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Travel
10

Travel

Travel

(OP)
Hi,

I am a recent new graduate in Mechanical Engineering and wanted to get some of your opinions on traveling after completing an engineering degree. Would you recommend doing the travel thing or would you recommend getting some work experience behind me first? The reason why I ask is I have some buddies who are itching to go traveling and to be honest I share the same feeling. But they aren't engineers.

I recently accepted a full time position at an engineering firm because having been broke for the past 4-5 years I was itching to start making my own money and gaining experience towards my PEng. I still think that was probably the smartest thing to do, but I keep hearing all the "you won't be able to do it later", "this is the time you have the minimum responsibilities", "you shouldn't be in a rush to start work" kind of stuff, which I guess has some merit to it.

I wanted to ask other engineers what they thought because I think its a little different for engineer so dropping everything to go traveling could effect your competitivness in the job market when you are eventually looking for a job. I guess I should mention I dont have a whole lot of experience either-roughly 8 months as a summer intern.

Anyways, all opinions are welcome and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Thanks!

RE: Travel

You accepted the job....... it becomes an immediate no brainer, if you chose to change your mind , you are branding yourself as unreliable , no moral compass, and generally a very poor choice as as a prospective employee. All other considerations are trivial.

RE: Travel

acoppold, Since you've already accepted a job, go with that for 1 or 2 years to get good experience (and money), then quit and travel. I traveled for 2 years before I went back to grad school, the result being after that my career didn't seem to skip a beat. Hungry in the mountains of northern Afghanistan and getting mugged in the middle of Morocco were adventures which have colored my life forever.

Darrell Hambley P.E.
SENTEK Engineering, LLC

RE: Travel

(OP)
Ya well unfortunately I didn't have the same luxury as your son. When I finished I had no offers let alone scheduled interviews even after applying for many, many jobs. Actually,had I had a job lined up for September or something I would have been gone the second I walked out of university for the last time. THAT is a no brainer. But having finished school without any potential job leads I decided to stick around in case I got contacted

Anyways, it seems like that ship has sailed anyways so I should just accept it for what it is.

RE: Travel

If you're lucky, the job will include some travel, so you can see the world on someone else's dime.

On another subject, please don't say 'anyways'; it makes you appear uneducated.

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Travel

(OP)
Ya, I thought getting at least a couple years under my belt first was the way to go to. I finished with almost no money, yet no debt either. So it was either start working, (likely in a restaurant) to save money and quit to go travelling in the summer and hope to lock a job down for September in the mean time, or say screw it and take a loan and go travelling immediately with no plan on what to do when I got back. I was eventually offered a position ~3 weeks after I finished school at the company I had been interning at over the past two summers. SO! that's what was on the table. A single job offer from my old employer starting immediately or take my chances and decline, go travelling and deal with it when I got back. Since travelling wasn't going to happen unless I had some money, I decided to take the position.

I supposed I have to agree with miningman. I'm not a flake and I hate people who are. I've accepted the position and it is what it is at the moment. I guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed that an opportunity to travel will at some point show it's face. Thanks for the feedback.

RE: Travel

Take the job as you promised; start saving those vacation days.

RE: Travel

2

Quote (MikeHalloran)


If you're lucky, the job will include some travel, so you can see the world on someone else's dime.

I was going to make the same suggestion.

In my professional career, which spans 43 years, I've been to some 31 countries and have flown several million miles (3.3 million+ with American Airlines alone and that's just since 1986) virtually ALL of it on the company dime. Granted, they expect you to 'work' while you're out there spending the company's money, but if you plan it right and can manage to be someplace over the weekends, it's amazing the number of things tha you might get to experience. For example I've managed to walk around Stonehenge, climb the Effiel Tower, wonder thru Red Square in Moscow, visit the Emperor's Palace in Tokyo, drive down the Great Costal Road in Australia, visit Waterloo in Belgium and climb the 'Mount of the Lion', walk through (but only window-shop) the 'red-light' district in Amsterdam, sail out from a fyord in Norway to where there was nothing between me and the North Pole but a lot of really cold water, ride an elevator to near the top of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, drink Singapore Slings while sitting at the 'Long Bar' in the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, drive really fast on the German Autobahn, visit the original 'Legoland' in Billund, Denmark, eat broiled Raindeer in Helsinki, Finland, gamble at a casino in Macau, China, visit the Snake Farms in Bangkok, Thailand, rode across the Hong Kong harbor on one of those overcrowded ferries, took the Bullet Train from Tokyo to Osaka and back and the TGV from Lyon to Paris, and dozens of other 'tourist' type activities around the world.

