates from highly ranked engineering schools often secure higher starting salaries.
• Internships: Relevant internship experience results in higher offers.

Overall, new EITs can expect to earn an average starting salary of $65,000 to $75,000. However, specialized fields like petroleum engineering ($131,800 average) or tech sector roles can quickly exceed six figures for new graduates.

Career Advancement and Earning Potential

An EIT certification provides a solid foundation for career advancement and increasing earning potential over time. Here are some key ways to boost your salary as an EIT:

• Obtain your PE license: Becoming a Professional Engineer almost always results in an immediate salary bump. Expect $5,000 to $15,000+ in additional pay.
• Pursue management: Transition into an engineering management or executive role to earn well over $100,000.
• Specialize: Develop specialized expertise in a high-demand niche like semiconductor engineering or data science.
• Learn new skills: Expand your skillset by mastering software like CAD or programming languages.
• Earn a graduate degree: Obtain a master’s or doctorate degree to qualify for senior engineering positions.
• Switch companies: Leverage your experience to land a higher-paying engineering job at a new firm.
• Start a business: Experienced PEs can launch an independent engineering consulting business.
• Relocate: Move to a larger metro area or different state to increase earning potential.

Based on data from Payscale, here is the earning potential for EITs at different experience levels (Payscale, n.d.):

• Early career (0-5 years): $61,000 - $96,000
• Mid-career (5-10 years): $63,000 - $110,000
• Experienced (10-20 years): $79,000 - $131,000
• Late career (20+ years): $78,000 - $175,000

Of course, these figures represent national averages across industries. Experienced PEs in leadership roles at top tech companies can easily make $200,000+ per year. The earning potential keeps rising over the course of an engineering career.

Average Salaries by State

Let's examine average FE and PE salaries on a state-by-state basis. Keep in mind that actual pay can vary based on your specific city and employer.

According to BLS data, the top five highest-paying states for engineers in 2022 are (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023):

1. District of Columbia - $143,680 average salary
2. Alabama - $129,920
3. Virginia - $128,620
4. California - $124,640
5. New Mexico - $123,170

In general, engineers make well above the national median salary regardless of location. But, licensing and career advancement can lead to especially lucrative pay at leading technology companies concentrated in states like California, Washington, Texas, and Massachusetts.

Key Takeaways

Here are some of the key points we covered about FE earning potential:

• Starting salaries for EITs range from $60,000 - $90,000 on average. Civil and industrial engineers earn slightly less than other engineering disciplines.
• Salaries vary greatly based on location, company, industry, and engineering specialty. The tech sector and oil/gas jobs pay new EITs the most.
• States like California, Texas, Alaska, and Colorado boast the top engineer salaries due to the high cost of living and an abundance of technology companies.

Becoming a Professional Engineer provides the most lucrative career path. But even at the early FE stages, engineers earn excellent pay right out of college. Passing the FE exam is the first step towards high earning potential over the course of an engineering career.

Ready to pass your FE exam, boost your career, and increase your earning potential? Discover FE exam prep options with School of PE now!

About the Author: Khoa Tran

Khoa Tran is an electrical engineer working at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and is currently pursuing his master's in electrical Power from the University of Southern California. He is fluent in both Vietnamese and English and is interested in outdoor activities and exploring new things.

Training as a Retention Strategy: Investing in Employees’ Professional Development

Employee training has been a standard for jobs in every industry since the 19th century, when it became clear that Britain’s labor force was vastly under-skilled. Greater emphasis was placed on workforce development throughout the 20th century, while trades like carpentry and surgical training became more developed. For example, Lindsey Fitzharris’ The Butchering Art details the life of Joseph Lister’s journey as the most influential medical professional of his time. We have him to thank for our current hospital sanitation.

Fitzharris’ book illustrates the exact solution to the problem we face in today’s workforce, retaining employees with effective professional development. For instance, prior to Lister’s work in germ theory, hospitals were gruesome places where people ultimately went to die. Most budding surgeons couldn’t stomach the conditions and quit before they could begin. However, when they were properly trained on the effective care of patients and sanitization practices that ultimately led to cleaner hospital conditions and a lower mortality rate, those workers saw the good that could be done and how they could work in a manner that benefited themselves, their patients, and the overall healthcare system.

Now that we have systems in place that create better environments all around, the focus on professional development and training as a retention strategy has come to the forefront. Employees will not stay in a job that does not invest in their overall development because they see it as an under-commitment to them as a person. Training and development programs can help retain high-value, hardworking employees in the long term.

Let’s discuss why you should invest in an employee’s professional development with effective retention strategies that work.

In this Blog,

1. Why Should You Invest in Employees’ Professional Development?
1.1. Employees are eager to learn about the job
1.2. Job seekers actively look for companies that invest in learning and development opportunities
1.3. Professional development actively attracts the right candidates
1.4. You create a culture of improvement
1.5. Learning and Development programs increase employee retention rates
1.6. Early professional development invests in future management

2. Retention Strategies that Work
2.1. Reinvesting in your employees
2.2. Show genuine interest in your team to gear training opportunities
2.3. Offer a variety of professional development workshops
2.4. Understand their goals and what motivates them
2.5. Invest in personal development courses and information

Why Should You Invest in Employees’ Professional Development?

