Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
(OP)
Hello All –
I’m looking for some career advice.
I am currently 34 years old, married and have 3 kids (5yrs old and younger). I have just completed a couple of undergraduate degrees – B.S. General Engineering and B.S. in Civil Engineering. I have also recently passed the FE (E.I.T.) Exam. I have been working (making a good buck and reaping the benefits of tuition reimbursement) as an engineering technician in a mechanical/electrical/materials role for the last 13 years. I enjoy the work to some degree but it certainly is not my passion. In this role I have acquired some sales, project management, and business experience but nothing that specifically applies to the field of Civil Engineering.
My goals are to obtain a PE and too eventually (probably in my retirement years) run my own Civil (structural) Engineering firm. In the short term I would like to make a smooth transition from manufacturing to Civil Engineering. The problem is money – I think it is foolish for me to think that I could make the money I’m currently bringing in just coming in the door of a Civil Eng. firm –especially with my lack of Civil experience.
I am currently at a bit of a crossroads. Ideally I would like to actively start looking for a Civil Eng. job and start acquiring experience towards my pursuit of a PE – however, the money issue is holding me back. How can I justify family welfare for my pursuit employment happiness? I am literally afraid that once I start looking for a Civil job that I’ll find one and be very tempted to take it even if it means a hefty pay cut.
I’ve said that I’m at a crossroad - the paths that I perceive are as follows:
1. Stay with current employer for now and continue my education getting an MBA (which will certainly be reimbursed).
2. Stay with current employer and continue my education getting a Masters in CE (which may or may not be reimbursed).
3. Try to find some part-time Civil Eng. work where I can at least start getting some experience in the field. I should mention that my field of interest is structural. I suspect that part-time work is going to be difficult to find – do any of you have thoughts on this?
4. Ignore the “Peter Principle” and just stay the course with my current employer and trust in a secure, although uneventful future.
5. Suck it up and find a Civil Engineering job at whatever cost – and continue towards my goals.
I have been reading the threads on this site for about a month now – I know that the majority of you are highly intelligent people – as such you’ll recognize that there are really several questions here.
1. How do I make a smooth career transition?
2. What type of advanced degree would best serve me in the future?
3. Is it possible to find meaningful part-time employment in the field of structural engineering?
4. Am I better off doing nothing?
Thanks in advance for the insight and honesty (regardless of how brutal it may be).
Bob
I’m looking for some career advice.
I am currently 34 years old, married and have 3 kids (5yrs old and younger). I have just completed a couple of undergraduate degrees – B.S. General Engineering and B.S. in Civil Engineering. I have also recently passed the FE (E.I.T.) Exam. I have been working (making a good buck and reaping the benefits of tuition reimbursement) as an engineering technician in a mechanical/electrical/materials role for the last 13 years. I enjoy the work to some degree but it certainly is not my passion. In this role I have acquired some sales, project management, and business experience but nothing that specifically applies to the field of Civil Engineering.
My goals are to obtain a PE and too eventually (probably in my retirement years) run my own Civil (structural) Engineering firm. In the short term I would like to make a smooth transition from manufacturing to Civil Engineering. The problem is money – I think it is foolish for me to think that I could make the money I’m currently bringing in just coming in the door of a Civil Eng. firm –especially with my lack of Civil experience.
I am currently at a bit of a crossroads. Ideally I would like to actively start looking for a Civil Eng. job and start acquiring experience towards my pursuit of a PE – however, the money issue is holding me back. How can I justify family welfare for my pursuit employment happiness? I am literally afraid that once I start looking for a Civil job that I’ll find one and be very tempted to take it even if it means a hefty pay cut.
I’ve said that I’m at a crossroad - the paths that I perceive are as follows:
1. Stay with current employer for now and continue my education getting an MBA (which will certainly be reimbursed).
2. Stay with current employer and continue my education getting a Masters in CE (which may or may not be reimbursed).
3. Try to find some part-time Civil Eng. work where I can at least start getting some experience in the field. I should mention that my field of interest is structural. I suspect that part-time work is going to be difficult to find – do any of you have thoughts on this?
4. Ignore the “Peter Principle” and just stay the course with my current employer and trust in a secure, although uneventful future.
5. Suck it up and find a Civil Engineering job at whatever cost – and continue towards my goals.
I have been reading the threads on this site for about a month now – I know that the majority of you are highly intelligent people – as such you’ll recognize that there are really several questions here.
1. How do I make a smooth career transition?
2. What type of advanced degree would best serve me in the future?
3. Is it possible to find meaningful part-time employment in the field of structural engineering?
4. Am I better off doing nothing?
Thanks in advance for the insight and honesty (regardless of how brutal it may be).
