Which offer to accept? 1

[ShortCircuitman]

I have graduated with an electrical engineering degree last May, and have been on the job hunt since then. Right now I have three job offers, all of which expire on Monday, and I do not know which one is the best job for my career.

One of the jobs is as a software engineer, and although it sounds interesting, will require relocation. I'm also not sure how much I would enjoy a programming job, as I do not have much programming experience. One advantage to this position is they want me to take classes in programming at a local university, and will reimburse the tuition. I am pretty sure I would rather stay more on the hardware side of things though.

Another job offer is actually just a contract to hire position with Rockwell automation as a design engineer. I think that this position, although possibly only six months in duration, might be most in line with future plans to get a PE and get into a R&D position.

The third job is as a field service engineer for ABB. For this position I would travel the country and troubleshoot AC drives. I was pretty sure I would accept that position until the offer came in the mail, and the position title was given as field service technician. The ad for the job and the position title for the interview was for field service engineer, and when I asked about the title, I was told the I would be classified as a technician so that I can be payed overtime, whereas if I was classified as an engineer I would be on salary. The job does require a lot of overtime, and the pay would be good, but I really want to get engineering experience, and am not sure if this sort of work will count towards becoming a PE. Ive also heard it is a bad situation for a graduated engineer to take a technician role, as they will be climbing the wrong career ladder, and have trouble moving into engineering. On the other hand, I am allowed to have engineer on my business card since I did graduate from a 4 year school, and the technician designation will only be internal to the company.

Due to having good training, benefits, travel, and good pay I am most interested in the field service engineering position. I was wondering if anyone else has taken a similar job, and moved into design or R&D later. Would the experience count toward getting my PE, or not. Also is taking this position shooting my self in the foot when it comes to career advancement as an engineer? Thanks in advance for your thought on this situation.

 

[jpankask]

Sometimes it is nice to have choices, sometimes the choice is hard. While I'm not a degreed electrical engineer, I'll give you my opinion based on my experiences.

Software engineering probably will not give you any experience that the licensing boards will count as enginering experience. However, it will give you a foot in the door to possibly move into the hardware side where you are interested. How long will that take though? Tuition reimbursement is nice and it's good to continually be learning. Will you be learning things that will make you marketable, though?

Design Engineer for Rockwell will look good on the resume and will give you good experience for advancement and for the PE license. However, the short time frame could be a turn-off. If you have no family responsibilities though, it could be really good experience.

Field service technician will give you good experience and it is fun to travel various places on the companies dollar and make all that overtime. However, "technician" experience will not count toward PE experience, even if your business card says engineer. Also, you will probably get tired of traveling after a period of time. Do that for too long, and you may find yourself pigeonholed, and find it hard to get back into engineering. If and when you do, you may find yourself behind your peers in terms of pay and advancement. But, if you can be wise with all the extra money you make in overtime, you could be money ahead on all the salaried suckers who are exempt.

Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide!

 

[IRstuff]

I would stay away from the field service job, if I were seriously interested in a design position.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[TenPenny]

I would look seriously at the ABB thing. I would think that no matter what the title of the position is, it's the duties that will count toward PE. Getting into the field service of drives with a company like ABB could have a huge future - if you have any aptitude for sales (which you may not even be aware of now), could quickly lead to engineering sales, where a PE is a big asset, and the money can be big as well.

If you don't have family ties, and the work (not the title) interests you, I'd seriously look at the ABB thing.

 

[sms]

I am a little confused about the ABB job. Most companies use titles like Field Service Representative. Since ABB offers services to the public you can not use the word engineer in your title until you become a PE (at least in many states).

I doubt that it is a technician job (or you they would not be hiring an engineer), and I would be suprised if the experience did not count toward a PE.

Having said all that I started my career in field service, and it was excellent experience that has served me well, and I am a PE.

"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?" Oddball, "Kelly's Heros" 1970

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[jpankask]

It is the duties that count toward being able to take the PE exam. The duties must be related to engineering design, which is calculations, specifications, etc. Troubleshooting is not considered engineering, I found that out by experience. Now, if you can word that experience to sound like engineering for the board, maybe they will accept it. Also, remember that you will be required to have 3 to 5 professional engineers sign off on your work experience and character. Will you be working with any other PE's doing field service? Sometimes it is possible to have the requirement relaxed but that is up to each licensing board and determined case-by-case.

I'm not trying to steer you away from the field service job but just be aware that it probably will not give you the experience the licensing board is looking for to take the PE exam. If your goal is a PE license, it may take you longer. If you are considering getting a PE someday but don't really care, then it doesn't matter. Only 20% of engineers get a PE and while I would like to see that number increase, there are many who simply don't need it for the work they do.

 

[Rjeffery]

I know nothing about electronics or electrical engineering, but I do know that it is easer to find a job when you have a job... The hardest job I ever had was looking for employment. Good luck, in what ever course you take.

 

[dirtsqueezer]

Many points to cover.

Do you have an engineering degree? If so, then you should be an engineer, not a technician. There is danger of a glass ceiling there- trust me, I know from experience.

Relocation is common for someone young in their career.

From personal experience I can tell you that no matter how much they pay, there's a point where the money's just not worth it.

I'd say do whatever makes you happy. To quote fiction, if you've seen Office Space, the main character works unhappily in the office the whole movie, only to find gratification working construction at the end. If you're more of a hands-on guy, the tech position might be something you like; somewhat like a car mechanic, but zero room for advancement. If you start out being a tech, most likely you'll be a tech for the rest of your life. The software engineer position would lend more readily to career advancement, if you're into being in an office all day. I would personally take the office job. They don't give promotions to techs in the field.

