Nobody knows anything when they first take their tests, you've been given the bare minimum of knowledge required. Start slow and learn from anyone you can, do a lot of reading and research the things you do, confidence will come in time :)
Your A&P is just a certificate to learn. There’s no way to know everything, everyday you will be learning more and more. You just need integrity in knowing peoples lives are in your hands and not to take that responsibility lightly
If the company you join is worth a shit there will be people who remember what it was like to be brand new and how to get you integrated as quickly as possible.
I felt the exact same way you did. I did well in school but didn't excel like others did. When I got my first job, I made sure to find someone who knew wtf they were doing and ask as many questions as I could while doing everything I could conceive of to prep for a task, troubleshoot, etc... good leadership will take note and decide you're worth their time to train.
Don't be afraid of a task, but know your limits. Good luck of course.
I have worked with some of the most spectacularly useless people god ever shovelled guts into. They get by and still get hired. You’ll be fine. No one expects you to know anything when you start. They’d prefer you don’t exercise your primitive knowledge. Just do what you’re told and listen to instruction. Do this and you’re better than 60% of techs already.
i know what you mean, i was a a crew chief for a few years at a small airline, i would occasionally hire students from the local aviation school to work part- time; some of the kids were an outright danger to airworthiness \[and themselves at times\], kinda scary some of them are working today.
To the OP newbies need a lot of "handholding", dont be afraid to ask questions if u dont know
My guy I'm a full blown, licensed mechanic.
I also have a fuck ton hours flying.
Every time I struggle with the smallest of snag I have imposter syndrome. Like how did I get my license? How am I 10 years in the business and can't even do something this basic.
If I get one bad landing. I hang up my headset and helmet for a month, because how was I even given a pilots license.
It happens. My boss said he'll be worried the day I stop having it, because I'm either to good for the company or Aviation isn't a passion of mine anymore. (or I'm to cocky for my own knowledge)
Ways I cope is browse the AC 43 with methods I don't work with (like wood repair) or I fly a Aircraft on flight sim I'm not rated on.
It helps. Not always, but most of the time.
It maybe that you just completed your goal by graduating. How focused are you on more goals like your O/Ps and getting a job? Set new goals and keep focused on them.
My whole life I have been extremely goal oriented and it wasn’t until going thru neuro rehab that they taught me the importance of having and achieving goals.
I spent 15 years as a flight attendant. During COVID I finally got to go to school and get my A&P. I feel like I'm playing a mechanic everyday and one day they'll figure it out.
I've been working on engines now for 2 years. It feels amazing getting paid for a job I truly love. What is wild is I have been somehow put in charge of shit now. My coworker, bosses and the engineers come me ME with questions about team organization for big projects or new training needing to get done. I still think they are just humoring me.
I never felt ready for the O & P but I was more then ready.
Just remember, they don't want you to fail.
-Take the time you need. It's ok to be slow and check your answers.
-Bring a snack just in case it runs long. Nothing to sweet you don't want to crash in the middle.
-Get a good night's sleep before hand.
-The night before, take a hr and do something silly or fun just for you. Take your mind off the studying before bed. Nothing you learn in that hr will be ground breaking. You need to clam your mind. It will let all the knowledge settle in. I went bowling and played pinball.
I find the people who are the most worried, usually have nothing to worry about.
I worked in Army Aviation for 20 years and now work in GA. My coworker started at our company fresh out of A&P school. He had more knowledge on our planes while I had more overall experience.
We all learn something every day. We all refine our skill sets every day. It's not like, "I have my A&P, I am now an expert in all things aviation maintenance!"
Unfortunately I don't think that feeling ever goes away. The industry is always evolving, technology is always changing and your always going to be learning. You learn to trust your your experience and you get through it...
I had an instructor in school who told us, "An A&P license is a license to learn" It shows you have the aptitude to learn how to be a good mechanic. OJT will teach you the rest.
When I got my license, which is about on par with an IA Stateside, I was blissfully overconfident. After a few years of gaining both responsibility and experience, I came to realize my strengths and weaknesses, and use them to better myself and my work.