Investing in an employee’s professional development shows, in the end, that you value them as individuals, that you care about their growth in the field, and that you’re willing to invest in their career. Here are a few other reasons why you should invest in professional development for your employees.

Employees are eager to learn about the job- When employees first gain employment with a company, they have their work goggles on. There’s a sort of frenetic excitement mixed with a healthy amount of dread as they await their first day. Learning about the job is one way that they prepare. By providing them with supplies and tools to familiarize themselves with the job requirements and the structure of the company, they’ll arrive on their first day willing and eager to listen and learn what their superiors and long-standing employees have to teach them. The truth is that training doesn’t start on the first day of work. It begins in the application stage.

Job seekers actively look for companies that invest in learning and development opportunities- Investing in your L&D programs shows prospective employees that you’re willing to invest in their professional development. L&D as a recruitment tool is an effective way to prove your own investment.

Professional development actively attracts the right candidates- In fact, having the right kinds of programs set in place makes sure that you set the expectation of excellence for your ideal candidate: somebody who sees the value in professional development and who is driven by success and learning opportunities. This candidate will be a huge benefit to your team, so it’s important to set the right steps in place to attract them to your team.

You create a culture of improvement- By investing in professional development programs, you’re creating a culture of improvement within your team and creating an industry standard that benefits the entire niche. By training staff well, you set the tone and expectation that employees will invest their time into the development of their professional skills, both hard and soft. Allowing a space where learning is prized, and mistakes are okay cultivates an atmosphere of continuous improvement.

Learning and Development programs increase employee retention rates- One of the biggest problems that companies face is rapid employee turnover. If an employee can last a year, they’re likely to last five, if not more. 20% of employee turnover happens within the first 45 days. (LegalJobs) This is largely due to cultural or personal differences, but a lot of it can be attributed to a lack of adequate training opportunities. If an employee doesn’t know how to do their job adequately, their time with the company will be short and dissatisfying, not to mention that the company will have spent thousands of dollars to onboard this employee into their ranks, only to have to do it again in a month and a half.

Early professional development invests in future management- The ultimate goal of a company is profit and longevity. One aspect that comes into play with creating a longer-standing company is its ability to retain employees for the long haul. Training employees early on and investing in their professional and personal development throughout their careers creates invested employees who turn into managers and potentially even partners who can help keep the company thriving through decades and even centuries.

Retention Strategies that Work

If the ultimate goal of training is to build high-performing and knowledgeable employees, then an emphasis on that training should be on retention strategies that are proven to hold onto them. Here are a few strategies that will show your employees that you value them while still helping your bottom line.

Reinvesting in your employees- This can look different for every company. Professional certifications are a common way to upscale and invest in your company and your employees at the same time. You’ll create a standard of knowledge within your industry, bring a degree of credibility to your company, and ensure the most well-educated employees available.

Reinvestment doesn’t always have to look like professional certifications, however. Sometimes, it can look like paying for their educational opportunities or company vacations with an emphasis on interpersonal relationships that help cultivate positive working relationships.

Show genuine interest in your team to gear training opportunities- Take the time to learn about them and understand what makes them work well. What motivates one will not motivate another. One's goals may not align with the other's or the company itself. Showing interest in your team enables you to align organization, team, and employee goals in ways that benefit the employee with effective training opportunities.

Offer a variety of professional development workshops- By offering multiple different types of workshops on top of your standard training program, you’ll find one that works for everybody and their individual personality types. For instance, one person may learn better by using video, another by reading, another by watching and then doing. Similarly, one may work best on a deadline, while another needs a fair amount of space and freedom to complete tasks in a stress-free environment. Depending on individual circumstances, timing, and a variety of other factors, different types of development opportunities work for different people. As part of a continuously evolving team, multiple opportunities over their career also prove to be a benefit to them and the company.

Understand their goals and what motivates them- In line with knowing your team on an individual level, it’s important to get a feel for who they are and what motivates them individually in order to apply what you know to a team setting. Working together as a team is a crucial part of retaining employees who have similar goals. If you don’t have a team that works well together, plans will fall apart before they even begin. Knowing who your team is and what makes them work will enable you to find opportunities that help them come together as a team, celebrate their differences, and enjoy collaborating. A happier, more productive team means a higher retention rate.

Invest in personal development courses and information- Personal development is another reason that prospective employees will apply to certain jobs. Most people can’t pay out of pocket for college or other educational opportunities and actively search for companies who are willing to make this sort of investment in their future. It’s so much a factor that top companies spend millions of dollars annually on employee educational development programs. This sort of investment often proves to the employee that you’re interested in them on an individual level, as well as a professional one, and they’re more likely to invest their time into the company long term.

Employees are the bread and butter of the overall growth of a company. They are one of the most valuable assets you have as a business owner, and if treated in a way that shows you value them as an individual and as part of your company, you’ll gain employees who are with you through their entire career.

Consider bolstering your company’s retention of employees by supporting them in their professional development with School of PE courses. You can check out our selection of FE, PE, ARE® 5.0, and PMP® courses here!

About the Author: Anna Taylor

Anna Taylor is a freelance writer and avid researcher- a jack of all trades, but a master of none. She graduated from the University of Hawai'i with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts because she had no idea what she wanted to be when she grew up. She has since found her love of Extended Reality and the possibilities it brings to the world, as well as gardening, cooking, and writing. Anna lives in Interior Alaska with her family.

