What was your first day at your first job like? I'm really nervous. 1

[jeancb]

I start my first ever engineering job soon and I'm incredibly nervous. I have no experience, plus I've been out of school for years. I feel like I've been given a great opportunity, considering how long I've been out of school, but I'm really nervous about failing.
So I was hoping you could give me your stories of your first day (or month, or year) so that I had a better idea of what to expect. If you have any tips on how to do well.
I've been trying to review as much as possible and find out as much as I can about the product, but there is still so much I don't understand and it feels like it's basic stuff that I should understand.
I really am just so nervous and scared because I have no experience. All I have in school. And the more I think about it the more I realize it was like they were teaching us to swim without actually putting us in the water. I'm really scared of sinking.

 

[JAE]

I know how you feel. In fact, I think most engineers on this site know, too.

Looking back at my first job (some 25+ years ago) I think the key to a successful first day, or first year for that matter, is to simply
1. Do your best.
2. Be a learner
3. Don't try to pose as someone who doesn't need to learn.
4. Trust that those you work for also want you to succeed because your development and success means their success as well.

 

[msquared48]

Well, I have to agree with JAE.

In my first private sector enginering job, outside of my public sector experience, the first job I was given was to analyze a shear/bearing wall to see if an opening could be put into it. I had no idea what a shearwall was, and my boss could see it, so he gave me another job - a truss design - that I hammered out real fast.

For my next job, a small condo building on piling, I was paired with another engineer who taught me what a shear wall is, among other things. The rest is 30 years of civil and structural engineering.

Know your strengths and your weaknesses and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[JAE]

Oh,

And after you get some years under your belt, do step 5:


5. Spend time on Eng-tips helping others

 

[DRC1]

Relax - You got the job, they want this to work as much as you do. The first half of the day will be filling out forms ansd a tour. You will meet your boss, and he will probably introduce you to someone on your project to get you up to speed or give you some background info. My experience is the first few days are a little slow. Just avoid some big No-mo's and you will be fine
1. Do not pay solitare, check non work related websites. If you have nothing find a journal or a text to read or study the software you will be using.
2. Don't be the first one out the door for lunch - besides if you wait someone might ask you to go.
3. Don't hover, but be sure your boss knows wwhen you are done with an assignment. He isn't timing you, so take your time and check your work.

Good Luck - and enjoy yourself.

 

[asixth]

You don't know alot when you graduate from college. If you don't know something, don't pretend to, a good graduate will ask questions and a good mentor will sit down and explain things to you, or, give you a good reference to get you going.

Don't be afraid to ask for drawings from another job. Your not reinventing the wheel.

Participate amongst the group. Its always good to see the new guy getting involved from the get-go.

For your first day:

1. Look people in the eye.
2. Speak clearly.
3. Try to remember names (this is the toughest)

 

[asixth]

I don't think I answered your question.

My first day I sat down and drafted a steel-frame building, to date that is still the only drafting I have ever done.

I spent the next few weeks learning the various analysis and design packages of the company.

 

[livingston]

My first day was meet and greet. My first month (or 6) was more about doing pressure vessel calculations by hand (no fancy programs). If you are lucky, you will have a good mentor who is willing to show you the ropes of engineering and the business of engineering as well.

I agree with what everyone has said here. Don't forget that it's okay to ask questions but research first!

Good luck.

 

[ivymike]

On my first day at a job, after moving all my belongings to another state, leasing an apartment, etc., I arrived at the new office on the specified date and time, only to wait in the lobby for a couple of hours because nobody from my new department was available to receive me.
When my new boss finally did show up, he looked at me with a confused expression and asked "what are you doing here?" I explained that I'd been hired and that today was the day when I was supposed to start, and he told he wasn't aware of any such thing, and asked me to wait there while he went to check out my story. For a few minutes I was shaking a bit and couldn't figure out whether to yell or cry... I ended up stilling myself and sitting patiently for another 15-20 mins.
They eventually let me in and found me a desk, etc. As it turned out, the guy who had hired me had left the company shortly thereafter without mentioning that I'd been hired. Luckily he'd still had some paperwork in his desk somewhere, so they were able to confirm my story. Talk about your rough mornings, though... Now it's one of my favorite stories to tell when the occasion comes up.

