How to choose the path for the future?
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I graduated from college just half a year ago and am working in a chemical plant as a designer. My salary is average – neither high nor low – and the tasks I perform are small-scale projects, such as the maintenance of existing pipelines and making changes to them, occasionally. They are all very miscellaneous and minor tasks, such as replacing a valve or adding some heat tracing for insulation. And there are few jobs available here with a large number of people, so there aren’t many tasks to do in the usual sense. In the past six months, I’ve completed fewer than 10 tasks in total; most of the time I just sit in the office reading standards, feeling that I’m learning too slowly. It’s fine to even stay in the office all week. I’m on the verge of breaking down; I want to change jobs, but I just graduated half a year ago and really don’t know what to do. This issue has been bothering me for a long time, and I don’t know what to do. Could some kind person give me some advice?:
Accumulate slowly, release the gains after long effort, endure loneliness, learn how to be a good person, and then clarity will emerge.
Once again, the path is right under your feet; it’s up to you to decide how to walk it – no one else can walk it for you!
I’ve been doing nothing for 4 months now, and I’m really on the verge of breaking down!
Reply to 3# antlbf: I talked with my supervisor last night; I hope things will get better
Reply to 4# mossss: Then haven’t you thought about how to get out of this predicament?
Reply to 6# wwddcc: Lately, I’ve been reading books and standards; it’s been a long time since I last read the standards carefully. It turned out that the job was unstable as well; it was at a design institute (a design institute under the Ministry of Construction), with the headquarters in Chengdu, and later I moved to Shanghai, where I had to travel there every day. I have almost visited every part of my motherland’s landscapes. I’m at home now, in a small city where there’s little opportunity for development; it’s impossible to make any progress even if I try. My original major was my main field of study, but now it’s just a minor. There’s not much work to begin with, and with the elderly in charge, I almost only do the tasks that remain after everything else has been taken care of. (To be honest, I take these very seriously.) ) After the New Year, if I’m still unemployed, I’ll look for another job. Rather than sitting and waiting, it’s better to try again. I particularly object to the word “endure” – it sounds so miserable. Haha. It’s the same for everyone right after graduation: the teachers are busy with their own tasks and don’t have time for you; it usually lasts about half a year. I had you read books and study the specifications, and then gradually took you to the site to draw small diagrams and things like that. There’s no need to worry in this situation; it will happen sooner or later, because the company won’t keep you idle. During this time, one can take the time to read books and things like that. If you stay idle with no one paying attention to you, then you need to think about what’s wrong, just like I am right now. In Shanghai, there are many opportunities, but the pressure is extremely high. I suggest going to a medium-sized provincial capital instead; in small cities with their close-knit communities, it’s not easy to get by even if you’re capable.
Reply to 7# mossss: Well, I’m planning to learn equipment installation, and to get familiar with moving equipment and things like that. We are a chemical plant that handles small-scale tasks. Unlike design institutes, which focus on large-scale projects. I have to do everything on my own; there’s no system at all, and I’m learning too many different things. Which city are you in?
Reply to 8# wwddcc: It’s very beneficial to spend a few years gaining experience at the grassroots level. These days, people in design firms rarely go to the construction sites; many work behind closed doors. It would be better if they could learn about installation work, as that would allow them to take exams to become construction engineers. Just drawing diagrams isn’t enough – going to the site is necessary. After a few years, everyone gets bored with it, and they also feel uncertain. I really want to go to the company and work there. I used to get excited when going to construction sites, but now I feel uncomfortable holding back those feelings. The technical level of construction work nowadays is significantly higher than that of design (in small and medium-sized design firms). Do your best.
Reply to 9# mossss: Your words give me a glimmer of hope; I guess I’ll just have to learn slowly, starting from childhood
Reply to 10# wwddcc: The design institute isn’t what one might imagine; sometimes there’s no work, and other times it’s extremely busy. It’s better to work at the factory level instead. It’s useful to learn more about construction sites; it will be very helpful even if you go on to work in design. All the great designers I’ve met have come from the construction sites. Start by learning about device performance first – that will take you two to three years to master, hehe. Summarize more, ask more questions – you’ll definitely succeed! Every valve has its own installation method, but many people in design firms don’t know how to install them. Hehe, mastery of technology is what truly matters. Keep going.