Calculator Tips and Tricks for the FE Exam

The FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam is a crucial step in becoming a professional engineer. Passing this exam demonstrates your competency in subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering economics, ethics, and more. One of the most important tools you'll need during the FE exam is your calculator. Having an in-depth knowledge of your calculator's features and functions can give you a major advantage on exam day. Here are some pro tips and tricks to get the most out of your FE exam calculator.

In this Blog,

1. Choose the Right Calculator

2. Get Familiar with The Calculator

3. Manage Equations

4. Manage Complex Numbers

5. Leverage Matrices

6. Know When Not to Use Your Calculator

Choose the Right Calculator

The NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying), the organization that administers the FE exam, publishes a list of approved calculators - stick to calculators on this list only. The Casio FX-115ES PLUS is a popular choice that has all the necessary functions for the exam. Avoid using your phone or smartwatch calculator, as these are prohibited in the testing center.

Get Familiar with The Calculator

Practice using your NCEES-approved calculator extensively and familiarize yourself with your tool until navigating it becomes second nature. Learn all the functions, especially conversions, matrices, complex numbers, and statistical features. Configure the calculator's mode settings to your preference. The exam won't allow pre-written programs, so make sure it becomes second nature to perform all necessary calculations manually. Time yourself working through practice problems using only the calculator.

Manage Equations

Some calculators allow solving equations with multiple unknowns and variables. This can help save time on the algebra-heavy sections of the FE exam. Look for equation-solving capabilities for linear, quadratic, cubic, and higher-order polynomials. Your calculator may also support equation manipulation features - these allow rearranging equations into different forms. Leverage these advanced math tools to avoid getting bogged down in complex algebraic calculations.

1. System of Equation

Systems of equations with multiple variables are a common FE exam obstacle. Solving by hand can be time-consuming and error-prone. Fortunately, a Casio FX-115ES PLUS calculator has built-in functionality to solve 2x2 and 3x3 systems of linear equations. Under the MODE SETUP, access EQN. Select 1:anX+bnY=cn for 2x2 system, and 2:anX+bnY+cnZ=dn for 3x3 system. Input the correct value, and the calculator will efficiently solve the variable values. Commit this process to memory and practice on sample systems ahead of time. This calculator function will greatly accelerate solutions, leaving you more time to analyze results. For step-by-step guidance and examples of solving systems of equations on the Casio FX-115ES PLUS, utilize this helpful link.

2. Polynomial Equation

Polynomial equations are ubiquitous on the FE exam, testing your proficiency with algebraic manipulation. These equations feature variables raised to whole number powers. Solving various polynomial forms, from simple quadratics to complex cubics, will be essential to your FE exam success. Your calculator can expedite solutions to polynomial equations of all orders. FE-approved calculators contain dedicated keys for solving quadratics, cubics, quartics, and higher-order polynomial equations up to the 5th degree. Consult your calculator’s user guide for instructions specific to the make and model. For example, Casio FX-115ES PLUS users can find the polynomial equation-solving function under the MODE SETUP > EQN menu. The provided links demonstrate step-by-step approaches to solving 2nd and 3rd-order polynomial equations, as well as strategies for resolving polynomial inequalities. Mastering these fundamental skills will instill confidence when confronting polynomial equations on the FE exam.

Link 1: Solving Polynomial Equations (2nd and 3rd degree)

Link 2: Solving Inequality

Manage Complex Numbers

Some engineering exam topics, like electrical engineering, involve working with complex numbers in polar and rectangular forms. Your calculator should allow operations with complex numbers, including magnitudes, angles, exponents, logarithms, and more.

1. Set Up Complex Mode

Step 1: Access MODE SETUP menu and select 2:CMPLX. This will put your calculator in complex mode.

Step 2: Next, hit SHIFT then MODE SETUP. Click the down arrow (↓), and choose 3:CMPLX as this allows you to choose your complex result to be rectangular or polar. Select 1:a+bi if you want it to be rectangular and 2:(r∠θ).

With these settings activated, you can perform arithmetic, conversions, and more with complex numbers on your calculator. Commit these setup steps to memory and practice using the complex number functions to build speed and accuracy. Utilize this video tutorial for in-depth visual guidance on working with complex numbers on the Casio FX-115ES PLUS calculator.

Leverage Matrices

Matrices are heavily used in the General section of the FE exam in topics like linear algebra. Having strong matrix features in your calculator is essential.

1. Set Up Matrices

Step 1: Access MODE SETUP menu and select 6:MATRIX. From there, you can create your matrix A (1:MatA) or matrix B (2:MatB) or matrix C (3:MatC).

Step 2: After selecting the matrix name, you will then choose the matrix dimension (mxn) such as (3x3,1x2,2x3, etc.) based on your given matrix. Input the value accordingly. After inputting all the values, hit the AC to exit from the matrix.

Step 3: To retrieve the defined matrix, use SHIFT and 4. You will see 3: MatA 4:MatB or 5:MatC. Select the correct matrix name in which you created previously in step 1.

