is it too early to tell? 4

[calguy07]

ok i'm currently in my first "real" job after college and i feel overwhelmed. to cut a long story short, it took over a yr to get this job due to unique circumstances so i'm an older entry level engineer. i'm beginning to understand the analogy i've been given before which relates academia to the "real world" (i.e. in college you're given the tools for the real world but you have to figure out how to apply them). i work for a small consulting firm and the engineers do everything here right down to the drafting. since i've been here i've actually become the "drafting department" for the engineers which i'm ok with but i'm told that i'd be given my own projects to work on and i'm really nervous about this. i don't think i'm ready. i've been here a few months now and i feel like i'm not progressing at the rate that's expected or what i expect. of course there is no training and no one really has the time for handholding. things are beginning to make sense to me but i still feel like i should be further along.

so how can i tell if i'm really cut out for this stuff? i always got good grades in school and finished at the top or near the top of my engineering courses but i'm a bit concerned that i'll end up being a "bust" analagous to what you see in pro sports in the college to pro transition. i know its hard for anyone online to judge my individual situation but based on your experiences how far along should i be at this stage?

life sucks being green and inexperienced.

 

[EddyC]

I think that I felt the same way on my first job out of school (back in 1984). I've managed to make a career out of engineering and most likely you will too. I do recommend that you do all that you can to learn as much as you can both in and out of the office (in other words, "front load" your career). Do this while you're young and full of energy. You can forget about mentoring from senior engineers and many firms also omitt any formal training. This is a side effect from the commoditization of the engineering profession (lowest bidder gets the job). I think that you'll make out OK. Best of Luck and Welcome to the Profession!

 

[ajack1]

I think it is human nature to be nervous of things you do not fully understand or have not done before; we have all been there at some point.

What separates the best from the rest in any field be it engineering or sport is they are prepared to put in the time and effort. Was it Gary player who said the more I practice the luckier I become?

 

[epoisses]

IMHO a few months is too early to tell whether you are progressing fast enough. 1 year is still short, after 3 years you have a fair idea. However I think you should insist on getting training (formal or informal) to cover any major knowledge gaps that you come across, after all that is in the company's own interest as well.

 

[swivel63]

you'll never think you're ready. but your boss sees things that you don't and will give you the help you need so long as you still use your noggin. the projects might look very complicated, but in the end you'll always be able to go back to mechanics you learned in college in order to figure things out.

 

[KENAT]

i feel overwhelmed

Welcome to a career in Engineering! I've felt like that off & on (mostly on) since I left University.

Just when I was starting to get comfortable I'd acquire new projects or responsibilities that stretched me again.

Plus just when I'd started to generally get a handle on my first job, and the industry, things came up and I started a new job in a new career, different country, straight back to almost square one!

I got my first 'project' first day at my first job. Didn't have a clue about anything but with some trial & error, hard work and a lot of help from various colleagues I got by, perhaps not very efficiently but I made it.

The fact you're even asking the question makes me think you'll be OK. The ones who are useless are those that turn up thinking they know everything, which doesn't sound like you.

Good luck,

Ken

 

[Ashereng]

The best judge of whether you are doing well, and are ready, is probably the person giving you the work. Chances are, if he/she didn't think you could do it, they wouldn't give it to you.

How far along should you be? That is a tougher question. I would think it depends on things such as:
- where do you want to end up
- how quickly do you want to ge there
- how "good" are you
- how "hard" are you currently applying yourself

I guess another measure is the salary increase and/or bonus at the end of the year. If you get a big one, I would think you are progressing well relative to your company/industry. If not so big, I guess a little less well.

Sorry, best I can do.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[kchayfie]

You'd be amazed how much time people will have to hold your hand today if it means they can dump a whole chunk of their workload in your lap tomorrow. Be eager to learn and they will be willing to teach. Be prepared to stretch yourself and they will be happy to support you while you are finding your feet.

You're already sharing projects by doing the drafting. If you're nervous about taking on your own project, can you share someone else's by maybe doing some of the simple calculations or something? As you build up your portfolio of skills you'll be able to take more and more responsibility on the project until one day you realise you did everything and the other guy has been working on something else this whole time.

And if your colleagues are truly snowed-under and unwilling to hand-hold, asking questions like "I'm planning to do xyz - does that sound OK?" or "Is this the right method to use for abc?" are more likely to get a positive response than "how do I do xyz?" or "what needs to be done to do abc?" - At least the first way you've shown you've put some thought into it and if you're lucky, they only have to say "Yes".