Yep I could have never been to or seen as many places as I have if I had to have done it all on my own nickel.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Travel

And to not overlook one of the best side trips ever was the day I spent in Agra, India, visiting the Taj Mahal and the Red Fortress.

Definitely find yourself a job where you're expected to travel and then take full advantage of the opportunities that this presents. And with all those air miles, I've managed to take my wife on several of these adventures and in fact, we're already planning a trip to Roman later this year in conjunction with my attending and speaking at a conference in Torino.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Travel

Many people do what you are suggesting. Many engineers enter military service after college and get back into the profession. Delaying your entry into the rat race is no big deal and all you gotta do is get your foot in the door somewhere when you decide to return to engineering. It'll be like you never took the time off after a year or two back. Maturity can be gained in places other than at a company grinding away and that is what sets most people apart.

RE: Travel

bigTomHanks, it is a big deal if you've already accepted a position. ESPECIALLY for your first job out of college, ESPECIALLY for the company that you interned with that will show up on your resume. What kind of reference do you think they would give for someone that flaked out of an accepted offer to go "find themselves"?

RE: Travel

So, i've got 3 candidates for a job

A) left uni, accepted job, went and worked at it for a couple of years

B) left uni, accepted job, didn't take it up and wandered off for a couple of years

C) left uni, wandered off for a couple of years


Big tom hanks, prioritise the order of likelihood that those people will prove satisfactory.

I think most of us would say B is a bigger risk.

Incidentally I think wanderjahr is an excellent concept, and the older I get the more of them I want to do.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

RE: Travel

If broke, how can you afford to travel??

RE: Travel

I spent the first three years after receiving my undergraduate degree working as an engineer saving for just such a trip. Having saved enough to travel on a shoe string and attend grad school (with some help from parents), I traveled for 1.5 years all over the US and Southeast Asia. Right in the middle of the trip, I completed the grad school applications, got accepted, and picked a school. Once I was finished with grad school, I resumed my career. No one was the wiser about the 1.5 year break.

RE: Travel

"The Gift of the Magi" has some significance as a story, you should read it. Why not do something obscure and talk to your new boss? The boss might be putting you to work now for a project that is coming up in a few months. The important opinion is that of your new manager. Be upfront, tell it straight and state that if you are needed now then you are more than committed. Don't regret it later - communicate now.

RE: Travel

Come on acoppold,
Why on Earth would you even ask such a ridiculous question after having accepted a job?

RE: Travel

3
(OP)
You know what, I'm not really sure why I asked it because I knew the answer the entire time. I grew up playing a lot of team sports and I never missed a practice because I knew I made a commitment to the team by registering and if I wanted to skip practice then I should never have joined. That's just how I was brought up and in my mind this is no different. I guess the reason why I ask is that I've been finding the adjustment from being a student to a full-time employee a little scarier than I once thought. I'm sure a lot of you can relate. Is my life over? By taking the job have I pretty much waved goodbye to my youth? It's those kind of thoughts that pushed me to ask the question. This is my first post on here and I really appreciate the feedback. I'm just going to stick with the job, even if it's not my dream job. Anyone have any tips for a new engineer just starting out? To be honest I've been feeling a little bit overwhelmed with the whole thing. The company doesn't really have a well structured training program, which is a bit of a disappointment. Before you start saying these are things like I should have looked into that before taking the job, I did and knew that they didn't have a training program. Again, I'll be honest and point out that I took the job because I had been left pretty beat up after applying for 100+ positions that I was fully qualified for and received perhaps 2-3 call backs, none of which led to an offer. As I mentioned before, I had worked for this company as an intern in the past and they actually contacted me to see if I was interested in the job. I don't know if I panicked or whatever but I took the job because I had no other leads.

