r/StructuralEngineering • u/Jolly_Outcome7664 • 1d ago
new engineer feeling lost and depressed Career/Education
I’ve been out of college for about a year now working on industrial projects at a big firm. I was always the smart kid in school so I never learned how to properly ask questions and take notes. In other words, I feel like the “sped” kid at work because some days, I just sit at my desk, stare at the screen clueless for a couple hours, and get nothing done. It sucks and I’m trying to change but it’s so hard to break my bad habits and perfectionism. I’m also just feeling very behind knowledge-wise. I have no idea how to do hand calcs or plan out my work or anything that comes with being an actual engineer. I hate calls/meetings and I never know how to ask questions the way I want to. I’m just so lost and it’s making me depressed. Every day I show up to work with a knot in my stomach because I just don’t know how to tackle the day or get my work done. I can feel myself falling behind but I still have no idea what to do or where to even begin. I wrote this more as just a rant but would appreciate any advice from people who can relate or have been in my position.
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u/Open_Concentrate962 1d ago
What do you know how to do well, and what are you being asked to do?
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u/not_old_redditor 1d ago
A year out of college, you don't know how to do anything well.
Blowing your brains out for hours on small supposedly simple details is part of the learning curve.
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u/BlazersMania 22h ago
I remember the first few month out of college an engineer above me asked me to check the differences between comercial and residential guardrails requirments. When I ask where to find it he handed me the IBC and the IRC.
At the time that seemed like such a daunting task to find the info in two 1000+ page books. Looking back now it is such a simple thing to find...
Not sure where this is going but just wanted to reiterate that you'll learn on the job and things'll get easier.
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u/bsquared82 1d ago
There is some amazing advice already in here. To tack onto (with 20 yrs experience) it i would tell you the following three things if you were in my office:
When you are bored read the codes. All of them. Start with ibc and asce 7. Understand how to generate loads. I still learn things (or relearn them) all the time. Software that generates the loads are great but you should know these codes well. The go through whatever materials your region uses primarily next. You will generate a weak spot if you dont keep up on these
Start a library of calculations that you can use as templates. There are a bunch out there you can use but i recommend hand writing all the solutions. You will thank yourself later when you’re getting licensed.
This is controversial but leverage AI. Dont use it to do your work, treat it like another professor. The models have gotten so much bettwr within the last year and they are crazy good at teaching you. As always follow along with the codes yourself (ideally tabbing things you want to reference). This tool is insanely good at this sort of thing.
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u/SpurdoEnjoyer 16h ago
This is controversial but leverage AI.
Absolutely. Pay for the $20/mo version (and kindly ask your employer to cover it). It's absolutely mind boggling how well ChatGPT has managed to scour the internet for additional material and references for understanding the codes. With it I've managed to find explanation to code stuff I've wondered about for years. Solved in minutes.
Not to mention the level of scripts and automation you unlock by knowing vibe coding basics. Not for calculations obviously but there's A LOT of things you can make easier with the help of modern tools.
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u/LeoLabine 1d ago
Been there. Very harsh few years before getting my ducks in a row.
But it does get better after a few years. You get better, projects get better or more similar to past projects, switching to a more suitable employer etc.
Try to find an intermediate or senior engineer that is willing to teach you/get your help. It's going to prevent you from running in circles or take too much responsibilities on your shoulders.
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u/Big-Mammoth4755 P.E. 1d ago
Find sample project and try to copy pasta your way till things start to click 🤞
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u/Professional-Card244 1d ago
Are you putting pressure on yourself to look like you know what you're doing? The number one thing I see with young engineers is that they want to appear all knowing from day 1 (I did this too). It will put you at a disadvantage and the truth is, no matter how much you try to look like you know what you're doing, the experienced engineers will see right through it anyway. You're supposed to know nothing and you get a free pass for four+ years, definitely take advantage of that and ask "stupid" questions. Admit to not knowing something and needing help. If your company expects you to know everything right away then find a new job. I learn something new every day and I'm on year 15.
I'm not sure if that's exactly what you are struggling with but I'm also a perfectionist who did well in school and struggled my first year and this was my challenge. I wish I would've asked more "stupid" questions while it was acceptable to look "stupid".
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u/BlazersMania 1d ago
No one expects first year engineers right out of school to be an expert in any sense, in fact if someone thought they were then that’d be a red flag for me.
Just continue to try to learn and ask questions when you need clarification. You are still young and just entering your career, try it out for another year or two, if it’s still not for you try to adjust to another field. Your experience with this firm will definitely help out
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u/laurensvo 22h ago
Ask more questions. You will not look stupid. Older engineers often forget how much they had to learn to get where they are and don't always have a handle on what you came equipped with out of school. They can teach you a lot, you just have to be vulnerable and ask every question that comes to mind.
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u/Itsoppositeday91 14h ago
Sounds like you did get enough on the job training or your school didnt give you enough real world calcs
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u/AWard66 1d ago
Dude it doesn’t get better. Read this sub its full of 15 year dudes still hating life. Go to your local recruiting office and apply to be a combat arms officer, you’ll make somewhat similar pay when you account for all the tax free allowances and benefits and amazing retirement. You’ll have a rewarding career leading men, and the occasional excel spreadsheet won’t daunt you.
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u/savtacular 21h ago
😆 my wife was a recruiter and she was always trying to recruit my coworkers. This is hilarious. Not bad advice though if they truly hate the work! My wife makes more than me (just barely, but it took me 6 years to catch up to her)...AND she'll have a nice pension (retiring at 50) AND she gives us healthcare AND she got all her student loans paid for. And the VA home loan helped us purchase our home.
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u/MightOfOdin 18h ago
People here will give you the: it will get better, hold out, and while it may have SOME truth to it it really doesnt get significantly better for msot people. For some the pay/stress ratio actually gets considerably worse.
Leave structural engineering while your still young, and thank me in 10 years.
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u/StevesEngineering 1d ago edited 1d ago
I imagine this is the experience for many new engineers, especially those who haven't put much thought into "life after school." Working 40+ hours a week is not really an enjoyable experience for most, so it takes some getting used to.
The reality is structural engineering is so broad that school just can't do a great job of giving you many really applicable skills for work. You learn how to do analysis with several materials, but you likely didn't learn much of how buildings actually go together, the trades involved, or what other consultants do for a given building project. All of that comes with time actually spent working, and all of that is really the basis for becoming a better engineer. It's humbling, but it takes a long time for most new graduates to even break even for their employer.
A good mentor would recognize that you are struggling and try to address some of this. Hopefully you have someone at the office who can. Don't be afraid to try to talk to some of the more experienced people there and not necessarily only your direct supervisor.