Moving On

[calguy07]

I currently work for an EPC in the utility industry; my first engineering job after graduation. I've been here for close to 3 yrs now but over the last few months, I've been thinking about moving on. I've been an electrical designer after starting out as a drafter.

The company I'm with is pretty small and I've been getting stuck with the same type of projects and I'm just about bored with it. I definitely don't know all there is to know about our niche field but I haven't really been "allowed" to do anything else. I don't think its because they think I'm incapable as I've been getting bigger projects (and completing them well ahead of deadlines)..but even in this case I can't be sure as don't have performance reviews (which is another thread altogether actually).

So I've continued to work on the same projects but I'm beginning to want something more. I don't feel like I have any new skillsets since starting here a couple of years ago. I've learned a lot about the utility industry, how things are done, etc.

I've talked about this with my engineering manager about this on more than one occasion and they somehow keep forgetting. The problem is that, other than this, I really can't complain about being here. I have a great project manager and get along with everyone here.

I've been thinking of moving on once I pass the 3 yr mark. The problem is that the utility industry here is pretty small and our owner pretty much knows everyone (which is how he gets and continues to get a lot of our work). My plan is to jump to the other side of the fence and see what its like to work for one of our clients, the actual utility company. There seems to be more of an opportunity to do and learn more at those places and actually develop my career which is what I want as I feel stuck right now. We're a small company and although I've done ok with the daily chaos, I feel like I need the structure, long term stability and opportunity for progression that I think I can get from the utility companies.

So, first question is, when and how did you guys decide that its time to move on? Were there any regrets? I'm just thinking that I'll move on, not like it and regret giving up something that wasn't that bad after all.

Next question is how do I navigate the whole job searching/networking thing without anyone finding out??

Thanks

 

[calguy07]

gwolf2,

I don't think its about good guy/bad guy. I suspect he has less confidence in me than other EITs. In the beginning I made more drafting mistakes than most and I guess I might have never quite gotten rid of that impression I made (this is just speculation as I've never been told anything directly..its just my feeling).

I can honestly say I've never made a catastrophic design mistake that cost any money, but some of the mistakes I have made have been technical oversights that I think more mentoring what have prevented as I said earlier. Maybe he thinks I should know this already somehow.

I do believe he is really busy though. Its my impression that the company bids and accepts work before actually doing the human resourcing and figuring out who can do what, so the senior guys with the most knowledge just tend to get busy. We're a company of degreed engineers acting as designers/drafters with 2 main senior engineers with significant depth of knowledge in our niche field and ALL the work goes through them as they do the signing. When they're not around (and they frequently aren't) it seems like everything is at a standstill when anyone needs technical advice. There are other more experienced EIT's but oftentimes they themselves seem a bit unsure.

I haven't really talked about this with the other designers. Part of me is just paranoid as I really don't know who says what to who.

 

[controlsdude]

Whats with this 2 week notice from employees, when the employer always gives you same day notice that they are sending you packing?