Mark Hancock: "Don’t hoard your knowledge, share it."
Where were you born and raised?
In the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. I have not moved very far since – bouncing around the southeast before recently migrating a few kilometres north to the eastern suburbs. I save my wanderlust for holidays and exploring the many worlds in fiction books.
When did you know you wanted to be an engineer, and why?
My parents would suggest there were always signs, from an incessant array of questions about all topics to building moderately concerning quantities of Lego, model kits, computers and the likes as I grew up. But in a surprising endorsement for the high-school career guidance curriculum, I think working through the career options formally in Year 9 or so actually solidified my plans to become an engineer.
What were the biggest challenges for you when studying engineering at university and how did you overcome them?
I was worried I would get bored/listless with four years of moderately dry technical study, so I decided to mix it up and do five years instead, doubling up engineering with commerce. Not sure how effective that was, but happy to answer basic questions about economic theory!
Getting into my preferred course was also a bit of a hassle as I made a conscious decision to study a language rather than one of the subjects with selection bonuses for engineering, so I recommend exploring all the relevant course details early.
Mixing part-time work with a full-time study program was also a challenge, with limited options. Take your pick from such exciting night work as service station attendant or grocery-store stocker, neither of which may exist in a few years’ time.
Looking back at your uni days, what advice would you give those about to start their undergrad engineering degrees?
The usual guidance applies regarding having to manage your own time and effort in uni, as no one else will manage it for you. I would also consider the natural variation in complexity, effort and fatigue over the duration of your studies. A lot of students struggle and see their results drop as second-year subjects increase in difficulty, whilst the third year can be mentally difficult as you’re a long way in, but still can’t quite see the light at the end of the tunnel. But acknowledging and planning for these aspects can make it easier to manage.
What is your favourite engineering task/type of project, and why do you enjoy it so much?
Sitting down and brainstorming solutions with a group of engineers and stakeholders from different disciplines and backgrounds is still an engaging part of our work, particularly early in a project when options are wide open.
Clichéd as it sounds, as I transition into an old engineer I genuinely do enjoy being able to help train new engineers to hopefully avoid some of my embarrassing/costly/painful mistakes. But maybe I just like the sound of my own voice (someone has to).
What’s the most striking/impactful piece of engineering career advice you have ever heard, and how did you apply it?
One of my early team leaders (Hello, Ron Lourensz!) told me his job was to make himself redundant, and it’s arguably been my guiding principle for much of my career. Don’t hoard your knowledge, share it and train people to take over your role. It helps grow our engineering community and gives you more time to focus on other areas that interest you. Plus, some of those young engineers are going to end up being your boss in the future, so better if they think of you as helpful and caring rather than as a grumpy curmudgeon!
Our people tell their career stories
Middleton Group staff share inspiration, food for thought and career tips.