Changing careers - HVAC manufacturing to consulting?

[shimo1989]

I'm at a bit of a crossroads at the moment. Having just finished my mechanical engineering degree this spring, I've been offered a position with an HVAC equipment manufacturing company (for pretty decent pay, no less). I like the company environment, and the work they do does seem very interesting and challenging.

But the thing is, I think HVAC consulting is something I'd like to get into in the future, and I don't know how easy it would be to go from manufacturing to consulting. If I take the job in HVAC manufacturing, how easy would it be for me to transition into the HVAC consulting industry? I have had no industry experience whatsoever with either field. Would getting a master's degree in HVAC systems (after working for a few years in manufacturing) be helpful at all? Do the chances for a successful transition increase or decrease once I get my Professional Engineer designation?

On the same topic, how difficult would it be for me to switch to completely unrelated industries, such as oil/gas? I highly doubt that the skills I learn there would be useful for reservoir simulation engineering or pipeline design or whatever, so would that be a possibility at all, with or without going to grad school?

I would greatly appreciate it if someone who has gone through similar transitions could give me some advice on this issue. Thanks in advance!

 

[MintJulep]

From a potential consultant customer perspective:

What does a consultant with no relevant experience offer me?

None.

 

[KENAT]

I never really understood the idea of becoming a consultant straight from education.

If I'm paying for a consultant I want someone with very relevant skills and perhaps even more importantly experience.

However, I don't work in HVAC so what would I know?

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[TheTick]

Defnitely no shortage of fresh grads ready to share everything they know.

 

[shimo1989]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I should clarify...I obviously can't become an actual consultant immediately, just as an engineer-in-training with a consulting company. What would be the easiest way for someone in HVAC equipment manufacturing to move to HVAC consulting (or other industries)? Would a related graduate degree be useful at all for this purpose?

 

[MintJulep]

With rare exceptions, consulting firms hire based on the ability to produce "billable hours".

If you can't do that then you are just overhead. Generally good for nothing except reducing profits. But sometimes useful to justify the overhead rate charged to clients.

 

[cvg]

in general you need relevant experience, not another degree. if you want to be a consultant than start down that road if you can. switching careers will always set you back since you will not have relevant experience and will not be billable.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Go work for for about 10 years and THEN you MIGHT have the experience it takes to be a "consultant".

Anybody can be a "consultant" - only experience and good results will allow you to make a living!!

My wife asks me questions all the time - am I consultant?? Obviously, she thinks so - but usually I just answer with some off the cuff remark that pisses her off.....

And I usually don't know the answer or could care less. Like what color should I paint the bathroom?? Just pick it out and I will paint it. I am NOT an architect - I am an engineer and really could care less what color it is - as long as it not Pepto-Bismal pink!!

Get some experience!!! You will be surprised what they DIDN'T teach you in college!!!

 

[KENAT]

My gut feel is you may well benefit getting the experience at the manufacturer before going into consulting, but like I said it's not explicitly my field.

Just because some consulting companies merrily hire new graduates, doesn't mean its always the best plan for either the new grad, the company, or their clients.

Of course, a lot depends too on what exactly you mean by consultant in this context.

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[DubMac]

The quickest way for you to move into consulting is to take the manufacturer's job tomorrow and start building your experience. If you don't like it, quit and get another one.

I'm not sure what product/s this manufacturing company is into, but if it is an HVAC core product (pumps, chillers, cooling towers, fans etc.) you are very much underestimating the skills and credibility gained from working for a large manufacturing outfit.

By the time you build the required skills to be a consultant you may realize a steady paycheck has its rewards.

 

[cdxx139]

Many engineers come out of college and go work for a consulting firm, which is what I assume you are talking about. People may be confusing this with you wanting to be a "consultant" which I feel is a specialist that is contracted for a specific task or project for a period of time.

The consulting firm route would give you the broadest experience. You would learn both air side and hydronics.

You sound like you found the perfect job for you at this time. I would take it. Depending on what the product is, and can be an easy transition, especially if its, pumps air handling units, chillers etc.

If I had to do it again, I would have gone to work for a contactor first, see how things are built, then design them... oh well.



knowledge is power

 

[SAK9]

The HVAC manufacturing will equip you with lot more transferrable skills than a consulting job.Being a manufacturing company there might be opportunities to work in their marketing or service department as well.You could develop a range of technical,management and commercial skills with a manufacturing company which then might even enable you to work of the HVAC industry branching into a lot of other manufacturing industries.When you are sick of engineering you can even have a management career if you have got the right mix of exposure.

With a consultant firm you will be doing technical work for most part of your career which might be exciting now and need not be the case say 10 or 20 years from now.So ask yourself where you want to be in the next 10,20 or 30 years from now.If you can find some answers to those questions,you may find happiness.

 

[looslib]

Those who can do, do
Those who can't do, consult
Those who can't consult, teach

I find that most consultants that companies bring in only tell management what the employees have been saying for years and then the consultant hands them a big bill and nothing changes anyway.

Consultants also tend to only suggest things to do, but never do any of them. Had a consultant that a company was going to hire as a configuration manager. After 7-8 months, before he came on board full time, they let him go. He had spent the whole time telling us what to do, what needed changed, etc. No real solutions in his proposals, just this needs fixed.



"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[cry22]

I have suppervised one such engineer who came from HVAC manufacturing to HVAC consulting, he found out that the consulting business is far, far away from being an exact science.
He did not imagine engineering being something other than just crunching numbers.

He hated our consulting world. He went back to manufacturing and he is living happily since then.

From what I saw with that guy, anyone coming out of manufacturing is not likely to enjoy our world.

HVAC consultants are NOT IN THE MONEY - by that, I mean, when an owner wants to build a facility he looks for an architect or a builder in the yellow pages, he does not look for an HVAC consultant, HVAC consultants as a result are second class citizens in their industry.
The other this is: HVAC Engneers get feed back from clients (owners) ONLY when things are going bad (problems with temperature, humidity, etc), when things are smooth, everyone takes it for granted.

 

[shimo1989]

Thanks for the help everyone. After reading your replies, I've decided to take the HVAC manufacturing job. Hopefully I'll enjoy working in that industry

Only downside is that I have to move to a city where rent is over a quarter of my monthly wages. It's my first real engineering job though, I shouldn't complain...haha

Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[ChrisConley]

You are describing the actual route I took to consulting. I consider the time I spent on the manufacturing side of the world invaluable. I wouldn't go back... but I know many people who truly enjoy that style of work. The experience doesn't directly translate, and you do decide to make the switch you'll find yourself having to sell your skills pretty hard.