The only difference that I know of is that almost all private companies have timesheets while most public companies do not. I had a co-worker who left the DOT to work with my company and couldn’t handle having to account for all of his time. To his defense, work was slow so it wasn’t really...
It sounds like everyone here really likes their field experience. I can’t think of anything more boring than inspection. To me, it was like watching paint dry. I don’t see the value of watching 3 guys dig a hole, wait 4 hours until a concrete truck comes, pour the concrete, come back later to...
10 years ago when I graduated from college many of the people I knew who majored in engineering never had any intention of working as an engineer. They figured an engineering degree would make them more marketable in investment banking, etc.
As for me, I didn’t care much about money. Since...
It is common to be spending most of your day drafting for your first few years. Some people think it's good experience but I think you should try to mimize your drafting time as much as possible (I know it's easier said than done). After 7 years of drafting, I design my projects the way a...
It will be another law that nobody follows. There are tons of these that have been in place for years that nobody follows such as... giving your babysitter a 1099, driving below the speed limit, reporting your tips if your a waiter, and leaving the country if your an illegal alien. There's...
I knew the head sales manager for a precision gage company that worked there for over 20 years. He once he had a client called him up and say that there was a typo on the gage he sold him which listed an accuracy of “0.001000”. The sales manager argued with him saying that "the gages are just...
It’s been my experience that being a good BSer and having an outgoing friendly personality is far more important then technical skills. Think about it this way. Which one brings in more money to your company?
If your engineering designs are flawless and you are much more efficient then...
Either the economy will pick up and you will have the power to renegotiate or the economy will tank even further and your next job offer will be even less. Don’t be one of the people who have had their house on the market for the past 3 years because they won’t lower their price.
I was in the exact same situation as you. With 7 years of experience and a PE License, I was unemployed with no leads. My only job offer was for the same amount that I made when I first graduated college. It sucks but I accepted the offer and would recommend you to as well. I would...
At first I wanted to work in a small company so I could be involved with all the different aspects of designing a project. Now I realize that 30 years from now, I will still be making copies, delivering plans, and performing other administrative duties. It's hard to pay an employee a high wage...
I agree with everyone else. These days people move from company to company all the time and nobody looks down upon it. Sometimes you find a better opportunity and other times your employer decides that they don't need you anymore. I would not think twice about whether it is ethical to switch...
It is refreshing to hear that some people still love being an Engineer.
From this thread, it appears to me that Mechanical Engineers are more satisfied with their jobs than others. Perhaps there is something about Mechanical work that is new and exciting and keeps people interested. In the...
I don’t know if it’s the engineering field, Corporate America, or just me but does anyone really love being an engineer anymore? Sure, it pays the bills but is anyone actually excited to show up to work in the morning?
Most of the people I work with have become cynical and are more interested...
"If you are unemployed, you have no leverage at all."
Depending on your field and market conditions, I agree with you. My experience is in Land Development. Everyone I interviewed with was very interested with the length of time that I have been unemployed for which I believe they used to...
It has been my experience that your previous salary is the number one factor in determining what a new employer will offer you. Most employers will only look at that number and will not consider your college, GPA, work experience, or the likelihood that you were probably over/under paid. I...
I recently obtained by PE license although I am already getting tired of working in the consulting industry. A local autocad distribution company has is looking for Profession Engineers to work in pre-sales support, product demonstrations, and end-user training. Has anyone made the switch from...
