Best Return to Engineering Path 3

[kurtp]

Thanks in advance to you all for your upcoming suggestions. I have read several other threads that were similar in some respects, and really thought the assistance from everyone was great. This is a great community.

Anyway, my situation appears somewhat unique on this forum, as I have a BSME and seven or eight years of experience in different engineering capacities, but a seventeen year gap of relevant engineering work. Kids, other jobs, a very well paid wife that traveled extensively, stay at home father, make me less attractive to potential employers as a Mechanical Engineer. I am 49 and want to return to mechanical engineering, but need to find what path might help prepare me for employers best: continuing education, certificate courses, or something else.

I don't have to find a job now, but really need to find a path to engineering again. I don't think a quick refresher course in a 3D modeling class would do it, but I don't know. I am not against pursuing an advanced degree in engineering or computer science, and have read some great comments about other older students. I am not set on anything, other than wanting to get back into engineering completely. Stints in other fields has not fostered my engineering knowledge, but has strengthened my desire to return to it.

Again, I am not pushed by immediacy, although a clear direction would be great. Please shoot me your ideas for the best ways a mechanical engineer can prepare himself for engineering after such a lapse, and at my age. Life does throw us curve balls every now and then, doesn't it?

Thanks to all that read and comment on this thread.

Kurt

 

[ctopher]

Look into doing contract work. Learning or brushing up on CAD 3D solid modeling will only help you, not hurt you.
Maybe start with your own business?

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[kurtp]

Thanks Chris. I know solid modeling will only help, but is it enough to get back into the field I left many years ago, or might it pigeon-hole me with no other relevant engineering work experience? I would like to add it to my resume, but I will this qualify my for engineering jobs?

I am not trying to take the Devil's advocate stance, but want to use my money wisely to help me get back into an engineering job. $2500 and a week in a hotel will acquaint me with solid modeling and I will add it to my resume, but I am thinking that that isn't the challenge with employers.

Is there more extensive courses that might integrate other engineering tools that would be better? I guess I really should talk with recruiters about their ideas too.

Thanks for the suggestion though Chris. I am a sponge and will take all input.

Kurt

 

[ctopher]

It's tough in this economy, especially with a 17 year gap.
I suggest getting in touch with a recruiter, or temp agency, and get your foot in the door.
True you may get pigeon-holed somewhere, but if you are serious about back into the field, you may take what you can get. A lot of companies these days are hiring young people that will accept a low pay.
Get into any engineering company, some will help you gain back your experience and sometimes train you on CAD.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[kurtp]

Great. That is what I plan on doing as I try to figure things out, talking to recruiters, different engineers in various positions, other contacts, colleges, etc. All of this input will help me decide which path will be best to restart my engineering career.

I am quite a bit older with outdated experience, but much better at communicating and developing contacts. Sure, it is a tough time for many now, but I will will nurture professional contacts old fashioned ways - face to face or over the phone.

Keep all comments coming. I will be part of this forum for many years.

Kurt

 

[rbulsara]

Try to get in sales of engineering products.

Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[ash9144]

You say back into "engineering" but what do you mean by this? Do you want to do project engineering, plant operation, run a machine shop, etc? This may help someone give you a pointer to move in the right direction.

Rb's idea of sales is a good one too. You could try outside sales for whatever type company you are interested and at the same time brush up your skills by watching them do the actual work part of it.

 

[cvg]

Your experience is what it is. You can gradually improve your education, however at your age it is not just what you know but who you know. Begin by renewing contact with old colleagues, clients, professors or others in the industry. Linkedln might be a good tool to help reconnect. See if you can get any references. Also, attend conferences or begin attending monthly meetings of relevant societies to meet new people.

 

[GregLocock]

Seems to be a bit of an overemphasis on CAD in this thread.



Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[kurtp]

Again, thanks for all for contributing.

Greg, I was thinking this way about CAD too, so glad to read your comments.

Part of what I want to do is find a direction to pursue, as I have been out of engineering for a while. Sorry to be vague, but I want to find what is out there now, select a direction to pursue and then prepare for it, and then develop and maintain contacts to help get in that industry.

