I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
(OP)
I am an engineer and have been offered a role as a mechanical designer. The pay is less but it permenent. I am working in a semi - permenenat role as/at contractor rates at the minute. I am bored but I am learning to live with it.
Is it a bad idea to take a role like this for me as an engineer. I can use other design packages but catia is what I will be expected to use.
Is it a bad idea to take a role like this for me as an engineer. I can use other design packages but catia is what I will be expected to use.





RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
Some people very much look down on this kind of thing, especially the more analytical types. The theory being that designing things using CAD 'isn't real engineering', only crunching numbers is real engineering. Also, it may not count toward your PE (or equivalent) qualification, consider that and perhaps look into it.
However, if it's a job, you need a job, and your dream Engineering position isn't around the corner, then maybe for you in your situation it's a good idea.
Some people start in positions like this and evolve into more hardcore engineering. Others just become glorified CAD jockies.
Also don't get hung up about the term 'permanent'. In most situations there's not such thing as permanent. Direct with benefits or similar yes, however as the fortunes of the company vary, so does 'permenancy'. I've seen a lot of 'permanent' people let go over the last couple of years.
KENAT,
Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at posting policies: http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
Process - Piping
ing - EiT
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
Nothing in life is permanent - so i would consider the choise from two angles: Do i need the additional security apperently added from going into CAD design compared to the reduction in pay, and is it what you want to do?
The first will depend a lot on your age, mobility etc where others (e.g. family) may have a say.
Second is only for you to decide.
Best regards
Morten
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
(1) Do you need this new gig to make your livelihood?
(2) What are your career goals?
That is: does this new gig fit into your career plan? and how will it look on your resume and how will you explain this during the NEXT interview?
TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
Then the contractor got too many jobs and had to let me go from my estimating position. First time I was ever let go because of too much work.
So I took a position of driving one of his delivery trucks. That lasted about 9 months.
Came back into the office later as a buyer. That lasted about a year.
All this time I wanted a design position -= which I wasn't going to get from the contractor.
Finally, got one and been doing it about 7 years now.
Long story-short - staying employed while pursuing options is a way of staying busy, productive, and sane.
Keep it up until something more to your liking comes around.
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
- Steve
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
KENAT,
Have you reminded yourself of FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies recently, or taken a look at posting policies: http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
I worked for a guy who did CAD, and he appeared to abandon the analytical side. One particularly weak looking design had a feature that I analyzed and presented to him. He ignored it, and the design failed during test. He dismissed it without any embarassment. This is bad performance for a guy who is a graduate engr.
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
**********************
"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world's energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies) http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
Just make sure you are happy at your job. If your happy and the pay is good and the benefits are good whoo really care if thats what you went to school for or if its the dream job of the freshmen you.
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
However I would think about how long I could do this before I was pigeonholed. What would employers think etc.
PS - what is the difference between permanant and contractor? Around 3 weeks notice in most places I know.
RE: I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide?
There is no such thing as a "permenant" job.
It may have been truer in you fathers or grandfathers day, but "the future ain't what it us to be."