Changing careers - Industrial to Civil

[rnjroles]

Hello All –

I’m looking for some career advice.

I am currently 34 years old, married and have 3 kids (5yrs old and younger). I have just completed a couple of undergraduate degrees – B.S. General Engineering and B.S. in Civil Engineering. I have also recently passed the FE (E.I.T.) Exam. I have been working (making a good buck and reaping the benefits of tuition reimbursement) as an engineering technician in a mechanical/electrical/materials role for the last 13 years. I enjoy the work to some degree but it certainly is not my passion. In this role I have acquired some sales, project management, and business experience but nothing that specifically applies to the field of Civil Engineering.

My goals are to obtain a PE and too eventually (probably in my retirement years) run my own Civil (structural) Engineering firm. In the short term I would like to make a smooth transition from manufacturing to Civil Engineering. The problem is money – I think it is foolish for me to think that I could make the money I’m currently bringing in just coming in the door of a Civil Eng. firm –especially with my lack of Civil experience.

I am currently at a bit of a crossroads. Ideally I would like to actively start looking for a Civil Eng. job and start acquiring experience towards my pursuit of a PE – however, the money issue is holding me back. How can I justify family welfare for my pursuit employment happiness? I am literally afraid that once I start looking for a Civil job that I’ll find one and be very tempted to take it even if it means a hefty pay cut.

I’ve said that I’m at a crossroad - the paths that I perceive are as follows:

1. Stay with current employer for now and continue my education getting an MBA (which will certainly be reimbursed).

2. Stay with current employer and continue my education getting a Masters in CE (which may or may not be reimbursed).

3. Try to find some part-time Civil Eng. work where I can at least start getting some experience in the field. I should mention that my field of interest is structural. I suspect that part-time work is going to be difficult to find – do any of you have thoughts on this?

4. Ignore the “Peter Principle” and just stay the course with my current employer and trust in a secure, although uneventful future.

5. Suck it up and find a Civil Engineering job at whatever cost – and continue towards my goals.

I have been reading the threads on this site for about a month now – I know that the majority of you are highly intelligent people – as such you’ll recognize that there are really several questions here.

1. How do I make a smooth career transition?
2. What type of advanced degree would best serve me in the future?
3. Is it possible to find meaningful part-time employment in the field of structural engineering?
4. Am I better off doing nothing?

Thanks in advance for the insight and honesty (regardless of how brutal it may be).

Bob

 

[EddyC]

Looks like you have a passion to be a Civil/Structural Engineer. In the near term you will take a major pay cut in the career switch that you are contemplating. If you were intending to become an CE employee for the rest of your life, I would recommend that you stay where you are. But your goal seems to be to start your own firm. If so, then the career change that you are proposing is justifiable. You better get your familiy on board with this however. If you were my son-in-law, I would tell you that you better do this to make more money in the long run to provide for my daughter and grandkids. Otherwise I would tell my daughter to leave you. As someone else stated so eloquently, work isn't about having fun, its about providing money to pay your bills. And at 34, you're old enough to know this.

 

[HgTX]

Why did you get the CE degree if you weren't prepared to make the career switch?

Hg

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[rnjroles]

Hg -

Think of it this way- Sky diving school seems like a really cool idea (on the ground) but at some point you are going to have to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Odds are that your going to have an exhilarating ride and will be happy that you jumped - but as you stand in the door all you can think about is the fact that the ground looks like its a long way down.

I'm prepared to make the swith but perhaps not ready. I got the degree because my interests have always been in the structural/construction field. In my mind I thought that if I didn't have the ability to switch careers that at least I would have a degree that could serve as a backup plan if the bottom dropped in my current employment.

