Source
r/EngineeringStudents•
Mancheee

New starts next week, I am very nervous.

Career Advice

Hello all, I am looking for more experienced people to calm my nerves. I got offered a great job at a level 2 and start next week for a larger aerospace company. I am very nervous about performing well.

The hiring manager has given mixed feedback on the stress and workload/expectations. I told him I am rusty in things like matlab, and he said ‘absolutely not a problem, just relearn as you go’, and ‘we dont expect a real contribution for about a year, we want to grow you into this position’. Which puts me more at ease.

But he has also said none of the job is what is taught in school, and it would be like drinking from a fire hose, and I was chosen because they wanted a self starter. Which makes me nervous.

Can anyone decode this feedback and calm my nerves, I am stressed to start this job. First job in aerospace btw.

Tldr: stressed about new aerospace job, someone tell me your experience and that itll be alright. Thank you.

Posted Dec 30, 2022, 2:28 AM UTC

45
solrosewww.TheEngineeringMentor.com. BS/MS MEng•

Here's a really important mindset shift that has helped a lot of the engineers I've mentored over the years who have dealt with a similar nervousness about being good enough for their new role . .

The company that hired you knows every detail about the position for which you are hired and they know the skills it takes to succeed in that job.

They also have a history of employees and know which ones turn out to be better employees and which ones struggle.

With all of this information at hand, THEY CHOSE YOU. If they thought you were incapable of filling this role, then they would not have made an offer.

So take some solace in the fact that the people who know it the best and care the most about making the right hiring decision, chose you from all of the potential candidates.

8
MancheeeOP•

My idea is more that what if they made a mistake, the interview process was not that long and they didnt have that much time to get to know my skills I guess.

1
solrosewww.TheEngineeringMentor.com. BS/MS MEng•

You know what? That's possible as well.

However, that means they'll have to waste time and money finding someone new. During that time, some of the work to be performed by this new person will either get missed or dumped on some unhappy coworker.

They really don't want that to happen.

So what may seem to be a short period for you to make a determination was enough for them.

So while it could happen, I want you to hold your head high and know you're good enough to kick butt at this job and be a real asset!

1
my_bad_mood•

You are being hired because you have proven yourself by finishing your engineering degree, which was hard, and are a cultural fit. What employers value the most are hard workers who can solve problems, and are eager to learn. They do not care that you did not learn the technical skills in college, that is the easy part, they want the "soft skill" qualities that come with being an engineer.

Don't be nervous. You got this. It is such an exciting time in your career.

3
aldjfh•

Probably not the advice you want to hear but.....it's just a job. There's many of them around.

All you can do is do your honest best and if it works out it works out if it doesnt it doesn't. Sometimes it's not even your fault. The economy goes belly up or you're boss just isn't in a good mood and fired you over using your phone (true story)

But yeah general advice, the 8 hours you are there be professional, be nice, ask the RIGHT questions, try to take notes and remember things and work quickly (if its a consulting billable hours company). Most companies nowadays don't train and want you to be as useful as soon as possible.

2