Return to Civil Eng. after LONG hiatus - mission impossible? 1

[nerv1]

Hi all,

Let me try and make a long story as short as possible:

I was hired right out of college in 2006 (BS in Civil Eng. - focused on transportation) to work and study, thanks to a fellowship / joint project between another state's university and DOT.

I was also a musician, and aspiring sound designer / composer for film.

Being young, starry-eyed, and close enough to NYC to be able to drive in within a few hours, I decided, in 2007, to take a break from engineering and take a gamble.

I figured "well, better to try it now during my 20's, than go through a midlife crisis later on. It'll be easier to recover if things don't pan out." So I thanked my current supervisor and all parties involved immensely for the opportunities, apologized for the sudden change, wished them the best, etc., then packed my bags and moved to the big city, giving myself two years to explore the possibilities.

Fast-forward to 2012. 5 years just blurred past me. Without a doubt, I can say that they have been the most interesting 5 years of my life. I have lived more in this time than I possibly could in another lifetime. As far as life experiences goes, it's invaluable, priceless, etc.

But I also have to face reality: I am 30 years old, working part-time in retail (that's right. RETAIL), picking up occasional freelance audio gigs, and still searching for that "big fish" project that will make it all worthwhile.

How much longer can I go before I stop chasing that pipe dream? Perhaps it's time to wake up.

And waking up means looking into getting back to my engineering roots.


Of course, it's not that simple. I'm faced with some major obstacles including:
- 5 years of inactivity
- Neither EIT nor PE
- Poor image (i.e., dropping everything to chase the pipe dream)
- Lack of money and time. College is expensive. NYC is expensive. I have had to borrow money. Student loans, personal loans, credit cards, etc. So, taking some "time off" to get back on track means that I'd have little to no income to be able to pay rent, debt, etc.

And I'm sure I'm barely scratching the surface, in terms of the hurdles I'd have to jump.

I am at a huge disadvantage and fear that the road back will be very long. Perhaps even so long that there is no end in sight.

With that in mind, I'd love to read / hear what some professionals in the field have to say about it. Is it too late? What would be the next steps? How do I even get started?

Any tips, criticism, words at all will be greatly appreciated. I seek enlightenment.


Apologies for the long read.

 

[JedClampett]

I don't think you're at a huge disadvantage at all. Maybe a little disadvantage, but not huge.
1) You're not that old. Some engineers enter the work force at 30 for all kind of reasons.
2) If you're surviving, you can continue to follow the dream. But maybe with some shuffling, you can get back into engineering and still do your other stuff at nights, weekends, take a day off, sick day, etc.
3) Believe it or not, engineers have lives outside of work, too. Some engineers are musicians, hikers, marathon runners, artists, etc. It's a matter of priorities. You have to earn a living to do these things. How many hours to you spend working retail?
4) If you lay the facts out the way you did above, put yourself in the engineering market, someone will take a nibble. You're going to have to work extra hard for a while to overcome skepticism, but once you get past that hurdle, you might have more freedom than you think. If your big chance comes along, give your notice, resign and thank your boss for the chance. It's not like they got nothing out of the deal (as long as you work a reasonable time).
5) I'd make a plan. But if you're digging a bigger hole every day you continue to do what you're doing, you might need to act fast. Apply for some openings. You'll start as a new graduate, but maybe your life experience will allow you to move up and learn quicker.
But quick looking at what you can't do and look at what you can.

 

[casseopeia]

nerv1,

Look for a job as an intern or junior project engineer. You might even contact some sound or acoustical consultants. There are plenty of jobs out there in your field if you are willing to relocate. You can pursue an avocation as musician/sound engineer just about anywhere if you look. I worked with many architects and engineers in music. And you are young enough to handle the late nights that the work often requires.

Don't worry about what potential employers might think. You launched your quest right when the economy tanked. It took a couple of years to filter down and it's been a struggle coming back out of the pit.. If anything, staying with your goal for five years shows a certain tenacity. Things are better now, but not like they were in say 2005 and 2006. You might have to make a few compromises, but the opportunities are out there.

Focus on getting a job using your education and any skills you have acquired, especially computer and electronic skills. You'd be surprised.

Good luck!


"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump

 

[brandonbw]

I would definitely go into interviews mentioning what and why you were doing that change of profession. I think it makes a good story. Most of the best/smartest Engineers I know have some other hobby and are either very involved or very good at it.

I would suggest getting a demo of C3D and playing around with it to get a sense of where the job environment is headed. Don't worry about being out of the profession for that long.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com

 

[nerv1]

Hey all,

sorry for the delay. It has been a very busy few days.

I appreciate the replies. Some good, encouraging words of wisdom here.


Wondering: what would be a good way of getting back up to speed? Continuing education courses? Board prep courses? Read up on some old notes and books?

 

[hokie66]

Concern yourself with getting up to speed after you have a job. Your best asset at the moment is that you have good communication skills...at least if your oral communication is as good as you write. The type job you find will determine how much you need to study, but you are still going to be a new graduate, so you can't second guess job requirements. Don't restrict yourself to NYC.

 

[moon161]

I worked in call centers for 6 years after graduating, first engineering job was caliper boy, it got better after that.
Passed FE 12 years after graduating- 3 months of late nites & early mornings. Being laid off helped, but I wouldn't say it was necessary.

Took a while, now I find myself very happy with the work i do. CAD jockey chops don't hurt. Good way to get temp work when perm is hard to come by. Some places have better mobility from designer & drafter jobs to engineering than others.

 

[msquared48]

Start by taking a FE / EIT review course, then sign up to take it. Get that out of the way first. Passing that could oopen a door or two as an intern.

"Nothing hard is ever easy." (msquared, 1975)

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[bigTomHanks]

Lucky for you the economy is turning in your favor so start applying and networking all that you can. Many engineers have been exactly where you are, including myself, and have made it back into the profession with a new refreshed outlook that will serve you well. I know a brilliant PHD who has dropped their career to pursue their dream, very much respect for that person to take that gamble. When they finally decide to return to their profession they will have a renewed drive and attitude. Good luck and be frank about what you were doing and always speak positively about your experience away from engineering.