What I Realized as a New Site Engineer

Enjoying My Role So Far

I don’t know if it is early to conclude, but for now, I think I am enjoying becoming a site engineer.

What I mean is managing people, giving them tasks, and supervising them.

The Challenge of Dealing with Different People

One thing that I don’t like here is that you need to deal with different types of people, whether they have good or not-so-good behavior.

But anyway, I am still learning how to deal with them well and how I can handle them correctly without making them feel that I am getting personal—just being professional and pure work.

Although most of the time, they are getting personal and raising their voice, knowing that they already have experience and they know more than you. But as they said, you better use these people instead of outshining them.

You can use them as your ally, just like what is written in 48 Laws of Power if you’ve read it before. Honestly, I haven’t finished reading it yet, but if you start reading it, you will see how the author wants to show you—or wants you—to use manipulation to your advantage.

Which you can actually use on-site and at work.

I often use what I learned from the book, which is kinda helpful in this industry. Sometimes I feel that they have superiority issues, as they don’t want to feel that you are above them.

But you must learn to balance this, because they can eat you alive if you let them use you.

Learning From Experienced Workers

I always keep my boundaries. At least I am learning from them. What I mean is that you should use it to your advantage.

Absorb everything that you can, especially if you are just starting, because you can learn a lot from them—especially if they are already in this industry for a long time, which obviously, you don’t.

Why I Enjoy Management

Anyway, going back to my profession—I always felt, since before, that I love managing people and giving them their tasks.

It is more like project management, which I am at least getting from my current job as an engineer.

On-Site vs Office Work

I’m not sure, maybe this could change in the future. Especially since I haven’t experienced corporate or office jobs yet, where there are cold rooms and air-conditioning.

You won’t experience that on-site, just your site office/barracks and your electric fan.

Another one is that you have a lot of time on-site, I think, compared to office work. Just like now—I can write this blog and reflection post while the workers are doing their job. Later, I will check what they are doing and supervise them.

Struggles With Decision-Making

I am still learning how to be firmer and more confident when it comes to decision-making, as I suck at it and the workers are taking advantage of it.

When I finally learn more in this industry, I am sure I can improve my managing and supervision skills. But for now, I am still learning.

The reason is that I can’t decide that much immediately, because I don’t know what might really happen if I do something or not.

In this industry, one wrong decision can cost you more time, money, and effort of the workers—which I avoid.

Still Figuring Out My Path

And yes, that’s it… I think it is still early for me to conclude which path I should take.

But I know that being a site engineer won’t give me much flexible time in the future, because I need to go to work and just be stuck in a 9–5 job.

I am still at my early stage as an adult, so I don’t want to rush things. But of course, I have my goals that I want to achieve.