My past engineering has been project related, manufacturing, and some design work. Most of my experience was as a project engineer in a manufacturing environment though.

What I am doing now is developing contacts in different engineering industries to talk to about what preparation would be best for my return. I will do the same with recruiters and temp agencies.

I know there may not be an opportunity for some time, but I want to find paths that would prepare me the best for a strong return.

Again, thanks for all and I hope my new comments might help direct your comments in the future.

BTW, I have passed my EIT exams but am not a PE. Are there engineering classes other than 3D modeling that might assist me?

I appreciate all your help.


Kurt

 

[kurtp]

Thanks Greg. Yes, the policy tips are great. I should add them to my signature too.

Kurt

 

[Hurricanes]

Kurt,

One way to get back up to speed would be a Masters, but obviously this would be a significant investment on your part. Perhaps instead, maybe you could think about doing a postgraduate certificate in Mech Eng.

The certificate itself doesn't really qualify you for anything, but it could be proof you're up to speed and ready to drive right in.

Typically here (Queensland, Australia) they are four courses, studied by distance education and can be done part time. I did two papers, not for the certificate, but to improve my skills in a couple of areas which opened up more scope to undertake different tasks within my company.

Might be worth looking into.

 

[ctopher]

CAD is a big part of engineering now.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[Hurricanes]

ctopher,

Disagree. I don't touch CAD, drafters do that for me. I do calculations. I'd be better off improving my solid mechanics skill set than learning the ins and outs of Solid Works.

 

[kurtp]

Hurricanes, I like your idea about a postgraduate certificate. I will have to inquire more as I have not heard of these over here. Did you say these were available remotely?

I was very impressed with the 3D modeling abilities many years ago and wouldn't mind learning this sometime, but would like to do more engineering than modeling. Also, I am pretty sure I can't keep up with some of the 3D modelers I have seen. However, I am reading and can imagine knowing these tools might be mandatory in some positions.

Keep them coming. I appreciate all of them, especially new options.

Kurt

 

[Hurricanes]

Kurt,

Yes, most universities in Australia (and I assume the US too) have some sort of distance education program. Basically for the stuff I did, I downloaded the course notes from the universities website along with the assignments due. Any software required was made available through the uni also.

So basically I spent my weekends and time after work doing these assignments, and uploaded them to the uni website as they were due. Pretty painless, and I did learn a surprising amount of stuff.

 

[kurtp]

Hurricanes, I will look into this further. I see the value in this for me and other like me, but there aren't many of us. What is the program called and what is it designed for? Is it to brush up on engineering for those that have been away from it for a while? It is interesting and I imagine that if they don't offer it locally, I might be able to do it remotely at a college further away. However, I would probably want to stay in United States though if possible.

How are these certificates used? I understand you doing it for you, and I would for me too but the certificates must be for something, right?

Thanks to all with traditional ideas, but also to those with creative ideas.

I appreciate them all. This forum is great.

Kurt

 

[Hurricanes]

Kurt,

To be honest, I am not sure what the certificates are used for. I think they are more of a record of your continuing education, or can be used as a stepping stone into a Masters.

The one I did was to improve your 'specialisation' without going into any great depth that you might be required to doing a Masters.

I am sure there will be unis in the US offering programs similar to what I did. And yeah, I am sure if you lived in say New York, you could study 'at' a Californian uni without leaving your home.

I have attached a pdf of the course I did. I am a Mechanical Engineer, but I did a couple of papers in the Advanced Structural Engineering Design major. Obviously I didn't get a certificate as I only did two of the required four papers (these two were directly relevant to my area of work).

 

[kurtp]

Thanks Hurricanes,

I will look through your program tomorrow and then begin checking if there are similar programs here.

I really appreciate the help. Keep ideas coming as you think of them please.

Have a nice Friday.

Kurt

Kurt

 

[ctopher]

Hurricanes,
I don't mean just 'drafting', it's a big part in design, FEA, CAM, etc.
Engineers still need to know calculations to understand, but also to do double checks.
To not know any CAD application, you are falling behind the times, or close to retirement, or are in management.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion