He's probably lying. While the bar is pretty low for entry level M.E.s, it's not quite that low yet.

As an old Toolmaker, I have made my share of intern wannabe MEs cry after crushing their idiot ideas. I swear, the older engineers would send those clowns to me just so I would beat them about the head and neck with a stick.

(I have a Daughter that has a PhD in ME. I warned her to turn down the free lobotomy offer upon finishing her degree. She listened and is now a happy and very, very smart Dr. of Engineering working with EV and HVAC systems)