You can blame what you're ranting about on several factors. One is that students these days who grew up working on farms and pulling their own way through college are few and far between. They get a degree without having ever been exposed to real world stress and urgency, and that carries over into their early careers. Being able to think on your feet and deal with people in a business environment is something you only learn from doing. To them work is no different than school was, and adjusting from that takes time.

Another is engineers not being exposed to people other than engineers. Plenty of engineering students graduate never having talked to the guy who's working 12's putting together and using the stuff they design. Being able to humble your engineering arse enough to ask that guy for advice and suggestions makes you a better engineer.

Another is this

quote:
I'm sure I was like that at the start as well

You probably were. Everybody I know in engineering school has frequent dumb moments. It's a part of learning.

Another problem can often times be the guy dealing with the young engineer. I've been in situations I wasn't ready for and the guy I was dealing with developed a "I don't have time to deal with this punk who doesn't know what he's talking about" attitude and gave up on the conversation. I got my arse chewed out on the phone for about 20 minutes one time because I didn't know why a guy couldn't get the parts he needed for his engines, and I'm sure he ranted to somebody similarly to the way everyone here does. He knew I was an intern and smoked me. I didn't have the information and there was nothing I could do other than take my licks. I understand you older more experienced guys get frustrated, but make sure an arse chewing is well warranted before you dish it out.

This could go on, but I worked 12 hours last night at my internship and I'm whipped.