i've been working at a new job for right at a year now, and i'm already starting to get burned out with it. its a development (mechanical) engineer position for a small startup company. as such, i get to do lots of things . . . literally everything from clean the toilets to metal fabrication to test driving humvees. i go to trade shows and to various military installations and test sites around the country, so its not like i never get out of the shop. however, we work a lot of hours, and some of the work is very challenging in a technical sense, a lot of it isn't. i'm beginning to feel that i'm being overlooked for some projects due to my inexperience in certain areas and just getting handed the grunt work. (for example, rebuilding shocks versus learning learing how to do vehicle dynamics simulation) and since i'm doing the grunt work all the time, i don't feel i'm getting the opportunity to take it to the next level.

7/26/2006 12:02:52 AM

To answer the thread's title question, I'd say avoiding being burned out involves being able to seperate work-time from non-work time. Also: make sure to get enough sleep, it can definitely affect how you feel about your work situation. Also, if your work isn't too social/interactive, perhaps you could try to mix in a little "hanging out with the coworkers" time in there, in between duller tasks.

To reply to the thread's content: there's not always a clear answer on how to step it up in the workplace. For some, you could show up earlier than everyone else in the office, and leave later - to show dedication, time-wise. But perhaps that's not an issue here, since you're saying that there are a lot of long hours as it stands already. Unfortunately career-related confidence can't really be taught, it seems to just be sorta earned through years of experience. At the year-mark though, it may be a sign that you should perhaps look for a better fit at another company. I believe whenever possible it's best to put in that year, and then from there, sometimes you just have to see what happens.

-ZiP!-

7/26/2006 12:18:58 AM

Start-up companies and all other companies differ with how many hours you have to put in. Me, I don't give a shit if I'm a month behind; I won't work more than 45-50 hours a week on a regular basis. I love my family, and enjoy my work, but I'll be damned if I'm going to miss my daughters first steps because of someone elses poor planning. "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part" Right now I am about a month behind on a project but it's just going to have to wait because the PM keeps pulling me off for other stuff and to do other people's job. I am not the right employee for a startup company. Because EVERYONE at startup comapnies has to work their asses off to get the company going in most cases. I'd much rather make my 8 and leave to spend time with my loved ones.

To answer your question... what ZiP said is pretty good, don't work so much, but if that's the case then you're working for the wrong company.

[Edited on July 26, 2006 at 6:21 AM. Reason : [b]]

7/26/2006 6:20:55 AM

^
From what was said, work-life balance is extremely important. My personal hapiness comes from being at home with the fiancee and the dog. My job is satisfying, but it isn't the source of my happiness. That can help with not burning out. So far as the job itself is concerned, ask to take the lead on a couple of things, even if they are small items.

7/26/2006 7:13:09 AM

I like what I do enough that I'm not any worse off when I work a 70 hour week versus a 30 hour week.

7/26/2006 8:40:36 AM

work/life balance is the simplest answer - are you the most inexperienced guy there? or are there other people in your same shoes getting the same grunt work

especially at a startup, you have to prove yourself first

7/26/2006 11:19:49 AM

Remind myself that I won't be here forever.

7/26/2006 11:55:10 AM

cornbread's got it nailed.

Work your 8 and bizz-ounce. Honestly, I don't think too much into work. I just show up, do what I do, and leave. I don't take work personally, and the very second I leave it's 100% out of my mind and getting home is on deck. And ZiP nailed another point: SLEEP. If I don't get at LEAST 6 hours, I really feel lame the next day, whereas getting 8 hours I feel like a champ and time doesn't seem to "drag."

7/26/2006 12:12:54 PM

Get a new job....this isn't 1950 and you don't have to stay there for 40 years.

7/26/2006 12:52:00 PM

I (try to) get plenty of rest

I actively try and learn new things and see if I can be useful in another aspect of my job (I do a lot of writing, but what about training for employees, or helping out with writing in different areas, trade show organization etc etc)

I make time to go see coworkers during the day, usually once before lunch and once after - even a 10 minute convesation breaks up the time, gives me renewed energy as I'm away from my cubicle, and gives my brain a bit of a rest.

I remind myself that I have to prove myself every single day, "average" employees don't get anywhere - whereas exceptional ones do (like sent to Costa Rica).

I'm still very new, but I've found that at other jobs these principles helped, no reason to stop them now!