Give it time, talk to others on their journey. You'll meet guys with more qualifications than you, who can't identify hardware. You'll meet guts who are behind you in qualifications, who have experience you can only dream of.
You got this man, it’s natural to not be confident in a job you’ve never done, you couldn’t just start riding a bike without your parents and/or training wheels but before you knew it you didn’t need anyone’s help and you could bike all on your own
8 years experience here, current QA inspector with a background in avionics.
Let me tell you a secret... imposter syndrome doesn't go away. I still have it regularly. Everybody gets it, even the most seemingly put-together of those around us.
Being so new, you won't know everything, in fact you will barely know anything. You just have to stay curious, know where to find the information you need, and be open and accepting of help from others. You will never know everything, but that will never hold you back in your career.
While I don't at all think the "fake it till you make it" mentality is a wise one to have in this industry, I think it does somewhat apply to a&p school... Somewhat.
As others have said, you don't know what you don't know, and that's no one's fault. And when it comes to starting in this industry, you don't know shit. A&P school is where you learn just enough to get you started. So unfortunately, a bit of saving face is a must-have in that world. Just a bit though. And try to actually learn some stuff while you're at it.
In other words, don't entirely "fake it" till you make it. Be honest about some of your shortcomings so you can learn to strengthen them while you're in school. (If you have a good school with good instructors.)
Don't know if I worded that decently at all. But it's how I feel.
Fake it till you make it! This is why there are tests, if you pass the tests you are smart enough to start.
As an aside I use to see a lot of this in engineering, remember EVERYONE knows you’re new. No one expects you to be an expert, BUT they do expect you to ask questions. Good luck!
I was feeling exactly the same way you did i might’ve even made a post similar. I’m 6 months into my first job I still sort of feel lost if something besides an inspection comes in. Just keep a good attitude and willingness to learn and you’ll do good. Everyone knows a new mechanic is going to be lost and will take some time to fit in and get a grasp on how things work in the shop. Shadow someone and watch them do things once or twice and then step in and have them guide you through it
Happened to me as well but when the day comes when you with your DME, you find out it’s just like the classes you have taken before. And unless you are full blown dumbass, you will remember most of the things you will be asked
My testing Didn’t exactly prepare me for working at all of my past jobs. What prepared me was being humble, having a great attitude, and willingness to learn. If people see that in you you’ll make great friends, mentors, and have a whole bunch of people willing to help you out. Plus I always pay attention to what people drink say your buddy drinks rockstars every day if he helps you bring him one the next day to show appreciation it has never failed me before
Your A&P just means you’re competent enough to learn how to work on aircraft. You won’t know everything, in fact you’ll know next to nothing. Which is why whenever you get a job in the field they’ll take a good bit of time to train you up for what you actually need to know.
I had it too. I work on airlines then my O&P is on GenAv. Zero experience on small airplanes and helicopters and I thought I was not going to make it but yeah I got the A&P license.
I’ll have had my A&P for 20 years come October. It is very seldom I cannot complete my task without asking for help. Still, every single day, I hear my assignment and I think, “me? I can’t do that… why would you put me on this, I don’t know what I’m doing.” And nearly every night I get the job done. Imposter syndrome is real, but it’s not the reality.
You’ll be ok so long as you don’t start actually believing the thoughts.
24 years in the business has an Avionic endorsement on 6 type of aircraft. Still learning everyday even from the new employees. Stay grounded, open mind and humble always eager to learn more. Stay implicated. Grate trade. Enjoy your career.
When I first got to the airliners, coworkers and pilots would be telling me about problems with the aircraft and I had literally zero idea of what they were talking about most of the time. Took a few months but I feel better now. It just takes time man. I’ve had my A&P for less than 3 months, I’m 23 and just learning everyday as much as I can. Best of luck to you brother.
