Are you an engineer at all?? 38

[MIStructE_IRE]

I’m not sure about you guys, but lately all I’m doing is risk assessments, reports, meetings, presentations, dealing with public bodies and dealing with nonsense. Its been months since I’ve done any actual engineering!

The job has become so over regulated I feel like engineering Itself is now maybe 25-30% of my job! I’d consider myself a good designer, and this level of admin and red tape has me considering jacking it all in and going to do something else..

How are things in your part of the world?

 

[dik]

I'm glad I come from a different time period... when universities were respected and businesses provided the training... Universities, it seems, have become large 'technical schools' for turning out technicians.


Dik

 

[IRstuff]

"XXX University, where you learn what not to do."

That had nothing to do with engineering; e.g., we had 9 general managers for our division in 5 years, and the company lost about a billion dollars a year for 7 years running, among other things

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

 

[l______40mm______l]

As someone who has moved abroad for better design work I can definitely recommend it. Working on more exciting projects whilst picking up new skills and better ways of doing things were all worth it. You do have to risk some social and financial aspects so it really depends on what you're willing to give up.

 

[kingnero]

40mm: that's certainly a 9gagger?

As for the topic starter: I worked some years for a government company. I did not walk but ran away, starting my own business. To be honest, there's still quite some administration going on now (certainly when you grow and have personnel), but at least I don't have to wait for 5 signatures to buy new xerox paper or coffee...

 

[lemmiwinksownz]

No. I'm a glorified paper pusher.

 

[Eagleee]

Successful management is mostly about making clients happy, PM'ing to make a profit, and motivating a team. Many of those goals actually run contrary to quality design engineering in my opinion. Were I to manage, I feel that I would be better at managing another kind of product.

what a damn good insight. i agree fully here and consider this valid in general for all fields.

 

[1503-44]

Success itself is making people happy. Management incorporates effective conflict and problem resolution to that end.

“What I told you was true ... from a certain point of view.” - Obi-Wan Kenobi, "Return of the Jedi"

 

[KootK]

@CivilSigma: as luck would have it, I know of a small, boutique firm in NY that is aggressively seeking someone to come out there for a 12 month contract position doing full time field review on a significant concrete highrise building in Manhattan. Right here is your chance to:

1) Get your butt to the US and get some meaningful US experience.

2) Get your butt to a market where tall buildings get built and familiarize yourself with their design and construction.

3) Learn from a mentor adept at the design of super tall buildings (former DeSimone engineer).

4) Make some useful contacts in a tall building market and possibly parlay that into a full time position spring boarding you into tall building structural engineering for life.

5) Have a fun NYC/Skyscraper adventure that will require you to risk little and, possibly, gain a great deal.

Like phamENG intimated, fortune favors the bold. And statistically, it really does. It's a bit like the Brett Favre school of big play making. The twenty, regular season interceptions are dwarfed in spades by that successful Hail Mary pass at the right time in the right playoff game. But, then, if you never take the chances, it's a certainty that nothing will happen.

If this is something that would interest you, let me know and I'll connect the dots. Go forth and let us live vicariously through your successes Fazlur Civil Sigma!!

 

[CivilSigma]

@KootK Thank you so much, that would actually be amazing, and I would love the opportunity! You are really kind, thank you for sharing this.

Although I bet the logistics will be hard due to COVID, I am willing to pursue the opportunity.

Is there a private message option here? Please let me know what I can do to get the ball rolling.

 

[KootK]

Go to my profile page and see if you can decipher my burner email from there. It's been done successfully a number of times in the past.

 

[CivilSigma]

I think I figured it out. I sent you an email.

 

[KootK]

Yup, all good. And you're most welcome of course. Survival as a structural engineer is a goddamn team sport if ever there was one.