Advice for a recent graduate?

[haitham123]

Hello Guys,

This is my first post on this website, let's see how it goes!

So a quick summary, I graduated Civil Engineering in May. I have recently received an offer which titles me as "Junior Planning Engineer (CIVIL)". Most of my work will be related to project scheduling (such as using PrimaVera etc) with voluntary site-visits.

My goal is to learn as much as I can in my beginning years and to start a career in something that will eventually lead me to obtaining a very good salary once I hit 10+ years of experience. I have also received a Site Engineer offer, which would put me on the site. (BTW all these jobs are in Saudi Arabia, I'm a Canadian living in Saudi arabia basically).

Any advice to me?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: I'd like to add in that the Junior Planning Engineer job is at a Sulfur Recovery Unit for an Industrial City, here is some information regarding that project:
The project is to construct a 400,000 BPD grassroot refinery and hydrocarbon terminal facilities at Jazan Economic City to handle both 100% Arab Medium and 50% Arab Medium and 50% Arab Heavy Crude. Jazan refinery will be synergized with a world-scale Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Plant (JIGCC) which will supply power, steam and utilities to Jazan refinery and export power to the grid.
CCC’s scope of work is the construction of:
Package 1: Soot Ash Removal Unit (SARU) (4 blocks) equal to 788Kg/h of produced ash.
Package 2: 3 x 541 ton/day Sulphur Recovery Unit (SRU) Trains.
The main contractors are Saipem WLL for Package 1 and Snamprogetti Engineering & Contracting Co. Ltd. for Package 2, and the Owner is Saudi Aramco.
The contracts were awarded on 15 March 2015 for Package 2 and mid April for Package 1.
The project start is 15 March 2015 for a duration of about 32 months ending on 31 October 2017.

http://www.2b1stconsulting.com/saudi-aramco-selects-shell-technology-for-jizan-power-plant/

Thanks again!

 

[bimr]

Congratulations on your new position.

The only advice that I can provide is to keep an eye out for a good mentor.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

My goal is to learn as much as I can in my beginning years...

Take the Site Engineer job. You will learn more dealing with actual onsite day-to-day issues than you will planning a (theoretical) sequence of events to happen in the future - even though that planning is essential. With voluntary site visits, you remain a spectator, not a participant in problem solving.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[Lomarandil]

Agreed, if both positions are for the same project, and the deciding criteria is learning and advancing the most over your first few years, being on-site and keeping an eye out for questions to ask and mentors to learn from is certainly the fast track. Probably harder work, but I doubt you're in Saudi for the climate.

 

[dicksewerrat]

On site you will learn more in a year than you did in college. always ask the project foreman what he/she thinks about each and every issue. If you see things you don't understand ask why are they doing that?

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[haitham123]

Thanks everyone, I highly appreciate all your replies.

I will continue to listen to advice from many people and make my final decision in the coming weeks.

Please keep the advice coming!

Thanks so much.