Discussion Thread

Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

  • 1.  Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-15-2019 11:17 PM
    Congratulations to those graduating with civil engineering degrees this month. When I graduated and started my first job, I was faced with the challenge of learning how to apply the technical knowledge I had learned in college and make it applicable to real-world engineering problems. One advice I would give to new graduates entering the workforce would be to not be afraid to make mistakes. Make sure you are diligent with your work and be aware of how you are using your time as well as your co-worker's time. 

    What advice would you give someone entering the workforce in the next few weeks or months?


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    Luis Duque EIT,A.M.ASCE
    Structural Engineer
    Broomfield CO
    luis@...
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  • 2.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-16-2019 07:46 AM

    Hi Luis,

     

    The advice I have is:

     

    1. Listen.

    Every boss appreciates a good listener.

    1. Learn.

    Everything you can as fast as you can (even if you have to teach yourself). Never stop learning.

    1. Love.

    The engineering profession is highly esteemed. You may not know that now but give it time and you will see.

    1. Laugh.

    Make time for fun. A well rounded person is great to be around.

    1. Live.

    Strive to maintain work/life balance. Burnout is all too common in our field.

     

    Good luck to you and stay in touch! Cheers,

     

     

    Dave Ureña, P.E.

    Banneker, LLC

    3104 N. Armenia Ave

    Suite 2

    Tampa, FL 33607

    813.415.7872

    dave@...

     






  • 3.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-16-2019 09:55 AM
    David! Great advice, I agree with you 100%. Thanks for sharing!

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    Luis Duque EIT,A.M.ASCE
    Structural Engineer
    Broomfield CO
    luis@...
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-17-2019 12:25 PM
    David hit the nail on the head.  I would add that graduating engineers should also not assume that they now it all and be impatient to opportunities.  As a graduate engineer my first recommendation is for that individual to be a sponge.  Absorb all you can as fast as you can.  Experience creates opportunity, not the degree or pedigree.

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    Adalberto Ramos P.E.,M.ASCE
    President, Managing Member
    Lakeway TX
    (281)5315952
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-17-2019 01:05 PM
    Adalberto, Thanks for sharing! I have found that is really useful as well. At the first job I was designing industrial buildings, something I had not done before. I had to learn on the fly and the only way to do it was listening and being meticulous with my notes and design. At the second job, a took a big turn again to design residential and commercial structures, faced again to learn on the go. As young engineers, we need to be highly receptive to what we are learning and not think we know everything but instead listen carefully to advise.

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    Luis Duque EIT,A.M.ASCE
    Structural Engineer
    Broomfield CO
    luis@...
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-16-2019 08:05 AM
    When you are assigned a design task, ask for an example of something similar that was done previously. Often the way the design process/calculations are done in college varies greatly from real world application. Additionally, take as many opportunities as you can to observe the entire project process, often new engineers are only given a snippet of the design and don't get to see all the preliminary work.

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    Robert Fleming, PE
    Bergmann Associates, D.P.C.
    Rochester NY
    rfleming@...
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  • 7.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-16-2019 09:55 AM
    Robert, Thanks for sharing your advice! I agree with you that what we learn in college is just the basis for what real design work looks like. I feel like we are taught member specific design (beams, columns, slabs, etc) and very few of global structural behavior. Right out school, I was able to get involved in projects from the beginning until the end which gave me a great view of how we actually design a structure and all the considerations we need to take.

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    Luis Duque EIT,A.M.ASCE
    Structural Engineer
    Broomfield CO
    luis@...
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-16-2019 08:35 AM
    Great response, Luis! 

    The following ASCE article gives some additional advice: Tips for Starting Your First Civil Engineering Job
    Asce remove preview
    Tips for Starting Your First Civil Engineering Job
    As spring transitions to summer, it's the start of that most exciting of seasons - new job season. Civil engineering graduates are preparing for a transition from campus to office. And that's not always an easy move.
    View this on Asce >
    https://news.asce.org/tips-for-starting-your-first-civil-engineering-job/


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    Danielle Schroeder EIT,A.M.ASCE
    Associate Engineer
    Pennoni Associates
    Philadelphia PA
    (267)269-2509
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  • 9.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-16-2019 09:55 AM
    Great article, Dani! Thanks for sharing!

    ------------------------------
    Luis Duque EIT,A.M.ASCE
    Structural Engineer
    Broomfield CO
    luis@...
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 05-20-2019 10:25 AM
    Lots of great advice thus far!  Here's what I would add to new grads:
    • Be Mindful of Your Team
      • Try to always better understand the process, not just your task.  Know how changes you make will impact others, and how changes others make will impact you.  If someone needs to make changes that affect your work, there's no sense wasting time/budget on that task unless you're on the same page.  Likewise if you need to make a change that will affect others, bring it to their attention right away.  Also if you have some project due at the end of the day, and certain tasks depend on your work being complete, you don't have the whole day to do them.  Be mindful of others and you'll be a much better member of the team.
    • Own Your Mistakes
      • As a new engineer you will make mistakes.  Own them.  Even if you feel others may be partially responsible, own your mistake. People will be much more forgiving than if you try to cast the blame elsewhere.  At the same time, learn from your mistakes.  Take special precautions not to repeat them.
    • Communicate
      • As a young engineer, it's often hard to find your voice. I know I was intimidated by some of my colleagues and that lack of communication hurt me sometimes.  I learned that it was always better to communicate my ideas, concerns, irregular work schedules, etc.  When I starting communicating more and more often I found everything went better;  projects, relationships, problems, learning, etc.
    • Understand the Why
      • As much as possible try to not understand just how to do things, but why.  Is this project being done on a tight budget, or no cost spared?  Does the client prefer it done this way, is it a company standard, or a requirement?  Does this take extra work now, but save time down the road?  Why does a solution from a similar problem solved before work (or not) for this problem?  And so on and so forth.  The better you understand the why, the better you will be able to anticipate issues and account for them.
    • Remember this will be Constructed
      • If you can get some field experience, even if for just a summer, and see how things will be built it will dramatically change how you think about your design.  Lots of stuff will seem like a good idea in the office, but be completely impractical to construct. For example, if your sidewalk ramps are at the ADA maximum  for the design to work it will be very tough for the contractor if not impossible to build. We can achieve perfect precision in the office on a computer, they cannot with big machines efficiently.

    Too all the new grads starting careers, good luck!!  The future is in your hands!

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    James Smith P.E.,M.ASCE
    Design Engineer
    Grand Rapids MI
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  • 11.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 06-21-2019 08:09 AM
    You have indeed summarized the whole concept and approached what's needed by an engineer.
    But do grades during the degree relate to practicing civil engineering. i.e CGPA matter? YES and No.
    I will never regret my course of study or my grade.

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    Persen Mosespaul S.M.ASCE
    Student
    Asokoro, 900231
    2340705 593766
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  • 12.  RE: Transitioning from Engineering Student to Real World Engineer

    Posted 06-21-2019 10:12 AM
    As a hiring manager I look at the total individual.  Grades DO NOT play a big factor for me as I want someone with common sense, the ability to communicate and interact with others.  These traits are a bigger item for me to evaluate.  I agree with you, never regret the outcome of your grades.  An employer that hires solely based on grades wants robots.

    Jerry

    ------------------------------
    Adalberto Ramos P.E.,M.ASCE
    President, Managing Member
    Lakeway TX
    (281)5315952
    ------------------------------