Help me please...

[hypn0tik]

I'm a co-op student working at this company for the summer. When I had the interview with them, they gave me a sheet that listed the stuff I would be working on. Now, I was excited at the prospect of being able to do so many different things because it would really be good experience for me.

As it turns out though, that isn't the case. I've worked on 1 project, and the rest of the time I've been sitting in front of the computer doing purely mechanical work. I'm basically doing CAD drawings the whole time.

Now, about a month ago, I had a review with my boss and one other person (the person I'm doing the drawings for) and they asked me if there was anything that I wanted to say or something. So I asked them to be put into a project so I could see the financial side of things. One, because I'm interested in it, and two, I have a course I need to take on it in my second term this coming school year so practical experience is a bonus.

I don't want to seem ungreatful for getting to co-op at this company, but I feel I'm not gaining anything at all. Like I said, all I do is sit in front of the computer doing purely mechanical work. I haven't done anything that was mentioned in the interview, nor was I assigned anything that I asked for in the review. I've mentioned it to my boss a couple times and he's said 'Yeah, don't worry, we'll get you started on something.' It's been a month since the review meeting and so far, NOTHING.

I mean, quitting isn't an option because I need 600 hours of Engineering related work in order to graduate, so I'll be getting all those hours this summer. However, it means nothing if I don't gain anything from it.

What should I do? I actually want to learn something useful. I'm not sure how to approach my boss and ask him. Like I said, I don't want to seem ungreatful, nor do I want to come across as the annoying kid who wouldn't do as he was told.

Any suggestions?

Cliffs:
1. Doing an engineering co-op for the summer.
2. Was told that I would be doing many different things.
3. In reality, I'm doing purely mechanical things on the computer (CAD).
4. I don't feel like I'm gaining anything by doing this.
5. Quitting isn't an option. Need 600 hours of engineering related work to graduate.
6. Talked to boss about doing other things. He said I could, but never assigned me anything different.
7. What should I do? How do I go about asking him without coming across as a pest?

 

[tarheelmm]

suck it up and get the hours needed. You will have a lifetime of work

 

[MisterJackson]

You're their mule. You will be their mule until your time is up. They don't seem to care otherwise. Sorry dude.

 

[Brackis]

Ask an advisor or professor you know well to write a "check up" email asking how you have been doing? In it they can maybe say something to the extent of "___ is great at ____ and am hopeful he can come back to school with more confidence and knowledge with regards to ___ & _____"

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: tarheelmm
suck it up and get the hours needed. You will have a lifetime of work

I thought of that, but I actually want to GAIN something at my stay here.

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
You're their mule. You will be their mule until your time is up. They don't seem to care otherwise. Sorry dude.

Yeah, it seems that way. They want me back next summer because they are looking at me as an 'investment' but there's no way in hell I'm going to be back if this keeps up.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: Brackis
Ask an advisor or professor you know well to write a "check up" email asking how you have been doing? In it they can maybe say something to the extent of "___ is great at ____ and am hopeful he can come back to school with more confidence and knowledge with regards to ___ & _____"

This is a good idea. However, the problem is that I got this position independent of the University, so from the boss' POV, why would a Prof. be checking up on me? To get the hours, I need the boss to basically write a letter stating that I've completed over 600 hours of engineering related work.

 

[Brackis]

My other idea would be to perhaps talk with a coworker who runs projects and discuss with them your interest in helping in the near future; they can relay your/their interest in you getting on board.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: Brackis
My other idea would be to perhaps talk with a coworker who runs projects and discuss with them your interest in helping in the near future; they can relay your/their interest in you getting on board.

I have contemplated this, but I basically need my boss' approval to do something other than what I am assigned right? I don't want to overstep my boundaries and risk getting a bad reference from him later on. This is my first engineering related position I've had and the last thing I need is him saying to my next employer 'Yeah, this guy thought he was the sh!t and did what he wanted to do rather than what he was asked to do. Fvck him."

There are projects going on all the time, so I guess if he wanted me to help out with one, he would have assigned me to one already.

This is so frustrating. I'm basically their biatch and I don't like it.

 

[kranky]

A few questions:

Do they have you doing CAD work because they need to get that work done, and there's nobody else to do it?

How busy is your boss?

Are there any other co-ops there? What are they doing?

How did you get the co-op position?

 

[CaptnKirk]

Name the company . . . to protect future victims.

 

[iamwiz82]

What school?

I went to a co-op school and the standards they gave to employers was that first year students were given sh!t jobs, and every term you were given some more responsibility.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: kranky
A few questions:

Do they have you doing CAD work because they need to get that work done, and there's nobody else to do it?

Basically both. They have one person here responsible for the drawings (the one I'm doing them for) but she's busy with a whole bunch of different things so she has no time for them.

How busy is your boss?

