Looking for advice on a career change ... 2

[aeturnus]

I have a degree that is not in engineering received nearly 20 years ago. For the past 15 years, I was more or less dealing with family health issues. So now, that is all behind me. I want to just start afresh with a career change, something I had been thinking about for the past 10 years. I don't have much experience with anything, other than a crappy job that allowed me to take time off to take my parents to the doctor all the time. Well, the job wasn't exactly crappy. I did enjoy it, but it paid like next to nothing. Anyway, at 44 years of age, going on 45, I am wanting a career change. Since I have an innate fascination with buildings, I want to be involved somehow in either design or engineering. I have two options. I wonder which would be the better choice.

(1) I was originally looking at architect, but that course is longer and harder to get into. So I am looking at engineering, mainly structural engineering. So I have that option, though I want to be involved with historic structures, if possible, with restoration, rehabilitation, or something to that effect. Yeah, I know the course isn't going to cover preservation. I'd be fine so long as I was working with buildings in some form or another.

(2) I have a cheaper route with another school, though it appears to be far more construction based. I do have the opportunity to be an inspector and what not, so I was told. I am afraid this would gear me too much to the construction industry, which is not exactly what I have in mind. The course is strictly preservation based, however. My goal, though, is a desire for something a bit more technical than that, like either to help with design or ensuring the future integrity of the structure.

I'm kind of wondering, at my age, which would be the better choice? I mean, I have yet to figure out all the financial aspects of this stuff. I have to do it before the summer. I would need to begin pronto in August.

 

[JAE]

You may already know some of this - but in the spirit of "counting the cost" before you leap, to get to be a licensed SE in the US you are looking at:
1. BS degree (4 years full time) in an accredited engineering curricula.
2. Passing the Fundamentals Examination (8 hour test taken near or right after you graduate).
3. Work 4 years under a licensed PE or SE.
4. Passing the PE exam (8 hour exam)
5. Optionally....and preferrably in my book for structural - getting your MS degree in Structural Engineering
6. Finding your job in a firm that does a good job of mentoring.
7. Finding a job where you could get exposure to historical renovation type work.

I don't know your financial situation but if you can't go full time in school, you might end up doubling or tripling the time to get your degrees.
So you would be looking to start your new career between 4 to 12 years depending on your freedom to go full time student.
Four years would get you the BS degree and get you started under a licensed mentor PE.
12 years is a guess based on part time student and getting an MS degree as well.

Instead of going the full licensed engineer route, you could perhaps consider:
a) Finding a sales type job selling products associated with historical renovation work.
b) Getting work under a specialized contractor that does historical renovation work....most of the "expertise" in this field many times resides with the specialist contractors, not the engineers.
c) Learning to be a mason - a lot of historical renovation work is masonry-based.
d) There may be sections within the National Park Service to look into - they have some historical based aspects to their mission.



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[SlideRuleEra]

I have two options. I wonder which would be the better choice.

(2) I have a cheaper route with another school, though it appears to be far more construction based.
...this would gear me too much to the construction industry...
The course is strictly preservation based, however.

...at my age, which would be the better choice?

JAE has done a fine job of outlining the engineering route.

I live in an area, coastal SC, where historic preservation is a big deal and have handled a few projects myself.
Engineering, construction management, and the construction work itself all blend together and are all very "hands-on".
Original plans usually don't exist (likely never did)... the structures were never "engineered" to start with.
Original materials used (lumber, brick, metals, etc.) are likely not in original condition... have to evaluate there current capabilities.
Once field work begins, unexpected changes are continuous and have to be addressed.

There are opportunities for meaningful involvement where a working knowledge of historic preservation techniques would be valuable.
IMHO, your second choice is the best for your objective... by far.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

 

[xnuke]

You could take a 2-year course in drafting, often available through community college, then join the type of firm that does the type of work you want to do as a drafter with an eye toward becoming a designer. Many senior designers are capable of high-level work similar to that of engineers, but don't have the accountability since they work under a licensed engineer.

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
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[Compositepro]

This has the smell of a mid-life crisis. Well, many engineers experience the same thing, so engineering may not be the answer you are looking for. Probably any change in your life that keeps you busy will work just as well. However, if you do not fully understand that, you may later again end-up disappointed with your life.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

I'd second what xnuke said.

Many firms would love to hire a designer/drafter who's trained to run Revit/AutoCAD and who wants to learn basic engineering and would be an asset to the team, but who's primary role is drafting and/or taking some of the workload off of the principle engineer/architect. IMO this would be a much better way to dip your toes in without the full investment of the timeline JAE listed out. Plus, it's a great jumping off point toward other aspect that maybe you find more appealing.

Ian Riley, PE, SE
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, VT, CT, MA, FL) Structural Engineer (IL, HI)

 

[oldestguy]

I'd look at local vocational night school or similar for a beginning job in engineering drafting via computers. If that starts your interest, the next step might be an engineering career, possibly by night school courses. Of course with the money for tuition and the time, a college 4 yaear course. These days a 5 year course would getyou farther however.

 

[LaserSpyder]

calling a job "crappy" that let you take all the time you needed off for your family is an Amazing job! and they probably couldn't pay you more because of all time you took off, its hard to justify pay a increase when your always taking off regardless of the situation, with that said it looks like you take important things for granted so maybe reflect on yourself a little bit before deciding what you want to do. just my two pennies

 

[GeoEnvGuy]

Since I have an innate fascination with buildings, I want to be involved somehow in either design or engineering.

