For those that have worked in engineering for a long time.

[CubanPete]

Take ownership and pride in what you are asked to do. When I get apprentices / grads etc it takes a while to get more than the minimum required. The schoolboy mentality is to do the minimum required to get a pass mark.

Be social, being able to work with people is important.

[rossw46]

From the very beginning I got into the habit of making notes immediately after doing a job with an experienced engineer or when I figured out something for myself. I used to use a note book, now I have countless word docs, mostly a page or 2 of brief notes. Just tonight I've sat typing up some notes after commencing maintenance on some electrical protection relays that were commissioned 63 years ago this year. I know 2 years from now when I go to do it again, it will be easier/quicker and any mistakes I made this time I will not make in future (none thus far ! Touch wood)

Be a keen trainee, I got onto all the good jobs because the good engineers knew I'd carry the test kit around,pack up their test leads, make a mean cup of tea etc.

DO NOT RUSH simply to impress when doing risky tasks, take your time, double, no - triple check. Taking longer to make sure it's safe may get you home late (book the overtime !!) but that's infinitely better than sitting on the lonely side of an inquiry panel explaining why you've hurt someone (or worse) or lost supply to something important - like 18 miles of railway back in the day, lets not go there !

Being an engineer is about attention to detail.

All the best.

[kev b]

Adding something positive to my earlier downbeat post I will second the note taking advice, many times this has saved hours and made me look smarter than I am.

[anonymous-user]

Be prepared to read the maintenance manual, schematic etc in your own time, assuming you can get them off site legitimately.

[Willlll]

What sort of plant are you working in then?

I'm 3 years out of my time and the youngest at my place to make Engineer. Moved from Electrical Maintenance to the Automation side as it seems the best combination of money, prospects and satisfaction.

I think the most solid advice this early on is attitude based. So many lads have come through either half soaked or too cheeky and one by one nobody could be bothered to try with them. Show interest, respect and have a laugh and everything should fall in to place. The fact your posting here for advice is a good sign.

[Xaero]

Benbay001 said:

robinessex said:

Ask the other guys what tools are most needed. Just buy what I would call the basics. Anything specialised, the company should have those in the tool store. As for £500. Well considering garage mechanics have tool sets in the £1,000s, that's not a lot. Don't look at a Snap On catalogue, you'll have a heart attack!!!

Thats the thing though. Everyone has their own tools.
Everytime i borrow something its suggested (in a kind way) that i add it to my list. The list is fairly large already.

There is no "basic" tool set as my job role is going to be unbelieveably varied.

Every company is different here though, so it will depend on that later. When I first started at the company I'm at now, after a few months of borrowing tools to work out what I needed, they said to go and order it and they will check it and then pay. It totalled around £300 or so and a few days later I got over £1k of tools landing on my desk. My manager said as a professional there is no point in saving money on cheap tools, so just changed what I selected to more higher quality ones.

[Benbay001]

My tools arrived! Shiny they are too!
No questions were asked. Been told to start compiling another list of things i find that i need.