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Patanjali
Student
Escondido, California
1
Question
Updated
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For engineering technicians.or skilled trades professionals, what was the hardest transition from school to real-world work, and what would you do differently if you could start over ?
Current engineering technician student at MiraCosta TCI.
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Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
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Answers
Manassas, Virginia
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Liam’s Answer
Two things, when you are building/ fixing/ operating equipment or machinery, nothing is a perfect science. All of the calculations you do and everything you plan for will never be delivered perfect in the real world.
Second is you need to look at the practical money to function return on your equipment or machinery might not be worth it in the end. You plan on making something amazing, but it will break eventually. Sometimes inexpensive parts that are easily bought and replaced are more desirable in a design than expensive parts you hope will last longer.
What would I do differently? Maybe I had a conversation or two where I asserted book knowledge to someone with way more practical knowledge than what I had. It becomes obvious over time when you are wrong in that scenario and you just need to listen to what is in front of you and not what a book of theories says. Other than that I don't really have anything, I think most people will have the same path, when they are green they only know what they are told, when you are seasoned, you start to learn from what is actually in front of you.
Second is you need to look at the practical money to function return on your equipment or machinery might not be worth it in the end. You plan on making something amazing, but it will break eventually. Sometimes inexpensive parts that are easily bought and replaced are more desirable in a design than expensive parts you hope will last longer.
What would I do differently? Maybe I had a conversation or two where I asserted book knowledge to someone with way more practical knowledge than what I had. It becomes obvious over time when you are wrong in that scenario and you just need to listen to what is in front of you and not what a book of theories says. Other than that I don't really have anything, I think most people will have the same path, when they are green they only know what they are told, when you are seasoned, you start to learn from what is actually in front of you.
Thank you for your insights ✊ it makes a lot of sense, and helps me to think in a more productive way. Your point of calculating ROI is a different perspective that I hadn't thought of, every action your tools go through puts wear on them that has to be repaired or replaced in time. That's a good thing to keep in mind for scheduling/sequencing of jobs and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
I also have a habit of keeping my mind in the books, and have perhaps made incomplete claims because of limited field experience. It's good to know that pros like to balance books smarts with field smarts. Thank you for your awesome answers 🤙
Patanjali