Advice for a career change into Site Engineering/Surveying

[AlexGreen1994]

Hi all,

TLDR, I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for moving into the Site Engineering/Surveying line of work.

I'm currently unemployed, I left my job last year. Generally, I got sick of it and it tied in with my girlfriend leaving uni so we decided to do some travelling.

I worked for 5-6 years in the Rail Industry since being a graduate, holding positions as OLE design engineer, Project Manager, and Project Engineer. I left on a salary of £45,000.

I worked as a Project Engineer on a £100m+ large-scale construction, on which I had a chance to shadow and assist one of the site engineers, taking measurements, setting out, checking tolerances, etc. and I found it very fun. As a design engineer, I spent a lot of time with AutoCAD, Microstation, and Solidworks, so the drawing element of Site Engineering is easy for me and I'm well versed in it. I eventually had an opportunity to solo survey two large-scale sites using GPS, and subsequently use that data to design carparks for the company.

Now that I'm looking to return to work, I'd like to make a permanent shift into site engineering. I'm aware of CITB-certified surveying courses, to gain an official qualification. But unsure how best to enter the space. Through agencies? Or look for permanent work with a company? Contracting?

Any advice would be much appreciated

Alex

 

[SwinnyGG]

I'd suggest you try to find an entry level job with a surveying firm - always better to learn while someone else is carrying the insurance. You might have to take a step back in prestige/salary until you have your license (not sure how this works in the UK compared to the US). Also surveying equipment is VERY expensive, and might be a barrier to flying solo right out of the gate.

Once you're licensed, have some experience, and have some connections with contractors who know you and might be willing to hire you, you can hang your own shingle if you want.

 

[LittleInch]

Start with people you know who can recommend you or vouch for you in terms of the sorts of companies and work that you want to do. You probably have more contacts than you think.

Until you can show relevant experience, agencies and your own company are not going to bear fruit. You might some minimum level of CITB course qualifications to be allowed onto the bigger sites - I've no idea. Ask the bigger companies.

I have no idea what the salary level is or how secure a lot of the work is, but try it and see. I'm sure places like HS2 just eat site people.

I'm too far away from the coal face to know who the bigger and regional players er int his field or if the bigger construction crews hire their own.

Offer to "shadow" for say 4 weeks and then see what happens. You will probably bring good skills into the system so don't down grade yourself too much, but changing ships at what I guess is about 30 isn't easy. Good luck.