Business Card Question

Marc · Jun 15, 2006

What do you guys call yourselves on your business cards?
I just got a request for an updated business card and have been pondering the "title" part. I do panel layout/design electrical schematics, product specification load calculations PLC programming, HMI programming, Scada programming, networking, SQl integration etc. etc. Basically soup to nuts for a custom fabrication UL listed OEM on the electrical/programming side.

Marc

jstolaruk · Jun 15, 2006

I end up doing full projects, including mechanical, so when asked I put Project Engineer instead of Controls Engineer.

David_Emmerich · Jun 15, 2006

I use " Automation Engineer "...nobody down here knows what I do!!!!

:site:
David

Marc · Jun 15, 2006

I was thinking about that one, or Industrial Automation Engineer...

SNK · Jun 15, 2006

What if you are not an Engineer by Degree?

akreel · Jun 15, 2006

I've been a " controls engineer" before. Now I'm an "Automation Specialist."

You need to be careful, because you are sometimes required to have a P.E. license to call yourself an engineer. Or, you could skip the license exam and become a "Sanitation engineer."

geniusintraining · Jun 15, 2006

kcarlen said:
What if you are not an Engineer by Degree?

Then it would be "self-proclaimed engineer" that way the door is left open for an escape for those small mistakes

Leadfoot · Jun 15, 2006

Mine says "SR. Field Service". I leave the engineer up to the imagination of those I give my card to. By training, I am an "Electronics Technician". That is what I tell the IRS on my tax return. These days you have to be careful of using "engineer" in your title. Some states require you have the PE and be registered. Some companies call every one an engineer.

Don't over sell yourself and you will be fine.

Gerry M · Jun 15, 2006

You need to be careful, because you are sometimes required to have a P.E. license to call yourself an engineer.

Your right, I checked NY state and you can't say "Professional Engineer". Hopefully that'll change for me this October (fingers crossed). These rules may vary from state to state. The main thing seems to be that you can't give the impression to your customers that you are a P.E. if you're not.

I use Controls Engineer, but I work in industry as an end user so it doesn't really matter.

Tom Jenkins · Jun 15, 2006

The rules vary from state to state, but my understanding in general:

If you do engineering designing public facilities, you can't use "engineer" unless you are licensed

If you work for a manufacturer and not directly on public facilities you can call yourself "engineer" if you are degreed or if your employer gives you the title engineer, degreed or not

If you are consulting or freelancing you shouldn't call yourself engineer if you aren't licensed

Most states don't have the same restrictions on "designer" or "technician". These are good fall back titles. Note that some states do have licensing requirements for "plumbing designer" and such, but they don't resrtrict the use of the term designer nearly as much as they do engineer.

Steve Bailey · Jun 15, 2006

Since I run my own company I can use any title I want.

To avoid potential confusion between an engineering degree (which I have) and a PE license (which I don't have), I use the title "Automation Specialist" on my business cards. If I feel that something more impressive might be useful, I also carry some cards with the title "President".

Ken Moore · Jun 15, 2006

At my company, only degreed engineers have the "Engineer" title, such as
Chemical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Production Engineer, etc.... The P.E.'s use the same title with the P.E. added to the end.

Anyone without an engineering degree, but preforming the same work is called a "specialist".

My current title is: "Process Controls Specialist"

cntrlfrk · Jun 15, 2006

I put in a free request for a controls magazine once, under "title" I put 'Head Master Controls Beach' (you can guess the correct spelling). Thought it would be funny having that show up in my office once a month.

Needless to say they never sent it, I had to re-apply with my title 'Control Systems Engineering Supervisor' I don't think my company could have come up with a longer title, it doesn't even fit on the address label.

kamenges · Jun 15, 2006

When I started with the company I am currently with they put 'Controls Engineer' on my cards. When I sent my resume here I called myself a 'Control System Specialist' since I am not degreed.

If I had a choice I would stay away from the 'engineer' title unless you are degreed, regardless of your capability. It may end up saving you some explaining if you run into someone who is too 'title oriented'.

Keith

Jimmie_Ohio · Jun 15, 2006

I'm not sure what a degree has to do with any of this since the Merriam-Webster definition of engineer in this case is:

b : "a person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch of engineering c : a person who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance"

All the other definitions had to do with knowledge literally of "engines".

A college degree has nothing to do with experience, but arguably you may have some "'splaining" to do at an interview. If you have the experience in design, debug, and all that goes with it, and can back it up with producing quality work, what's wrong with that?

Bill Gates is a pretty good businessman, without having a college degree in Business or anything for that matter.

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Marc

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jstolaruk

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Marc

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