I’ve been with the company for over a year now, and today my supervisor in HSE told me it would be a good time to take vacation, since there won’t be much progress on the projects for the rest of the year. It sounds like things won’t stabilize until sometime in early 2026. To be honest, this has me a bit unsettled, and I’m wondering if this is typical for the industry, or if this kind of uncertainty is something I should expect more of in the coming years.
For context, this is my first "real" job after college. Before this, I worked as a lifeguard back in my hometown in Kansas and as a TA during school, so this is a pretty big step for me. The work here has been relatively smooth, but I’m starting to worry I’m missing something or maybe it’s just too easy. I don’t know if I should be more concerned about the lack of challenge or if the role is just in a weird phase. Is this the norm for engineers at my level, or am I not fully understanding the scope of my position?
I really want to keep this job—it’s by far the best-paying opportunity I’ve had—but I’m feeling a bit stuck right now. I spoke with my dad last night, and he suggested I come back home, but I know that’s just what parents say when they’re worried. What I’d really appreciate is some honest feedback from others who’ve been in a similar situation. I’ve always been a bit of a loner, and I haven’t really made many connections at work, which is starting to make me feel isolated. I’m worried that could be working against me.
If anyone has been through something like this or has some real advice to offer, I’d be truly grateful. I’m not looking for jokes or judgment, just some straightforward guidance.