In 2005, an in-depth study was undertaken to collect quantitative and qualitative data on the career attitudes of Canadian engineers in the province of Manitoba. This paper examines the quantitative data on the relationships between prior undergraduate work experiences with their current employers and male and female respondents' career and mentor satisfaction. The results suggest that undergraduate work experience programs may play a role in enhancing engineers' perceptions of their recognized authority/ expertise within their field. Results also show that prior work experience with current employers is related to satisfaction with mentors. Furthermore, a significant interaction effect was found for both prior work experience and gender as they relate to mentor satisfaction. Female engineers with prior work experience were the most satisfied with their mentors, while those without prior work experience were the least satisfied. Findings point to the value of company-specific undergraduate work experience as a socialization tool and the role it plays in nurturing long-term career development, particularly for young women engineers.
Currently, there are a lack of in-depth studies on the career paths of Canadian women engineers, particularly as they unfold alongside their male counterparts. This paper is part of a larger study designed to investigate the career paths of women engineers in the province of Manitoba. The study utilized both an on-line survey and in-depth interviews to explore key areas related to career success including training and development, mentorship and networking, work/life balance and job satisfaction. Preliminary findings presented here emphasize the value of educational work experiences such as cooperative and internship work placements for women engineers under the age of 30, particularly as they relate to the acquisition of soft skills. However, results also point to anticipation of traditional demands of motherhood which may impose future career constraints. Implications are drawn for engineering education programs.
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