Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
(OP)
I feel that to be a successful Structural Engineer one needs careful planning, continuous learning and valuable guidance from the senior engineers or colleagues. But not all the young engineers have the opportunity to improve ones skills and shine under the guidance of a learned Engineer. So, I would like to have your opinions, suggestions or experiences that could help young engineers like me to have a right start to our professional career. Thanks.






RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
I think that it should be compulsory for all graduate engineers to work under the guidance of a senior engineer, sort of an internship. This should be a requirement to receive a degree as it is for medical doctors.
As well,
- learn to do all tasks longhand and gain an understanding of what you are doing and what the results should look like without using design aids or computers.
- never use a computer program to do calculations in an area you do not understand. And always study what the program says it does and compare its results to what you would expect.
- once you have done this, use computers with caution questioning the results and comparing to your understanding of how it should work and what the results should be.
e.g. FEM software is taught as being accurate. It is not even an accurate analysis tool in many situations and can be made much less accurate by input that is not consistent and the understanding of this requires a good understanding of how FEM works. And the program will not tell you that. You have to realise it yourself based on your understanding of engineering and structures.
But is is assumed by many that the design results from FEM design programs are accurate because they come from FEM software. The design routines are not FEM, they are post-processor routines and can easily be wrong.
- never assume a computer is anything more than a glorified calculator. You, as the engineer, are the designer. You make the design decisions.
- never assume that a computer program is carrying out all of the code checks automatically. You must know all of the design code design and detailing requirements and make sure they are all satisfied.
- at the end of the day, if something looks wrong, it probably is. This could be caused by incorrect data input, incorrect modelling or software bugs.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
Scottiesei- I hope I did answer to your first question. But I am not sure about your second one. Can you please be more specific on that. Thanks.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
Dik
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
its good to hear there are others in the same position as me! i frequently get what i consider 'bad' answers from so-called senior engineers. im not sure i have much to add to this topic, but i share your frustration. i would say to consider searching for a new firm.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
About your career ... Getting asssigned an engineer that wants to develop you is extremely important. The problem is that most engineers don't see the benefit to them is worth the cost. Thet spend a few years developing an engineer, he passes his exam, and then he moves to a new company. What's he got to show for his effort?
I was fortunate that I found such an engineer after three years of working. Then I developed about four or five junior engineers. Thet all look up to me and seek my advice about things, sometimes not even about work, but we don't work in the same organization anymore.
Finally, do what you can to perform calcs by hand or with Mathcad or another similar tool. Use "Canned" computer solutions as little as possible until you can reproduce the results yourself. The admonition against FE programs is well given. I worked in an organization where the boss just cracked the whip and guys were using FE when they had no hope of doing the work by hand. There were all kinds of screwups and the senior engineers had to fix the results on their own time. I won't work there again.
Good Luck.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
I agree with the statement that just because a senior engineer said so, doesn't make it so. but at the same time, beware of being disagreeable with them. I have two interns working for me. one of them argued with me about an issue because it didn't seem possible to him, but he had yet to experience the issue. "trust but verify... diplomatically." pick their brains, but don't distrust the older engineers.
ask lots of questions, but be thoughtful about what you ask. think about a solution, ask if you are on the right track with it instead of asking to take the easy way out. use judgement based on what you've learned from your mentors. during the first six months, you will likely be a pest with lots of questions. after one year, the type of questions should become more thoughtful and less frequent. if you are still asking the same type of questions after one year that you asked in the first six months, you may not be trying to become an engineer.
take some intitiative to help your company finish work as quickly as possible. it's not just a job. your firm sells service. if the service stinks, your firm has nothing to sell. the service is only as good as the people providing it, and you are one of those people. if you do a good job and are timely with finishing your work, your bosses will likely remember that. if you have two weeks to do a job and can finish in one week, do so. don't milk the project budget appearing to be busy. "kill it and bill it."
attend every AISC, ACI and structural engineering organization seminar or meeting you can possibly attend. especially the ones where it only costs you the price of lunch or dinner. if your boss offers to send you, go. don't be afraid to ask to attend a seminar, but don't be mad if the boss says no. AISC and ACI seminars are expensive. offer to split the costs or pay on your own. the amounts are tax deductible and you can learn alot early in your career.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
1. Even if not required, "revisit" previous projects to see how things turned out. Incorporate what you find out into future efforts.
2. Pay special attention to projects that have "problems", there is much more to be learned under difficult circumstances than when things go right.
3. If possible, seek out assignments that are challenging and "push, but not exceed, the envelope" of your background and level of comfort. Your "envelope" will expand, over time. A former boss often asked potential employees to explain if they had (for example) "20 years of experience or 1 year experience, twenty times?"
www.SlideRuleEra.net
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
As archeng59 said, you should try to have at least a handful of engineers to learn under. They will give you several different perspectives and ideas. I started out under a single PE, and all I learned was how she did things.
Also, the biggest lesson I've learned is that there is almost always more than one correct way. When I realized that, I gained a lot more confidence in my designs, rather than constantly obsessing over whether I'm doing it the "right" way. Ten engineers can produce ten different solutions, each of them equally valid. If you can defend your design, you did it right.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
Also, some of the things that helped me was to go on as many site visits as possible. It allowed me to view the things I was specifing and designing.
