Wasted One year? 2

[Engineer85]

I graduated in Electrical Engineering one year ago and joined a small Lighting trading company. I am the only engineer in the company. My work involves inspection and testing of lamps, visiting factories in Far East for quality inspection, QC etc. Since last month i am not enjoying my work and feel that i am not able to apply even 5 percent of what i studied in my electrical engineering course.

My salary is good(not very good but more than average pay of an engineer). The problem i am facing here is future growth.

I would like to know your opinions:
Did i made the wrong decision to join a small trading company? Am i wasting my time, education and career here? Should i switch to another company where i can actually work as an engineer even if i get less salary than what i am getting here?

Thank you
E

 

[Sideswiper]

Don't panic. A year of experience doing anything is better than a year gap in employment with nothing to show for it. Working alone during your first year out of school should show you're a self motivated quick study.

At least you get the luxury of hunting for work while working!

Personally, I "wasted" three years out of school as a technical writer, and still got a entry level engineering job later. So breathe! There's hope!

 

[jistre]

I don't think your time and education are being wasted. You're learning the dirty little secret about engineering. It's not about the numbers and problems that colleges pound you with on a daily basis; that's merely a prerequisite. I've found that, while critical when needed to effectively do your job, what you learned in college mostly provides a solid background of knowledge that allows the engineer to steer the project in the proper direction. Any monkey who passed college calculus could solve most of the equations. The engineer's job is to learn everything he can about what he's working with so he can know WHICH equations to solve. Even then, unless there is a critical project point or public safety issue or something of that nature, the engineer's intuition and experience will often eliminate the need for calculations.

It sounds to me that what you're really facing is the realization that not every engineering position is going to be a design position (and even most of those aren't remotely as calculation intensive as college makes engineering out to be). If you're not completely on board with the type of engineering work you're doing, start putting feelers out for what you'd like to do whether it be sales (shudder), design, systems, controls, manufacturing, etc. Then when a position does open up, you just might get it. In the meantime, make sure to keep yourself current through trade magazines, shows, seminars, short courses, and such. Never forget that anything you fail to learn on your own after graduation is something that next year's graduating class will likely have been taught and willing to provide for an entry-level wage.

Just remember that real-world engineering isn't so much about the numbers as it is about intimately knowing the sector or products that you're going to be working with and how to apply your skills to those products and situations you'll encounter. Any time spent learning about business and industry and how engineering operates in them is going to make you more marketable than someone fresh out of college. Just keep learning and looking for the job that you want.

 

[MintJulep]

Trading company as in importer?

Probably not much of a career path for engineering. But, you seem to be getting to spend time in factories. Factories are where stuff gets made. Stuff gets made (sometimes) with all sorts of heavy equipment and automation.

So take the maximum advantage of your situation and learn all you can about how lamps are made.

Since you are in a QC role, you have the option of performing "process audits" of the factories.

 

[mshimko]

The main downside I see is that you are not supervised by another engineer. Hence, if you communicate your duties and responsibilities to a potential future employer, how well will this current experience look?

Also, the primary task of ALL engineers is communicating. Written reports, written findings, written reviews, correspondence, etc. Since most engineers are not the best writers out of school (this is an understatement, and one that applies to me), you probably need to develop technical writing skills. I'm not sure if your current position/company allows this development.

All in all, I wouldn't consider a year or two there wasted, but I do recommend actively seeking better opportunities.

 

[GregLocock]

The other thing you may be able to do is grow your own job. Think about what you'd like to do at your present company. Run a project? Design a system?

Then figure out how to get that rolling.

I wouldn't be despondent at all - you have a well paid job in a sector that, at least, used to interest you.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[sms]

Ok, now spend year two looking for a job that you can really be passionate about, and pursue getting a job doing that. As was said earlier, at least you have a job to pay the bills while you are hunting.

It is not unusual at all for a new grad to move on to another company at the two year mark.

"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?" Oddball, "Kelly's Heros" 1970

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[cksh]

You use 5%?! lucky!!

I agree with alot of other posts. You are getting great experience. Although maybe not what you expected it will benefit you in the future.

Personally I wouldn't stay there longer then a couple of years. But you haven't wasted your time so far.

 

[IRstuff]

The only way it's wasted is by your own attitude. You are essentially still in training, so sop up EVERYTHING you can about EVERYTHING there. Turn it into an apprenticeship activity and LEARN all you can.

TTFN

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