Can an Engineer be a good Treasurer?

Question

Im an engineering student and i haven't studied financial accountings before.
I want to join a student society as assitant treasurer.
During the interview how can i convince them?
what should i say if they asy why i need this post?

Answer 1

There are several types of engineers: Bad ones, proud ones, humble ones.

The proud ones: Are the type that know everything, because they are an engineering student.

If you are in this category, there is little hope for you.

Bad engineers are the type that build bridges that collapse, or design O-rings that cause manned rockets to explode.

Humble engineers are the ones that are always trying to learn and never dominate a conversation because they are know-it-all engineers.

When I went to college, there were 1000's of proud engineers, a few bad engineers and only 2 humble engineers (one was a 4.0 Petroleum Engineer). You would have never known it by the way he acted, dressed or behaved in class or labs.

A bad engineer I knew, couldn't pass freshman English, and nearly lost his 4 year merit scholarship because of it. He ended taking English at a local junior college. It was only because I knew the teacher, that I convinced her to pass him with a C minus (a D or lower would have cost him his scholarship).

I have not read any of your answers, so I do not know what type of engineer you are.

So, to answer your question, I will say this: A treasurer is responsible for billing and collections, preparing statements as required for the membership. If you know how to do this, then you can be a fine candidate. If you do not know how to do this, then you have the internet to teach you (when I was treasurer, there we still programmed in Fortran).

So, if you can humble yourself and learn, then you will make a fine treasurer. If, however, you are a proud, know-it-all, will not take advise from anybody kind of student, then you will likely fail and fail miserably.

For the most part, it seems today's engineering students (at least the ones I run into in the Christmas Decoration arena) are know-it-all jerks that offend everybody that they meet. The funny thing that they will not teach you in engineering school is how to make the presentation to boss that approves your budget and how to politic your way through corporate America.

I would recommend that you invest in a Dale Carnegie class (I do not remember the name of it, but when I went through, it was the Dale course). There were several engineers in our classes that couldn't sell ice-water to a thirsty man because they had the personality of zits.

If you are the type, again, I do not know, and can not take such a course, you will get a great life lesson in human relations working in retail sales- I suggest the food service industry as a waiter.

Good luck in your pursuits.