With matrices stored, you can now perform arithmetic, find determinants, calculate eigenvalues, transpose, and more. Repeatedly create sample matrices and execute various operations to develop familiarity. Commit the matrix setup and manipulation processes to memory through practice. Having mastery over matrices will expedite solutions and build confidence on exam day. Refer to this excellent video tutorial demonstrating the matrix capabilities of the Casio FX-115ES PLUS calculator.

Know When Not to Use Your Calculator

While your calculator is important for the FE exam, don't become over-reliant. Time yourself first working through practice problems by hand - don't reach for the calculator too quickly. Performing some calculations manually helps improve your speed, accuracy, and understanding. Save your calculator for checking work and handling complex operations. Finding the right balance between manual and calculator work will lead to FE exam success.

Conclusion

Your calculator is one of your most valuable tools for passing the exam. Mastering the tips and tricks above will help you use your calculator effectively. Practicing with these tips will help build speed, accuracy, and confidence with your calculator. Make the calculator your friend, and it will help power you through even the toughest FE exam questions.

Trust the experts. With over 20 years of experience, School of PE is the leading choice for FE exam prep. Register for an FE exam review course today and join thousands of successful students who have passed their FE exam on their first try.

About the Author: Khoa Tran

Khoa Tran is an electrical engineer working at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and is currently pursuing his master's in electrical Power from the University of Southern California. He is fluent in both Vietnamese and English and is interested in outdoor activities and exploring new things.

Demystifying Exam Anxiety: Techniques to Overcome Test Stress

There are many reasons why a person might fail an exam. They include lack of preparation, lack of interest, procrastination, poor time management, and a myriad of others. It all leads to one state of being on exam day: stress. It is such a big problem that test anxiety has been recognized by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America as a legitimate anxiety disorder that leads to negative test results and unhealthy testers.

In fact, a study titled Testing, Stress, and Performance: How Students Respond Psychologically to High-Stakes Testing, by Jennifer Heissel and her team, measured the level of cortisol in testers in the weeks surrounding an exam and found that cortisol levels were elevated significantly before an exam when compared to baseline tests. Those with an increase of cortisol had significantly reduced test scores, leading to the conclusion that the test was not an accurate representation of the tester’s skills or ability.

In order to gain an accurate representation of knowledge gained, it’s important to understand where your stress is coming from and how to work around it. Regardless of the reason for the elevated stress levels, it’s important to understand your root cause of exam anxiety and learn tips to overcome test stress.

In this Blog,

1. What Exam Are You Taking?

2. Why Are You Stressed?
2.1. Is it that you didn’t prepare?
2.2. Is it that you feel like you don’t have enough time to prepare?
2.3. Is it because you lack confidence in your own ability?
2.4. Are you easily distracted by other things?
2.5. Is your life outside of the exam consistent or consistently turbulent?
2.6. Do you have a procrastinator personality?
2.7. What strategies do you have in place?
2.8. Do you simply get anxiety around the whole situation?

What Exam Are You Taking?

Exam anxiety can be eliminated, or at least mitigated, by knowing the purpose behind the exam itself. Fear of failing the test can lead many qualified professionals away from their desired career path, which is a disservice to them, as well as the many people they’d be helping along the way. A nursing exam, for one, can be a gateway to many opportunities in the medical field that can lead to a rewarding lifelong career, but the stress of first preparing and then taking the exam gives so many people pause, and they put it off far too long.

So, let’s get the main trick out of the way first. Know why you’re taking the exam. Cliché, maybe. Justifiable reasoning, yes. Knowing why you’re taking the exam and what you’ll do with the certification will help you know the level of preparation needed and the level of appropriate stress that makes sense for the situation.

For instance, a simple school test feels like higher stakes for a student than it does for a qualified and knowledgeable professional because, generally speaking, the student’s graduation hinges on the successful demonstration of their knowledge. The diploma is their gateway to many possible careers. The stress level would be higher for the students because there is greater pressure on them.

Why Are You Stressed?

In order to eliminate the stress surrounding tests, it’s important to understand why you’re anxious in the first place.

Is it that you didn’t prepare? Lack of adequate preparation is one of the leading causes of exam anxiety. Simply not knowing the content that’s in a test leads to failure, so not being prepared can have major consequences on one's emotional state. Exams are different from practical application events, where knowledge is given in a presentation style. The exam has specific information that must be demonstrated for a passing grade.

In order to prepare better, you can find many online programs to help, such as School of PE’s review courses for many professional certifications. With guides and practice exams that enable you to test your knowledge in a low-stress environment, you’ll be able to eliminate one reason for text stress. Oftentimes, simulating the environment in which the test will take place can help eliminate the unknown of the situation. Preparation is one way to control what you can when things feel out of control.

Is it that you feel like you don’t have enough time to prepare? It can feel like there is so much information you’re required to know. There are dozens of books, research articles, and studies you need to read before the big day, not to mention practice exams and other useful test prep resources, that can feel overwhelming. As hard as test-taking is, it’s sometimes not even the highest priority in a person’s life, and there has to be a balance in the time taken to prepare.

Adequate time management is key in making it a higher priority and enabling you with enough preparation. Block off time, and make sure that the people in your life know that during that time, you need to be left alone. If you don’t have large chunks of time, make sure you have materials with you wherever you are to practice in the small moments in between the larger events.

