Developing and Working with other Engineers
Developing and Working with other Engineers
(OP)
Greetings
I'm still new to working. I have an undergrad and masters degree and about a year of experience. I've been given an offer but am a bit unsure of it because of the environment I'd be in.
I came from a company where I was working with many other engineers directly that I liked. I thought it was good for development too. This would put me as the only engineer at a location, and I'd be working indirectly with other groups. The primary engineering work would be done in a different company.
It's in the right field, it's in the right geographical location, but it makes me nervous about potential development or lack thereof that I might otherwise get from a boss and coworkers with experience in engineering.
Does anyone have input on his others contributed to your development? Has anyone taken a similar job in a similar position as this?
I'm still new to working. I have an undergrad and masters degree and about a year of experience. I've been given an offer but am a bit unsure of it because of the environment I'd be in.
I came from a company where I was working with many other engineers directly that I liked. I thought it was good for development too. This would put me as the only engineer at a location, and I'd be working indirectly with other groups. The primary engineering work would be done in a different company.
It's in the right field, it's in the right geographical location, but it makes me nervous about potential development or lack thereof that I might otherwise get from a boss and coworkers with experience in engineering.
Does anyone have input on his others contributed to your development? Has anyone taken a similar job in a similar position as this?





RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
Moving to a position where you are forced to learn through the expensive school of your own experience does noone any good.
The company looking to hire you has already made the assumption that you have learned everything you need to know in school and will expect you to be successfull all the time with no problems. This is a bad sign and makes you wonder if they know what is involved in engineering. I would stay away.
Just my two cents work.
A question properly stated is a problem half solved.
Always remember, free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it!
http://www.ap-dynamics.ab.ca/
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
Thanks for the input though. I'm more or less in line with the school of thought that I'd benefit from working directly with people with experience in the field.
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
With the 'real engineering' (that phrase alone makes me suspicious) being done at other locations, you won't have mentoring available locally, and you'll probably end up arguing with the remotely located engineers and managers, and losing for political reasons, even when/if you're right technically, and you'll never know what the hell is going on.
I.e., you'll be "out of the loop", both technically and politically.
I've had a job like that.
It wasn't fun.
It didn't advance my professional development.
It lasted just long enough that I couldn't leave it off my resume,
but short enough for HR weenies to silently infer that _I_ was a problem, so the stink of it stayed with me for a long time.
It didn't pay squat, either.
Politely pass on that, keep looking, and good luck.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
I don't think it really hurt my career, but who knows for sure. It certainly increased my credibility with one or two folks that knew.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
It's just a tough position to be in. Little experience (although it ended because of company issues, not my own). I felt so lucky to get that first job as it was in my industry of choice and I worked with great people. Part of my brain (not the logical side) tells me to take any realistic offer, I need work, and I might not get another offer for a long time. This would pretty much be the first time I'm turning down an offer.
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
While most of what has been said above still stands, if you need a pay check, then you need a pay check. If other offers aren't flooding in then you may be best to take it.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
From what I've just gathered, the job has more design work than I thought (which I like), but again the issue of not having anyone there to mentor me on it. I would have support on the liaising side, but would be on an island design wise. Salary isn't that great (better than the first job, but slightly higher living costs).
I understand the frustrations of liaising. I had some of it at my last job. I also understand the reality that if I don't have say, and final say is somewhere overseas, then I will be in a situation often that results in my frustration over ideas being thrown out by other people without my being able to learn from it directly.
I've also gotten the impression of some level of desperation. I've heard that they want someone with at least 2 extra years experience, want someone soon, there are other candidates, etc, but I never got the impression that there actually were other candidates at this point in time.
I have some time to think about the offer or come back with different numbers, but I'm still hung up over the issues brought up earlier.
Thanks again.
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
I was out of work for 14 months, right now SWX and designer jobs keep me fed.
I look at ME profiles on LinkedIn and people with solid skills & experience have holes and downgrades all over the place.
Furthermore, you can make yourself ineligible for unemployment benefits by turning down a job, guidelines vary by state.
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
Good luck.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
It's worth noting that I'm working (have worked, and hoping to work) in the aerospace field.
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
TTFN
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Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
A question properly stated is a problem half solved.
Always remember, free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it!
http://www.ap-dynamics.ab.ca/
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
For reasons cited above, I predict that the extant offer, if taken, will end badly, and soon.
Pumping gas, or working as a mechanic, both of which I have done in between engineering jobs, will look less negative on a resume than a short-term engineering job. ... which also appears on my own resume.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
Which is not to say it won't hurt. A lot.
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
That's the trouble with trying to generalize the thought process of folks hiring/looking at resumes.
While there may be some general trends, and some 99.9% certain 'don't do this' type rules, each potential recruiter is an individual and have their own idiosyncrasies.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
Some people like to see evidence of "hustle" from an applicant, i.e., will he "hustle" and get things done, regardless of the obstacles or circumstances.
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
My main concern is not having a mentor I can go to who has the experience to draw upon. Nearly as important, not having like minded coworkers to work directly with might translate into this being a very lonely job, which would probably affect me a fair bit.
Stupid real life, with no single and clearly correct answers.
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
Take it for a while. If it isn't right, you'll soon know.
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
As far as a mentor, if you're willing to learn, that's the most important part. At least for you. Cross your fingers on the engineering results
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
You do, of course, need to be mindful of the limitations of your own abilities, and be aware of when to ask for help. If you have any contacts, mentors or friends that can assist you at your former place of employment, call on them when you have to. Don't limit yourself to your immediate support at your new employer. Be aware of confidentiality issues of course, but seek help when appropriate.
Snorgy is spot on too, one of the big issues I see at my current employer with Graduate Engineers is that they all consider that the company's current workings are the best in the industry and no other company has anything that works, something that appears to be developed as the graduate program progesses.
The truth is that no company is perfect, and there is some benefit to be exposed to different aspects of work and ways of doing things.
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
I was in a similar position myself & I had zero experience but my confidence, no mentor just foremen to supervise and 3 years down the line I'm supervising guys with 10 years more experience than me.
JUST GIVE IT A TRY!
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
RE: Developing and Working with other Engineers
I am working in that type of position where I am the only engineer of my profession in the sub company. I do have distance relations with other engineers in the greater company but only for occasional guidance.
I have 13 years of experience and am competent in my knowledge, I would not have felt comfortable in this position if I had only one years experience.
With one years experience I thought that I knew a lot but now i look back and realise that I knew nothing.