Like I said, I'm going to try and stick it out for a year or two and revisit my options then. Any tips for a fresh new grad engineer trying to make his way in the industry for the first time as a full-time employee?

Thanks.

RE: Travel

Straight out of school you are poor in money and rich in time. Once you have started work you are rich in money and poor in time.
I finished university, and naively thought that I could get a job, defer the start date for three months and travel. What happened; I waited, I applied for an ever widening variety of jobs, I spent days on trains travelling the country for 1 hour interviews, I opened the inevitable "No thanks" letters. When I eventually got a job six months later, the desire to travel had disappeared, I just wanted to work (not financially but I was bored and needed to use my brain).
I have been to numerous places around the work, both on holidays and through work. But I am always jealous of the back packers who are in control of their own time and get to experience things more like a local than staying in 4+ star cookie cutter hotels. Visiting things on work time is great and I have ticked some boxes that should be on people's bucket lists, but I always feel a slight emptiness that work is the master of my time and the significant other is not there witnessing it with me. But that is just me.
If I was interviewing you, I am sure that the stories of fruit picking in Australia, sailing up the Mekon, camping on the beach in Morocco, living with the Hmong for two weeks, etc, would impress me more and give you more life skills and make you more employable than the average Joe.
If you can afford to travel, do it.

RE: Travel

I'd second the travel on company's dime any day of course. Kind of cool to use the company's american express card for diner at an upscale restaurant instead of a bologna sandwich and chips on the steps of a railroad station.

Suggest that you document yourself on travel first.

1. Start with "safe" countries (if there is any such thing). in some places, you could go to jail for kissing a girl in public and be accused of rape. Others can be expensive as hell, and so on.
2. In some other places, you will be a real nice kidnapping target. read a bit of politics before you leave.
3. Learn a few words of foreign languages.
4. check your vaccines requirements before you travel
5. for somewhat "dangerous countries" - try getting into Engineers without borders. Just a thought.
6. e-mail yourself a copy of your passport and birth certificate to replace your stolen passport - good chances that you will lose it. You will get robbed. Hold-on to that passport, you'd be seriously inconvenienced if you happen to lose it.
7. check your vaccines requirements before you travel
8. However exotic the places may sound - Avoid the third world.
9. If it bugs you, you should do it. Once the kids come out rolling, forget it.
and number 10 - Try traveling to a place where it is easy to get laid. It makes for a much better experience.

RE: Travel

Most Bosses I have had are easy to work with and understanding if you PUT IN YOUR TIME TO THE COMPANY.

For almost 5 years in a row I went to Europe with some deal I hashed out with my bosses. As and Engineer you should be making Enough bank that if your priority is traveling, you can handle traveling on your own. i.e. dont get a new car, new tv, and generally waste your money. WORK HARD...and you are normally rewarded.

Examples:
1.) Ask boss if you can add say 3 days to a Business trip to Dijon France, to stop in Paris.
2.) Ask boss if you can take a use all your vacation and sick time and maybe a week or 2 without pay to spend 4 weeks around Christmas Traveling, most companies don't get anything done around then anyway.
3.) When International guests visit your company, offer the show them around, take them out, do whatever. They will likely repay the favor should the opportunity present itself. I got discounted rail fair and lunch stipends from a partner company for treating their tech's to a good time on the US.

Good Luck.

RE: Travel

I was truly broke after graduating. After putting down the first month's rent etc. I had $20 in Feb 1970 to get me through to my first paycheck. Left after 2 1/2 years to travel and be a ski bum. Had a lot of fun and have travelled plenty with the firms, with which I have been assocated, thereafter.

RE: Travel

acoppold , there have been lots of previous posts about what a new engineer or new grad etc needs to do. A search and looking through previous posts in this forum (& maybe forum732: Overcoming Obstacles Getting My Work Done & forum730: Where is Engineering Going In The Next 5 Years) should give you more info than you know what to do with.