Be careful what you wish for as designing current buildings from the structural, civil, electrical, mechanical, and geotechnical fields may not be as appealing as you think. You stated you are interested in historical buildings, that is great but completing historical restoration work is usually not sustainable in engineering or architecture firms. In my experience working on historical buildings is an administrative burden as the scope of work from the owners have no vision developed for the building, the owners themselves are usually a state or provincially funded entities. As SlideRuleEra mentioned there is no design or as-builts for historical buildings, so owners look for as cheap an investigation or inspection as someone will propose and expect three options fully scoped, scheduled and budgeted. Maybe my view is soured by paper pushers focused on spending tax dollars efficiently and ensuring high quality project tracking and invoices more so than the quality of the work.

On the construction side find what you like about the buildings and train your hands to perform quality work. If its the bricks be a mason, if its the lumber be a carpenter, if its the ornamental glass then do that. At your age I would caution you that starting in any construction outfit will likely require laborer work to start so be prepared.

In my opinion if your passion is the historical buildings the I would suggest tour guiding or running a gift shop next to a historical establishment.

 

[IRstuff]

I'd watch out for the "grass in greener" syndrome here; people often think that other people have it easy or have great jobs, but those other people are often thinking that someone else has it easier or better.

And often, the job changes on you; 20 years ago, medicine was a pretty good gig, but I know no doctor that's in love with electronic medical records (EMR), which consume an ever increasing amount of time and takes away from seeing patients.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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[D Scullion]

I think what a few people here have missed is the fact that you already have a degree, albeit not engineering related, but that required a certain level of intelligence and means that you have a certain appreciation for what is involved. If you have your eyes open and are prepared to put in the work again then don't be put off by any suggestions that you should be laboring or to just take any other relatively menial job loosely related to old buildings. Mid life crisis or not, you haven't had the career you wanted and you have as much right as any 20 year old to a fulfilling career. I suspect that even if the relevant qualification does take you 12 years, it is the journey and the learning you will enjoy as much as anything.

That all said, I am not sure that either of your two options is the right approach. The attitude of go to uni, get the degree then go through 3 or 4 jobs over the next 10 years to figure out the industry and figure out what you want to be doing and work into that position is fine for the school leaver who really doesn't know what they want to do . . . other than go to uni. I think you have a clearer idea than that of what you want to do so find the job you want to be doing first and then figure out what you need to do to get it. Identify the companies, look at their projects, identify their employees, talk to them, learn about this very particular niche in the industry. Connect with these people on LinkedIn, ask for their advice, try and get into visit the company or out on site - You really would be surprised at how helpful and supportive some people can be. Look for opportunities in those companies at lower levels, for example, as a drafter , as a couple here have already suggested and learn about he industry from the inside first.

With a specific job in mind it will be more efficient and effective to get into the right company first and work up rather than get a lot of fancy qualification and hope you can drop down into the right slot.

In short, go for it but save yourself a lot of time and cost and work out exactly what 'it' is first



Declan Scullion CEng

http://www.leandfm.com

 

[fel3]

If you are ready and able, then I say go for it. If you don't, eventually you may strongly regret not taking the opportunity.

I knew a guy back in the mid-1980s who went back to school at about age 40 to get an engineering degree. He had been a structural welder, then got injured on the job and was off work for a while. Not knowing if he would be able to go back to welding, his wife suggested he look into engineering since he had liked math and science in high school. I meet him when my company hired him fresh out of engineering school and he was assigned to me, a young project manager all of about 26 years of age. In getting to know him, I learned that his parents had not gone to college and they didn't encourage him to go. Also, he told me he had been a fairly successful but lazy student in high school and really didn't think of himself as college material. He got mostly A's and B's in college, which he attributed to maturity trumping the long layoff since high school. One of the things he brought to engineering that us young graduates couldn't was nearly 20 years of construction experience. He had a far more practical turn of mind at 45 than I had at 26.

==========
"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill

 

[EQguys]

aeturnus - Consider interior design and getting into the green building industry. Low risk, cheaper route and stable work.

 

[subsearobot]

GO FOR IT!!!
you have just been through a heroic effort in caring for family. your life was not your own. Now, you have the opportunity. The work that you put in caring for family will make school seem like a vacation.

My mom went back to school in her low 50's, and I was in early high school. I grew up poor, rural. I worked in restaurants, and bartending after high school. Had no idea what an engineer even was, but I knew I love to make stuff. that was all I had.

After 12 years in restaurants (whoooo weeee that was fun!!), I realized that I didn't want to be doing that for the rest of my life. My mom's return to college inspired me, so I decided to go for it. Since I was broke, I started at community college, then transferred and graduated. I found work in my dream job, and learned a ton. I am now, 15 years post grad, very successful at my second job. Even though at my age (45), I have much less (time-wise) experience than most engineers my age, I am a better engineer than most because I have an extreme passion for the work. My mixed experience background gives me a perspective that most around me can not comprehend. This allows me to derive innovative solutions from all the cross functional experiences. for example, I was afraid that my restaurant experience woudl be a detriment, but it is actually a benefit because I can read a crowd instantly, and negotiate with stakeholders better than anyone else in a meeting.

you got this!