Career Advice 2

[mizzoueng]

The company I am working at is seeing dark times, I have been looking for jobs in the mechanical design field (what I want to specialize in). My question is this, I have found a job that sounds perfect and I fit all the qual's, but it is a highly specialized job (waste water treatment plants), should I go for this and hope that the market does not bottom out, or go with a larger firm that does everything and not be quite as qualified?

 

[prost]

How could the waste water treatment plant design industry ever bottom out? Locally your company might bit do so well, but it is hard for me to imagine a world in which wastewater treatment plants are no longer necessary. What's the alternative? People can stop buying cars, or planes, or widgets, but they'll always need more wastewater treatment plants.

As far as specialized firm vs. larger firm, there's no job security anywhere; in the end, you have to go with some direction you've picked out for your career--do you consider it less or more desirable to you to go with a specialty firm or with a more general firm?

 

[ctopher]

prost,
You took the words right out of my mouse.
I agree 100%.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-05)

 

[bioengr82]

I thought you should have switched after your last posted question. Is there at least a PE there?

 

[Ron]

mizzoueng....that field is not as highly specialized as you might think. Speaking from early experience in my career where I did structural and process design on water and wastewater treatment plants, as well as supervised their fabrication and erection...it was some the most diverse and greatest learning experience I ever had. Great for the "nuts and bolts" and problem solving aspects of engineering. I'm glad I had that experience. It prepared for many other ventures into problem solving in areas that had nothing to do with water or wastewater.

 

[mizzoueng]

Thanks for all the posts guys, I applied with the company but have not heard from them yet. I have heard from a "head hunter" and he was saying that design engineers make 20% less than the project engineers that are working in the field. Is this true?

He told me there was an opening at a firm that is design/build and that I could work in either the engineering side or the construction side. Hopefuly I will have an interview by the end of next week.

 

[IRstuff]

That's quite possible. Many companies force you to go up the management chain to get more money, with the technical path a stagnant, dead end.

But not all companies are like that. Our company has a dual progression path, so senior technical personnel can and do get compensated comparably to program managers and project leads.

TTFN

 

[Grouser]

I see WW & W TP design jobs all the time. Ron has valid points. Being a problem solver and innovative are very desirable traits. You don't want to design the same thing 100 times. Many projects are plant expansions where you have to connect and integrate the new with the old, they aren't blank paper designs. This is a good stepping stone to process design in many industries including petro-chemical and manufacturing. The future is bright! Go for it!

Cheers

 

[mizzoueng]

I tried but the listing was taken off the market for unknown reasons, it was put up again but it was in a different part of the state.

 

[mizzoueng]

Well, the dark times have come. My company is going out of business in December of this year. I have been told that I will stay on until December or even next April (long story). This is because I am the lowest paid engineer here and they can survive a little longer with only paying me to de a seniors project.

I've sent out my resume to a couple design/build firms and also to Burns & McDonnell. I have oppertunities with a couple MEP's here in town as well.

I thought I would update everyone and ask a question.

How do you feel leaving a company with projects unfinished? I have 3 project running concurrently, 1 is the Dec/Apr one, the others should finish up by Sept.

 

[GregLocock]

Run away. You owe them nothing. If you are being asked to take the responsibility of a senior engineer, you should be paid like one. If I were you at the least I'd demand and expect contractor type wages if you hang around, ie 1.5 times your current hourly rate.





Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[KENAT]

While I kind of hate to say it Greg is right.

I hate leaving things unfinished and for some reason tend to feel a loyalty toward employers they probably haven't earned but it's unrealistic to expect you to stay.

Unless they really make it worthwhile for you to stay financially I'd say go the first chance you get. All you have to lose is a reference (and legally they're unlikely to say anything bad, just might not say anything good either) and if you're actually leaving for another position this isn't such an issue.

The only thing that might confuse it is if your colleagues/boss are what you consider friends, but while you can live without friends living without a job is usually more challenging. Good reason not to be close friends with colleagues!

Just my 2C worth, I’ve never really been in your position & you know what they say about free advice.

 

[Ashereng]

I would leave now. The company is going out of business - every employer will understand that you need to find another job.

Your obligation to your company has ended, in every sense of the situation, when they announced that they are going out of business.

Also, if they let everyone go, how will you do the job of a senior if you don't have the experience and skills?

Your employer is taking advantage of you. If you already have good opportunities available to you, I'd suggest you take them now before they disappear. If you are still looking for good opportunities, I'd suggest you look harder - December is only 5 months away!

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[ScottyUK]

Is the company itself going down, or just your plant / division? A college mate of mine stayed on until the bitter end when Siemens mothballed their chip fab on Tyneside (later bought by Atmel). He was paid well while there and received a bonus which amounted to a year's salary tax free for taking the chance and being one of the last ones out. he was working again within a month or so.

Obviously this is only an option if the parent company is healthy, otherwise it is bordering on madness. If the job market in your sector and locale is buoyant and you can negotiate a similar deal it might be worth considering.

----------------------------------

I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

 

[mizzoueng]

Well, its been about 2 weeks since my last post. I have been told that I will be let go in Sept/Oct. But I have a feeling it will be more like Mid-August.

I had an interview with a small mechanical/sheetmetal contactor here in town, but they are financially unstable. They say they have ahold of the problem and will be fine (and are fine), but it makes me wary as of what is happening now.

I also met with Burnes and McDonnell, they have 3 positions open, and I was told that I will have room to grow as an engineer, meaning they will pay for advanced degrees, professional registration, etc.

Today I met with a large MEP contractor. I was told I could do anything, estimating, project engineering, project management, deign work, etc. I will have the same room to grow there.

I am meeting with another large MEP sometime late this week or early next week. Sounds like they have the same offer as the other large MEP.

Which would be more beneficial to me? A large engineering firm that would have better fiscal benefits, more offices (if I ever were to move to another large metro area), and a solid engineering core, or a MEP that I have experince in and room to grow into the design field?

 

[zdas04]

Now you're just being silly. You've had 4-5 positive interviews and you have to decide which one you want to go with--without any help from us. The big issues are very personal, write down what is important to you and grade each job (assuming all the positive interviews result in offers) on an arbitrary scale and set a weighting factor for that item. Add up the weighted values and go with the highest score. If you pick the "wrong" one then your weights were incorrect.

David

 

[Beggar]

I would opt for the former. That is, my experience has been that bigger is better.

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How much do YOU owe?

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

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[prost]

I'll start:
Big company
Advantages--diversity of projects allow potentially more career choices
Disadvantages--mass layoffs in certain industries like aerospace are a fact of life and there may be little chance of avoiding the layoff steamroller, no matter how competent or likeable you are.

Small company
Advantages--like 'Cheers', everyone knows your name. If you fit into the culture, potentially a very rewarding career
Disadvantages--one big customer leaves and everyone is eating dog food.