 

[aggman]

I guess from another perspective I wonder exactly how much of a hit you will take. With going to school and working I can't imagine you have been raking in the dough. (No OT, non-degreed position) I would say the following. If you want to get into structural then you probably should do it ASAP. If you plan to have your own firm then you need experience working in the field. Most likely many structural firms will pay for your college master’s, as it will benefit them. I wouldn't get in the mind set that structural work means consulting. Many manufactures need structural people that pay well and they might look in good favor on your experience. I would just let my family know what I would like to do and start looking. When you find a good fit then go for it.

 

[ScottyUK]

rnjroles,

I'm in a strikingly similar position: have a good job, reasonably well paid, but have seen an inexorable slide in our working conditions over the past coupple of years. I've got the offer of a position at a UK nuclear site in a fairly different role: on shift, good benefits, paid O/T. The next year will largely be spent training. Salary-wise it is a significant drop in the short term, but with long term prospects, plus I get rid of some of the things that irk me and I can close the salary gap somewhat on O/T.

Big decision! I will let you know which way I jump.

I think EddyC is wrong: why would his daughter want to live with a guy who does not enjoy his work and only does it for the money, and who resents her for the lost opportunity that he could not take because her materialistic father would expect her to leave him when his salary dropped? Sounds like a quick way to a relationship breakdown and the divorce courts to me. People need to have some enjoyment in their work, otherwise their resentment toward work will spill over and destroy their home life too. Money can improve things at home, but it is not the only factor by any means.


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If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!

 

[EddyC]

I myself as well as 2 friends of mine both tried career switches. One of my friends fell on his face and still hasn't recovered. The other didn't go anywhere and ended up back in his original career. I myself didn't go anywhere either and it ended up impacting my finances and several friendships. Obviously it all depends upon a variety of factors as to the outcomes. But I can't see someone throwing away a perfectly good job with an employer who funded their education. Especially when they have 3 young children. Its a gamble at best.

 

[rnjroles]

Thanks for all the replies thus far!

EddyC – Your latest examples are one of the reasons for my caution. Lunchtime talk often touches on the stories of those who have supposedly gone off to greener pastures. Needless to say many of the stories do not end in happily ever after. I appreciate your two cents.

Aggman – I am guessing that I would take a 20k/year hit. I’m not sure of the site policy regarding salary discussions but I’ll elaborate if it is permissible. Anyway the salary is only part of total compensation. It seems to me that most structural firms are relatively small and I assume that they will not have benefits packages that are as attractive as the one I’ve got. I am afraid of what will happen in terms of my health coverage and to larger degree my 401k. With what I’m making now I’m able to save the Federal limit ($14k/year) in my 401k. I am sure that this would be the first thing to perish if I take on a pay cut.

I should also mention that my wife works 24hrs a week as a registered nurse. Her benefits are not quite as good as mine so all the health care and retirement savings are done on my end.

ScottyUK – Good luck to you. You make some valid points regarding relationships. I believe that my wife and I have theses areas thoroughly covered.

 

[EddyC]

Whatever your decision, try to obtain your PE by some means. Check your particular state's laws. Some states are lenient when it comes to meeting the qualifications to sit for the exam.

 

[UcfSE]

Something that will help your money situation and employability will be for you to get a master's in civil, more specifically structural. Universities may even have an option of a masters (MS instead of MSCE) that is almost solely structural, which is what I am doing. At least that way employers will see you as knowledgable if not experienced. A master's degree in engineering will also reduce the number of years of experience required to sit for the PE exam in some states, another plus. Some of the larger firms that offer all the good pay and benefits won't even let you in the door without a masters degree also.

 

[HgTX]

I'd back up what UcfSE says about the master's. Better jobs are open to you, and if you are able to go to a really good program, the good jobs will come looking for you.

Lots of job security in Civil even if it's the lowest-paid engineering field; the infrastructure will never stop crumbling.

Some schools have a 9-month MEng program which might be more what you'd benefit from rather than a full 2-year research MS program.