 

[Ashereng]

For a first job out of school, I feel that the choice is not as critical as many of my peers make it out to be.

I would choose based on, in order:
- do I like the guy that will be my boss
- if the answer to above is yes, then I go with the most money

After working for a couple of years, then you will be able to determine for yourself what you want in a career/job/position/etc.

Good luck.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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[IRstuff]

wot he said...

Recessions can definitely put a crimp on job movements, and given that Greenspan has upped his prognostication of a pending recession to 50/50, I'd make sure that the job you accept is one that you can tolerate/like during a downturn.

Of course, being the noob, you might get laid off anyway, but that's for another thread.

I would, if possible, find out how well the company is doing, how they are funding the job that they have in mind for you, and how robust their funding will be if there is a recession.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[sms]

I thought that changing jobs every two years was the latest thing! ;-)

I think employers pretty well expect people to move around. The nice thing about a company like ABB is that for an electrical guy there is plenty of different areas to move into. If you are working for a little firm that is not the case.

So maybe the comprimize is select a big company that you can stay with for 5+ years and get all the advantages of vesting etc, but move at least once in that time to broaden your horizons...

Hmmm, I like that. Maybe because that is the way my career went.....





"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?" Oddball, "Kelly's Heros" 1970

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of the Eng-Tips Forums.

 

[65Roses]

Accept either the software or design job and keep looking for your next job while working at either one. Many don't stay at the first company they work for very long and this will give you an opportunity to make some money while you look for that first job that really interests you.

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[MedicineEng]

If family is not a problem, I would go for the field job. For several reasons:
-You get known in several other companies. If you perform well and they recognize it, it is a big plus. If ABB doesn't give you a change for development, eventually one of their clients will. If you're stuck in an office, you only know your company colleagues, if something happens, then you are pretty much in a very bad position.
-Money. It is better to be in your pocket than in your employer's. Save it now and you'll be a millionaire sooner.

Regarding career change, my experience: after 9 years in Industrial Engineering in Pharma industry, next month I will start a new position in an public works electrical company as supply chain manager. Pay and benefits cut: around 10% until Dec. After that, pretty much a match with my current job.

 

[ShortCircuitman]

Thank you for your thoughts all. I have decided to go with the Rockwell contract to hire job. It is definitely an engineering job, will give me experience, and it gives me some more time to look at other employment possibilities. My only reservation with this job is that since they have more work than they anticipated, and that the contract is such a short amount of time, that the training may not be that good, and I may be given busywork.

ABB said at the interview that they wanted a five year commitment for the job so that my training would pay off. As a field service engineer that would have been fine, but not as a technician. My fears are that if I were to accept the position, and after say 4 years become unemployed for whatever reason, it would be hard to get an engineering job with another company. If another employer were to see field service engineer on my resume and call ABB to verify, they would pull my file and find that my position was technician. Also, I have considered the possibility of advancement at ABB, and although a few people have told me there is lots of moving around inside ABB, the fact that they want a commitment for this particular position tells me it may not be easy for me to move up for a while, at least until they feel the training they put in to me paid off.

 

[josephv]

Congratulations ShortCircuitman!

Best wishes and good luck with the new job.

Just some thoughts, and ideas:

1) Don't look back. Focus your energies on the present. Put the old job offers out of your mind. You made a decision, now make the most out of your new job.

2) You had 3 decent offers, this tells me that you have some solid skills. Finding work in the future should not be problem for you.

 

[IRstuff]

Oh, btw, most industrial research and development groups don't often need EEs with a PE, since their work is usually exempted from PE requirements.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[FiltrationEngineer]

I'd take the ABB job. I believe there is no substitute for field work for a new engineer and your learning is greatly accelerated in the field.

I would also plan on leaving that job in 1-2 years and follow a design engineering path.

Tell Allen Bradley that you want to get field experience and you're going to take another position to do that, so you can be better prepared to do design work. When you see all the problems that occur in the field you tend to avoid creating them in design.

After a year or two, I'd contact AB again and go work for them or someone like them. As for the title, its not what you're called as much as what you're doing that counts. As in earlier posts, many non PE engineers aren't allowed to use the 'engineer' designation.

 

[doberdorks]

ABB said at the interview that they wanted a five year commitment for the job so that my training would pay off. As a field service engineer that would have been fine, but not as a technician.

I'd tell them you'd consider a 5 year committment, as long as it involves moving into field service engineer within X number of years... though if you've taken the other already, I guess it's moot.

SLH

 

[ShortCircuitman]

Well I've been thrown a curve ball. I accepted the contract position at Rockwell, and during the first day of work I get a message that ABB changed the offer letter position from field service technician to non exempt field service engineer. I like the position at Rockwell so far, and do not want to burn any bridges with them by throwing in a two week on my third day. On the other hand, I may really like the work at ABB, and there is no guarantee that I will be working for Rockwell 6 months from now. Another weekend, another tough decision.

 

[MedicineEng]

If they cannot offer you a better deal than 6 months, then I believe that it is a no brainer, even if you are going to burn the bridges with Rockwell.
Sometimes there is no other option and better to go now when they didn't invest a lotin you than some months later, where you already have the training.
You are real lucky. How many guys are out there just searching for any job and you have the chance to choose from two?