Advice for young Engineers.

pljudge321

Hey Guys.

Idea of this thread is so that some of the older engineers can share their wisdom with engineers who are just starting out or are unsure what direction to take.

Any general advice is welcome, be it technical areas you should look into, how not to put your foot in it when you enter the workplace etc.



I haven't even graduated yet but I'll say this to other people still in college. Get some work experience and make the most of it, be pro-active, I've learned a ridiculous amount in the places I've worked in over the past few summers and am very grateful to the people who gave me those opportunities.

DublinDilbert

I guess the advice will probably be slightly different depending on the field people are working in.

• Don't be afraid to ask questions and/or get someone else to check your work.
• Don't take chances, belt + braces.
• Your constantly learning, just when you think you "know it all", even the simple things can catch you out.
• Simulate & Test things as much as you possibly can. Test things to death, then test some more!
• Look at how things are done in other fields, even unrelated ones.
• Specifically to any EE's out there, you can't buy a perfect resistor, capacitor or inductor. They don't exist, its all about parasitics!
  

MayoForSam

You can't push a rope

No really, what you learn in college will maybe apply to about 10-15% of what you end up doing, the rest is experience.

Always observe and listen to those who have the real-world experience, no matter if that person is a prof with upteen publications or the lathe operator with the oil-stained fingernails, everyone has some wise words to offer if you listen.

Be aware of new tech coming down the tracks and don't be afraid to suggest new ways of doing things provided you have done your homework.

conor86

I want to go back to college and continuo to do something in the line of civil but since most engineers become managers after a while would I be better and more employable if I did civil management?

I’ve done 3 years and I came out with a merit 2 with less then 70% in maths with is the killer, I’m over 23 now, but I feel there’s not many place left open too me. Can anyone recommend a good place to do an honour course for civil or management? I like engineering but their too many people at it with more years experience then me.

I worked in London and I found engineers weren’t pay that great for the huge hours you work and travelling everyday. Even guys at it for 10year were no better off!

conor86

conor86 wrote: »

I worked in London and I found engineers weren’t pay that great for the huge hours you work and travelling everyday. Even guys at it for 10year were no better off!

Good point about the money, the old do a good leaving, go to college, be an engineer and get loads of cash doesn't really happen. It's only getting worse now

To the OP, I would advise all graduates to take whatever job they can get and don't be too fussed about the title, my first full time job was as an operator in Wyeth in Dublin (they called us process techs though), I learned loads there, but only because I wanted to, I worked with some folks there who will never learn much because they have the blinkers on. Don't ever think you know it all, there is nothing as annoying as a graduate who thinks they are sh1t hot, being that will ensure they give you all the pain in the bum tasks no one wants to do, although you will probably get them anyway

If you can't get a job in engineering try to get one in any role that is remotely technical, failing that if further education is a non runner take whatever work comes your way, at that stage do try and do some evening course in something, if only to show in future interviews that you are an interested and driven chap / chapette

imported_guy

MayoForSam wrote: »

You can't push a rope

this is probably why i might have failed mechanics this semester (fingers crossed i did that question correctly :P results arent out yet haha)

Anton.Mamyko

I am faithfully subscribed to this thread, Engineers give us more of your brains!!
I am in 3rd year of Hons. Mech. Eng. in CIT
The next semester has 3 modules allocated for work placement. I really want to get a proper placement that would give me a sense of achievement after (what I feel like) a difficult 3rd year. That would also expand my knowledge of engineering and most importantly give me an idea for the final project.
The problem is that the only people that are finding work placements are the ones with family connections to the companies. I am asking yee for advice on how to increase my chances of securing a proper work placement.

But either way keep talking engineers!!!!!!!!!!
btw Is my degree well known in the field? What is its reputation? We do seem to kick everyone's ass in innovation awards (not talking about myself though hehhe)

pljudge321

Anton.Mamyko wrote: »

I am faithfully subscribed to this thread, Engineers give us more of your brains!!
I am in 3rd year of Hons. Mech. Eng. in CIT
The next semester has 3 modules allocated for work placement. I really want to get a proper placement that would give me a sense of achievement after (what I feel like) a difficult 3rd year. That would also expand my knowledge of engineering and most importantly give me an idea for the final project.
The problem is that the only people that are finding work placements are the ones with family connections to the companies. I am asking yee for advice on how to increase my chances of securing a proper work placement.

But either way keep talking engineers!!!!!!!!!!
btw Is my degree well known in the field? What is its reputation? We do seem to kick everyone's ass in innovation awards (not talking about myself though hehhe)

From what I've learnt from work experience in the two companies I've worked for is that they like to see you ask questions. It shows that you are paying attention and are eager to learn and gain experience.

Try to come off as very eager to work and learn, read up on what they do specifically and try gain a little extra knowledge in that area and slip it into the interview if you get one.