Learn from everyone in the office. You got a degree, good job, but you are not "better" than anyone. For instance, a qualified draftsman can teach you a lot about detailing, and how to connect your structural members. It is easy sometimes to obtain a member's size, but how you erect that member can be challenging.
Good luck.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
Good luck in your field.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
Iam a Civil/Structural engineer with 4 years of experience. Having worked for my first firm for 3 years with a staff of 500, i had the problem of having the right mentor at the right time as everyone seem to be busy galavanting through their own busy workload.
My last year was different, i now worked in a office of 7 and my senior is a structural guru with 40 years experience!! Given the small office and my senior's vast experience i seem to have leant the same amount of stuff over 1 year compared to my first 3 years!!
My advise "find a small firm" with 10 or less staff and learn from the old fellas!! Dont be afraid to "ask".
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
I know a number of young engineers and some of them are a real pain in the butt. Always asking questions before spending the time to understand the problem or arguing about the methods to be used while displaying marked ignorance of the basic structural philosophies.
These people will no doubt improve over time but their attitude provides sufficient justification to keep them at arms length and to give limited task specific advice only.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
Go all out and learn as much as you can on your own if you cant get a great mentor. There are plenty of resources out there.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
In the beginning, I spent many long nights at the libraries of the colorado school of mines, and CU Boulder. There I spent my time reading books by Ambrose, McCormick, and believe it or not, all three volumes of the 1997 UBC. On several occasions I have validated my calculations against my superiors because they did not keep updating their own knowledge of materials, codes, analysis. So as a not so old engineer to a young one here is the advice that I could offer you:
-In the beginning immerse yourself in engineering analysis ,design, and codes-I can't stress that enough. Read everything possible about anything in structural engineering---you will run across it one day - I promise you that. (AISC and Structural Engineer Magazine, old company drawings a Plus)This is how you will be feeding your children one day, attempt to be the best at what you do.
-Learn everything by hand first; in your spare time. And when possible learn this from the old timers. I watched a young licensed SE (older than me)put a entire building into into RISA 3D for moment frame results that I could have done in 5 minutes using the Portal frame method (learned that from a brilliant engineer 35+ years exp who would not let me touch a computer for the first three months I worked at the company)- for those young guys out there that don't understand (1 2 2 1) - learn it.
-Older engineers don't think your a pain in the butt, just don't ask the same question twice. Engineers are not competitive by nature, they all share information readily. I kept a journal of all the new things I learned per day/ per subject; Building Code, Steel, Concrete, lateral design etc. and review it atleast once a month- still have mine, and I still review it.
-learn new methods of engineering and analysis but approach cautiously. When approaching an older engineer with a new subject to you, at least research the basics of that subject very well so that you could hold a constructive meeting with them - (Example-don't ask about lateral design when you didn't research the difference between rigid and flexable diaphragms.
-Don't shoot off at the mouth to contractors just because you have an engineering degree and you think your college education means something. Chances are that the superintendant with the jelly stain on on his shirt knows the building better than you do at your experience level. THe first years of your job noone will take you seriously, and don't expect them to--you earn respect as you go along ---DON'T HIDE BEHIND YOUR TITLE --STAND BEHIND YOUR NUMBERS.
Now I am a 30 yr old general manager at a steel fabricating company in chicago, and engineering aides me everyday and gives me the upper edge.
And so that there is no mistake
the 50+ hours are still the same,
the zero appreciation is still the same,
and the enormous liability is still the same.
RE: Valuable tips to a Graduate Structural Engineer
My 2 cents worth:
- Consider specializing early in your career(bridges, buildings, transmission towers, etc.). Learn the codes and manuals for that field inside and out, up and down, backwards and forwards. There will always be a place for you. Whether it's IBC, the AASHTO bridge codes, the ASCE/ANSI codes for transmission towers or what not, they are simply getting too complicated for people to be jacks of all trades. In my field (bridges), companies lose money all the time trying to do bridges with building people who may have done a bridge or two early in their career. They simply do not know the codes well enough to be productive.
- Be very, very careful when questioning standard practicies. It may not be the best way, or even close, but it may be the way the client wants it done. Unless there is a safety/failure risk, just shut up and do it. Very competent engineers have lost their jobs by wasting time (and money) arguing about standard practices on relatively uncomplicated work.
- Become a CAD ace on top of your engineering skills. If possible, learn both Microstation and Autocad as well as any CAD package specific to your field. The work flow of the engineer handing a hand sketch to a CAD guy doesn't work real well on the business side anymore. Experienced CAD guys are becoming too expensive to pair with engineers and young tech-school grad CAD guys are too limited in what they can do.
Finally, learn to be business aware if you choose to work in consulting. Everything you do has an impact on the company. Even your raises, which mean nothing more than you have to become even more productive. There are other skills important to the company than just engineering means and methods. That's why the PM's, who may have very little hands-on impact on a project, make the big bucks.