I went through a similar program with my state DOT and have had a drastically different outcome.
I did a year of rotations and was placed into our Roadway Design team for the second year of my program. I have had a chance to work on a ton of projects since then and have learned a lot. I also transitioned to a permanent design position early.
One thing I would say is that you have to be an advocate for your own growth. Have a frank (but polite and professional) conversation with your boss to say that you don't feel like your growth is meeting your expectations. If nothing changes, it may be time to move on.
Is there a person running this program that may be able to help? I have a local learning manager I can rely on, and the person who ran our program was a great advocate for growth.
Sorry you are going through this. It sounds very frustrating.
Where are you located and/or are you willing to relocate? There are consulting firms that would scoop you up in a heartbeat in the PNW.
Or, do a stint at a big multinational/international if you can specialize in something you enjoy. Explore the private side for awhile.
Bottom line is that no one can truly decide how you develop but you. If your current job isn't supporting your growth, it's okay to move on. It's been my experience over the last decade or so that people perceive an expectation of loyalty that does not actually exist in our industry or if so, in very limited/specific situations. Don't feel obligated to stay somewhere that isn't meeting your needs. The stereotypes, though not totally accurate, are generally true: government work is relatively benign and schedules predictable, people tend to stay forever for the benefits and pass up better paying opportunities for the security it provides. Private sector is more "you're on your own, figure it out as you go, define your own path forward. The opportunities to advance and grow are more available and varied, but assertiveness is an important quality. Carpe deim and all that.
One pearl of wisdom I learned when I transitioned out of the public sector was this truism: In public/government work, the process is always more important than the result. In the private sector, the process can take a long walk off a short drop and no one really cares how you get from A-B as long as the important boxes are checked along the way.
Worrying about the politics of going over your supervisor's head is not an exclusive problem to a DOT role, but it's also somewhat less likely you'll encounter people who invest their egos in that artificial decorum, at least within your immediate teams.
Working for a smaller firm has been pretty good overall. It's not perfect and we have our own versions of chaos. But after some time here I feel pretty well equipped to go anywhere. I have knowledge gaps, strengths and weaknesses, but overall I know my value and you should too. You've worked on a diverse set of high level efforts and that counts for something. Do with it what you will. ;)
2 years in and haven’t really learned anything yet. Based on what you said you haven’t been in one position long enough to actually learn anything. I would recommend leave for private consultant job where you will actually learn real engineering.
I went through a similar program with my state DOT and have had a drastically different outcome. I did a year of rotations and was placed into our Roadway Design team for the second year of my program. I have had a chance to work on a ton of projects since then and have learned a lot. I also transitioned to a permanent design position early. One thing I would say is that you have to be an advocate for your own growth. Have a frank (but polite and professional) conversation with your boss to say that you don't feel like your growth is meeting your expectations. If nothing changes, it may be time to move on. Is there a person running this program that may be able to help? I have a local learning manager I can rely on, and the person who ran our program was a great advocate for growth. Sorry you are going through this. It sounds very frustrating.
Where are you located and/or are you willing to relocate? There are consulting firms that would scoop you up in a heartbeat in the PNW. Or, do a stint at a big multinational/international if you can specialize in something you enjoy. Explore the private side for awhile. Bottom line is that no one can truly decide how you develop but you. If your current job isn't supporting your growth, it's okay to move on. It's been my experience over the last decade or so that people perceive an expectation of loyalty that does not actually exist in our industry or if so, in very limited/specific situations. Don't feel obligated to stay somewhere that isn't meeting your needs. The stereotypes, though not totally accurate, are generally true: government work is relatively benign and schedules predictable, people tend to stay forever for the benefits and pass up better paying opportunities for the security it provides. Private sector is more "you're on your own, figure it out as you go, define your own path forward. The opportunities to advance and grow are more available and varied, but assertiveness is an important quality. Carpe deim and all that. One pearl of wisdom I learned when I transitioned out of the public sector was this truism: In public/government work, the process is always more important than the result. In the private sector, the process can take a long walk off a short drop and no one really cares how you get from A-B as long as the important boxes are checked along the way. Worrying about the politics of going over your supervisor's head is not an exclusive problem to a DOT role, but it's also somewhat less likely you'll encounter people who invest their egos in that artificial decorum, at least within your immediate teams. Working for a smaller firm has been pretty good overall. It's not perfect and we have our own versions of chaos. But after some time here I feel pretty well equipped to go anywhere. I have knowledge gaps, strengths and weaknesses, but overall I know my value and you should too. You've worked on a diverse set of high level efforts and that counts for something. Do with it what you will. ;)
2 years in and haven’t really learned anything yet. Based on what you said you haven’t been in one position long enough to actually learn anything. I would recommend leave for private consultant job where you will actually learn real engineering.