Where to get best experience before going on my own
Where to get best experience before going on my own
(OP)
I have worked for two small firms the last 10 years and I am thinking about making a switch (switching because I am not happy with pay). I am looking to go out on my own sometime in the next 5 years and I was wanting to know where I would get the best experience. Small firm or large firm?
RE: Where to get best experience before going on my own
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: Where to get best experience before going on my own
Do your homework online and check out prospective firms that are hiring.
After you submit your resume, when you are called in for the first interview, interview the interviewer(s) and see if that firm can provide what you need. See what they do... Be willing to accept a lower salary to get the experience if you are short in a particular expertise, PT slab design, for example.
If it is high rise experience, more than likely, you will have to go to a large to medium size firm. Only you can decide what you need. Do you have your PE? Civil? Structural?
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Where to get best experience before going on my own
RE: Where to get best experience before going on my own
People often say that you get a more generalised experience at a small firm. I often find that small firms do the same thing over and over again - because they are small and are usually limited in their expertise.
People often say that you get pigeon holed in a large firm. I often find that if you ask, you can usually get transferred to another department, project etc. that suits your fancy. People who get pigeon holed I find usually don't try hard enough to get moved.
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RE: Where to get best experience before going on my own
But I would think that you are focusing too much on design skills.
If you are to go out on your own you will also need to master the softer skills such as marketing, budgeting, client management and quoting. I would recommend that you go for a role that stretches you both technically and responsibility wise.
No matter how much experience you have in these things, you could always have more.
RE: Where to get best experience before going on my own
RE: Where to get best experience before going on my own
Working for a (very) small company will give you a far better idea of what you are letting yourself in for and possible help you hone the skills you will need for when you go it alone. I would recommend you work for a very small company some time between now and then, assuming of course that you have not already.