How to perform
How to perform
(OP)
Hi Guys,
I started 3 weeks ago working as an Instrumentation and Controls EIT (Engineer-In-Training) in an EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) firm.
So far, I attended 2 meetings and I couldn't even say one word. I just stayed there listening to my team-mates.
Could any one out there give me some pieces of advice so that I can quickly become operational!!?
Thanks in advance.
I started 3 weeks ago working as an Instrumentation and Controls EIT (Engineer-In-Training) in an EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) firm.
So far, I attended 2 meetings and I couldn't even say one word. I just stayed there listening to my team-mates.
Could any one out there give me some pieces of advice so that I can quickly become operational!!?
Thanks in advance.





RE: How to perform
corus
RE: How to perform
RE: How to perform
Also, any chance that comes up that you can get into the field, do so and in fact seek out those opportunities. There are not near enough engineers that know what happens in the field.
kchayfie has a great piece of advice on taking the MOM's, usually this is a task no one likes to do, in fact most detest having to take them and the advantages pointed out would certainly benefit you.
Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website: www.oil-gas-consulting.com
RE: How to perform
Just thought of somehting else, and a follow up to my post above. You mentioned you are in an EPC company, I would seek out the E&I Const Supt's and foreman and talk to them. Ask them for some advice on what they are looking for. Your company may have a constructabilty program in place, if so, take advantage of that and if not, asking the construction guys will give you a prespective on what keeps them up at night and causes them field installation issues.
Remember, constructability is not "construciton calling the shots", but it is taking field installation procedures and field conditions into account when designing a facility. Often, unfortunatley, engineering & construction do not talk enough, start bridging that gap and you will find yourself becoming more valuable to the company and becoming a better engineer.
Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website: www.oil-gas-consulting.com
RE: How to perform
RE: How to perform
Put your energy into cultivating a relationship with a suitable mentor. Ideally this will be someone who will help you professionally and also politically.
Three weeks isn't long at all. Be prepared to wait patiently for a few months before you really get moving on something.
http://www.EsoxRepublic.com-SolidWorks API VB programming help
RE: How to perform
RE: How to perform
That helped me understand what was going on once I could visualize the topics of discussion. You're a green engineer, so it's expected that it'll be a little while before you've learned your job. So don't worry too much about it. Sooner or later, you'll fall into groove and become proficient at your projects.
Oh, and don't worry about not getting invited to meetings. In time, you'll probably learn to resent going to them.
RE: How to perform
RE: How to perform
you hit the nail on the head buddy, meetings ahhhhhhhhh if I only new when I first started how nice it would be if I never got invited.
RE: How to perform
Definitely those pieces of advice will help me.
Cheers.
RE: How to perform
Learn the language. Construction has buzzwords just like every business. Not just the terms that pretain to instrumentation but the whole construction business. Do you know what red iron is, who are rod busters, what do millwrights do on a job, etc.
Learn to think SCHEDULE. Learn what the constrains are, how they get fixed and who fixes them.
Set your sights high. You don't want to be an instrument engineer forever. Figure by the time you get you PE you could be running a job or at least a good part of it.
Start thinking about the forest, not the trees and forget about the beetles on the bark.
RE: How to perform
You do not have to “play” at company politics, but understanding them can only help you. There is a lot of free information to be found in meetings and as others have said take notes.
RE: How to perform
Another piece of advise - there are no dumb questions, so ask away. However, there are redundant questions - so write down the questions, check your list to see if you already asked it before, so that you are not being redundant. Most "old timeers" are agreeable to help someone, but not to repeatedly answer the same question.
As an EIT, in an EPC, most people in the meeting probabl yisn't there to hear you. I am guessing that your boss probably invited you to the meeting as a courtesy, for you to gain experience, understand how a meeting runs, and what the current state of the project is.
You are actually very lucky to be invited. I don't see a lot of EIT's in meetings - they are usually at their desk.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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RE: How to perform
When you finish the project -don't have one years experience repeated 4 times. Get away from there with four years of knowledge you could never have learned in school.
RE: How to perform
RE: How to perform
Agreed. Your boss will understand your tech-skills are lacking. However, what will/should impress him is your initiative.
RE: How to perform
Just don't volunteer for so many ancilliary projects that your routine work is not getting done.
Patricia Lougheed
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RE: How to perform
One still needs to do one's "regular" job. Always keep that in the forefront.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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RE: How to perform
keeping your nose to the grindstone will get you a red nose and kink in your back.
RE: How to perform
"You have two ears and one mouth- use them in that ratio"
Being a trainee and new to the company- I'd suggest you take that even further to the extreme- and listen a lot- ask questions- but in an appropriate forum- i.e. not in the meeting unless the content is beind directed at you and and clarification is required.
Good luck and have fun!
RE: How to perform
Some tasks can be done 'good enough' and some tasks must always be done perfectly. The secret to productivity is learning which tasks fall into which category.
csd
RE: How to perform
Not down playing your intelligence but the most dangerous person in the engineering world is what I call an "ignorant incompetent". That is, they don't know what it is that they don't know. It's real easy when you first start out to think you know it all. If you recognize early that you still have a lot to learn you will advance and grow much, much quicker. That first lesson can take some people quite a long time to learn.
RE: How to perform