New job not what I thought it would be 3

[fast4door]

I took a new job a little while ago. I thought I would be taking them into new areas but they need me to do a lot of CAD, which I'm not very good at. I might build enough new stuff so I can stop doing CAD, but that might be a couple years away. I feel like there was a miscommunication and we're both losing.

What should I do?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Talk to them and let them know your concerns, or things will remain as is.
Meanwhile use the time to improve your CAD skills.

 

[kylesito]

Don't underestimate the value of learning CAD (or Revit) type programs. Strive to learn good drafting. Even if you can design down to the gnat's hair...if you can't get it on the page correctly then it's worthless.

However, if you feel you may be getting pigeon holed after a few months, follow CBL's advice and go talk to them. Bring a positive attitude and talk to them about your own path for growing and where do they think you can work to become more valuable.

With everything in the last few years, the engineering staff you work for may have fallen behind on the drafting responsibilities and you may be acting as a relief valve for a while until things normalize a little. I wouldn't get too discouraged too quickly.

PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi

 

[ctopher]

You didn't write what type of job it is.
If it's in the engineering field, you should expect CAD to be a tool.

Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[jmcoope3]

The best plans and calculations can still be screwed up in field by bad drawings. Consider this a professional lesson in engineering communications. To quote my principal engineer "Pretty much everything you draw is ending up the hands of a high school graduate for fab/construction, no ones going to look at the math when they're building it".

 

[KENAT]

What field of engineering? In the US exempt world many (not all) engineers certainly do a lot of their own 3D modelling and a lot also do the detailing. I'm not so sure about the 'protected' world - they seem a bit more snobish on the aspect of drafting not being engineering and in fact in some States time spent drafting may not count toward experience for PE.

What is your ultimate goal as an engineer? Do you want to be more of an analyst, or an all round designer or what?

Is there any path at this employer that would get you there?

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[brandonbw]

Sometimes its faster to go straight into CAD, like grading plans. But it seems like so many other disciplines would benefit by drawing something out and handing it over to a drafter. I would explain to a higher up that your time is more valuable designing and that you should be handing over the tedious work to someone getting paid less.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com

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http://bwstructuralengineer.com

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http://bwcivilengineer.com

 

[bigTomHanks]

If there are other engineers there who are doing the type of work that you want to do I would stick it out. Most places have a certain type of work that new engineers do for awhile while they learn the ins and outs of the company and it's product. The better attitude and more helpful you are at helping your boss meet their goals the sooner they will start bringing you onto projects. Get sour about the CAD work and you may find yourself pigeon holed in it because your supervisor doesn't want to have to deal with a whiner/negative attitude on an important project.

 

[fast4door]

All,

Thanks for the feedback. Some more info: I have several thousand hours running CAD. It's a mechanical design job. I'm really good at FEA and modal analysis. My goal is to be in a position where I can motivate and inspire people through leadership. My main concern is that such an opportunity may not be there. In the mean time, they could get a person to do CAD out of school for a fraction of what I cost.

I'm seriously concerned I'm not adding value and I can't possibly be fast enough at CAD to be profitable. I met with my boss a few days ago and he shares my concerns. I have to get to the point where I'm bringing in more profitable analysis work but in the meantime they need me doing CAD. Problem is I'm worried I may not last long enough to bring on the analysis work.

 

[fast4door]

Sorry, got cut off. Should I stick it out? Should I develop the analysis stuff in my own time?

 

[GregLocock]

I'd seriously let them worry about whether you are too expensive to be doing CAD. Even at my ridiculous chargeout rate I often find a bit of drawing and modelling is a cost effective approach, simply because the calculate to drawing and back again feedback loop is so much quicker.

That said I prefer to work with a good designer, two sets of eyes and two lots of experience and all that.

"My goal is to be in a position where I can motivate and inspire people through leadership." Please never say that while I'm around if there are sharp instruments to hand.


Cheers

Greg Locock


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[fast4door]

Hi Greg,

Thank you for your advice to let them handle the decision on what I should be doing. You're right that they know what they need me to do.

