Engineering Survival?
Engineering Survival?
(OP)
An Engineering Field Question:
The fact that this area of the Forum is called "Corporate Survival" highlights my questions:
I've been doing engineering (Civil/Water/Geotech) for 20 years...cube farms, offices, a bit of field time...It seems like a lot of time is spent these days in a cubicle burning your eyes on some LCD for hours, working for a manipulative clod that thinks you want/need even more hours hanging out with the emotionally challenged.
I want out of the rat cage of engineering, but not necessarily engineering. Are there many companies out there where people do the work in a decent atmosphere, or is it as the title suggests, just Corporate Survival?
What about field engineering, or is that a thing of the last century? I don't care about a high salary...
So, please don't flame me here, I'm looking for some practical suggestions.
The fact that this area of the Forum is called "Corporate Survival" highlights my questions:
I've been doing engineering (Civil/Water/Geotech) for 20 years...cube farms, offices, a bit of field time...It seems like a lot of time is spent these days in a cubicle burning your eyes on some LCD for hours, working for a manipulative clod that thinks you want/need even more hours hanging out with the emotionally challenged.
I want out of the rat cage of engineering, but not necessarily engineering. Are there many companies out there where people do the work in a decent atmosphere, or is it as the title suggests, just Corporate Survival?
What about field engineering, or is that a thing of the last century? I don't care about a high salary...
So, please don't flame me here, I'm looking for some practical suggestions.





RE: Engineering Survival?
... no, I don't know where they hell they are, or I'd be there.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Engineering Survival?
TTFN
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RE: Engineering Survival?
You could go into teaching or passing your knowledge on in some way, community projects or even working overseas in developing countries, very rewarding I would think but very low if any salary.
You could start up on your own, but chances are you will work far more hours than you do now but at least the "manipulative clod" will be you, just replace the unreasonable boss with unreasonable clients. You will probably be making what you are now in about 3-4 years time, assuming you make it through this difficult time.
You could follow a hobby or pass time and try to turn that into a business, be that engineering based, say restoring old cars or non engineering something like offering fishing trips, again high failure rate and probably very low wages.
Look at what you really want and then think how can I make that happen?
RE: Engineering Survival?
RE: Engineering Survival?
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>
RE: Engineering Survival?
Finding a decent atmosphere is tough, but can be found with determination. Networking and participating regularly in a professional society is good way to find opportunities. In addition to professional development and associating with like minded individuals, you may find the key to your cage. Good luck and keep the faith.
RE: Engineering Survival?
RE: Engineering Survival?
Just my observations... --MechEng2005
RE: Engineering Survival?
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Engineering Survival?
Don't give up. Just research well and interview well. Networking helps too!
Tunalover
RE: Engineering Survival?
I worked for one of those "best company to work for" type of place for a number of years. It was absolutely awful, so you can't even trust the employee surveys that are taken to rate firms.
RE: Engineering Survival?
I think you have to get lucky.
Comparing my last job to my current job its like night and day.
My last job was big cooperate, lost of levels of management, lost of inexperienced MBA's making bad decisions and blaming everyone else while kissing a$$$$ to their bosses...and there was no respect for engineers. but I had a lot of free time to spend on Eng-Tips. And the Christmas - wait scratch that-, the non-denominational day off from work party was a bunch of people kissing butts or tooting there own horns.
My current job is for a small engineering company. Since is small there is little slack but a lot of room to learn and be an engineer. Almost everyone in the company is engineering or technically educated. But I have worked a number of 64hr weeks. Get to actually see what I work on, and talk to the guys building it. And the CHRISTMAS party was a real PARTY and almost everyone partied like a rock stars jamming with the bosses to live music! and the boss paid for it!!
Its all a matter of getting lucky.
RE: Engineering Survival?
But, in every barrel are a certain number of bad or rotten apples. My personal opine is that there is a conservation of a-holes law, and that every organization has a few. So, like any game of chance, you can get a good roll, or not.
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Engineering Survival?
Some DOT's cater to CE's (PE's), not sure if you could start out at what you would like (position & $$). During the last major economic crash (locally/early 80's) folks from private firms sought refuge in the govt. sector.