Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
(OP)
Getting oneself onboard a company with an accredited (by relevent engineering institutions, i.e. IChemE) graduate training scheme is seen as a big surplus to a prospective graduate engineer. Having said that, there are also companies which have structured graduate training programmes but don't have the accreditation from relevent institutions although their business is completely relevent to that profession.
Obviously there isn't any saying that getting onboard a non-accredited company training scheme will be a big hindrance towards chartership through relevent institutions. However, I do believe there are still substle cons, or perhaps even pros compared to joining an accredited scheme.
How should one who just joined such company as a graduate employee plan his or her way throughout the coming 3, 4 or even 5 years to gain chartership? In what aspects should he/she be relatively proactive? What extra efforts should be put in?
Do share your thoughts and experience.
Thanks.
Obviously there isn't any saying that getting onboard a non-accredited company training scheme will be a big hindrance towards chartership through relevent institutions. However, I do believe there are still substle cons, or perhaps even pros compared to joining an accredited scheme.
How should one who just joined such company as a graduate employee plan his or her way throughout the coming 3, 4 or even 5 years to gain chartership? In what aspects should he/she be relatively proactive? What extra efforts should be put in?
Do share your thoughts and experience.
Thanks.





RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
I don't think you can really get chartership in 3 years after leaving uni. In fact I'd like to see the minimum age put back to 32, at least for mechanical engineering. Of course that doesn't suit many people's agendas.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
I think the longer period taken by the ad-hoc method probably leads you to be a more rounded, worldy individual which will help if you get a tough interview. I agree with Greg that there should be a minimum age requirement, in addition to the minimum academic and training requirements.
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I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
However, with the 4 years minimum experience requirement plus the change in format for application for IChemE chartership plus a whole great big chunk of procrastination time, I still haven't got round to making my application!
I wouldn't worry about routes to chartership until about the 3rd year of your career. Until then, concentrate on getting the most out of whatever projects you get to work on and make sure you keep notes on what you've been doing. By year 3, you can start to identify where the gaps are in your experience and plan on how to fill in those gaps. If your company doesn't have an accredited training scheme, it doesn't mean they won't let you take a secondment in another department to get the experience you need. Most employers see the advantage in offering the training but not necessarily in paying the institutions for the accredition.
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
For my case, since I'm joining the contracting or EPC industry, getting chartered is almost vital. Although it's too early to say that I'd still remain in my chosen industry say in the next 5 or 10 years, but since this is my first stepping stone into the bewildering world of working, I think it is a good thing to set some short term and long term goals which are in parallel with the trend of the business.
But at the same time, I've also came to know that getting chartered does not mean that one will get a raise in his/her salary. In fact, quite a number of the contracting or consultancy companies are known not to give any salary raise when their employees got chartered. If that's the case, what are the other motivations to get chartered? Besides reasons of recognition on technical competency and also protection of the 'engineer' profession title?
PhD - Permanent Head Damage
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
Belonging to a learned society is a bit like insurance. it pays for someone else'e problem until yu need it. Without masss support the institutions would fall over.
ASME/IMeche/ICE/IChemE etc are all suffering with convincing people that they are relevant in the modern world. This is particularly so when universities churn out engineers with soft degrees, where basic engineering has been eroded by business studies and management paths. Time will tell. Project managers will be out of work and there will be /or is, a shortage of engineers with the techncial and mathemamtic ability to do the work necessary to keep industry going.
Being chartered is more relevant today than ever. If your current company doesnt recognise the benefit it is because it is being managed by the very same outputs from universities I have described.
Be proud of being an engineer have a five year plan/set of goals and continue to be active in the profession.
Some tips:
Go for at least four interviews for a new job every year. Demand outrageous salaries and knock the offers back explianing your reasons. (if we all did this the salaries of engineers would rise)
Be an active member of IChemE
Join standards committees
Never compromise your professionalism for the sake of a quick buck or a cost saving for your employer
Remeber all managers demanding you compromise your ethics are bullies. Stand up and be counted for all bullies are basically cowards. You will find that they need you more than you need them. For they cant do the work.
Never commit yourself moneywise to more than you can expect to afford. Do without so you can maintain your ndependence. Never let your nboss know your monetary circumstances for sure he will use it against you.
Here endeth the lesson and I shall retreat from my soap box.
Geoffrey D Stone FIMechE C.Eng;FIEust CP Eng
www.waterhammer.bigblog.com.au
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
They later decided that I didn't need to take it after all.
I don't know about the other Institutions, but the IMechE seems to be dying for good reasons.
In no particular order:
Issuing honorary fellowships to non-engineers
Amalgamating with non-core institutions and accepting their members as full Members of the IMechE (eg acousticians)
Retaining Birdcage Walk
Confusing everybody with their policy on technician engineers, or whatever they call them.
Refusing to send me, an automotive engineer, the magazine for my specialisation.
and the list goes on.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
Great post. I could have written so much of what you said myself, the words are so close to my thoughts. I try to follow your advice - particularly
And I seem to be following this one too
Greg,
Look at the mess the IEE has created - "The IET". You should be pleased you are with the IMechE! I am embarrassed to be associated with the ex-IEE, and have voted against everything to do with the creation of the new body. I am writing to request that they cease referring to me as "MIET" and revert to "MIEE". We shall see what happens!
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I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
But let's face it. Academia or R&D and the industry are just plainly different no matter how you want to integrate them together.
I just wonder what sort of contribution would an engineer in the industry need to achieve in order to be given fellowship status?
PhD - Permanent Head Damage
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
[rant]
I'm annoyed - suddenly all the effort to get my chartership and become a professional Member of a recognised and respected professional body has been dumped in the skip and I have been given a title I don't recognise from an organisation whose purpose I don't understand.
[/rant!]
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I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
Radionise, you might want to reread Stanier's sig.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Overcoming disadvantages in joining a non-accredited company training.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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