Senior vs ego
Senior vs ego
(OP)
I am on the job hunt, as many of us are. Some of my acquaintances have pointed me toward "senior this or that" positions.
I have been trudging this field for over ten years but I do not consider myself a senior.
Is my youthful ego getting on the way and I should start considering myself as a senior engineer?!?!
Yeah, I know my bones are taking a little longer to heal every time I crash, but senior roles?
How is the "senior" designation come to be? When you look for a senior role in your company, what is that you are looking for?
I have been trudging this field for over ten years but I do not consider myself a senior.
Is my youthful ego getting on the way and I should start considering myself as a senior engineer?!?!
Yeah, I know my bones are taking a little longer to heal every time I crash, but senior roles?
How is the "senior" designation come to be? When you look for a senior role in your company, what is that you are looking for?
<<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: Senior vs ego
Worry about the job requirements not the title. If you think you could meet them, or at least close enough to warrant consideration, go for it.
I'm apparantly an Engineer IV, based on the definition etc. I'm nowhere near but they've been happy to pay me as one for several years now.
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?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Senior vs ego
RE: Senior vs ego
I was promoted to the heady position of "Senio(u)r Development Engineer" after about a year in my first job. Then "Senio(u)r" Project engineer after about five years. So I went from juniour to seniour to juniour to seniour in those few years.
The people who coin those titles are those who write (or modify) the job ads.
- Steve
RE: Senior vs ego
Likewise, we sometimes have openings for someone with 5 yrs experience, but someone with 20 yrs applies, because he's already done the route, and now just wants to do only engineering.
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Senior vs ego
I'd only be concerned if your acquaintances are also forwarding ads for botox injections and age-defying night creams.
"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"
RE: Senior vs ego
Luckly I'm in better shape than most, but thanks for the 'lift up' comment
<<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: Senior vs ego
Good luck,
Latexman
RE: Senior vs ego
But heck, I understand HR thinking about job titles about as well as I understand airline ticket pricing policies so don't think I have a handle on this.
You need a job?
Go for whatever is on offer that you can do and hopefully would like to do and never mind what they call it;
hell, they call a lot of guys "Manager" who couldn't get a laser to point in a straight line and they keep them employed and pay them well enough.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Senior vs ego
There was at one time a fairly rigorous progression of titles in the Engineering profession. The last formal description I saw was from a US Government website somewhere. It went something like this:
Jr. or Associate Engineer: 0-3 years
Engineer: 3-8 years
Sr. Engineer: 5-10 years
and then on from there into the ranks of Staff Engineer, Principal Engineer, Chief Engineer, or other titles indicative of years of experience and successful accomplishment.
Now titles mean very little with respect to one's experience level, competency, or knowledge.
TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com
RE: Senior vs ego
In jobs where you work directly with the customer, I think title are more likely to be inflated. If you were buying a piece of custom equipment, would you rather have it been designed by:
a) Engineer
b) Senior Engineer (Ooohhh! I feel special, they put their best guy/gal on my project)
c) Junior Engineer (gasp!)
-- MechEng2005
RE: Senior vs ego
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com