Is it because you lack confidence in your own ability? Truthfully, this one also comes down to preparation. However, another reason that people feel test stress is because, while they’re knowledgeable and have a deep understanding of the subject material, their confidence in their own ability can sometimes be a hindrance.

This is where practice exams can really come in clutch. Practicing the actual event and getting those test scores back can give you confidence in your ability, especially if the score comes back with favorable scores.

Are you easily distracted by other things? Distraction can play a major role in stress levels, both in practice and in the actual testing event. Anything from family, movies, music, and environmental input can slow progress and leave you feeling anxious like you have no time left in a bad way.

Eliminating distractions wherever you’re able to can reduce this type of anxiety, enabling you to enter the exam space with a cool, level head and ace the test.

Is your life outside of the exam consistent or consistently turbulent? In the same study of the cortisol levels of students, one factor that came into play was their home life. Students with overly turbulent home and social lives were more likely to feel anxiety surrounding tests than their overall less stressed counterparts. These stressors were their poverty level, parental input, and their social status among their peers.

There are things that are obviously out of our control, and these are great examples of stress contributors, but one thing that is within our control is the response to our situation and what input we allow to affect us in different ways. Although sometimes easier said than done, using meditation and other types of chemical balancing practices can help keep internal stress low while the outside stressors are high.

Do you have a procrastinator personality? Procrastination can be a valuable tool when used correctly. It’s often seen as a negative personality trait, but those with it work well on a deadline, completing assignments with success and a consistent quality level. This can even benefit those procrastinators when they understand how they work. They may do well under pressure, but only when they understand themselves.

As a general rule, however, procrastination is a detriment to most people. It causes them to fail because of their lack of adequate preparation. Waiting until the last minute is fine with small assignments, but when volume is the name of the game, they’ve lost. One reason behind procrastination is actually the anxiety of getting started: of making the first move. This is particularly impactful during preparation and can lead to feelings of inadequacy and, therefore, anxiety about the test.

Eliminate the procrastination effect by not even thinking about the first steps. In this scenario, the best solution is to just start. Get the momentum going, and the rest will follow.

What strategies do you have in place? Sometimes, test-taking comes down to the strategies you have in place to eliminate the reasons for stress. If you stress over the environment while testing and get distracted by little things, see if the proctor is okay with bringing something small that enables you to focus better. If you stress over the final results, going prepared with the knowledge you need to succeed will help eliminate the stress as well. Putting a plan in place to build confidence in your overall experience.

Do you simply get anxiety around the whole situation? Sometimes, and it doesn’t matter what preparation has gone into the task, some people simply get anxious and stressed when an exam is looming. They can have everything in place and do all the right things leading up to the exam itself, but they still feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of questions on the exam or the weight of what it’ll do for their future.

In the end, exam anxiety can be reduced by adequate preparation, resources, and discipline. By using the resources available to you and practicing discipline in every facet of your life, you can control the outcome of the exam just a little more. Exam anxiety is one of the biggest reasons that professionals don’t go for their career goals, but it shouldn’t be. Using these tactics to understand your anxiety and move past it will bring you one step closer to taking and passing these important tests.

Get prepared for your exam with the leader in FE and PE exam prep, School of PE. Our courses have been created by our subject-matter expert instructors, who are committed to helping you pass!

About the Author: Anna Taylor

Anna Taylor is a freelance writer and avid researcher- a jack of all trades, but a master of none. She graduated from the University of Hawai'i with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts because she had no idea what she wanted to be when she grew up. She has since found her love of Extended Reality and the possibilities it brings to the world, as well as gardening, cooking, and writing. Anna lives in Interior Alaska with her family.

Closing Skill Gaps: How Training Opportunities Address Team Needs

A team is a group of people connected by common goals that use their complementary skills to complete tasks and reach goals under the direction of a leader who uses their skills to their advantage. The three components of an effective team are a good leader, attainable goals, and skilled employees. Any one of these three can lead to the separation of a team, but making sure that there are adequate skills within the structure enables teams to set goals and work under the guidance of said leader. Skills like critical thinking, time management, and problem-solving are some of the most overlooked skills in the workforce, and closing these skills gaps is critical in developing a team that can hold its own against others.

Closing these skills gaps can also ensure that companies aren’t losing money over a lack of adequate training and team building. For example, a lack of skilled employees could create a 8.5 trillion dollar deficit in revenue over the next decade. On top of this, only 34% of workers feel supported by their company’s skills training opportunities, and up to 46% of companies have no strategic plan to address these gaps.

Closing skills gaps in the workforce can be as simple as investing in training opportunities to address team needs. By investing early on, companies can mitigate the risks of having an unskilled team. Let’s talk about the root cause of skill gaps, creating an action plan to close those gaps, and how to train and track improvement to make sure the investment is profitable.

In this Blog,

1. Hard Skills Versus Soft Skills

2. Training Opportunities that Match the Goal Outcome

3. The Root Cause of Skills Gaps

4. Creating an Action Plan with Tips to Close the Skill Gaps

5. The Importance of Measurement

Hard Skills Versus Soft Skills

When considering training opportunities, the first thing to understand is which skill you’re trying to develop. There are two different categories of skills that are necessary for a team to work effectively together: hard skills and soft skills.