Usually pretty busy. The lady I mentioned above needed to get some things signed from him. I've set up about 3 meeting times with him, but he always called them off saying he was busy with other stuff.

Are there any other co-ops there? What are they doing?

No. I am the only one.

How did you get the co-op position?

Through my dad. He used to work here before he got laid off due to restructuring.

Edit: Basically they don't have enough people to get all the work done so everyone is stretched thin. I guess that's one reason they hired me, but when they did, they made it look so promising.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Name the company . . . to protect future victims.

Lol. I don't know if I want to do that. Last thing I need is some neffer on ATOT who works for this company selling me out.

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
What school?

I went to a co-op school and the standards they gave to employers was that first year students were given sh!t jobs, and every term you were given some more responsibility.

University of Toronto.

 

[kranky]

OK, then here's my take.

They may have had good intentions initially, but once you turned out to be a good CAD operator, they couldn't resist keeping you on that task. It makes her job much easier, right?

You're in a tough spot. I'm sure you don't want to burn any bridges because of your father. And you've tried three times to meet with the boss but got blown off each time.

How about this approach? Ask your boss to meet for lunch. "I know you are very busy and our last three meetings have been canceled. Can we get together over lunch tomorrow?"

At the meeting, say that you aren't sure that you will get full credit for your co-op hours since all you have been doing is CAD work, and you need to be able to demonstrate that you have worked on the things outlined on the sheet they gave you at the interview. You are afraid that if all you do is CAD work, your (advisor/whomever at school) will conclude that you were unable to do the work on that sheet and it will look bad for you.

I know that's stretching the truth, but not that much. I wouldn't be 100% sure that doing CAD work all summer would appropriately count as Engineering-related work. Some, sure, but not all CAD, all the time.

At that point, try to get a read on how the boss is reacting. If it looks promising, suggest that you wrap up the CAD work this week and start working on X (have one of the projects in mind to suggest... don't make the boss come up with something.). If it doesn't look real promising, maybe suggest that you do CAD two days a week and work on a project the other three days. If the boss looks like he'd like to kill you with a rusty spoon, then let it go.

If it doesn't work, I think you're stuck. I guess you'd have to finish out the summer and go somewhere else next summer. But remember to tell the school about your rotten experience so they don't place anyone there in the future (even though you lined it up yourself).

 

[hypn0tik]

Well, the boss hasn't shown up yet today.

Anyone think asking him again will help? Perhaps this may be THE time?

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: kranky
OK, then here's my take.

They may have had good intentions initially, but once you turned out to be a good CAD operator, they couldn't resist keeping you on that task. It makes her job much easier, right?

You're in a tough spot. I'm sure you don't want to burn any bridges because of your father. And you've tried three times to meet with the boss but got blown off each time.

How about this approach? Ask your boss to meet for lunch. "I know you are very busy and our last three meetings have been canceled. Can we get together over lunch tomorrow?"

At the meeting, say that you aren't sure that you will get full credit for your co-op hours since all you have been doing is CAD work, and you need to be able to demonstrate that you have worked on the things outlined on the sheet they gave you at the interview. You are afraid that if all you do is CAD work, your (advisor/whomever at school) will conclude that you were unable to do the work on that sheet and it will look bad for you.

I know that's stretching the truth, but not that much. I wouldn't be 100% sure that doing CAD work all summer would appropriately count as Engineering-related work. Some, sure, but not all CAD, all the time.

At that point, try to get a read on how the boss is reacting. If it looks promising, suggest that you wrap up the CAD work this week and start working on X (have one of the projects in mind to suggest... don't make the boss come up with something.). If it doesn't look real promising, maybe suggest that you do CAD two days a week and work on a project the other three days. If the boss looks like he'd like to kill you with a rusty spoon, then let it go.

If it doesn't work, I think you're stuck. I guess you'd have to finish out the summer and go somewhere else next summer. But remember to tell the school about your rotten experience so they don't place anyone there in the future (even though you lined it up yourself).

This is a solid suggestion. I never though of it. Thank you for taking the time to type this all up. Just to clarify though, the 3 meetings that I requested were for something totally different.

I've brought up this issue with my boss once between my review (about 1 month ago) and now. I will definitely need to set up another appointment. I've contemplated with the idea of doing CAD stuff from after lunch to when I go home (12:30 - 4) and do other stuff in the mornings (7:30 - 12).

As far as the 600 hours are concerned though, on paper I'll get them without a problem. I'll type up my own letter and ask my boss to sign it. However, that's where it ends. On paper. I'd have no experience to show for it, which is what I'm more concerned about.

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: hypn0tik

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
You're their mule. You will be their mule until your time is up. They don't seem to care otherwise. Sorry dude.

