Trying to determine if I should start job searching, my current work is pretty toxic.

Trying to determine if I should start job searching, my current work is pretty toxic. I work as an entry level engineer, wrapping up my civil engineering degree. I enjoy my job because of the flexibility and I am required to be on-site everyday. I currently qualify for other construction jobs that are working from home.

I mentioned the thought of going to med-school and some of the engineers hardly talk to me and get this sense of being socially excluded and I could understand why, just their own insecurities. I'm just trying to get some advice on seeing if this is a good time to start applying. Kinda thinking of getting more experience and finishing my degree and revisit applying elsewhere.

What bugs me the most is walking into a work culture where everyone feels dead inside while I walk in trying to greet everyone and ask them how everything is going and trying to collaborate. I'm more human service driven and feel like I would enjoy applying elsewhere. Thoughts?

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  1. Anonymous

    You need to do what's right for you. If you are being pulled in another direction, listen to your heart.

    I would consider finishing your degree if you are close so you have something to show for your time and effort.

    Toxicity exists everywhere so don't think this place is much different than most everywhere. So the job might not be a fit.

  2. Anonymous

    So what I’m reading is you’re finishing up your engineering degree, do not like your work environment that is entry level, and are thinking about going to med school. Sounds like you are not sure of your direction. And that you are seeking something from your coworkers you are not getting. What you do know is you want to be in a happy environment. If so, med school is difficult and isn’t all butterflies and flowers. Figure out first what type of role you seek, then figure out what environments support that. Then seek that. Do you want to be an engineer or do you want to work in the medical field? Internally answer those questions then seek that.

  3. Anonymous

    If you don't like this career path, definitely look at others. That being said, maybe look at options you have that are different fields that branch from engineering.

    Med school is starting all over again with a 10-12 year path until you have a real chance to earn and just enjoy life while earning. You will also likely build a massive amount of debt on your way to finishing all the levels of education and have a very difficult and time consuming job in medicine waiting at the end of it. I am guessing you are relatively young and enjoyed school and learning but after school, the hard work of adulting starts.

    Look at your life outside of your career and education.

    What do you want that isn't just about school and work.

    I know this is a career focused site, but we need to live actual lives as well. Life cannot be all about work, or you're going to find that at the end of all this medical training, there's still something else missing that you're looking for.

    Obviously you're a very driven person because engineering is a tough field to earn a degree for. Kudos to you for that accomplishment in itself. What have you looked at that could incorporate your engineering knowledge but not just be about making sure a structure will stand? If you like working with people and, unlike most engineers, have an actual personality, might I suggest becoming a sales engineer?

    I know, I know, "ick, sales". Hear me out. These jobs are in high demand in multiple fields of engineering and since they are very technical, typically it's less about having to push to close a sale than bridging the gap between the actual marketing & sales team of a company (who do all of the actual prospecting and initial pitching) and the people in a plant/facility with their feet on the ground who need to know if the product/service being pitched is going to integrate well with their existing systems while improving efficiency. You could probably even find one of these jobs in a more medical field if you wanted to.

    Sales engineers typically earn a very high income and if you wanted to could probably find something that involved travel as well. See the world while working, so to speak. The possibilities are limitless and you are likely to find that human emotional component you're looking for. You would also have time for friends, family, LIVING.

    Please also think about the current topic of the day, AI. AI may very well begin to take away roles in both engineering AND medicine. But you cannot so easily replace the human component. Sales or people skills could help you avoid hitting an AI dust heap.

    As a woman in a family of engineers, I can also say that your work environment may not be as toxic as you feel like it is. Engineering (especially civil) is very male dominated and these are typically also guys with the absolute least amount of emotional intelligence. Yes, they're good guys but they aren't very outgoing and like to stick to a certain path. You are trying to talk in colors to a group people who think in a very black and white way.

    Not trying to discourage you if you're really dying to be a doctor, but there are paths that don't involve starting all over again.

    Best of luck whatever you decide.

  4. Julie E

    Great advice!

  5. Anonymous

    Excellent advice.

  6. Anonymous

    Where would I go to become a sales engineer? Or what companies higher for that role?

  7. Anonymous

    Start looking now before the toxic behavior becomes too unbearable. The job market is terrible right now and it may take longer than expected to find something new.