7/26/2006 6:34:08 PM

after i graduated in 2000, i worked a 9-5 job for 5 years that i really didn't give a rat's ass about (manufacturing engineer =borrrring). when i walked out the door at 5, i didn't think about work again until i walked in the next day. when i was offered my current job, i jumped at it because it seemed like a great opportunity to gain valuable expereince. i'm hanging on right now because regardless of the work enviroment, it really is a lot of good hands on experience in an industry that i'm interested in. hopefully that will translate into a better job in the future. so its not like i'm hating it, just getting frustrated.

i think the suggestions about the work/life balance are key to being happier. i often hang out with some of the same people i work with (we've been friends since college actually), and invariably the convesation turns to work related issues. so its almost like being at work ALL the time. i feel like i'm in a doldrum right now, probably just need a break.

and yes, i am the least expereinced person there. i guess experience comes at a price.

[Edited on July 26, 2006 at 7:15 PM. Reason : .]

7/26/2006 7:14:03 PM

you don't.

7/27/2006 3:28:57 PM

Quote :

"I like what I do enough that I'm not any worse off when I work a 70 hour week versus a 30 hour week."

ditto. also, with the blackberry and laptop, personalilfe often gets meshed together with work-life. i don't mind it because i don't have a family to look after, and because this is not just a job, i feel its what i do as a productive citizen of the world.

we (coworkers) play golf and have beers together whenever we get a chance, whenever there's downtime. we also work out at the gym during lunch once or twice a week.

additionally, sometimes i'm here at the buttcrack of dawn, and again very late at night in order to participate in overseas telecons. i thus allow myself time in the middle of the day to peruse TWW and keep up with the capital markets.

7/27/2006 3:51:06 PM

Chop, id like to do what you do, hook it up.

7/27/2006 4:57:24 PM

caffeine

7/27/2006 5:34:25 PM

damn 5+ years of experience and you are the shit-job guy? what the hell.... get them to hire someone straight from school...

8/1/2006 11:03:09 AM

the prior 5 years was strictly manufactuing/production type stuff, not really related to what i'm doing now. my current work is much more hands on data acquisition, data analysis, testing, research and development type stuff. i really like doiing this type of work much better. but as far as relavent experience is concerned, i am that guy 'straight out of school' that the other engineers got them to hire.

even though i worked last weekend, and will probably be working this weekend and the next, i've resolved myself to doing my job as best i can and try to maintain a positive attitude.

8/1/2006 6:30:06 PM

cornbread won this thread

8/3/2006 8:27:01 AM

If you want more experience and better projects, volunteer for them. If you don't want to get stuck cleaning toilets, think of other things you could be doing and tell the boss you'll work on those things (provided they are benficial to the business). Basically, show that you are proactive. Even if the bossman doesn't put you on the projects you volunteer for, he will see that you are showing initiative, and he will think about that when projects come up that you ARE qualified for.

Do you have the option to further your education (ESPECIALLY at the company's expense)? If you have the money and time, maybe you should pursue another degree. That will give you something in your life besides your job (hopefully a degree in something you are passionate about), and open up more opportunities within and outside the business.

Socialize more. Either hang out with old friends or meet new ones or both. If you like your coworkers, but the conversation always ends up being about work, do something besides going to a bar and drinking with them. I live in a new city, and my circle of friends is my coworkers. At first, we would all just go to happy hour and talk about work. Later, a small group of us started rock climbing once a week. It's more active, so there's less time to talk about work, and it's a lot of fun and great for bonding.

Pick up a new hobby. Finding something to do in your free time that you look forward to might not improve your work day, but it could improve your quality of life. Start up a weight lifting program or something.

Take a long vacation.

Start doing some research on other jobs in your field. There are so many career options out there, it is easy to miss something that might end up being a good fit for you.

8/11/2006 10:12:14 PM

start looking for other jobs, you got a year of experience....my first real job after college lasted 6 months, the last two months i hated it....

[Edited on August 12, 2006 at 7:45 AM. Reason : w]

8/12/2006 7:45:03 AM

make mad posts in SB.

8/12/2006 3:42:08 PM

Ive ditched two high stress jobs after 6 months to go back for my PhD... I figured I won't be happy anywhere unless I have the freedom and life that being a professor can afford.