 

[ExRanger]

I have thought many times that Engineering seems like a terrible profession. When you start you are typically thrown to the wolves or allowed to struggle with no help. But in a way this is good. There are a lot of people in engineering school who get by with cheating or having others help them. Then they try to pull the same thing in the workplace....and they become managers! Just kidding. Or am I?

In any case I would stick it out for a few years if I were you. A lot of people who start in engineering move on to something else after some years. Eventually, if there's nothing you love about it and its just a daily struggle you should move on. There is a large number of disgruntled people in engineering, whatever the reason. Maybe it attracts those types in the first place because while it may challenge people technically, it never forces them to deal with their own personalities in most cases, and so it becomes a path of least resistance for smart, but surly individuals.

 

[ziggi]

I wish I was thrown to the wolves at my first job, I found it dead boring, although on occasion I did get challenging work which was great.
80% of my time was spent looking for records, filling in monotonous forms or doing nothing at all. I filled my dead time by looking for work or talking to my co-workers, sometimes about their work, sometimes about their personal lives.

My second job out was great and terrible at the same time, I was super busy, but I had to deal with alot of nonsense as well, plus the pay was terrible. However I learnt a lot in that job, both technical and interpersonal.
I've moved on again to an entirely different field and job description, this one is great and mediocre, which I suppose is better than just 'plain mediocre' or 'great and terrible'.

All I can say is, doing everything on a project is the best way to learn. I think drafting is ok, but you're narrowng yourself to a niche if you stay too long.
Embrace the projects, they'll give you exposure to a whole world outside of pure engineering, plus you'll make client contacts which are never bad.

As an aside, when dealing with clients, be CONFIDENT, they expect you to know what you're doing and have no reason to think you don't.

 

[calguy07]

thanks for the advice guys. i'm most definitely going to stick it out. i guess i'm learning more and more everyday and i'm getting involved in projects from the start but i'm not working on "my own" project but helping other co workers. dealing with clients is another issue altogether. they have their standards and expectations and are willing to call you out on any and everything. already i've had my squabbles with them but then again so has everyone i work with, lol.

 

[nise56]

Don't feel alone. This is my first engineering job as well and I get overwhelmed on a daily basis. I take one thing at a time. I let people know that I am new and that even though it might take me a bit longer to get things done, I will get them done. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It's a bit hard for me since there aren't too many material engineers I can ask. You just have to realize that everyone else has been doing this for a lot longer than you and at some point you will be the one helping out a fresh young engineer. Good Luck.

 

[oldestguy]

As an old engineer, I have seen many a young guy come on board. Unfortunately what you learn in college is not generally very useful for the day to day stuff that has to be done, such as record keeping, drafting, inspecting, etc.
However, doing those routine things gives you some background later on in directing others doing those routine things.

One thing that never will help your career is to say "I was not hired for that". Doing those routine jobs that others some how get out of doing (even sweeping the floor) will go a long ways in the eyes of those that have some say about your advancment. The clock also should not be in control of your time. It may take an extra hour after 5 PM, some Saturday work, etc. These habits not only impress higher ups, but they stick with you and you will go farther than a clodk watcher.

Later in life you may be the boss and by then there is no clock. But the cash still comes in.

I'd say your training is just begun. It will never stop either.

 

[uGlay]

dont worry about it too much, just start your projects and if you get stuck, come on eng-tips and ask here for help. that's how i do it haha!

 

[plasgears]

One of the problems in engineering today is becoming a draftsperson without the discipline of engineering analysis. One old engineer I worked with regretted having transitioned to CAD.

He produced some questionable designs without the aid of analysis, and failure resulted. Even after I provided some analysis which pointed to some weaknesses in the design, he proceeded without making changes. He in effect gave up engineering disciplines for blind CAD.

Don't get caught in the trap of becoming a blind CAD operator.

 

[KENAT]

I do/have done a lot of CAD work. I actually enjoy it and it's the reason I got my current position.

So I don't believe it's all doom and gloom.

That said I do sometimes wonder if it will cost me in the future, will it mean I don't the level of analytical skills I need for another position?

So far it hasn't been an issue.

Either way sometimes a jobs a job, take what you can get while you try and find the next one.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[calguy07]

can't believe my thread is still alive...anyway, a lot has happened. i was thrown to the wolves by getting my own design projects. i had a feeling it would be a good thing as i learned considerably more than just being a drafter. i'm pretty comfortable with my role now..all my designs are done well ahead of time..management is happy with my progress and gave me a small raise. still a long ways to go though...the learning never stops....

 

[csd72]

The learning never does stop, even those with 30 plus years of experience are still learning.

csd