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How to perform
5

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.

RE: How to perform

For a new beginner just listening isn't a bad way to start to start at a job. It may be better than putting your foot in it and saying something stupid and labelling yourself for all eternity. Then again I wouldn't be afraid to ask questions, even at meetings. If you say nothing at all at meetings and contibute nothing, even showing a willing to learn, then you won't be invited to many more. If you're unsure of yourself then ask questions. People will understand you're a new starter and generally will be quite helpful. You'll get noticed more in your job if at meetings you say something. Making presneatations at meetings is a sure way to get promoted I've noticed. Everyone loves a performer, face it.

corus

RE: How to perform

Listening is a good start. Make sure you are paying attention to everything that is going on and it helps if you can be seen to be paying attention - for example, by volunteering to take the minutes of that meeting. That way, you can be sure that you know what is going on and you have good reason to ask questions to clarify bits that you don't understand. Try to recognise where and when to ask though - for some questions, the meeting is absolutely the right place to raise them but others questions you would be better asking your boss or your co-workers after the meeting. Spotting which is which is the hard part but it will quickly get easier. But make sure you know what the meeting was about and that your boss knows you know. You'll soon find you have things to contribute as well.

RE: How to perform

I'll tell you what young man, at this stage simply asking that question says allot about you.  I would follow the advice above, listen and ask questions.  

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

dembous

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

Ask as many intelligent questions as you need, but write the answers down so you dont have to ask them twice.

RE: How to perform

2
Don't use meetings as a chance to show how "willing and inquisitive" you are.  The meetings likely have other purposes and most of those people don't want to waste their time with that.

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.

batHonesty may be the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.bat
http://www.EsoxRepublic.com-SolidWorks API VB programming help

RE: How to perform

I won't repost the questions things, but always write down things you don't understand. Later use the internet to find the opinions of billions on that very same subject. Also, if you have any projects, put together a slide show to explain them to non-technical people, i.e. the rest of the world. Believe me this last one may seem like a waist of time but the sooner you can communicate with the rest of the world the quicker you will understand your subject matter, whatever it may be. Ohh yeah the most important one... and there are too many people out there that do this one, don't lie!!!! Always be honest and tell the truth. If you don't understand something don't pretend to. There is nothing more despised in the workplace than a bull****er.

RE: How to perform

Yeah, it took me a few months before I actually felt comfortable operating on my projects. In the beginning, I'd typically take a note of something I didn't quite understand, like terminology or an acronym. After the meeting, I'd sit down and ask one of the senior engineers to tell me about it. "Define BAJ, IML, OML, BMS, etc."

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

I agree that you should listen and ask questions but you should also read-read-read.  Your coworkers most likely have a wealth of references on just about every subject that will come up.  Rather than asking them to explain what something means ask them for a reference and then come back with questions.  This will take less of their time and you'll learn more.

RE: How to perform

Mechanical Chief,
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

(OP)
Thanks so much to all for your valuable contribution.
Definitely those pieces of advice will help me.

Cheers.

RE: How to perform

Sometimes you need to write down questions or actions for yourself.  What went on in a meeting you don't understand or didn't know?  These are little research projects before and after the meeting.
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

Meetings are a great place to find out how the company works. See who leads the meetings and whom people listen too and who gets all the tasks done, they may not be the people you would expect. Also find out who only has questions and obstacles. A great place to find out who gets on with who and any internal fighting to move up the pecking order.

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

As ane EIT in an EPC (presumably a large one), I would advise you not to say much in any meetings, unless specifically ask to.

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

One more thing- volunteer for everything.  This is the place to learn.  If the project super ask for someone to check dimensions of pipe spools between a boiler and a turbine -do it.  If they want someone to check clearances and turning radii on the road to the project do it.  Look at things like this as opportunities.   These are great learning opportunities. As trivial and boaring as they may seem they are someone panic of the day. they will appreicate and remember it.    
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

(OP)
Thanks Guys. I summarised all your pieces of advise and started applying them.

RE: How to perform

"One more thing- volunteer for everything."

Agreed. Your boss will understand your tech-skills are lacking. However, what will/should impress him is your initiative.

RE: How to perform

[quote]One more thing- volunteer for everything{/quote]

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

Very good point vpl. Star for you.

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

If it's a reqular job someone else can do it.  dembous should rise to his highest potential.  Ruts are for people who can't see over the edge of the rut.
keeping your nose to the grindstone will get you a red nose and kink in your back.

RE: How to perform

There's a good quote I remember- not sure where it came from.

"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

A secret that many people never learn.

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

Figured I'd throw my two cents in.  As several others have said in some way or another, you are being brought to the meetings not as a contributor but for your own advancement and knowledge.  If you think you have a good idea, strategy, answer etc, that wasn't addressed or you think was addressed incorrectly jot it down and then discuss it with your lead on the trip back to the office.  Shows you were paying attention and that you might have something valuable to add. The person you are with might be thinking the same thing but keeping their mouth shut for a reason that you are not aware of.  It also doesn't show up the person that is bringing you along if it was good and they hadn't thought of it.  Do that a couple of times and the next meeting the lead may turn to you and say "dembous how would you handle that?"  The biggest thing at this point is patience.  

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

Or he could be brought to meeting because someone thinks he has potential and attending meetings is a good way to learn.

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