“The most important thing you can market is not just what you can do—but who you are becoming.”

1. Build Both Depth and Breadth

Anchor yourself in a strong specialty. Employers need to know you can master something deeply, whether it’s nonlinear dynamics, structural design, or control systems. That specialty becomes your professional identity—the skill you can “hang your hat on.”

But don’t stop there. The world rarely works in silos. Projects live at the intersection of technology, finance, policy, and people. Although I never formally studied finance, much of my career involved financial restructuring and due diligence—because I could connect engineering realities with financial consequences. That broader perspective let me sit at the table with bankers, government officials, and industry leaders, not just fellow engineers.

Depth opens the door. Breadth allows you to contribute at higher levels and remain relevant as technology and industries change.

“Depth gets you hired; breadth keeps you valuable.”

2. Stay Flexible — Learn to Pivot

Career paths rarely unfold the way we imagine. I often planned multiple options, and not a single one turned out exactly as I thought. But knowing I had options gave me confidence.

I once advised a man with a very narrow PhD focus. He was determined to stay in that specialty—and he searched for work for seven years without success. When he finally broadened his perspective and accepted a position outside his niche, it turned out to be the best job he ever dreamed of having.

The lesson: don’t cling so tightly to your original vision that you miss opportunities. Pivoting is not failure. It is the courage to try a new path—and often the doorway to growth.

“Pivoting isn’t giving up — it’s discovering new opportunity.”

3. Networking Matters — More Than You Think

Most people see conferences as places to present papers and sit through technical sessions. That is the surface value. The real value lies in hallway conversations, chance meetings, and buffet lunches.

At a conference in New York in 1980, I struck up a casual conversation over lunch with someone I had never met. That chat turned into a job offer in Seattle..

When you attend conferences, be intentional. Ask forward-looking questions: “Where is your industry headed? Why do you stay with your company? What trends excite you?” Such questions make conversations memorable.

“Careers are built in corridors, not just conference rooms.”

4. Confidence with Humility

The skill that sets people apart is not arrogance but what I call “humble confidence.” It’s the ability to present yourself as competent without boasting, and curious without being naïve.

People remember those who make them feel smarter. I often explained difficult concepts in simple language. I boiled it down to plain terms. When someone learns something new from you, they walk away not only smarter but also remembering you.

Stories also make you memorable.

“Be memorable through stories, not self-promotion.”

5. Lessons from Hiring

Over the years, I reviewed hundreds—maybe thousands—of CVs and hired dozens of people.

Here’s what stood out:

• Imagination matters. My best hire was a shy young man who admitted he read science fiction. That signaled curiosity and creativity—qualities that fuel innovation.

• Fit with the team is crucial. I asked candidates to meet three team members. If the chemistry wasn’t there, we spared everyone future misery.

• Character outweighs technical ability. You can train software or math. You cannot train loyalty, honesty, or resilience.

6. Marketing Yourself

Many career seekers think marketing is something only salespeople do. Not true. Every professional markets themselves—first to get a job, and then within the company to earn promotions and opportunities.

To market yourself effectively, tell stories that highlight your contributions in ways others can understand. Your audience but they will appreciate a simple analogy or a lesson learned. When you help people learn something new in a way they can understand, you make yourself memorable.

This isn’t self-promotion for the sake of ego. It’s building a reputation as someone who adds value, communicates clearly, and connects ideas to people.

“Teach something in every conversation.”

7. Understand Who You Are

Take time to ask: “Who am I? What do I want to contribute?” The answers will change over time, and that’s normal. As a child in the 1950s, I wanted to be a milkman because milk was delivered by horse-drawn wagons and I loved the horses. That dream changed as my world changed.

Rigid plans are brittle. The best leaders are adaptable. Today’s world values innovation, imagination, and the ability to improve systems, not just maintain them. Your outlook shapes how others see you. If you approach work only for a paycheck, you’re a tourist. If you approach work as an opportunity to contribute and add value, you become part of building something lasting.

“Your outlook is your signature.”

8. Industry Outlook

Infrastructure and energy remain central to global development. Roads, bridges, hydroelectric power, and large-scale systems need engineers who can see beyond calculations to how projects fit into society.

My own career included major international assignments, including a $700 million due diligence deal. Experiences like these confirmed that the demand for broad-minded, adaptable engineers is global.

Opportunities are out there for those who combine technical expertise with flexibility and vision.

“Think systems. Think society. Think impact.”

Closing Thought

Your career will not be shaped only by grades, resumes, or how many job applications you send. It will be shaped by flexibility, resilience, and the stories you carry with you. Build relationships. Stay curious. Be humble but confident. And never stop asking how you can add value.

In the end, the most important thing you can market is not just what you can do—but who you are becoming.

“Character cannot be trained. Skills can. Build a life worth remembering.”

Dr. Willy Kotiuga, PhD, MFA

BGU Professor, Engineer, Writer, Mentor