  8. Anonymous

    Thoughts? You are early in your career. Absorb what you can from each environment you work in, not all will be sunshine, rainbows and puppy dogs. Find a mentor amidst this place you work and let them know you chose them because of their experience and you hope to absorb their expertise since you are so new to the field. Give this job at least a year and keep your future aspirations to yourself because for some others their livelihood is set and so is their career trajectory. Get some experience where you currently are and be grateful that you have so much flexibility. Plan out your next 5-10 years with a timeline of where you hope to be. Take the education upswing if you decide to but don't involve others opinions because you still have to learn on the job you are in and they probably do not care about your future wants and needs. Focus on the job you were hired to do and don't think you are better than others just because you are not burnt out or tired like they may be. You come from a different style of communication and generational learning and you need to adjust to where you are, if you don't you will always be dissatisfied and unhappy. Changing jobs won't fix this, changing your attitude about yourself and how you interact with those who are different than you in a work environment will. Loosen up, you don't know everything.

  9. Anonymous

    No one cares about your dabbling in other potential career plans. But no one wants to work with someone on their team that isn't committed. This is not based on insecurities. It's based on a sense you have one foot out the door. Why invest the time.

    I think you need to either leave and go back to school or prove your commitment and value add.

  10. GirlBossanova934974

    As a long time degreed engineer in a few disciplines, this talk of moving to another career path before one even has one's degree in hand, can be rather irritating. One thinks of all the time and money put into becoming XYZ and some other person is already walking away without even getting their hands dirty. Engineering especially civil is one of those professions where one puts in their time and earns one's way up the ladder. The next step is getting one's PE license for civil. Very few people are just going to want to collaborate with you. You have to earn your stripes and a university degree is just the start!!!

  11. Julie E

    They’re engineers. It’s not in their nature to be social and chatty. I was married to one and dated one before him. I also worked in marketing at an engineering firm. The next man won’t be an engineer. They’re a different breed. Some of them may be on the spectrum. Watch Big Bang Theory and pay attention to Sheldon. He’s an extreme version but engineers tend to be more introverted and are not always the warmest people. I wouldn’t take it personally. Continue to be friendly and they may eventually reciprocate when they get to know you better. I’m sure not all of them are like that but they’re the exception.

  12. Dyana Wade

    The most important person in your job is you. If you feel that your work environment is toxic, then you need to do whatever necessary to remove yourself and look elsewhere. Please also keep in mind that the grass is not always greener elsewher and sometimes you need to kiss a few frogs before you find the prince. I'm wishing you the best!

  13. misskelleyp

    Certainly you should finish your engineering degree (if you're close) before thinking about med school. As to working from home, I really think this is a bad idea early in one's career. The in-office experience is very valuable as you learn to work. That said, if you don't enjoy your current job it can't hurt to start looking around for what else might suit you. Good luck.

  14. Rosemaryac

    Yes. From personal experience, it won't get better. That everyone seems dead inside speaks volumes, i.e., you're probably not the only person feeling that it's a dysfunctional environment. I understand the plans you've laid out for yourself, and if you can make it through this experience, stay; however, I also feel that, even if the job you find by leaving now doesn't align perfectly with your plans, you will get so much more out of landing in a place that is more collaborative. And you will probably learn skills you're not even aware of, but that will benefit you in the future.

  15. Wanda

    Must be a major downer to walk into a work environment where there's no life, especially if you're full of enthusiasm and joy. However, in my opinion, it probably isn't worth losing the flexibility that you currently have at your workplace, especially if you like what you're doing.

  16. Barb LaPierre

    Get your engineering degree! One of the best eye surgeons I ever had ( and ranked as one of the best in the country) had both an engineering degree and M.D.

  17. Ayian

    A few things here:

    First, my experience is that people who work in the nonprofit sector are often more engaged than people who have a standard job. I'm not sure what may be available in that sector for a civil engineer, but having a look may help inspire you for a direction to move in.

    You didn't actually clarify parts of the work culture that's toxic. If it's just that working so they can get home and live their lives thing or not being super social at work, that's not toxicity. If there's other stuff that meets some criteria of toxicity for you, the answer is always to leave. There are other people and other jobs, always. Be more purposeful with your next job about the culture you want to have at work and discuss that within interviews; interviews are for the employer and yourself to get to know each other.

    If you're interested in getting an additional degree or qualification, it's easier to get them earlier in life than later. I would encourage you to start on it now rather than waiting to see what your next job is like.

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