There are a few key differences between the two types. For one, hard skills are measurable, while soft skills aren’t quantifiable. There’s no real metric to use in measuring soft skills. They’re more something that you see and experience rather than something you can measure. Another way to think about soft skills is that they’re internal skills with external results. Things like integrity, open-mindedness, creativity, and teamwork, while not necessarily always visible, soft skills are crucial in helping teams work well together.

In contrast, hard skills involve technical knowledge that requires specific training and experience gained in life or education. Things like being multilingual, networking capabilities, and data analysis are examples of hard skills. Experience with different software is also a hard skill that can be seen and tracked for its usefulness.

In order to be part of a team and to use these skills effectively, it’s important to know that not every team member needs to be qualified with every hard skill. This is where skill gaps can meet in the middle, and each member will pull their own weight with the technical knowledge that they individually have. However, every team member must have well-developed soft skills to make the team last. For instance, having a team full of open-minded, creative members with effective problem-solving skills is more valuable in collaborative settings than each person knowing the fastest way to create an Excel Spreadsheet when only one or two people with that skill will suffice.

Training Opportunities that Match the Goal Outcome

When trying to create or find a training opportunity, it’s important to understand which skills you’re trying to develop. For instance, training for hard skills needs to have a system in place that helps track the learning outcomes of that specific program, whereas the soft skills are a little harder to see. Oftentimes, training opportunities enable a person to practice both soft skills and hard skills at the same time. For instance, you can have formal and informal training opportunities that enable team members to learn how to handle stressful situations with an emphasis on endurance, while the initial training desire was to learn how to properly create a client-requested proposal.

While we look at the root cause of skill gaps, we’ll also discuss how to determine the right training opportunity.

The Root Cause of Skills Gaps

There are several reasons that skills gaps remain a continuous problem in the workforce.

1. Employee turnover, for any reason, creates gaps by taking away employees who’ve worked in a specific job, gaining experience in the niche, and being part of a team. Whether large numbers of employees are retiring or moving on to jobs that fit them better, creating space for newer and inexperienced employees opens a natural gap where none had previously been.
2. Lack of adequate training in soft skills creates gaps where none should be. In reference to an earlier statistic, only 34% of workers feel that their training opportunities have adequately prepared them for job responsibilities and collaboration.
3. Improperly listed job advertisements or dishonest applicants cause a gap that can otherwise be avoided by ensuring that job listings have been created with the best and most accurate descriptions possible. Using the interview process well can make sure that each applicant either comes equipped with the necessary skills or that they possess the qualities that the employer knows can be easily trained on and can also mitigate the risks involved.

By identifying the root cause of a specific skill gap, you’ll be able to determine the factor that has led to the gap in the first place and know where to place the necessary training program to develop better skills. By running a root cause analysis, you’ll find the quantifiable information that will lead to improvement in team dynamics. An effective root cause analysis will:

• Clearly define the problem
• Establish the causal relationship between the root cause and the problem
• Delineate the known dynamics of the causal relationship and how they combine to create the problem
• And clearly present the evidence-based conclusion that supports the identified cause’s existence

Creating an Action Plan with Tips to Close the Skill Gaps

There are several ways to help close these skills gaps, and these include:

• Determining the demand for skills needed
• Developing soft skills like collaboration, critical thinking, business basics, and other useful skills that make a person more team-minded
• Creating tailored learning plans for specific roles within the team
• Offer variety in the learning format to enable team members to choose what format works best for them.
• Use a learning management platform that enables the accessible tracking of learning outcomes to determine effectiveness
• Track progress and development after the fact

An action plan will give you a quantifiable goal to track in order to determine a specific route’s effectiveness. Each individual training method has its own benefits and drawbacks, and narrowing down the right one for your team is crucial in making it work for you.

The Importance of Measurement

While training opportunities are an excellent way to begin closing skills gaps, they don’t do much more than a baseline training scenario. In order to get the most out of a training program, it’s important to measure the effectiveness to make sure that goals are being met; the goal in this scenario is a closed skill gap.

Measuring the effectiveness of a training program gives us quantifiable data to determine if specific targets are being met. It allows companies to take action as early as possible and make adjustments in the program or process before going too far. Without tracking, they’ll realize too late that the program isn’t nearly as effective as they thought.

Qualities of a metric that produces results are:

• A baseline of knowledge that’s quantifiable or trackable
• Targets that can be measured at regular intervals
• And it must align towards a goal

Teams work best together when collaboration is met with highly efficient and knowledgeable members, people who work well together and can find a good middle ground in their hard skills with overlapping soft skills. Despite this knowledge of effective teamwork, some companies lack what’s necessary to move forward toward their goals. It’s only by identifying the places in which they lack and creating definitive goals to reach within their team training opportunities that they find success. Developing and taking advantage of programs designed to provide workers with the necessary skills to work effectively as a team enables them to reach their goals as a company.

Level up your career and your team's performance. Enroll in one of School of PE's PMP exam review courses today and become a project management expert.

About the Author: Anna Taylor

Anna Taylor is a freelance writer and avid researcher- a jack of all trades, but a master of none. She graduated from the University of Hawai'i with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts because she had no idea what she wanted to be when she grew up. She has since found her love of Extended Reality and the possibilities it brings to the world, as well as gardening, cooking, and writing. Anna lives in Interior Alaska with her family.