Yeah, it seems that way. They want me back next summer because they are looking at me as an 'investment' but there's no way in hell I'm going to be back if this keeps up.

that's what you should tell them. tell them that you don't see yourself getting any growth potential out of this position and that you're probably going to look elsewhere next year.

and go for kranky's solution. it is definitely solid :thumbsup:

hopefully, they will give you an opportunity while the summer is left for you to gain excellent experience and also to cause you to reconsider the offer for next summer.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: tami

Originally posted by: hypn0tik

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
You're their mule. You will be their mule until your time is up. They don't seem to care otherwise. Sorry dude.

Yeah, it seems that way. They want me back next summer because they are looking at me as an 'investment' but there's no way in hell I'm going to be back if this keeps up.

that's what you should tell them. tell them that you don't see yourself getting any growth potential out of this position and that you're probably going to look elsewhere next year.

and go for kranky's solution. it is definitely solid :thumbsup:

hopefully, they will give you an opportunity while the summer is left for you to gain excellent experience and also to cause you to reconsider the offer for next summer.

Well, between you and me, I don't think I'll be coming back next summer regardless of what happens.

This year I actually plan on doing some solid school work, getting good grades and hopefully working for a Prof. next summer and stay in Toronto.

However, it's a good idea but I don't want to bring up next summer because I don't want them to think I'm making a commitment. It would be teh sux0r for my boss to say 'Yeah, he isn't true to his word.'

 

[bonkers325]

Originally posted by: tarheelmm
suck it up and get the hours needed. You will have a lifetime of work

yep. welcoming to the work of engineers. you are not qualified to do a lot of things, so they will assign tasks that they know for sure that you can complete. i get stuck on drafting tables for DEC projects and the like. it sucks but live with it.

 

[oznerol]

Christ, man, with this and your other EE post, you're in dire need of a reality check.

I suppose this desire to learn and get experience is a good thing, but you need to lighten up a little. You're an EE intern. Interns do bitch work. That's how it is, and how it's always been (unless you work for one of the big 3 - Intel, Microsoft, and, to a lesser extent now, IBM).

I think the problem is you're only going to be an EE junior, so you're still young and motivated. I give it until the end of this fall semester, once the genuine EE classes kick in, for you to have a complete change of heart.

If you're getting paid to do easy, stress-free work, then enjoy it. As an EE, times like that are few and far between. If you aren't getting paid, that is something to complain to your boss about. Plus, it's a good resume-booster, regardless of what you actually do.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: ducci
Christ, man, with this and your other EE post, you're in dire need of a reality check.

I suppose this desire to learn and get experience is a good thing, but you need to lighten up a little. You're an EE intern. Interns do bitch work. That's how it is, and how it's always been (unless you work for one of the big 3 - Intel, Microsoft, and, to a lesser extent now, IBM).

I think the problem is you're only going to be an EE junior, so you're still young and motivated. I give it until the end of this fall semester, once the genuine EE classes kick in, for you to have a complete change of heart.

If you're getting paid to do easy, stress-free work, then enjoy it. As an EE, times like that are few and far between. If you aren't getting paid, that is something to complain to your boss about. Plus, it's a good resume-booster, regardless of what you actually do.

I knew I was in for some bitch work but I didn't think that would be the only thing I'd be doing. I guess I had the wrong impression of what an intern does.

I guess you do have a point though. Enjoy while you still can.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: hypn0tik
I knew I was in for some bitch work but I didn't think that would be the only thing I'd be doing. I guess I had the wrong impression of what an intern does.

I guess you do have a point though. Enjoy while you still can.

He has more than a point. Your ultimate goal is to get your boss to sign the 600 hours worth of work letter. Don't lose sight of that.

There are two scenarios:

1) They told you the truth in the interview and intended to get you to do various tasks while they employed you.
2) They outrighted lied and never intended to get you to do anything but CAD work.

If it is number (2), then they are already immoral and might withhold the signature on your 600 hour letter if you push too hard.

Even though (2) is possible, I highly doubt it. So we are looking at (1). They are not giving you the work for two reasons:

1) They don't feel you can do it.
2) They want you to do CAD work over all other work.

If (1) is the case, then you need to stop complaining, put your nose to the grindstone and prove to them that you can handle the desired work.

If (2) is the case, then no matter what you do, you will not be given any other work.

 

[FoBoT]

many companies use/abuse interns, bummer for you

 

[chowmein]

watch office space

 

[Biggerhammer]

Kranky wins a for the most rational and well-written reply.

You're in the position of being good at a job that a senior employee doesn't want to do. Since it is more important to the company that she do higher-end things than it is to keep an intern happy, chances are they're going to want you to keep CADding as long as they have you. They may sweeten the job a bit in hopes of getting you to come back and do more grunt work but interns are at the bottom of the food chain, alas.

If Krnaky's suggestion does not change matters and you stick it out, at least you'll be more practiced in CAD. I know that it's a booby prize but you'll get your 600 hours and you'll know what to avoid when next you intern.