As young engineers progress in their careers, they begin to understand that there is far more to being an outstanding engineer than they might have thought during their days as an undergraduate. In fact, some of the things they need to know weren't necessarily learned in school. And this is understandable, given the relatively short time spent in school and the significant differences between the missions of academe and industry/government. This paper focuses on twelve vital aspects in engineering that are usually learned after graduation but can make the difference between success and failure in one's engineering career. To succeed, engineers must: learn to be business oriented; expect tough, multi-disciplinary problems; learn to work and network in the new multi-cultural and multi-national environment; understand the differences between academe and industry; learn to differentiate all over again; understand the values and culture of their particular company or organization; be open to ideas from everywhere; have unyielding integrity; make their manager a success; support their university and technical society; have fun; and most importantly, manage their careers. Each of these aspects is discussed in detail.
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