Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
(OP)
Hello,
I found this great site looking for PE info. I've got a question regarding credibility.
I graduated in 2009 with a BSCE. I worked for 2.5 years in a ready mix asphalt and concrete company in the QC department. I later worked 1.5 years with a heavy highway construction company as a project engineer. Finally I've worked for 1 year with an engineering consultant in design and later construction management (same company and current job), I recently graduated with an MSCE and I'm studying for my PE and I applied.
Would you guys say I'm competent to be an engineering consultant construction manager. I feel as though I could play a bigger role in my position. I'm not sure my boss knows how good I am at putting out fires.
Any advice?
I found this great site looking for PE info. I've got a question regarding credibility.
I graduated in 2009 with a BSCE. I worked for 2.5 years in a ready mix asphalt and concrete company in the QC department. I later worked 1.5 years with a heavy highway construction company as a project engineer. Finally I've worked for 1 year with an engineering consultant in design and later construction management (same company and current job), I recently graduated with an MSCE and I'm studying for my PE and I applied.
Would you guys say I'm competent to be an engineering consultant construction manager. I feel as though I could play a bigger role in my position. I'm not sure my boss knows how good I am at putting out fires.
Any advice?





RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
I'd say that without a PE, and a few years being in charge of your own stamp and the ramifications thereof, then nope. Not yet for management. Now, that doesn't mean you can't start asking to take on those fiery jobs with supervision and show your boss just how great you are. Go ask if you can get involved and have a couple ideas ready fast.
Good luck on your PE!
(and just FYI, since you're new here - we're not all guys.)
RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
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: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
I am currently working on trying to appreciate what work I have. I also am working on carefully looking at my attitude to make sure it's not the issue.
I have judged myself on how I work (its tough). The more I dislike what I'm doing the worse the quality of my work is. I do agree with doing the best work you can. I also can see how doing work I dislike could get me to a path for work that I would like.
I especially wanted to ask you guys how experience works, because I seem to find the "peter principle" everywhere I have worked at. "Peter principle", in business management the theory that most people reach their level of incompetence and get stuck at that position. I can't tell you how many people I've worked with that can't really function but have 10-20 years experience.
I have also seen in my short career many bright young engineers run away from positions where they are stuck at entry level for a couple of years working with peter principle people that actively work to keep them at a lower level.This is actually the main issue why entry level engineers leave positions.
I have seen in engineering design senior engineers hold interesting work for themselves and leave everyone else fighting over CAD work, paperwork and excel sheets. I don't think it helps anyone for an entry level engineer to have worked 1.5 years and still be doing CAD and excel sheets instead of working with senior engineers to understand the design process.
In my current position in construction management I have never seen anyone under 40 years and an engineer. So I can't comment on other young engineers in these positions. But so far its an uphill battle.
RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
I don't do this because I'm struggling to make a buck...I make damn good money. I do it because it's part of engineering....and that's what I do. I'm a "consultant".
RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question
I think every young engineer feels like you do. I know I did when I first started! And I'd almost bet you money that you'll someday look back and think wow, I really didn't know anything yet then. It's really hard to hear, but likely true. Get yourself into any work you can and learn as much as possible. I HATED HATED HATED being the shop drawing girl until I realized one day that I could create details in my sleep.
Don't start worrying about business management principles, unless you're heading for an MBA (SNORGY attack in 3... 2... 1...). Keep your head in your work and learn what you can from everything. If you let yourself get irritated by how incompetent others are, you'll be miserable. Really. And that part about not doing good work unless you like what you're doing... that can come across as immature and almost petulant. Be really careful about that. Just think - the faster (and better) you get the crap work out of the way, the faster you get to the good stuff!
Good luck.
RE: Question for mid-senior engineers / Credibility question