Regarding your thoughts on leadership, I can see from your posts here

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=133213

that you're not a fan of the idea. I would briefly encourage you to read the book Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey. That said, I doubt I'll convince you in an anonymous forum. I would ask that we not hijack the discussion topic.

You obviously have some experience, so do you have any other thoughts about how I can make the situation better for my employer?

 

[GregLocock]

You need to make sure that when that analysis job comes in the door you can give 100% of your attention to it. Note I don't say 110%, I'm an engineer, not a sideshow orator.

Quite how you offload/satisfy your other commitments is between you and your boss, I'd seriously think about hiring a CAD guy as a short term relief, who hopefully will be able to take over more and more of the work you don't want to to do.



Cheers

Greg Locock


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[kylesito]

In my opinion, the line between CAD guy and engineer is slowly becoming vague. In my world (structural), our analysis programs and drafting software are interactive and go hand-in-hand. Our company has made the decision over the past few years that we are done with strictly CAD guys. There is too much design that needs integrated into the drafting process to split the responsibilities anymore.

Anyway, just another thought to the idea that doing CAD work is not the end all of your profession and may be a very beneficial period of growth for your career.



PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi

 

[Twoballcane]

I think that the “CAD guys” come in as their own when it comes down to detailing, family trees, and parts lists and CAD magic especialy with ProE. Sure, I can create a model of what I want, and then hand it over to the “CAD guys” for detailing. I agree with others that the engineers should not be wasting time with the drawing package other than final review. Also, if you work with a CAD guy for so long, you both will start thinking alike and s/he will start designing just by reading your mind. The CAD guy will know what you like and don’t like and then throw in their thoughts as well.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
“Luck is where preparation meets opportunity”

Perception is reality: Your reality is how others perceive you, not how you think of yourself.

 

[Twoballcane]

To add for the poster, the best way to start switching roles or responsibilities is to volunteer for the things that you want to do. Even if you know that somebody else is already doing it. You’re letting your boss know that you have interest in that responsibly and if that person leaves for vacation or the company, your boss will have you in the back of his mind for the coverage or job. When I was a young engineer, I wanted to get more into analysis than design. So, on my own, I did the analysis in tandem with the analyst and we would compare notes at informal review meetings. My boss would see that I had the skills and aptitude and when the next big job that came along and the analysts were overwhelmed, he added me to his analysis team. However, nothing is instant and will take a few months to a year of branding yourself and networking with the powers that be to make the switch in the same company.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
“Luck is where preparation meets opportunity”

Perception is reality: Your reality is how others perceive you, not how you think of yourself.

 

[PicoStruc]

...the line between CAD guy and engineer is slowly becoming vague.

This is the scariest thing i have read for a long time !

 

[ajack1]

The fundamental problem here seems to be what was discussed at the interview regarding job description / responsibilities.
I would have thought if they just wanted a CAD guy fresh out of school who they could pay less money too they would have employed one from the start.
You do say that you have thousands of hours CAD experience so maybe they just assumed you were better at CAD than you say you are. Or maybe they want you for analysis work but the CAD is just a needs must short term thing.
The only problem I see with the idea of doing both side by side is basically you are there to do what they want / need not what you want, so if the CAD work needs doing and especially if you are not very good or quick at it the last thing they would want is you doing extra work that they do not want or need and slipping further behind with what they do need.
As always these things are best discussed

 

[lacajun]

The only ones who can resolve your issues are your managers and you. You'll need to find a diplomatic way to discuss it and keep your wits about you at all times. Sometimes those talks can become tense then escalate and you're in something you didn't intend. I write that because of the way you handled GregLocock, who merely responded to a statement you wrote.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[johnwill65]

I'm amazed that so many students graduate engineering school with no CAD knowledge. It's like graduating a surgeon but not teaching him how to use a scalpel. I've worked as a civil engineer for the last twelve years and have used CAD virtually every day for design work. I can't imagine being able to work in today's engineering field without it.