Also if you have even the slightest amount of VBA experience put it down on your cv.

conor86

RoverJames wrote: »

Good point about the money, the old do a good leaving, go to college, be an engineer and get loads of cash doesn't really happen. It's only getting worse now

But look the one thing that probably is good about the recession is, it is going to show up all does useless courses, they been trying to spoon feed us!
I don’t thing I’ll well work as an engineer again and it’ll be the same for many guys out their. On the bright side people well think you’re smarter so you’ll do well anywhere:D

experiMental

conor86 wrote: »

On the bright side people well think you’re smarter so you’ll do well anywhere:D

I disagree. There are people out there who are not biased towards what kind of degree you did, but they will be more inclined to ask how quickly can you solve complex problems, how can you think out of the box, how can you work in a team and influence people - those things. I came across some people like that already. They will ring you late in the evening to find out whether you have completed their brief, and also give you an almost impossible deadline.

Your first full time job or the type of degree you did won't make a difference. In fact, some would ask why have you left your job and then try to tell you something like "if you haven't been able to last in your previous role, it's unlikely that you'll last in the role that you're applying for".

I'm not being pessimistic. One word of advice is never hope that other people might think you're smart. Never stop working on your strengths and improving them. Your degree is just a first step in a trillion or more steps to decent life

Bog_Warrior

Don't forget to learn the meaning of a Sky Hook, a Bucket of Vacuum and a Long Stand.

damagegt

I just saw the post there so ill ask a question if you dont mind(sorry if i hi-jack the tread)im 26 and just finished my apprenticeship as a carpenter and i dont need to tell you about the job crisses at the moment for us so im thinking of going back to collage to do constructional engineering im also qualified in 2d cad and im in the prosses of doing 3d cad so what i want to ask is would i have trouble getting into collage as a mature student with my experence and what would my out look for work be?

dan_d

Conor86, are you calling engineering a useless degree???????

I remember in college one of our lecturers told us that if we were in engineering for the money, we were in the wrong career. And that was only 6 years ago. Forget the money. It's not going to happen. But the degree is one of the most versatile degrees there are, and more importantly, you come out of college and you ARE something. You can pretty much take it anywhere.

As for advice.....don't ever think you know everything. There's ALWAYS someone who knows more than you.
Oh yeah, and as an engineer, you're better off to learn/know a little bit about everything in your field, rather than a whole lot about one thing. Got that advice too, and it's damn true!!!

Outlook for work would be p1ss poor to be honest, civil eng & construction heads are two a penny worldwide.

dan_d

dan_d wrote: »

Forget the money. It's not going to happen.

It won't happen with that attitude, loads of engineers made ridiculous money on contract over the last 20 years in Ireland, rates have dropped now along with contract jobs, still money to be made.

dan_d

dan_d wrote: »

Conor86, are you calling engineering a useless degree???????

!!!

I don't think he is, however he is right in so far as there were a lot on course developed over the last 10 years to get bums on seats in 3rd level, many of them are muck.

matsil

Anton.Mamyko wrote: »

I am faithfully subscribed to this thread, Engineers give us more of your brains!!
I am in 3rd year of Hons. Mech. Eng. in CIT
The next semester has 3 modules allocated for work placement. I really want to get a proper placement that would give me a sense of achievement after (what I feel like) a difficult 3rd year. That would also expand my knowledge of engineering and most importantly give me an idea for the final project.
The problem is that the only people that are finding work placements are the ones with family connections to the companies. I am asking yee for advice on how to increase my chances of securing a proper work placement.

But either way keep talking engineers!!!!!!!!!!
btw Is my degree well known in the field? What is its reputation? We do seem to kick everyone's ass in innovation awards (not talking about myself though hehhe)

Anton,
Your degree has an excellent reputation. back in 1997 when I was trying to decide which course to do, about the only thing I didn't have the points for was vetenery. I wanted to do mech eng and so I asked around - I met with a guy from Pfizers, from GSK, the the ESB, and a few others and they all said the same thing - do a mech eng degree in the tech (now CIT). Suffice to say I did, and it has stood me well - even though this god foresaken recession.

Getting work placement is tough at the moment - it won't be paid work. The best thing to do I would say is to find out who th coordinator is. I know Chris Gibbons is looking after the mech-sustainable degree. Sean O Leary used to be involved in that quite a bit..... but ask Deirdre in the office..... then spend the next few months brown nosing, to be be frank.... make sure you get on their good side..... and when the time comes, try not to dump out "standard" cv's ..... if applying to an energy consultant say it your cv how you are interested in thermo and fluids..... if you are going to the ESB (ESBi) then highlight your interest in electircal engineering and turbines..... ans so on.....

matsil

matsil wrote: »

then spend the next few months brown nosing, to be be frank.... make sure you get on their good side.....

Brown nosing is never the way to go, never, ever.