I Don’t Need to Know This (Yet): Six Tips to Help New Engineers Navigate Unfamiliar Concepts

Early-career engineer Caitlin Halla shares her strategies for managing the overwhelming influx of information in her role, emphasizing the importance of recognizing that it's okay not to know everything immediately. She suggests practical approaches such as maintaining a journal for topics to explore later, asking questions strategically, seeking help from experienced colleagues, learning at a comfortable pace, identifying learning opportunities, and finding mentors. These methods help maintain perspective and set realistic expectations, underscoring the necessity of time and patience in developing an engineering career. Halla also highlights the supportive role of team members and mentors in navigating the challenges of a new career.