Episode 108: Guest Mark Smith - Fired, Hired, and Thriving — Real Lessons from the Early Career Shitshow
Your first engineering job might suck. It might burn you out, betray your expectations, or end with you getting fired. That’s not a failure—it’s training. In this episode, we sit down with Mark Smith, founder of Bothwell Engineering, to unpack the early career war stories that shape who you become. From getting let go in his first year to building a thriving consultancy in life sciences, Mark shares tactical lessons for engineers trying to lead with integrity, energy, and clarity. Not theory—practical, tactical advice.
Key Topics Covered
• Getting fired in your first job: what it really teaches you
• How to pitch your worst experience as your strongest value
• What makes a real mentor—and how to keep them invested in you
• Why Bothwell Engineering was built to fix broken engineering culture
• How to avoid becoming “just a number” in your career
• The surprising power of honesty in job interviews
• Early career moves that build long-term trust and career leverage
• How co-ops and field experience prepare you for real leadership
• When not to take a full-time offer—and why
• Building a business without burning yourself out
Actionable Steps
• Reframe every failure into a value story—especially in interviews
• Ask the “dumb” questions early—don’t let fear cost you progress
• Get your hands dirty: walk the floor, inspect installs, ask the trades
• Build your micro-resume weekly—track what you learn and share it
• Spend 15 minutes a week expanding your network, no excuses
• Know what “support” looks like—ask for structure if you need it
• Find mentors by implementing their advice, not just listening
• Don’t burn bridges—you’ll see these people again, guaranteed
• Explore co-ops and contractor roles for real-world acceleration
• Challenge clients and companies—your integrity is your brand
Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers in toxic work environments wondering if it’s just them
• Early career ICs with no structure, mentorship, or support
• New grads navigating co-ops, contracts, or first real jobs
• Overlooked engineers trying to find better leadership
• Engineers burned by loyalty to companies that didn’t return it
Why It Matters
Energy, visibility, and performance are what move your career forward—not being “perfect” out of the gate. The early years are where you build your voice, your values, and your ability to lead. This episode is a playbook for turning chaos into clarity—and using every tough lesson to level up faster.
Where to Listen
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Or wherever you get your podcasts
If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.
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