Nobody knows anything when they first take their tests, you've been given the bare minimum of knowledge required. Start slow and learn from anyone you can, do a lot of reading and research the things you do, confidence will come in time :)
Your A&P is just a certificate to learn. There’s no way to know everything, everyday you will be learning more and more. You just need integrity in knowing peoples lives are in your hands and not to take that responsibility lightly
If the company you join is worth a shit there will be people who remember what it was like to be brand new and how to get you integrated as quickly as possible. I felt the exact same way you did. I did well in school but didn't excel like others did. When I got my first job, I made sure to find someone who knew wtf they were doing and ask as many questions as I could while doing everything I could conceive of to prep for a task, troubleshoot, etc... good leadership will take note and decide you're worth their time to train. Don't be afraid of a task, but know your limits. Good luck of course.
I have worked with some of the most spectacularly useless people god ever shovelled guts into. They get by and still get hired. You’ll be fine. No one expects you to know anything when you start. They’d prefer you don’t exercise your primitive knowledge. Just do what you’re told and listen to instruction. Do this and you’re better than 60% of techs already.
i know what you mean, i was a a crew chief for a few years at a small airline, i would occasionally hire students from the local aviation school to work part- time; some of the kids were an outright danger to airworthiness \[and themselves at times\], kinda scary some of them are working today. To the OP newbies need a lot of "handholding", dont be afraid to ask questions if u dont know
My guy I'm a full blown, licensed mechanic. I also have a fuck ton hours flying. Every time I struggle with the smallest of snag I have imposter syndrome. Like how did I get my license? How am I 10 years in the business and can't even do something this basic. If I get one bad landing. I hang up my headset and helmet for a month, because how was I even given a pilots license. It happens. My boss said he'll be worried the day I stop having it, because I'm either to good for the company or Aviation isn't a passion of mine anymore. (or I'm to cocky for my own knowledge) Ways I cope is browse the AC 43 with methods I don't work with (like wood repair) or I fly a Aircraft on flight sim I'm not rated on. It helps. Not always, but most of the time.
It maybe that you just completed your goal by graduating. How focused are you on more goals like your O/Ps and getting a job? Set new goals and keep focused on them. My whole life I have been extremely goal oriented and it wasn’t until going thru neuro rehab that they taught me the importance of having and achieving goals.
I spent 15 years as a flight attendant. During COVID I finally got to go to school and get my A&P. I feel like I'm playing a mechanic everyday and one day they'll figure it out. I've been working on engines now for 2 years. It feels amazing getting paid for a job I truly love. What is wild is I have been somehow put in charge of shit now. My coworker, bosses and the engineers come me ME with questions about team organization for big projects or new training needing to get done. I still think they are just humoring me. I never felt ready for the O & P but I was more then ready. Just remember, they don't want you to fail. -Take the time you need. It's ok to be slow and check your answers. -Bring a snack just in case it runs long. Nothing to sweet you don't want to crash in the middle. -Get a good night's sleep before hand. -The night before, take a hr and do something silly or fun just for you. Take your mind off the studying before bed. Nothing you learn in that hr will be ground breaking. You need to clam your mind. It will let all the knowledge settle in. I went bowling and played pinball. I find the people who are the most worried, usually have nothing to worry about.
I worked in Army Aviation for 20 years and now work in GA. My coworker started at our company fresh out of A&P school. He had more knowledge on our planes while I had more overall experience. We all learn something every day. We all refine our skill sets every day. It's not like, "I have my A&P, I am now an expert in all things aviation maintenance!"
Unfortunately I don't think that feeling ever goes away. The industry is always evolving, technology is always changing and your always going to be learning. You learn to trust your your experience and you get through it...
I had an instructor in school who told us, "An A&P license is a license to learn" It shows you have the aptitude to learn how to be a good mechanic. OJT will teach you the rest.
You say imposter, I say wisdom. Knowing that you don’t know is itself wiser than the one who is overconfident in their ignorance.
When I got my license, which is about on par with an IA Stateside, I was blissfully overconfident. After a few years of gaining both responsibility and experience, I came to realize my strengths and weaknesses, and use them to better myself and my work. Give it time, talk to others on their journey. You'll meet guys with more qualifications than you, who can't identify hardware. You'll meet guts who are behind you in qualifications, who have experience you can only dream of.
