Is anyone else bitter about work? 37

[shadow401]

I don’t know if it’s the engineering field, Corporate America, or just me but does anyone really love being an engineer anymore? Sure, it pays the bills but is anyone actually excited to show up to work in the morning?

Most of the people I work with have become cynical and are more interested in making themselves look good then completing a project. Engineers, developers, government agencies, inspectors, contractor, and sub-contractors are all on different teams and only looking out for their own interests. Even within my own company different departments try to push each other down to appear more profitable. Lazy employees get promoted over hard working employees and it feels like some fundamental rule that we learned in kindergarten about being fair and doing what’s right has been lost. I used to love the though of becoming an engineer but after 7 years of the real world, I just don’t care anymore. Am I alone?

 

[TDAA]

For the record, I was not whining, I was venting. I realize this is short term fro me, but I wish things could move faster than they are. My comments were also not a grass is greener thought. I know I will have to do similar things at any position, but right now, right here, the focus of my work is not what I want it to be on, and it is not my choice.

There are several personal things associated with my work situation that have me worked up as well, so it doesn't help the situation. I will wine tonight when I get home.

 

[Ron]

TDAA...yeah, the personal considerations don't help. I have those as well. It would be nice is we could all so what we want without outside intervention.....fantasyland.

You're not alone. Many other engineers are pulled between the demands/joys of our profession and the necessities of homelife and family. Balance of those is a bitch! Good luck...I've been trying to strike that balance for 35 years...I'm not much better at it today than I was 35 years ago!

 

[JohnRBaker]

After nearly 45 years as a working professional, I have to say that my current position is the best that I've ever held. And for the record, I've always enjoyed whatever it was that I was doing over those 45 years and can't remember ever dreading coming to work in the morning. Now that doesn't mean that there weren't some rough times or that I never worked for an idiot or I never thought I was worth more than what I was getting paid, but everything always seemed to work out OK eventually and over time I was able to take advantage of situations that led to better jobs or leveraging an opportunity to work on something more interesting or professionally rewarding, or whatever.

Now if I can just keep that feeling for another 3 1/2 years, I've got it made ;-)

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[ewh]

John,
Will you be able to get cowski to replace you at the user group meetings? That will be a huge void when you quit attending.

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[shadow401]

It is refreshing to hear that some people still love being an Engineer.

From this thread, it appears to me that Mechanical Engineers are more satisfied with their jobs than others. Perhaps there is something about Mechanical work that is new and exciting and keeps people interested. In the Civil Field, the only thing that is new and changing is the government regulations and forms that I have to complete to obtain permits for my projects.

 

[KENAT]

Well, it might be that you build targets...

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[IRstuff]

I'm neither ME nor CE, but I'm happy, nonetheless.

Possibly, part of that comes from the fact that every new task is different in some way, and sometimes, they're radically different, so we're constantly learning new things and new phenomenologies.

It's way better than school, I get to learn new things, don't have to take exams, and get paid to do it all.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[TDAA]

I feel much better now.

Actually, several jobs are now getting going, so I feel more purpose now. It just seemed a bit stagnant, even though I have had plenty to do (non-project). I still plan on moving on to deal with the personal side of the work induced issues. This has more to do with having the wife be in the place she wants to be than the actual work I do.

 

[monkeydog]

TDAA,

When Mama's happy, everyones happy.

 

[KENAT]

That's such tosh just cause Mama's happy don't mean dad is. She's happy shoe shopping for hours, or watching hollywood gossip TV shows etc. doesn't do much for me.

However, if Mama aint happy, then no way dad's happy.

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[Lion06]

monkeydog-

I think that goes, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".

 

[TDAA]

Mama wants what I want. It just matters more to her.

I will make it happen one way or another. It may end up burning some helpful bridges (unintentionally), but it is family first.

 

[JohnRBaker]

John,
Will you be able to get cowski to replace you at the user group meetings? That will be a huge void when you quit attending.

There's already another Siemens PLM employee who has been lobbying my boss for my job after I retire. He knows NX very well and has great stage presence (he's a professional magician on the side) so I suspect we'll be covered, but God willing, I've got a few years yet before we cross that bridge.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[ewh]

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[cksh]

I am a little bitter. It is not engineering, but rather the company that always makes or breaks the deal for me. Up until recently, I have never considered quiting solely because I didn't like the work.

One of these days I will find that perfect place that fits my lifestyle, salary, location etc, and can actually keep my attention.

My job right now is very repetitive. Mind-numbingly repetitive and extremely boring, although busy. Pays extremely well though which is the only thing keeping me here. But I can feel my experience and education slipping away. My only challenge is what to eat for lunch and putting out fires that should not have started to begin with.

 

[KENAT]

After my last hour, I'm maybe a bit bitter, or annoyed, maybe angry, maybe even enraged.

However, I'm sat in my office rocking back and forth saying over & over again "It's not engineering it's my employer, It's not engineering it's my employer, It's not engineering it's my employer, It's not engineering it's my employer, "

Yes, tomorrow on my day off I will be job searching.

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[IRstuff]

TDAA,

Few people will get that upset about your setting of family as a higher priority; those guys you don't want to work for, anyway. I spent way more time at work when my first kid was growing up, and now that time with him is forever lost.

I haven't had the occasion to use this recently, "No one, on their deathbed, has ever regretted not spending more time at the office."


TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[Waidesworld]

I give what my employer asks of me and then some. My bitterness is held on what has to be political, those who do naught day in and day out are not called to task by the President. One of our guys was caught surfing porn sites and claimed he was learning character animation for use in the company website at a later date. Three years later, he is still here, the website has no animation and he's been caught a few more times. Yet he remains and with 11 years here, you know he's not make $50K a year. That is however, out of my control, so I try no to worry too much about it. I would love to have a review (it's been three years) but I still have gotten the cost of living increase each year (exception last year - nada) and that's all I have come to expect. To keep me going, I have some good friends at work, and I am well recognized by my customers as a good engineer.

drawn to design, designed to draw

 

[TDAA]

IR, I know that, but it is a weird situation. This is the one time where I actually feel I owe my employer something more than just my normal work.

I actually have good reason for thinking that way.

Normally, I would not.

 

[stanford94]

lighten up charlie.

yep shadow, your situation is common. at the 7 year mark, i quit, went to stanford and finished a msme and then started a pawn shop and made a crap load more than being an engineer.. 3x. did just what i wanted. worked for myself. right now. it's hard for all of us self-employed. if you have a job, stick with it unless you have a real plan. and you have to come up with the plan. yes, i did find engineering boring sitting in front of a monitor all day. maybe the lab thing is more suited for you... good luck.