Advice for grad engineer just starting out

breadmonkey

Folks,

I'm starting as a graduate structural engineer in a small consultancy in about two weeks. The work will be predominantly related to bridges. They seem to have some really cool projects and expect to be more or less in at the deep end. There are two main aspects that I'm wondering about:

1. I've just finished a master's and the main thing I've learned is just how little I know and much there is to learn. I imagine I'll learn a lot from other team members based on the projects I work on but I guess I'll have to learn a fair amount on my own? Would it be normal to study books, articles etc.? I'm wary of mindlessly applying formulas and procedures in the codes but wonder where I'll find the time and resources to obtain a good background understanding. How best can I expand my knowledge?

2. I'm conscious that I'll probably have to ask a lot of questions in the early days but I'm wary of annoying people or giving the impression that I know nothing! I'd love to know how people here have approached this.

Any general nuggets of wisdom/things you wish you knew when you started/ things you would have done differently would be most welcome.

Cheers

Dilbert75

I'm not in the same field of Engineering but, from my experience of young Engineers, the worst kind is the type who thinks he/she knows it all, refuses to ask questions about things they can't possibly understand or know and then looks blankly when you ask them about it.

Ask all the questions you want, try and make them intelligent and try to follow the logic and understand what you're being told. Be diplomatic about questioning what you're told but do make sure you understand it. If you understand the theory behind it, try and figure out how it applies in practise. It'll make you a better Engineer.

The caveat is to not keep asking the same questions over & over and try to figure things out and think them through before asking. If you can evaluate the answers you get based on your preparation, then it will be all the more worth while.

godtabh

ask as much as you can and get examples.

monkey see monkey is how a lot of people learn starting off. Dont use software packages until you can do it be hand. use software package only to confirm your answers