What to Know Before You Take the FE Exam

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is a daunting task for any engineering student or recent engineering graduate. The test day will bring about additional levels of stress and intimidation, especially if you don't know what to expect. This blog post will walk you through what to expect and how to fully prepare for FE exam day.

In this Blog,

1. Arriving at the Testing Center

2. Starting the Exam

3. Pacing Yourself

4. Exam Sections

5. Discipline-Specific Knowledge - Remaining questions

6. Review and Submit

7. What to Bring on Exam Day

Arriving at the Testing Center

Make sure you know exactly where your designated testing center is located and how to get there. Ensure that before you head off to the test site, you give yourself ample time to account for traffic, parking, finding the test room, etc. It's always better to arrive much earlier than risk being late and missing your scheduled exam time.

It is crucial that you bring a valid photo ID to show the test proctors when you arrive. This can be a driver's license, passport, or student ID as long as it has your name, photo, and signature. The name on your ID must exactly match the name on your FE exam registration.

Security at the testing center will be similar to airport TSA screening. You will need to empty your pockets and walk through a metal detector. The proctors may search your belongings as well. Prohibited items include phones, food/drink, notes, watches, and anything that could provide an unfair advantage. Lockers are typically provided to store personal items while taking the exam.

Starting the Exam

When it is time to begin, proctors will check you in, verify your ID, give instructions, and escort you to a testing station. Stations will include a cubicle with a computer, a writing surface, and an erasable markerboard. Noise-canceling headphones may be provided or allowed.

You'll have an online calculator and searchable digital FE reference handbook available in the exam software. Scratch paper and pencils are not permitted. Anything written will be collected by proctors at the end.

The FE exam duration is 6 hours total. This includes:

• 2 minutes of nondisclosure agreement
• 5 hours and 20 minutes for actual exam completion
• 25-minute scheduled break

Pacing Yourself

With only 5 hours and 20 minutes to answer 110 questions, you will need to keep up a steady pace. Don't spend too much time stuck on any single problem. Mark it for review and come back later if needed. Keep moving forward through the exam efficiently. Take breaks during sections if needed, but be aware of the clock.

Some people prefer to answer all the questions they know first. Others like to go in order, skipping unknowns. Find the strategy that works best for you. Just be careful not to fall behind. The computer will warn you when 10 minutes remain.

Exam Sections

The exact topics on the FE vary slightly depending on the engineering discipline. However, all exams cover the same general knowledge areas:

• Mathematics - approx. 11-15 questions
• Ethics and Business Practices - 5 questions
• Engineering Economics - 5-10 questions
• Statics - 5-10 questions
• Dynamics - 5-10 questions
• Mechanics of Materials - 5-10 questions
• Materials - 5-10 questions
• Fluid Mechanics - 5-10 questions
• Electricity and Magnetism - 5-10 questions
• Thermodynamics - 5-10 questions
• Engineering Sciences - 10-15 questions
• Have a strategic plan for how much time to allocate to each section based on your strengths/weaknesses. Stick to your plan.
• The ethics, engineering economics, and business practice questions tend to be shorter and more straightforward. Make sure to take advantage of these quicker points.
• Use the searchable reference handbook efficiently when needed. Don't waste time trying to memorize equations.

Discipline-Specific Knowledge - Remaining questions

Use your scratch paper liberally when working through more complex quantitative problems. Don't try doing everything in your head. Write out the given data, your steps, sketches, etc., to avoid simple mistakes.

Review and Submit

About 10-15 minutes before exam end time, the software will prevent you from moving forward. Use this time to review skipped questions, check previous work, and fill in any blank answers. Make sure you have answered every question before ending the exam. There is no penalty for guessing on the FE exam.

When you are ready, the software will prompt you to submit your test. Once submitted, you cannot go back and change answers. You will be escorted from the testing center, and your exam will be scored electronically. Results are provided within 7-10 business days.

What to Bring on Exam Day

1. Valid Photo ID
2. Registration ticket
3. Approved calculator - Check NCEES site for specific models
4. Eyeglasses - no smart glasses allowed
5. Light jacket/sweater - testing rooms can be cold

Recommended:

1. Earplugs - if distracted by noise
2. Tissues/cough drops - if you have allergies or a cough
3. Bottled water & snack - for the break

What NOT to Bring:

1. Phones, smartwatches, electronics
2. Bags, purses, wallets, pens, hats
3. Books, notes, scratch paper
4. Rulers, pencils, erasers
5. Food/drink (except label-free water)

Conclusion

The FE exam can be challenging, but being well-prepared will help you pass on your first try. Know what to expect on test day and get plenty of rest the night before. Stay calm, make good use of your reference materials, and trust your preparation. You've got this!

Ready to take the next step and pass your FE exam on your first try? Check out School of PE’s FE exam review courses today!

About the Author: Khoa Tran

Khoa Tran is an electrical engineer working at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and is currently pursuing his master's in electrical Power from the University of Southern California. He is fluent in both Vietnamese and English and is interested in outdoor activities and exploring new things.

Tips for Taking the FE Exam During Your Senior Year of College

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is a big hurdle that all aspiring engineers must clear before following their path to becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). As a recent college graduate with a degree in electrical engineering, I knew that passing the FE exam was an important step in advancing my engineering career. However, I was quite anxious heading into the months leading up to the test, being familiar with its notoriety and knowing the exam covers such a broad range of engineering topics. In this blog post, I’ll discuss my experience preparing for and taking the FE exam on the first attempt during my senior year of college.