8/12/2006 10:21:17 PM

Why not ask to move up to doing more challenging things? Ask to tag along at the very least when they do vehicle dynamics simulations. Who do you work for?

[Edited on August 14, 2006 at 3:17 PM. Reason : .]

8/14/2006 3:17:29 PM

haha "ask to move up to doing more challenging things?"

that's good

8/14/2006 3:52:53 PM

Haha, as strange as it may seem some times, I've found that this can in fact work. Sometimes. Hell, just showing up when people are doing something above your level can get interesting.

8/14/2006 6:16:17 PM

its cool now, i talked it over with my coworkers and they agreed i've been somewhat getting the shaft recently. (even my boss recognized that today.) but they also pointed out something i hadn't realized, which is that i really have picked up a lot and have come a long ways from where i was last year at this time. everyone there is getting burned out due to a specific design issue that we can't seem to get worked out.

i've also been getting more exercise, which makes a huge difference in the way you generally feel through-out the day. i'm trying to talk my boss into sending me to a SAE seminar this fall, that will be the closest i get to them paying for grad school. at least for right now due to budgetary reasons.

thanks for everyone's input.

[Edited on August 14, 2006 at 10:53 PM. Reason : .]

8/14/2006 10:52:34 PM

Quote :

"Get a new job....this isn't 1950 and you don't have to stay there for 40 years."

That's what I did < a year after I got my first job. It wasn't really about getting bored/burned out, but I do enjoy the change of scenery.

8/15/2006 2:08:29 PM

vacation
occasional 3 day weekends
well rested sleep
40hrs of work a week... only extra if you are meeting deadlines
don't discuss work outside of the workplace
don't mix work with your home life unless you REALLY enjoy it and will not tire of it

The way I see it... if you work smart for 40hrs you can accomplish more than just 'working hard' for 60hrs. Be effecient in a typical 40hr work week and show results and you should not need to put in that extra time. Take on extra challenges at work above your normal level if you need variety... or ask for new types of projects (not just 'more work' which would just require more hours).

I have been working at small companies since graduation... first job I got burned out of quickly because I did not know how to handle it... since then I have been doing great and I love the small business environment way more than enterprise level... more fun/exciting stuff than the boring 'office space' cubicle job... grass isn't always greener on the other side blah blah etc...

[Edited on August 15, 2006 at 4:27 PM. Reason : lskdjflksjf]

8/15/2006 4:27:48 PM

find a hot co-worker to hook up with...should make things more interesting

8/15/2006 9:37:41 PM

ha ha, that'd be nice. hell, even a hot co-worker to just look at would be a change of pace.

8/16/2006 9:59:34 PM

they're called secretaries

8/19/2006 2:44:04 AM

^^who do you work for....your job sounds interesting....

8/26/2006 9:09:39 AM

i work for a company that develops AMRDS (active magneto-rheological damping systems) suspensions. Its similar to the delphi MagneRide system on the z06's and caddillacs, except we focus mainly on larger military vehicles, plus we have much more advanced control algorithms which are tuned specifically for the vehicle its going in. we'll hopefully be at production level within a months.

8/27/2006 12:00:04 AM

cocaine and lsd

8/27/2006 9:03:30 AM

We need more Mechanical Engineers at our office.

Do you like building systems (it's an architecture and engineering firm)?

[Edited on August 27, 2006 at 11:12 AM. Reason : .]

8/27/2006 11:10:53 AM

^where you at?

8/27/2006 3:38:01 PM

I love my job, but 14 months on the road....missing 2 xmases in a row(first time) Not too fun being in a hotel on xmas....I got my xmas presents waiting for me, along with Bday...

9/8/2006 8:32:46 PM

yeah but you get to brag about how much money you make on tww
no sympathy for you

9/11/2006 10:57:36 AM

i'd probably quit travelling immediately if i started missing things like that

9/11/2006 11:07:16 AM

^ Not if you made the bank he is.

I'd work on Christmas Eve and Day for that kinda dough

9/11/2006 11:11:07 AM

9/11/2006 11:25:46 AM

I work no more than 40 hours a week and sometimes just pretend to work and not really do anything. Kinda like Office Space. Oh, and volunteer for anything that comes along that's not more of the same old crap I do every day.

9/14/2006 6:38:06 PM

carry my ipod around with me and making plans to not be in this career nor this company forever

9/14/2006 11:01:58 PM