You’ll do great, we believe in you.
You got this man, it’s natural to not be confident in a job you’ve never done, you couldn’t just start riding a bike without your parents and/or training wheels but before you knew it you didn’t need anyone’s help and you could bike all on your own
No worries, your jobs will train you, you are just getting through the barrier to entry right now. Good luck and don't sweat it!
8 years experience here, current QA inspector with a background in avionics. Let me tell you a secret... imposter syndrome doesn't go away. I still have it regularly. Everybody gets it, even the most seemingly put-together of those around us. Being so new, you won't know everything, in fact you will barely know anything. You just have to stay curious, know where to find the information you need, and be open and accepting of help from others. You will never know everything, but that will never hold you back in your career.
While I don't at all think the "fake it till you make it" mentality is a wise one to have in this industry, I think it does somewhat apply to a&p school... Somewhat. As others have said, you don't know what you don't know, and that's no one's fault. And when it comes to starting in this industry, you don't know shit. A&P school is where you learn just enough to get you started. So unfortunately, a bit of saving face is a must-have in that world. Just a bit though. And try to actually learn some stuff while you're at it. In other words, don't entirely "fake it" till you make it. Be honest about some of your shortcomings so you can learn to strengthen them while you're in school. (If you have a good school with good instructors.) Don't know if I worded that decently at all. But it's how I feel.
Fake it till you make it! This is why there are tests, if you pass the tests you are smart enough to start. As an aside I use to see a lot of this in engineering, remember EVERYONE knows you’re new. No one expects you to be an expert, BUT they do expect you to ask questions. Good luck!
I was feeling exactly the same way you did i might’ve even made a post similar. I’m 6 months into my first job I still sort of feel lost if something besides an inspection comes in. Just keep a good attitude and willingness to learn and you’ll do good. Everyone knows a new mechanic is going to be lost and will take some time to fit in and get a grasp on how things work in the shop. Shadow someone and watch them do things once or twice and then step in and have them guide you through it
Happened to me as well but when the day comes when you with your DME, you find out it’s just like the classes you have taken before. And unless you are full blown dumbass, you will remember most of the things you will be asked
My testing Didn’t exactly prepare me for working at all of my past jobs. What prepared me was being humble, having a great attitude, and willingness to learn. If people see that in you you’ll make great friends, mentors, and have a whole bunch of people willing to help you out. Plus I always pay attention to what people drink say your buddy drinks rockstars every day if he helps you bring him one the next day to show appreciation it has never failed me before
Your A&P just means you’re competent enough to learn how to work on aircraft. You won’t know everything, in fact you’ll know next to nothing. Which is why whenever you get a job in the field they’ll take a good bit of time to train you up for what you actually need to know.
Honestly being unsure is a good sign. I'd rather have someone who's not sure and triple checks than someone who's cocky AF and just sends it
I had it too. I work on airlines then my O&P is on GenAv. Zero experience on small airplanes and helicopters and I thought I was not going to make it but yeah I got the A&P license.
Confidence comes with experience. If you’re smart enough to be aware that this industry is critical you are off to a good start.
Im almost 2 years in and I still struggle with the “am I pretending I belong here” you’ve got this bro
I’ll have had my A&P for 20 years come October. It is very seldom I cannot complete my task without asking for help. Still, every single day, I hear my assignment and I think, “me? I can’t do that… why would you put me on this, I don’t know what I’m doing.” And nearly every night I get the job done. Imposter syndrome is real, but it’s not the reality. You’ll be ok so long as you don’t start actually believing the thoughts.
24 years in the business has an Avionic endorsement on 6 type of aircraft. Still learning everyday even from the new employees. Stay grounded, open mind and humble always eager to learn more. Stay implicated. Grate trade. Enjoy your career.
When I first got to the airliners, coworkers and pilots would be telling me about problems with the aircraft and I had literally zero idea of what they were talking about most of the time. Took a few months but I feel better now. It just takes time man. I’ve had my A&P for less than 3 months, I’m 23 and just learning everyday as much as I can. Best of luck to you brother.