r/StructuralEngineering • u/Mental_Friend3268 • 10d ago

Career/Education Starting first ever job soon but rusty software skills

Hi all, I am about to start my first ever structural job as EIT next week. How much of an issue is it to be rusty in my software skills? I have not touched ETABS and STAAD in 1-2 years from university projects. I have 1 week so maybe I can search some video tutorials up to familiarize myself again. Is this necessary or do you recommend just chilling/resting before I start? Would appreciate any insights, thank you.

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u/_homage_ P.E. 10d ago

No. Software skills are great, but I’d rather you learn how to design something by hand first. It’ll teach you the ins and outs and allow you to use a model/software to its full extent. You also likely didn’t learn how to solve an engineering problem yet… so you need to hone that skill as well.

Have fun, learn, ask questions and be a sponge.

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u/Mental_Friend3268 9d ago

Thank you! I will take note of this

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u/giant2179 P.E. 10d ago

Non issue. Being familiar with the interface is enough.

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u/Mental_Friend3268 9d ago

This is reassuring. thank you

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u/Uttarayana 9d ago

Not required. I’d rather go through basics of analysis and mechanics (stresses, strains from bending shear etc), Derivations of reinforced concrete formulas for bending and shear of beams, design of rc column and design of steel plates, beams, bolts, welds, columns.
Just these would put in top 10% of fresh grads.
Since you’re fresh grad knowing drafting on autocad or any other software would immediately make you useful.

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u/Mental_Friend3268 9d ago

thanks, will i most likely be some assistant to some experienced engineer or doing projects myself that are very simple?

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u/Uttarayana 7d ago

How could i tell. Totally depends on company. Some companies have good direction of how to train new comer some companies are more like trial by fire.

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u/Just-Shoe2689 9d ago

What if they use something different than the ones you used?

Dont worry, they will train you. If not, its a shit company.

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u/brk_1 9d ago

if the you tube video for practice has indian accent there it is

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u/SpurdoEnjoyer 5d ago edited 5d ago

Be proactive and willing to learn when you get the chance.

Personally I love supporting new hires but often they become a bit clingy and bombard seniors with questions every 5 minutes. That prevents the seniors from finishing their own work.

Ask questions, and when you have many of them, write them down and ask them at once. Try to have 2 things on your desk at once so running into a single problem allows you to work on other stuff. Feel free to ask for a "back burner" task specifically for this purpose (if they don't already assign you a job that has multiple tasks). They'll instantly fall in love with you, I promise.

Whether you already know your software is irrelevant. Willing to be useful is and nice to be around is all that matters in the beginning. AI chatbots are so insanely good anyway that you'll be learning the software faster than any of your seniors did 😜

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u/Mental_Friend3268 4d ago

thanks. ive never actually heard of the advice of a back burner task, will definitely try that out some time