(I swear I'd already replied but don't see it now.)

Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: Travel

My problem wasn't just the $20 or so in my pocket when I graduated in 1971, it was also the fact that I had a wife and two young children that needed to be fed on a regular basis to say nothing of school loans (although I have to admit that when I hear some of today's horror stories I consider myself very lucky indeed) that needed to be repaid and a car that had to be replaced soon, mostly because we had simply outgrown it (having two babies less than a year apart can really play hell with your old lifestyle).

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Travel

The answer is there all along - Engineers Without Borders. Experience in life and engineering

RE: Travel

JohnR,

Having them 15 months apart ain't much better, trust me! smile

RE: Travel

Tell me about it, my brother and I are 14 months apart.

BTW, when I said we had "two babies less than a year apart", the reality was that they were only a bit over NINE months apart, early March to late December. And we had no health insurance at the time but my wife did work for the hospital so we got them 'at cost'. Our doctor felt so sorry for us that he delivered our second son virtually for free winky smile

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Travel

Scotty / John R

Or even 15 years!

RE: Travel

Scotty / John R

Or even 15 years!

RE: Travel

Heh, wimps. In 2012 I had two babies born 1 minute apart. Talk about messing with your lifestyle!

RE: Travel

Trust me, a minute would have been a lot better then 9 months, just ask my wife hairpull2

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Travel

For the record, my wife and I are still married (47 years this coming June) and number one son (who just happens to be turning 44 TODAY) and number two son (who won't catch-up until December) are doing just fine.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Travel

Just my very humble 2 cents. I second tickle's recommendation, Engineers Without Borders, but would recommend if you've already accepted, to put in the time, learn the trade, and go travel or work for Engineers Without Borders after, knowing you have some good experience under your belt.

As someone who absolutely LOVES travel, I take every opportunity to do explore and depending what airport you live close to, it's very feasible keep an eye out for whatever airfare deals come along and take weekend +1 or +2 days and beer taste in Belgium, sing and dance with the locals in Copenhagen, spend a romantic weekend in Paris, etc., and with your saved vacation days spend your nights in the dessert Bedouin camp in Jordan near Petra, all knowing you can afford it cause you have a job. Does it compare to take 1-2 years off to travel, no, this doesn't compare. But it does make you more financially prudent, and have enough experience to take 1-2 years off later in life and not worry as much about being able to find work after.

RE: Travel

Tough decision, the thing is when your foot is in the door it is really hard to pull it out again. I'm mid twenties and would really like to take some time out having got a got a few years experience under my belt now but I'm not really willing to do it with at job guarantee upon return. I would say if the job hunt is slow now might be the time to do it, and maybe start the hunt again when your still out there but soon to return.

RE: Travel

Okay, now that "take the job and travel" is all hashed out:

1) Avoid "lifestyle inflation" - if you can live like a college student while pulling down engineer $$, you can start piling up cash FAST.

2) Go read Mr. Money Mustache. Maybe you will want to keep working a long time - but if you pile up the resources to be financially independent, you can be a LOT choosier about where and how you work.

Lots of people in the MMM forums are saving at least 50% of their gross, and having a good time doing it. In the "bang for your buck" sense - if you keep your lifestyle down, you reach financial independence a LOT sooner.

RE: Travel

And if you choose to have children, be sure to instill the 'work ethic' in them at an early age so that your 'savings' end up actually being available when YOU are ready to spend them on YOURSELVES winky smile

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: Travel

Tom's point 1) works well. I bought the nastiest house in the (reasonable but not trendy) street for cash, drove the nastiest car in the universe, always flew coach, and invested/gambled the rest on the stock exchange. In 10 years I met my original goal, to be able to stop work on any day and carry on living in that manner (it very much helps that respectable companies in Australia pay about 6% in annual dividends). So from that day forward I was, and remain, essentially out of the rat race. I still fly coach. The GFC didn't wipe me out because I had no loans.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

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