Bob





RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
Think of it this way- Sky diving school seems like a really cool idea (on the ground) but at some point you are going to have to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Odds are that your going to have an exhilarating ride and will be happy that you jumped - but as you stand in the door all you can think about is the fact that the ground looks like its a long way down.
I'm prepared to make the swith but perhaps not ready. I got the degree because my interests have always been in the structural/construction field. In my mind I thought that if I didn't have the ability to switch careers that at least I would have a degree that could serve as a backup plan if the bottom dropped in my current employment.
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
I'm in a strikingly similar position: have a good job, reasonably well paid, but have seen an inexorable slide in our working conditions over the past coupple of years. I've got the offer of a position at a UK nuclear site in a fairly different role: on shift, good benefits, paid O/T. The next year will largely be spent training. Salary-wise it is a significant drop in the short term, but with long term prospects, plus I get rid of some of the things that irk me and I can close the salary gap somewhat on O/T.
Big decision! I will let you know which way I jump.
I think EddyC is wrong: why would his daughter want to live with a guy who does not enjoy his work and only does it for the money, and who resents her for the lost opportunity that he could not take because her materialistic father would expect her to leave him when his salary dropped? Sounds like a quick way to a relationship breakdown and the divorce courts to me. People need to have some enjoyment in their work, otherwise their resentment toward work will spill over and destroy their home life too. Money can improve things at home, but it is not the only factor by any means.
----------------------------------
If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
EddyC – Your latest examples are one of the reasons for my caution. Lunchtime talk often touches on the stories of those who have supposedly gone off to greener pastures. Needless to say many of the stories do not end in happily ever after. I appreciate your two cents.
Aggman – I am guessing that I would take a 20k/year hit. I’m not sure of the site policy regarding salary discussions but I’ll elaborate if it is permissible. Anyway the salary is only part of total compensation. It seems to me that most structural firms are relatively small and I assume that they will not have benefits packages that are as attractive as the one I’ve got. I am afraid of what will happen in terms of my health coverage and to larger degree my 401k. With what I’m making now I’m able to save the Federal limit ($14k/year) in my 401k. I am sure that this would be the first thing to perish if I take on a pay cut.
I should also mention that my wife works 24hrs a week as a registered nurse. Her benefits are not quite as good as mine so all the health care and retirement savings are done on my end.
ScottyUK – Good luck to you. You make some valid points regarding relationships. I believe that my wife and I have theses areas thoroughly covered.
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
Lots of job security in Civil even if it's the lowest-paid engineering field; the infrastructure will never stop crumbling.
Some schools have a 9-month MEng program which might be more what you'd benefit from rather than a full 2-year research MS program.
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
I agree with all whom have made the point that I really must gain some experience in the Structural arena if I ever want to do something on my own. I also feel that it would be a real shame to have spent all the time and effort on getting a Civil Degree and to never use it. I get the impression that you all feel the Masters in Civil Engineering is a better path for me than an MBA (which is what I thought as well). Do any of you care to suggest a good program – preferably one using distance learning?
I have heard that a masters degree will take 1 year off of the 4 year PE experience requirement although I have yet not gotten official word from the CT license board.
EddyC – you make the point of the importance in getting the PE license – I am 100% with you on this. One problem, however, is the fact that my current employment (in industry) does not have any PE on site and I am not aware of any in the corporation – this is one reason why I asked about the possibility of working part-time in a structural firm.
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
My son-in-law gave up a career with United as a pilot to pursue other interests (his own business), and he is not looking back. The way he put it: the good parts of the job were decreasing, and the bad parts were increasing.
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
Most likely, in the begining you'll earn less, but as you become valuable and gain licensure-your partner will be phasing out so his hours and pay will decline and your pay and contribution will increase. So how can you find your dream ready to reire P.E? Go to local civil firms and introduce yourself without a resume, attend local sections of ASCE or NSPE meetings and join the rotary. Some of these old timers are members of the rotary and you would have to network in their circles. Heck, I would even go to local Winebago dealers and meet their sales people. Also since you're quite not ready for transition this networking and meeting with firms will buy you time to decide.
It is a wonderful plan that you have, so look for the right time of entry and firm.
A Member of
www.civilvillage.com
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
I said I would tell you my decision:
I withdrew my application for the other job. I enjoy the creative side of my current role and don't want to lose it, plus the salary drop was a little bigger than I could afford to take right now. It is nice to know I'm still marketable after seven years in this place - there are plenty other jobs in my field if I change my mind!
----------------------------------
If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!
RE: Changing careers - Industrial to Civil
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376