In this Blog,

1. Timing of the FE Exam

2. My Three-Month FE Exam Study Plan

3. Study Materials

4. Starting with Stronger Topics First

5. Reflecting on the FE Exam Experience

6. Key Takeaways from my FE Exam Journey

Timing of the FE Exam

I decided to take the FE exam during the fall semester of my senior year. This timing worked well because I had completed almost all of my major-related engineering courses at that point. The FE exam tests your knowledge of core engineering principles from the first three years of an engineering degree, so it’s best to take it as late in your college career as possible.

I also wanted to get the exam done before my final semester when I knew I’d be busy with senior design projects and job applications. Taking the test in junior year is also an option, but you run the risk of forgetting some of the material by graduation. Ultimately, the fall of senior year was the sweet spot for me to take the exam.

My Three-Month FE Exam Study Plan

Once I decided on when I wanted to take on the FE, I needed to develop a proper study plan. The exam covers dozens of subjects, so I knew I couldn’t delay preparing until the last minute and just cram. I committed to studying for the FE exam over a three-month period: August, September, and October. The exam was scheduled for late October, so this gave me enough time to methodically cover each topic without feeling rushed.

I chose to study one subject area per week over the three months. The FE Reference Handbook provided by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) was instrumental in guiding the topics to focus on each week. I made a 12-week calendar and penciled in the subjects I planned to cover each week, such as mathematics, statics, dynamics, fluids, and materials science.

Study Materials

To fully prepare for the breadth of topics covered on the FE exam, I used several study resources:

• NCEES FE Reference Handbook - This is the official reference document provided during the actual exam. Studying it was key to understanding the equations, constants, and formulas needed to solve problems. I read through it multiple times and got very familiar with navigating it.
• NCEES Practice Exam - This full-length practice test from the exam creators was invaluable. It gave me experience applying concepts under timed conditions, and I could review solutions afterward. I took it twice during my prep.
• School of PE Review Course - About two months before the exam, I enrolled in an FE exam prep course online. The structured curriculum and study schedule kept me on track. Access to instructors and practice problems was also hugely helpful.

Starting with Stronger Topics First

I strategically scheduled the review topics in my calendar to begin with the ones I felt most confident about. For me, this included engineering economics, mathematics, and ethics. Beginning with my stronger areas helped build momentum and confidence for tackling trickier topics later on. During the first month, I supplemented my review with practice problems and sample FE exam questions in each corresponding weekly topic.

By September, I was ready to jump into studying subjects I had not taken courses on for over two years, such as dynamics, circuits, and Thermodynamics. To re-learn concepts and formulas in these rustier subjects, I needed to spend more time reviewing my old textbooks and notes. I also watched online video courses for topics like electrical circuits to see the concepts applied visually.

The final month involved intense practice sessions, taking mock FE exams under timed conditions. I attempted to simulate the actual testing environment by using an approved calculator and taking full 6-hour practice exams. Doing this helped me pinpoint any remaining weak areas to brush up on and ensured I had endurance for the real 6-hour test.

Reflecting on the FE Exam Experience

Walking out of the FE exam, I was overwhelmed with relief that the long prep period was over but uneasy about how I performed after answering 110 questions in just 6 hours. Some sections felt straightforward, particularly the math and ethics problems that I studied first. However, questions on Engineering Economics, and Power required me to make some educated guesses after drawing a blank.

Overall, I was confident I put in the work required to pass based on diligently following my 3-month study plan. I could not have absorbed such a vast amount of engineering knowledge in a hurried couple of weeks of cramming. When I received my results several weeks later, I was thrilled and relieved to see I passed the FE exam on my first try!

Key Takeaways from my FE Exam Journey

Preparing for and passing the FE exam was a major milestone in my engineering education and career. Here are some key lessons I learned along the way:

- Start preparing at least 3 months in advance and establish a study schedule. You’ll retain material better with an organized plan versus cramming.

- Use the FE Reference Handbook to guide which topics to focus on each week. Check them off as you review.

- Begin reviewing the subjects you feel most confident about to build momentum. Save the tougher topics for when you have more preparation under your belt.

- Solve practice exam questions for each topic, even ones you know well. This helps you apply concepts and gets you comfortable answering questions under time constraints.

- Take full-length practice tests in one sitting to simulate exam conditions. Use an approved calculator and timer to make it feel authentic.

- Trust in your preparation come test day. You’ve put in the hours studying and have earned the right to be confident!

Conclusion

Earning my passing score on the FE exam was a testament to the methodical preparation and perseverance which I had developed and adhered to. I’m proud that I took ownership over my study plan and saw it through. Passing this challenging exam was a huge confidence boost as I moved forward in my engineering career. The FE exam will always stand out as a pivotal learning experience in my development as an engineer.

I passed my exam with School of PE—and you can too! They have helped tens of thousands of engineers earn licensure and advance their careers, and are ready to help you next! Check out their course options today!

About the Author: Khoa Tran

Khoa Tran is an electrical engineer working at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and is currently pursuing his master's in electrical Power from the University of Southern California. He is fluent in both Vietnamese and English and is interested in outdoor activities and exploring new things.