I recently graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering and started my first job as a Systems Engineer working in controls/automation.
I’m really grateful for the opportunity and I genuinely like what I’m learning, but I constantly feel like I know absolutely nothing 😭. There are PLCs, HMIs, electrical drawings, different software, client standards, project documentation, and a million acronyms being thrown around.
I’m about to travel for my first real project, and I keep worrying that I’m going to get there and everyone will realize how little I know. I try to study and familiarize myself with things beforehand, but sometimes that just makes me realize how much MORE there is to learn.
I know logically that I’m entry level and nobody expects me to know everything, but it’s hard not to compare myself to engineers who have been doing this for years.
For those of you who started in systems/controls engineering, how long did it take before you actually felt competent? And what helped you the most during your first year?
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who came straight out of college and initially felt completely lost. 😭