Career Advice

[Norm01]

I am a mechanical engineer in Canada with 8 years experience in the construction industry designing fire protection systems. I have been looking to move into a consulting company and have noticed that the job descriptions usually require experience in HVAC/Plumbing/Fire Protection. Over the last six months I have enrolled in an ASHRAE course on "HVAC Systems Design" to increase my knowledge in this area. My wife and I are looking to relocate in approx. 5 years, so I'm trying to build my skill set for future employability. Recently, some consulting firms have approached me and one firm in particular has given me two options,

a) joining their plumbing/fire protection/med-gas division
or
b) join the HVAC division, with the intent of also helping out in fire protection

The problem is that in the interview they seemed to want me to take option a). They also had said that if I decided to take option a) it would be hard for me to get any sort of HVAC training (because of the demand on the division).

So my question is given these two options, which one would be better in the long run for future employment?

Any thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fcsuper]

How are the choices different? HVAC is specific, of course, but I don't see how being in the option A) field is going to prevent you from growing in the HVAC field, especially if you continue your education in that area. Does option A) involve a lot engineering work though?

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[Norm01]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes with option "a" I can continue independant study of HVAC but will probably not have the chance to work directly on HVAC projects.

 

[fcsuper]

If it contract work, I don't see why the group would want to limit your horizons then. Maybe try to work with another agent? Or is this a place that contract projects?

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group