Introduction
The question of ethical behavior is relevant to every person and every profession since all people engage with each other in some way. However, each individual may interpret this topic in a unique way due to their past experiences, personal characteristics, and the surrounding environment. The connection between personal and professional ethics is another side of this issue. The problem arises of how one finds a way to exercise both or to adapt the individual beliefs to comply with the profession.
Personal Ethics
It is difficult for me to pinpoint which value approach is the basis of my personal ethics. As Harris et al. suggest, different situations call for one to consider all circumstances and use the model that is the most appropriate (30). Nonetheless, I believe that a combination of Utilitarianism and Rights for Person (RP) is what helps me make everyday choices. It is clear that ethical decisions are often regarded as those that will bring the most benefits to people and comply with the basic standards accepted as a part of the common morality. For instance, bringing harm to people is a negative and immoral action, as it disrespects other’s right to health.
My personal ethics were significantly influenced by my family, who believe that one should act to benefit not only oneself but also others. In the end, such actions increase the overall satisfaction of the community and contribute to the cycle of positive reactions. Here, the values proposed by the utilitarian and PR approaches are intermixed. People maximizing the happiness of each other and the society, while respecting all living beings, may drive others to do the same.
Professional Goals
I aim to pursue several professional goals as a future mechanical engineer. First of all, I wish to work at a company that drives innovation forward and contributes to the state of development in unique and creative ways. This goal combines my interest in the profession and the benefit that such change can bring. For example, new technologies for sustainability can simplify people’s tasks, limit the risks of using machines, and increase the effectiveness of devices. Second, my goal is to continuously grow as a professional to improve my career and contribute to the organization’s work in a meaningful way. Here, my objective of learning and perfecting my skills will help others as well as myself since I will apply my knowledge in an industry that creates products for whole communities. Finally, one of my professional goals is to increase the productivity and quality of the goods at whatever company I will be employed. The issue of productivity is a driver for people to innovate and develop creative solutions, and this aim will inspire me to grow.
Conclusion
As can be seen, my personal ethics strongly influence the formulation of my professional aspirations. In engineering, there exist many rules of practice that align with my values. For instance, as the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) states, engineers “shall continue their professional development throughout their careers.” This part of professional ethics corresponds to my desire to improve my skills for both personal growth and enhanced quality of the products with which I will work. The engineers’ commitment to serving the public and upholding each project to the standards of safety is further bolstered by my belief that people and their needs have to be respected (NSPE). Overall, my personal values contribute to my understanding of the ethical duties that engineers have.
Works Cited
Harris Jr, Charles E., et al. Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases. 6th ed., Cengage Learning, 2019.
National Society of Professional Engineers. Code of Ethics for Engineers. 2019. Web.