Hg

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[aggman]

I agree with UcfSE about the master's also. I finished mine last December, which was all structural. It was the best decision I have made about my education. No need to elaborate further about your income. I guess you will have to decide what is right for you and your family and what is acceptable. I personally wouldn't work at something as long as you did to not ever act on it. With the masters you should be looking at some compensation for having that, but I wouldn't recommend waiting until you get it to make a move, unless you could not get tuition paid by your new employer. Again I would like to repeat what I said before. Check out local tank companies, pedestrian bridge companies and manufactures in general. I took a job with a manufacturer that does in house engineering. The work is industrial in nature and the pay was higher than what I was offered in the structural firms. I also have benefits that are cheaper and better than my wife can get from the Federal government. In the end it is your decision and your risk. Just be sure you can live with the decision that you make. I can promise you this, if you don't work in structural engineering then you will find it pretty difficult to do anything with it in the future.

 

[rnjroles]

Thanks All!

I agree with all whom have made the point that I really must gain some experience in the Structural arena if I ever want to do something on my own. I also feel that it would be a real shame to have spent all the time and effort on getting a Civil Degree and to never use it. I get the impression that you all feel the Masters in Civil Engineering is a better path for me than an MBA (which is what I thought as well). Do any of you care to suggest a good program – preferably one using distance learning?

I have heard that a masters degree will take 1 year off of the 4 year PE experience requirement although I have yet not gotten official word from the CT license board.

EddyC – you make the point of the importance in getting the PE license – I am 100% with you on this. One problem, however, is the fact that my current employment (in industry) does not have any PE on site and I am not aware of any in the corporation – this is one reason why I asked about the possibility of working part-time in a structural firm.

 

[EddyC]

Some folks in Industry do indeed get their PEs. They too don't have PE references usually. If you explain this "chicken-and-egg" situation to the state board, they will probably wave the PE reference requirement. They did for a friend of mine.

 

[plasgears]

This reminds me of the temptation I had to go from mech eng to the airlines as a pilot. The difference in pay way so dramatic that I didn't give it a second thought.

My son-in-law gave up a career with United as a pilot to pursue other interests (his own business), and he is not looking back. The way he put it: the good parts of the job were decreasing, and the bad parts were increasing.

 

[UcfSE]

My university digitally records all of our classes live and then posts them on the internet for the distance students to stream or download and watch any time. It's very helpful for those of us who work and cannot make it to every class. It is also still a real class with a real professor so it's better than the online degrees you hear about from time to time, in my opinion. You should see if the university you are near offers this.

 

[fndn]

For easy transistion and later a firm of your owm, you would be perfect for a sole-proprietor civil or structural engineer who will be retiring in about 5-7 years. You'll gain experience, take the licensing exams and later buy a firm that you're very well familiar.

Most likely, in the begining you'll earn less, but as you become valuable and gain licensure-your partner will be phasing out so his hours and pay will decline and your pay and contribution will increase. So how can you find your dream ready to reire P.E? Go to local civil firms and introduce yourself without a resume, attend local sections of ASCE or NSPE meetings and join the rotary. Some of these old timers are members of the rotary and you would have to network in their circles. Heck, I would even go to local Winebago dealers and meet their sales people. Also since you're quite not ready for transition this networking and meeting with firms will buy you time to decide.

It is a wonderful plan that you have, so look for the right time of entry and firm.

A Member of

http://www.civilvillage.com

 

[ScottyUK]

mjroles,

I said I would tell you my decision:

I withdrew my application for the other job. I enjoy the creative side of my current role and don't want to lose it, plus the salary drop was a little bigger than I could afford to take right now. It is nice to know I'm still marketable after seven years in this place - there are plenty other jobs in my field if I change my mind!


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If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!

 

[HgTX]

Be careful, though. If you decide 7 years from now to switch to civil, you won't be able to compete with the kids just finishing school. Are you still contemplating getting a master's degree? If you do that in dribs and drabs part-time, that'll keep your hand in CivE for a while yet.

Hg

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