Starting Up A Design Office
Starting Up A Design Office
(OP)
My Kind Greetings,
On graduation, I was opportuned to work with the Federal Ministry of Works On Road Projects; here the main thrust of my job was project surpervision and administration. I also paticipated on quality control and inspection works.
Thereafter, I joined a Civil Engineering Company handling a Road project as Asst. Q/Surveyor; later as Draft Engineer and now as a Site Civil Engineer. The experiences has been on CAD/drafting,Physical Measurement, Quantities, Costing, Cost-Control, Budgeting, Planning& Scheduling and physical construction of main civilworks.
Prior to this, I have worked on building projects and delivered a 2-story building contract documents including both the structural designs and BOQ as the client demands. These work experiences has helped and sharpen my engineering jugdement and design abilities/skills.
However, I also attended engineering training courses on AVEVA PDMS on Oil & Gas Plants/Marine designs; AUTOCAD (Civilworks); CIVILCAD; Bentley Workstation etc. These are my main skills in CAD engineerig.
Still working for the Company as Civil engr; I'm thinking of starting up a DESIGN STUDIO; where I can still make some bucks outside my salary; while still running a desk with the company.
I dont know the implications of this plan and how is going to affect my job. I need your kind assistant/advice...
Meanwhile, I'm not a registered engr but knows how to get seal and stamp from qualified engineers.
Please, advice !
On graduation, I was opportuned to work with the Federal Ministry of Works On Road Projects; here the main thrust of my job was project surpervision and administration. I also paticipated on quality control and inspection works.
Thereafter, I joined a Civil Engineering Company handling a Road project as Asst. Q/Surveyor; later as Draft Engineer and now as a Site Civil Engineer. The experiences has been on CAD/drafting,Physical Measurement, Quantities, Costing, Cost-Control, Budgeting, Planning& Scheduling and physical construction of main civilworks.
Prior to this, I have worked on building projects and delivered a 2-story building contract documents including both the structural designs and BOQ as the client demands. These work experiences has helped and sharpen my engineering jugdement and design abilities/skills.
However, I also attended engineering training courses on AVEVA PDMS on Oil & Gas Plants/Marine designs; AUTOCAD (Civilworks); CIVILCAD; Bentley Workstation etc. These are my main skills in CAD engineerig.
Still working for the Company as Civil engr; I'm thinking of starting up a DESIGN STUDIO; where I can still make some bucks outside my salary; while still running a desk with the company.
I dont know the implications of this plan and how is going to affect my job. I need your kind assistant/advice...
Meanwhile, I'm not a registered engr but knows how to get seal and stamp from qualified engineers.
Please, advice !
nurhforward, Gitto International.
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
If you are not competing with them and you are completing this work on your own time, company should not have a problem. If your boss is of understanding type, you can make him aware of this.
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
Aside from that you should search for threads on moonlighting. This issue has been discussed many times and generates some strong opinions.
It can be done, but I think full disclosure to your employer is a neccessity. Others feel differently.
There may be some non-compete clause or limitation on moonlighting in your contract or employee handbook.
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
Also - you generally need to be licensed to provide any type of engineeering services.
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
The issue is black and white. Your employer can set limits on consulting after hours. Talk to them to find out, and if they agree, there's no problem.
The people who like to harp on it (in my opinion) are people that don't like more competition. Since it sounds like the OP is in a different country, no one here should be too worried about more competition.
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
Personally, I believe what I do on my own time should not concern my company as long as I don't use company resources, compete with my employer, or let it affect my performance.
But companies do have policies against moonlighting and it seems to me that either your company says yes or no and that's the end of it.
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
I cedarbluffranch is right - if thee firm says yes, then it is okay. But if the firm says no, then is it a slippery slope just doing something once in a while?
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
If I could do it over, my startup would include intensive personal investment in CAD drawing, management, and production.
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: Starting Up A Design Office
My insurance company requires that we have such a signed agreement with employees as a condition of full coverage, since so many employees will moonlight regardless of what they tell the employer. If the employee gets into trouble, they are usually not covered by insurance and the defacto deep pocket becomes the engineering firm.
Keep in mind that if an employee chooses to moonlight even after agreeing not to with their employer, they also risk their license from breaching ethical behavior guidelines or if not yet licensed, may find it difficult to get needed recommendations when the time comes up to seek licensing. In any case, I'd let someone go if they lied about moonlighting, since it would be too much of a risk to trust them again.