switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
(OP)
I'm currently fresh out of school and currently on the job hunt. I don't know whether I want to go work for a bridge firm or building firm. I find both areas appealing.
My questions is, say I go work for a bridge firm for 5 years, how does that impact me possibly wanting to switch to building design firm later on in my career? Should I expect decreased salary? Would I be relegated to doing newbie jobs?
Or how does this work vise-versa? Is it the same dilemma? Or is it easier to go from one field to another?
My questions is, say I go work for a bridge firm for 5 years, how does that impact me possibly wanting to switch to building design firm later on in my career? Should I expect decreased salary? Would I be relegated to doing newbie jobs?
Or how does this work vise-versa? Is it the same dilemma? Or is it easier to go from one field to another?






RE: switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
My first boss started designing roads, then bridges, then eventually ran his own structural firm designing building for top end architects.
csd
RE: switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
RE: switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
RE: switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
I went from industrial to construction to commercial. These were big transitions but it opened up other opportunities with treatment plants and bridges.
RE: switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
thread731-187614: Bridges to Buildings
RE: switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
We have engineers in our office who swithched over from Bridge to Buildings. Both had about 5-8 years of bridge experiance. They have been doing fine with us for the past 2-3 years. Initially they had some issues and were mentored like fresh graduates. Now they have been handling projects on their own.
RE: switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
But, eventhough, my work is related to bridges, after seven years of experince, I still feel I will be good if I move to buildings as well.
Only thing I am lacking is the knowledge of current building design softwares and ASCE design codes. I guess, learning them may not be that time consuming? Can any one comment on this?
RE: switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
RE: switching careers from bridge to buildings or vise versa
I assume you are talking of major bridge projects. Small bridges, especially industrial ones (eg. mining or forestry) are every bit as fast paced in design as buildings in my experience, if not more so.
Some of the major differences I see are standard practices, detailing and code specific guidelines. The only real theory difference I see is seismic for buildings versus fatigue for bridges.