Entitlement?

[Sylvestre]

Do students still know the concept of "putting your time in"? Had two interviews over the last few days where the people came in, graduating in May (i.e. still in school), some co-op experience and are saying they want to be engineering project managers in 3 years?

It takes that long to just get your P.Eng, much less be a manager. What makes these people think that they will be a manager before 30?

It's great to be ambitious but seriously, if a person doesn't know the technical ins & outs of a job, how can they expect to manage and train juniors? It just shows me they have no interest in learning or expanding their technical skills, just in a title and money. (next time, go do business!).

Sorry but I'm venting! Promotions and titles come with proven job performance, not "just because". If you don't want to get your hands dirty and take orders, don't expect to lead. Everyone starts off at the bottom.

[Impossibles]

The truth is that people are getting more and more responsibility at younger ages then ever. It used to be that you put in your time, but now there are so many companies filling out so many jobs, young people are getting higher positions and pay than they have ever had in the past.

[Impossibles]

...and would you rather have somebody say 'I hope to be working in the corner, just doing enough work to not be fired in 3 years.'???

Ambition isn't bad.

[dark169]

When I was in school doing interviews I'd always answer the 2-3year time range with "getting my Peng and working my way up" type of answer and the 5-10 with the "moving into a more management type role"

[hugh_da_man]

I think the definition of project manager has changed.

I have 2 years experience and I could see myself being a team lead within the year and manager of a project within 2 from now. I anticipate being a project manager running and working on a project and reporting to a senior engineer.

The project manager of old is the guy who does it all and does all the upper level stuff. In most organizations I've been in, most of the planning has been pushed higher and project managers are left to coordinate and do work.

[BadDrafter]

Do students still know the concept of "putting your time in"? Had two interviews over the last few days where the people came in, graduating in May (i.e. still in school), some co-op experience and are saying they want to be engineering project managers in 3 years?

There are two E.I.T.s that lord over me that are just that, just out of school and project managers. One of them bosses around a senior designer who has 40 years of experience and knows quite a bit more than the kid knows at the moment. I work for this designer and in effect work for him as well.

Smug bastards.

When I get my iron ring I will show all of them who's boss. Years of institutionalized abuse by engineers has led me to the conclusion that the only way to beat them is to join them.