CAREER ADVICE. 1

[malikasal]

I am a structural engineer with 3.5 years experience in steel structure design, my question is : for the long term, is it better to stick with office work or should i make the change to site engineer.



ôIf you don't build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs.ö

Tony A. Gaskins Jr.

 

[JNieman]

Better for what?

Stress, money, travel, fresh air, consistency, time-at-home, path to management, path to self-employment...

Establish goals first.

_________________________________________
NX8.0, Solidworks 2014, AutoCAD, Enovia V5

 

[JAE]

What do you enjoy doing? Answer that and you would have a better understanding of how to answer your first question.

Check out Eng-Tips Forum's Policies here:
faq731-376

 

[PersonalProfile]

In principle, in my experience, to be a "good engineer" [including a designer], you must have site experience.

What I cannot tell you is: if now the right time for you [for purely experience, or perhaps there is limited design work available, though there is some construction work available etc], and for how long etc.

Regards,
Lyle

 

[concretemasonry]

At the 3.5 year mark, you have the ability to get other vistas and outlooks. A young engineer does not get a wide range if he is in a specific office or department since there is a lot repetition and overlap.

I was fortunate to somehow start civil engineering planning in high school an took the typical math and science courses. Since I decided on civil, I did not know enough to decide on a specific direction within the realm of CE. While in college (a 5 year curriculum fortunately), I decided on a 6 year plan of 2 years each in design, construction and general uses. Fortunately, I had a chance to fork for 4 summers while in engineering and construction (highway department for bridges, concrete inspection and road construction.

Based on my 40 or 50 years experience, it could be time to look around and see what you have missed in your 3.5 years. - You have a lot of time ahead of you, so look ahead and beyond.

Dick

Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.

 

[Latexman]

Is office work becoming routine, boring? Are you having a hard time staying on task? Do you feel you are lacking some experience? If you are thinking of going into field work, maybe it is time for the change.

Good luck,
Latexman

Technically, the glass is always full - 1/2 air and 1/2 water.

 

[Panther140]

The more well-rounded you are, the more you can bring to the table.

IMO, The best engineers are the ones who leave dirty finger prints on every piece of paperwork they have

"Formal education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." ~ Joseph Stalin

 

[JedClampett]

If you choose field assignments, it helps to be bilingual;
English and cursing.

 

[MikeHalloran]

As Jed notes, and I'm sure he's not joking, in the field, your malediction may be more valuable than any other language, including English, or whatever is normally spoken at your workplace.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Panther140]

Mike is right. And you have to direct it toward office dwellers as much as possible. PM me if you want any tips and tricks on how to implement it.

There are a lot of factors that go into best using malediction:
- Ambient air temperature
- Perspiration rate and levels
- Presence/Lack of union workers
- Equipment malfunctions
- Interaction with office-dwellers and how to refer to them in their absence
- Compters.. (should be paired with 4 letter adjectives)
- Urgency of certain tasks (integrate 4 letter adjectives AND adverbs)


"Formal education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." ~ Joseph Stalin

 

[Jboggs]

The biggest mistake young engineers make in my opinion is that they actually think they're education is finished when they graduate! Could not be more wrong! And the biggest single source of knowledge after graduation is those folks who have spent their life working with their own hands implementing (or repairing) the designs of other engineers. These folks are a TREASURE TROVE of information.

And now the second mistake young engineers make - they take themselves way too seriously. Learn to laugh at yourself! Learn to ask those folks above for their advice, their help, their guidance. And TAKE it! Once they see that you respect them they will be your friends for life.