"Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
"Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
(OP)
So, I feel I'm in a bit of a dilemma.
I was recently hired at a new company as a Mechanical Engineer shortly after graduating with my BSME. I have lots of design, manufacturing, and leadership/project management skills right out of the box. Hired in the Aerospace Industry.
Unfortunately, ever since I've been at this company (~7 months), the company President has been assigning me tasks that he feels will "well-round" me in my career. I've worked with Quality, Inspection, Planning, and have had a handful of special projects that really only I am in charge of.
Herein lies the problem: My direct boss is getting NO use out of me. Therefore, my training within the Engineering department is has been slim-to-none at this point and I'm starting to see my boss' frustrations with the fact that he has a guy in his department that he can't give projects too.
I feel like, although I have no control over it, my boss is beginning to feel like I'm useless to him. He's a great guy, but when I tell him what I'm working on he doesn't seem to care anymore. I don't want to lose his trust that I can be a good engineer, but I also can't exactly tell the President that I don't want to do these projects anymore.
I'm troubled. Wait it out a year and then move on? Sucks because the pay is good and the work (I should be doing) is interesting..
I was recently hired at a new company as a Mechanical Engineer shortly after graduating with my BSME. I have lots of design, manufacturing, and leadership/project management skills right out of the box. Hired in the Aerospace Industry.
Unfortunately, ever since I've been at this company (~7 months), the company President has been assigning me tasks that he feels will "well-round" me in my career. I've worked with Quality, Inspection, Planning, and have had a handful of special projects that really only I am in charge of.
Herein lies the problem: My direct boss is getting NO use out of me. Therefore, my training within the Engineering department is has been slim-to-none at this point and I'm starting to see my boss' frustrations with the fact that he has a guy in his department that he can't give projects too.
I feel like, although I have no control over it, my boss is beginning to feel like I'm useless to him. He's a great guy, but when I tell him what I'm working on he doesn't seem to care anymore. I don't want to lose his trust that I can be a good engineer, but I also can't exactly tell the President that I don't want to do these projects anymore.
I'm troubled. Wait it out a year and then move on? Sucks because the pay is good and the work (I should be doing) is interesting..





RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
Look at it from the other angle. It is not a solid business plan to continuously switch your career path or even to make you a 'well rounded engineer' for that purpose alone. The company would not make any money that way. It seems to me, the president is investing in you long-term and is betting on your experience and well-rounded-ness to make you into a great leader / project manager.
Last note, it did rub me the wrong way (a bit) when you claimed you have lots of design, manufacturing and leadership skills right out of the box. While self-confidence is important, humility is required if you want anybody to work with you. As a leader or project manager, that would be pretty important.
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
You have a champion in that company, next time you and he have a discussion, ask him very tactfully how he feels about your current boss.
The answers should give you a sense of how to tread, be careful!
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
I do appreciate the President taking a roll in my training, and I understand how important that relationship can be in a company. The following will surely give those reading some perspective: My direct boss has been at this company for some time now (a long while) and the President has been brought in just recently. So yes, there is probably some form of resentment built up there, but I'm afraid it's stemming onto me because of my inability to help. I'm just wondering if at some point I should time this out if I feel my boss has given up on making me of use to him.
As far as communication, I have relayed to my direct boss many times that would like to begin doing more work for him, but the statement quickly looses meaning by a surprise project from the President or some other department manager. It's as if at some point someone said, "Everybody can use this kid, take him when you need him," and everyone jumped on board. I have not gone to the President about this as he is the one doing the assigning, and well, I just don't feel comfortable telling him I want to do more engineering.
Lastly, about my experience, I did not mean to come off as cocky. All I meant was that I had a good amount of experience compared against most others in my class (which I actively worked hard for). Lead manager for all undergrad projects,internships in "professional" and "race" settings, President of my University's SAE organization for two years and a design/manufacturing member three, experience with sponsorship's, metal cert's, organization finances, leading projects from start to finish, full-scale design and testing, FEA, Numerical Coding, ProE/SW/CATIA/CAD, etc. I am also a very friendly, social person who can communicate well with almost everyone who speaks English. I felt well-rounded leaving school and I directly attribute that to receiving a job.
Again, my concern isn't geared as much towards losing these skills as it is toward preventing my boss from giving up on me. I KNOW I have something to offer. And if I was truly cocky I would be ranting about in the office, but instead I've came here. Hoping to find someone who has also been torn between two superiors and about to lose faith from the one who's closest.
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
- Steve
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
Based on your latest reply, the problem is not yours, It is a turf battle between your boss and the president of the company.
The problem you have now, is not getting trampled when these two finally have it out.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
Our relationship caused some overt and some covert resentment in the seven or so levels of bureaucracy that otherwise separated us.
He protected me from reprisals.
... until he died.
I don't work there any more.
I can't say it was good for my career.
... but it was a hell of a ride.
Your mileage may vary, and probably will.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
Funny, I was suspecting this might be the case and on reading your later posts you go and say it.
I was in a very similar position my first job from school, new technical director hired me to nominally work for the 'post design services' manager (sustaining engineering may be the more common term) who though he'd been there a long time had recently taken on the role for all products not just one market segment. First day there the tech director basically monopolized my time for the foreseeable future to work on his pet project which understandable frustrated my direct manager who needed what ever help he could get - even though as a new grad I didn't know much that was directly useful.
There was a bunch of back story etc. and other characters but to keep it short I essentially managed to convince my direct manager that I wasn't just the tech directors toady and squeezed in work for my manager around the tech directors tasks.
Tech director left after I'd been there less than 2 years but fortunately by then I'd managed to show to my manager and other folk that I wasn't there to play political games or favorites.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
This is coming from my experience. Early in my career, I was caught up in the type of projects I was being given. I occasionally got excited when I didn't feel like I was doing very useful things. I should have been more focused on demonstrating I could work hard, handle multiple tasks, and provide innovative solutions.
So, what you are perceiving may not actually matter. Whether your boss approves or not is irrelevant if you can show him (or the President) that you are capable of taking on more advanced roles then these things will come.
PE, SE
Eastern United States
"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
Only once.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
My guess is that our young "rocketmaster" is the new boss of the engineering department by now.
STF
RE: "Training" isn't as it seems..Boss frustrations...
Right out of the box, there is no skill you have a lot of. Deflate your head a bit, soak up what skills you can by doing the jobs your boss gives you, build his confidence in you, then talk to the man.
And do not forget engineering is 1/2 politics. Do not forget.