Work related problem.

i_used_2b_fukpigonabike · June 2007

Ok, so I've been in my current job for 9 months now. Straight out of uni into this.

I have been assigned to a fairly extensive job worth a lot of money... as the main electrical project engineer.

Now, I am finding it a struggle, purely through lack of experience. Not through incompetence, just lack of experience. It's working with underground DERV tanks, doing the electronics for the PLCs etc. There also hasn't been an awful lot of help offered to me.

I haven't been sleeping the best worrying about it, as I'm having to make fairly large decisions on a day-to-day basis with regards to this. How do I know I'm not going completely wrong?

I am considering approaching one of the directors this morning to say how I'm feeling; that I honestly don't think I'm ready for full control of a job. They have used me partly because they were stuck for engineers, but I don't see this as a valid reason. I'm also not in the pay bracket of a project engineer, and so they are effectively getting more work from me than they are paying for.

Would you say something, before it goes too far?

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Patriot - USB Molly - WTP Phoenix

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Cerberus

I blocked my toilet up the other day.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

DahnHilla · June 2007

Face, kick, twice.

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shadow_ops · June 2007

i would say something on grounds of both the pay and that you dont feel up to it, in the end youll save your own skin incase something goes horribly wrong

a little bit of pain never hurt anyone

John · June 2007

Sounds like the sort of situation Im in atm, Ive always had a lot of responsibility in my company as I was the first employee when they were starting out,

The other month there was a lot of pipework on a ship and our company ended up hiring a lot of temps to refit the ship and I was put in charge of 10 or more people (depending on the day) while my 2 bosses were on other jobs, Stress was bad and I didnt sleep much for nearly 2 months,

I feel better for the experience now and Its definately helped with confidence with the job,

I did consider telling them I couldnt do it a couple of weeks in but I got used to it and everything got done, Have hopefully secured a decent position as the company grows. Tho I have been looking at a couple of new jobs recently.

havent fallen off,
im just having a rest

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nicklouse · June 2007

I would do one of two things.

Ask people who are doing the same "job" how would you do this or just a plain help.

secondly aproach the person who put you in the situation and ask them when is the project engineer going to be assigned to this project as i have some questions!

nick
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i_used_2b_fukpigonabike · June 2007

Problem is with just keeping on trucking, there is a vast array of instruments being fitted I've never even heard of before but I've been told I need them (and others I haven't been told about, but been told I need something of their sort). So somehow I'm supposed to link these all together in a working system to control DERV levels in the tanks at this filling station without any knowledge. And the senior engineer in control of the project doesn't understand I'm as inexperienced as I am! So he keeps coming to me with questions about the electrical side of things I cannot answer.

I'm also in control of burial of ducting under the proposed building, so if I get that wrong, there's a dirty great filling station on top of it before it's realised.

I just don't understand what they were thinking putting me in control of a job.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Patriot - USB Molly - WTP Phoenix

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Cerberus

I blocked my toilet up the other day.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

nicklouse · June 2007

Pig, if you do feel like you are drowning go ask for help.

i would start with who ever gave you the position.

it is in their best interests to make sure either you have the correct support to allow you to do what you are required to do correctly or to put someone in there who knows it.

nick
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John · June 2007

Ahh I see, I had some sort of idea what I was doing and the people I was supervising had been doing their jobs all their lives,

You seem to have been thrown in at the deep end, As has been said you will have to do something about it as it looks like you've been put in charge of a big project,

The company will thenk you for it in the long run if you speak up now and don't risk any mistakes, and theres a chance they can get someone for you to work with that knows what their doing.

havent fallen off,
im just having a rest

Updated [:D] Glory Jackal

Myspace Film, Safe as Fu<s></s>ck Pushbike Bullsh<s></s>it and Wideopen Mag.

Anonymous · June 2007

I would seriously advise letting them know how you feel. Explain to them that you don't think you have the neccesary experience to be in charge of a job like this, but try not to make yourself sound useless[:)]
To be honest, this is the kind of problem you hear about students fresh from uni, who can do all the theoretical work, but can't do the practical side of things.
It's not your fault, or any other Uni student's fault though, it's just the way it is. That's why apprenticeships are so highly valued, because you get taught on the job, by doing the job.

Also, don't feel too bad about it, once you'll get someone to guide you, you'll be learning new things, and improving your confidence. You'll probably look back on this in years to come as an anecdote...
"ooh, I remember my first job....."
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by i_used_2b_fukpigonabike

Ok, so I've been in my current job for 9 months now. Straight out of uni into this.

I have been assigned to a fairly extensive job worth a lot of money... as the main electrical project engineer.

Now, I am finding it a struggle, purely through lack of experience. Not through incompetence, just lack of experience. It's working with underground DERV tanks, doing the electronics for the PLCs etc. There also hasn't been an awful lot of help offered to me.

I haven't been sleeping the best worrying about it, as I'm having to make fairly large decisions on a day-to-day basis with regards to this. How do I know I'm not going completely wrong?

I am considering approaching one of the directors this morning to say how I'm feeling; that I honestly don't think I'm ready for full control of a job. They have used me partly because they were stuck for engineers, but I don't see this as a valid reason. I'm also not in the pay bracket of a project engineer, and so they are effectively getting more work from me than they are paying for.

Would you say something, before it goes too far?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Patriot - USB Molly - WTP Phoenix

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Cerberus

I blocked my toilet up the other day.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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Tom · June 2007

dont get too stressed about it dude, if it all old mans stamp collections up you can always get a new job. not your problem.

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shadow_ops · June 2007

they will look up to you for being honest and telling them that you arnt confident

a little bit of pain never hurt anyone

Work related problem.

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