Need some advice

[ttuterry]

I graduated in August with a B.S. in general civil engineering. I was desperate for a job due to my financial situation so I moved back to my hometown and got a job with the company I am working for now at the beginning of September, only 2 weeks removed from the classroom. I think I have stepped into a nightmare though. The company I work for is a contractor for the US Government. They told me in the interview that they wouldn’t just throw me out into the real world and they would give me a mentor. Well my mentor happens to be a mechanical engineer. I am the only civil engineer here. They hired me to replace a lady that had been here for about 15 years. I knew it didn’t seem like a good situation when I said yes to the job, but again I was desperate.

The job really doesn’t even involve much civil engineering. I am at a US Government facility where they just basically need a civil engineer around to maybe design a new storage building or things like that. Most of all it is just paperwork though, which is not why I went to college for 5 years. After a month of being here I really haven’t done any work at all besides read procedures and learn how to do paperwork. Is it like this at other companies? They have finally given me a task today of designing a concrete slab. I know this doesn’t sound very difficult but it scares me cause I don’t have another civil engineer to turn to for help or advice. My mentor really doesn’t know a thing about civil engineering.

I guess I just need some advice on if I should just quit and go find a new job or maybe go stick it out for a while. I would appreciate any advice or comments!

 

[ACtrafficengr]

First off, are you planning on getting your license in 4 years? If so, I'd check with your state licensing board to see what their requirements are. Will they allow an ME to sign your report of experience. If not, or if they won't give you full credit for your experience, you might want to look elsewhere for employment.

I don't think I'd quit before having some place to land. The advantage you have now is you have a paycheck coming in, and don't need to take the first offer you get.

See if there is an active ASCE or ITE chapter in your area. They might be able to help you.

"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928

"I'm searching for the questions, so my answers will make sense." - Stephen Brust

 

[COEngineeer]

I was like you ttuterry. A lot of government job contract requires someone to be an engineer to do a non engineering job that almost anyone can do. I think you should just keep interviewing while you are working there. Tell them you want more design experience at the interviews and you want to work directly w/ a PE. I rather work as drafter working my way up to a licensed engineer than doing paperwork that has nothing to do with what you want to be even if it pays less. A lot of structural engineering job requires you to be proficient with auto cad anyway. Good luck and hang in there! I even took a $5000+ pay cut just to get my feet wet with design experience. But I think it will be worthed at the end.