Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
(OP)
I'm currently employed as a R&D chemical/materials engineer with almost two years of experience. I plan to quit my job soon and take 6-9 months to self-teach myself advanced engineering concepts and to develop certain skills I’ll need to succeed in my career. I have a well thought out plan on how to accomplish this and have concluded that the benefits of doing this far out way the risks. However, I want to minimize the risk of not being able to find a job in 6-9 months considering the stereotype that HR/hiring managers have of unemployed applicants. What are some inexpensive/free online engineering certificates/programs, ideally related to materials/chemical engineering, that I could take to supplement the job gap on my resume? Taking classes through a university is not currently an option. I have a BS in chemical engineering and a passion for the development of advanced materials, especially catalysts.





RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
Your plan looks pretty flimsy to me. As a degreed engineer, your proposed certificate approach is as lame as it gets.
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
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: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
"I'm currently employed as a R&D chemical/materials engineer with almost two years of experience. I plan to quit my job soon and take 6-9 months to self-teach myself advanced engineering concepts and to develop certain skills I’ll need to succeed in my career."
That’s probably not a good idea.
My analysis: You’re new to the company. You have big dreams of what you want to be doing in your job. The company isn’t giving you the cool projects because they (or some of them) still view you as the new kid. You might even be a stud when it comes to engineering, but the guys with seniority over you could mainly view that as a threat to their stardom and then that could manifest into a hostile work environment (geared against YOU at any opportunity that this select few has to do so).
We’re also heading into the next recession, which means the budget at your company is tighter than it was when you started there. You aren’t used to what this does to work environment yet, and you think the job market for guys our age is going to be the same as it was 2 years ago when we got hired.
You’re using education as an excuse to avoid the real world. This is very common with people our age. We have been indoctrinated into thinking “education before all else forever”. It’s a cop out that I see people using to avoid growing up. False. Self-sufficiency before all else. If you want to quit your job you better have already secured something tangible for your 10 year plan. I’m taking 5 credits per semester while working 40+ hours per week. The best part is that I even get to “self teach myself” because it is an online calculus class. You don't need to quit work in order to learn. In fact, you need to learn how to work.
"Formal education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." ~ Joseph Stalin
RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
That being said, I was only interested in taking online programs/certificates in the hopes that they would support my argument that I voluntarily quit to focus on my intellectual development, and clearly they won't be of much help in that area.
RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
If I were you, I would make sure that you get something deliverable to show for whatever you do in your hiatus. Build something utterly jaw-dropping or get a masters or so some consulting work or find mentorship from somebody who has PHD in front of their name.
"Formal education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." ~ Joseph Stalin
RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
This is probably only something you can try with your existing employer - they might not buy it, in which case you're no worse off than you were under plan A or you may have to offer to be a bit more flexible about timings - but why not approach them and see how they'd feel about your taking a few months' unpaid study leave?
A.
RE: Online Certificates/Programs to Supplement Resume while Unemployed
Matt