Dream Silently

I’ve finally decided how I feel about our new engineer and whether or not I think he’s worth the time and effort.

He’s arrogant and I have no desire to extend our relationship beyond the office.

I’m sitting in the cube that I have been forced into (long story) and he gets back from a meeting and starts randomly talking from his cube. He starts telling me that this girl he’s interacting with on one of our projects isn’t worthy of him talking to in a business relationship because she doesn’t have her PE and he doesn’t like the fact that over half the people he’s met or has to interact with (eg Clients) aren’t professionally licensed. The way he put it made it sound like anyone without a PE is below him and anyone, despite years of experience who chose not to get their licensing, isn’t worthy of his time.

If that doesn’t blink with florescant lights has arrogant, I don’t know what would. The mere fact that he believes himself better than those around him or who he interacts with is a sure step towards failing in this office.

A universal truth, in my opinion, when it comes to PEs or even advanced education, is that it doesn’t mean diddly squat if you have it and can’t use it or demonstrate that your competent enough in the knowledge to gain the trust of those your working for or with. Having a degree or a stamp DOES NOT guarantee automatic respect. You have to earn that respect by proving you are capable of doing everything a person without that stuff can do and that you are no different than them despite education.

I am happy to say that I don’t flaunt my degree around, nor do I flaunt the fact that I’m working on my masters. The last time my honey was out here in Elko, he told me that he got the sense that the people, especially my supervisors had respect for me and that they actually listen to my opinion or even allowed me to give one. I can happily say that I’ve earned that kind of respect. I’ve earned it by proving that I am capable of getting my hands dirty and am willing to put in the extra time to complete a job right.

I will be surprised if this individual lasts the summer.