 

[graybeach]

Hi jeancb,
It could happen that some of your first assignments will seem beneath you. Take these things very seriously. I had a new graduate added to my design team for a project that was in the end stages. There was no more design work to do, but we did need to assemble several large sets of plans for sealing and submission. This person gave me a smirk and proceded to do a terrible job. There were blank sheets, missing drawings, upside-down stamps, upside-down drawings in stapled sets. It was a disaster. I had to spend several hours getting the sets right. So the next time I had post-tensioned, geometric, nonlinear, plastic hinge, intergranular, flux capacitor to design with all the bells and whistles and all the associated glory, did I consider this person - no way. My point is - have a good attitude about stuff like this. It shows a lot about how you work. Be helpful and try to make yourself of use. DRC1's #1 suggestion is very good. Being helpful might mean occupying yourself until your assignment is determined. Good luck!

ivymike - what a sad story!

 

[ivymike]

hmm.. I never thought of it as a sad story. It all worked out in the end.

 

[Gymmeh]

mike,

I dont know what would be worse:
Proving your usefullness the first day
or
Proving your actually an employee

 

[Trackfiend]

My first day with the first engineering firm that I worked for consisted of designing one inlet/catch basin in a 50' x 50' existing parking lot with a single 12" x 40' RCP culvert draining into an existing ditch. I hadn't yet completed my hydraulics/hydrology courses (was still in school) so suffice to say I was terrified. It took me over one week to complete the design and drafting (one drawing mind you) of this project. My boss was very patient and very helpful in steering me towards the correct references. In retrospect, I could see that he merely wanted to see if I could go through the problem solving process and not act as if I knew "everything" without having to ask questions.

Looking back (its been nearly three years) I still can't believe that it took that long and that my old boss allowed me to slowly gring out such an easy assignment. I wish I could find that old drawing so that I could frame it (ah, memories...)

Do not worry if it feels like you have been thrown to the wolves/flames right away. Your employer may simply want to see if you can keep your head above water. Trust me, they know your limitations coming out of college (which are plentiful) and expect you to ask questions. Just don't keep asking the same ones. Take notes, pay attention, and work hard and you should be fine.

 

[HgTX]

On my first day I was dragged into some kind of task group meeting where they were discussing the finer points of some specification document they were drafting, and I fell asleep.

My nickname with the guy who was my manager at the time is "Sleepy" to this very day.

I got away with it, but I don't think I'd recommend it for most others...

Hg


Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[SomptingGuy]

My first few days (as a sponsored student) were very challenging. I was given a duff project to work on (the project given to all students). It took a few days to realise that the maths it was based on were flawed. The system would only work if the maths were wrong and could not work if the maths were right.

This situation repeated itself when I started my first job as a graduate.

- Steve

 

[MiketheEngineer]

All are very good thoughts - and remember God gave you TWO ears and ONE mouth. Use accodingly....

 

[ivymike]

SG- you may be familiar with the key players in my story above.

 

[TheTick]

I don't remember much about my first day. I got dizzy when they started with the duct tape. Once I saw the cattle prod, I passed out.

 

[csd72]

jeancb,

If you have been honest in your interview, then they know it has been a while so they will not expect you to be able to hit the ground running the same as someone else.

Take a notebook to write every thing that you learn (there will be lots).

Ask lots of questions but try not to ask the same question twice (hence the notebook).

When you learn what type of work you are to do then ask if there is any good books that you can read to brush up on the topic (do this at home or after hours).

Even as a fresh graduate you are not expected to know much, only have the foundation to be able to learn.

The first year is hard work.

 

[oldfieldguy]

On the first day you'll likely be meeting a lot of new faces. Smile, be pleasant, try to remember names. Remember, this is your only chance to make a "first impression".

Everyone will remember their own "first day" experiences. The good ones will take it upon themselves to help you along in a positive direction. Remember that the world is not completely populated with the "good ones".

old field guy