Career Advice

[juchem]

Hello,

I am a civil engg graduate with 2 yrs of work experience in Oil and gas industry as a design engg. After completing my Masters in Transportation Engg I worked as a traffic engg for 8 months. Worked as an asst prof in college overseas for 6 months too (in civil engg dept, training undergrads). Due to personal reasons, I couldn't take the FE exam and have a career break of 8 yrs now.

I am now ready to work again and ernestly seeking ways to go about it. Is FE really necessary to obtain a job in companies?? How much relevance do online certificate courses hold in gaining a job in the industry?

Any advice on how to go about it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Juchem.

 

[oldestguy]

The missing years of work will need an explanation to any thinking prospective employer, so be prepared to explain. If it can't be explained, think about taking a tech job as a starter again.

 

[juchem]

Thank you Sir, for the response.
Yes, I am prepared to provide the explanation for the break in my career. And I am well aware that I may have to look for an entry-level position if I need to get back to the industry.. However, would you be kind enough to throw some light on the relevance that online courses have in securing a position for me in the job market? Also is FE a real necessity for sending across an application to a company?

 

[thaidavid40]

Having an FE certificate isn't strictly a killer when looking for an entry-level engineering job. If you do have one, that might set you apart from a few others, though most engineering college graduates will have passed the FE exam before leaving school. So the FE itself probably won't make a big difference, especially if you already have some engineering profession working experience. Be prepared to take the FE soon though, as it is a requisite to gaining your PE license. Having that WILL set you apart from many others in your field.
Good luck,
Dave

Thaidavid

 

[oldestguy]

For one thing change this approach. Also is FE a real necessity for sending across an application to a company? That right away would turn me off if I was a prospective employer. Show some ambition and stop in to the engineering office and ask for one minute with the chief engineer to hand them a resume. You may get turned away without that personal contact, but it shows ambition. Joining a professional engineer organization would be start, since many now provide seminars and internet training for keeping current with the professions and also there will be contacts if you attend meetings.

 

[juchem]

Thank you so much thaidavid40 and oldestguy for your valuable suggestions and input.

Oldestguy Sir...Being such a hugely experienced person that you are in the civil engineering field, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time out and providing such valuable tips. Meeting professors of civil engineering dept in the University near me, meeting people at career fairs and dropping in resumes to companies have been on my to-do list for next month. I am also in touch with students at the univ asking them to keep me in the loop if any meetings / talks happen...I am a member of AASHTO and couple other transportation engineering forums, but as far as I could understand, they provide training for people who are already on the job. But I am hopeful to find something that'll suit my interests and situation . Will keep trying till I get what I need ....

Thanks again..

 

[oldestguy]

Probably the most useful membership for civils is ASCE. The state professional engineer society also can be useful. For the geotech ASCE has sub groups and the technical sessions are for any one interested. It's been a few years now since I was an active member, but look here as a start.

http://www.asce.org/

Also check here

http://www.asce.org/routing-page/technical-areas/

 

[juchem]

Thank you Sir...I shall look into it..