(ME) trying to impress an Environmental Engineering Firm

[belowery1]

I have a BS in mechanical engineering I currently work at a manufacturing plant as a process engineer. I really hate working in a plant like environment, especially since it is 30 minutes from home, I work over 50 hours a week, I get up at 5:30a.m. for work and I am the type of person that needs to be outside instead of trapped inside a plant and not seeing the sun for 8 to 10 hours a day. A few weeks back I talk to an environmental firm that is located 10 minutes from my home and has alot of work going on right now. The CEO of the company called and told me that the job had been given to another guy (whom had his PE) and I was cool with knowing that he did deserve the job because of being a PE. Since then the boss of the company emailed me and told me that I was still on her radar and that she wants me to take some classes, go to some seminars, or find some certifications that would make me more ready to jump right in when she can hire me. So my question is what should I do to make myself more attractive, in the environmental/construction field? Where I live there isn't a college within 2 hours away that has any classes that would help me so any online seminars or online certifications I can get would be a big help.

 

[jmw]

Hm.
Would any of this help with your current employer at all?
If so, see if they'll pay for classes or help you up the ladder which maybe they should be doing anyway.
If you don't ask, you don't get.
IF they do help you up the ladder they may well then be able to improve your lot with them and if they don't, its tough, but they need to do all they can to retain staff and if they don't, too bad.
Besides, you could go and get all these qualifications and hen your environmental company will tell you that circumstances have changed.
But, if they are really interested in you, why don;t they find you a suitable position equivalent to your current position or even one hat would be less good but compensate you in other ways, and them pay for your added training etc.


JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[MintJulep]

Since it seems that you are already in the good graces of the CEO of the desired new company, put this to work for you.

Give her a call and discuss the difficulties you have had finding any relevant courses nearby. Ask if there are any industry conferences that she will be attending. Assuming yes, ask if there are any papers being presented that are of interest to her, also ask if she or any of here staff are presenting.

Go to said conference. Arrange the opportunities to have here introduce you to people. If played right you can get here to introduce you as "someone I am planing to hire."

 

[Ashereng]

I would definitely ask her what she has in mind that would enable you to "jump right in" when the next opportunities come.

Better to ask the person that will be offering you the job than us. ;-)

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[electricpete]

You can get an MS by distance learning from Georgia Tech without ever leaving the comfort of your home (except for tests which typically can be proctored by a local librarian). Very well respected in most engineering fields I believe. Even if you don't finish the degree, at least you can take a few courses.

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[jpankask]

How about working toward your PE?

There are many good schools that offer a distance learning MS now. One of them is bound to offer environmental classes. Work on a couple of classes over the next year to show you are serious about working for that company.

I also agree to ask her what she would recommend.

 

[ischgl99]

Asking her what she would recommend is the best advice.

But, I'm assuming you are talking about a company working in the wastewater field or possibly industrial wastewater?

Water Environment Federation is the leading organization for the wastewater industry and holds a national trade show / conference each year in October and each state has its own local conference. If this is the industry you are looking to go into, check out

http://www.wef.org

and see if any of the conferences have something that is suitable. The CEO might be impressed you have already looked into this and know what she is talking about if she recommends these conferences and you can really impress her if she presented at one of these and you already read her paper.

You should also look into getting your PE if you are going to work in the environmental industry, it will significantly improve your chances at a job, not only with this company, but any others. If you have not already, take the Fundamentals of Engineering to show potential employers you are serious about getting your PE and can pass it. It may not be too late in your state to register for the spring test. I missed the cutoff for NJ and took it in Delaware since their cutoff was about 2 months before the test. Don't worry about not being ready for it, its better to get moving on it then procrastinating and never getting around to it, took me 5 years to finally "find" the time to send in the application.

 

[JStephen]

If the work field is considered entirely civil, a PE license in mechanical may not qualify you to do it. State laws vary in these kinds of things. But read up on your state laws before jumping into the licensing thing.

If the CEO in question is not an engineer, they may not realize what the job actually requires in terms of background. If the CEO is a civil engineer, they may not realize the extent of difference between your background and theirs. In either case, check into the kind of work they do pretty carefully, don't just assume anyone can step in and do it.

(As a side note, an MS in an engineering field is not necessarily adequate to get a PE license in that field- once again, check the state rules.)

 

[EddyC]

Like JStephen, I wonder if your prospective environmental employer really understands your work background? I find it surprising that this potential employer thinks its as simple as taking a few classes to make the discipline change. Would they hire you prior to taking the classes or after? What happens if you take the classes and then they change their mind? I think that you are taking a real gamble with your career and would end up practically starting as an entry-level worker, with the associated pay.