Career change for an engineer?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by dd74

Or you could trade with me. I'm up for a nice easy gig writing greeting cards at Hallmark.

C'mon over. The weather's ............. err ........... ok it sucks. But hey, you can buy a mansion in KS for what a townhome goes for in OC.

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Look overseas.

Considering that I really didn't want to move my family to Houston, I'm pretty sure that's even worse.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

There are a lot of interesting expat opportunities right now - I'm seriously looking into it. Not to mention you get your first $80k tax free.

[David]

I've thought about this a lot over the last few years. The options I've considered are manager, lawyer, dentist, or salesman.

I ruled out dentist first because I'd have to complete about 30 hours of undergraduate work just to apply for dental school. Next I ruled out lawyer because I'd have to read a ton in school (I prefer math) and then it would probably take 5-10 years to make more than I'm making now.

So it's down to salesman or manager. I'm not big on travel and to sell what I know, I'd be traveling all over so that's out.

So I'm down to manager. At my company, a manager makes 5-10% more than I make now. A general manager makes about 50% more. So for a small increase in pay I get a lot more headaches for years until I make general manager.

It makes engineering look not so bad.

[Sunroof]

Consider a move into the Environmental business. Right now, the leaking Underground Storage Tank (UST) state programs are hot as funding for remediation is taken from gasoline taxes (1-cent per gallon goes into respective state cleanup funds). Tens of thousands of gasoline stations have leaking USTs and are required through federal law to cleanup aquifers to federal drinking water or state in-stream standards. In come the consultants.....................

The number of stationary treatment systems either it be air-sparging, soil vapor extraction, pump and treat through chemical means, etc, are all designed by in-house engineers. Its not "rocket science" (pardon the pun), but your talents certainly would cross over regarding basic design principles and project oversight.

Engineers are always being sought by Environmental Consulting firms, specifically for the P.E. stamp and as Project Managers to oversee a multitude of projects. Most consulting firms are a great place to work as environmental specialists (geologists, biologists, field technicians, etc) are an easy going fun group to be around. Research your states existing UST Program and the firms that are engaged in UST work if this interests you. The next time you gas up, you might see a fenced in treatment unit adajcent to the station and a series of recovery wells doing its thing. Cool stuff.

Good luck

Bob

[onewhippedpuppy]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! As expected I received some good feedback, there's some different industries I will now look into.

[rnln]

I was in electrical E and didn't like it.
Changed major to several health areas, didn't success because financial and didn't like them neither.
Gratuated in CS, worked in this area for more than 10 years, going from developer to consutant, then partial management (still partially development) and still not very happy.
Opened up my own (our own) group, and also small businesses, individual consulting, and didn't like it neither.
I like to drive nice cars, work on my cars any time I like and mess them up any time I want to, then spend the $$ to have the best mechanic to finish it up. Realistic?
Suggestions:
- Each area has it own headche but the E's headache seem to be "heavier" compair to the business and management I am partially doing now. maybe depend on the individual and environment you are in.
- It's bad everywhere now, if you are considering the demand (include salary, job availability, etc)
- If you are good (very good) as higher level of writing (which I am not), I would go toward business and management direction.
- Defense and government jobs? (since you said aerospace), I didn't like it beause those dot com million nare years ago. But if you have family and like a little more relax, a little more stable... I would go for it.
- At the end, you have to "also" consider what you enjoy to do. Do not pursue "salary only", although it is the major part of the decision.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Just curious for ideas. I want out of my current job and am not necessarily in love with my current industry (aerospace). Not to mention that the local market sucks, no options = easy decision. There's also a degree of frustration with the treatment of engineers in general, it seems that they tend to be overworked, underpaid, and not appreciated. Obviously generalizing here but my experience does reflect this, and I've talked to many others who state that it is the status quo.

I'm basically trying to determine other fields that I might semi-qualify for given my experience. I'm a pretty recent college grad (spring 2008), BS in aerospace engineering with a business management minor. 3 years of aerospace industry experience, 20 months of project management experience with excellent references. I was late to go to school, so I have a strong background in construction, customer service, and management from past jobs. I'm not all that picky about what I do, but I enjoy working with people and leading a team.

Yes, I do realize the job market sucks, blah blah blah. This is probably more of a long term goal, but one I can start working towards. Of course, my employer could choose to accelerate it via our next round of layoffs coming in a few weeks.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by dd74

FWIW, it seems Orange County, CA, is becoming the mecca of battery technology. There's about four or five companies in the area, a couple of which the City of L.A. is keeping afloat with big contracts for the ports and police force.

Tesla is somewhere in L.A., too, IIRC. And T3 Motion seems to be getting a lot of local and state govt contracts.

Massive taxes, huge population of illegals, rampant crime, dysfunctional (and failing) gov't and millions of narcissistic tree hugging leftists.

Something tells me that's not what he's looking for.

EDIT: As per Heel and toe's observation, let's not forget the draconian car laws.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Massive taxes, huge population of illegals, rampant crime, dysfunctional gov't and millions of narcissistic tree hugging leftists.

Also insane, oppressive automobile regulations as evidenced here: 2001 Toyota Corolla MAF question

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Also insane, oppressive automobile regulations as evidenced here: 2001 Toyota Corolla MAF question

You mean they wouldn't like my de-smogged FJ80 Land Cruiser?

[m21sniper]

About as much as they'd like my full race exhaust 928. :-P

[dd74]

The entire country is adopting our Draconian car laws. Tree-hugger states love to share the wealth.

As is, if you can't make up for a five to ten horsepower emissions penalty on a race track, it's your problem, not the car's.

Because, where else would one even care about emissions but when racing...on a track...

[onewhippedpuppy]

No smog testing for us. There is a silver lining to KS.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by dd74

The entire country is adopting our Draconian car laws. Tree-hugger states love to share the wealth.

As is, if you can't make up for a five to ten horsepower emissions penalty on a race track, it's your problem, not the car's.

Because, where else would one even care about emissions but when racing...on a track...

The difference in power between a full race exhaust and one with full emmisions controls is more like 50 horsepower.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Pimp?

Fluffer?

Drug dealer?

Government healtcare administrator?

Waiter?

Hair stylist?

What?

[slodave]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Massive taxes, huge population of illegals, rampant crime, dysfunctional (and failing) gov't and millions of narcissistic tree hugging leftists.

Something tells me that's not what he's looking for.

EDIT: As per Heel and toe's observation, let's not forget the draconian car laws.

Rampant crime? You are mistaken. We have our fair share of crime, but it ain't rampant!

Most murderous city's Forbes 2007:
http://www.forbes.com/2007/11/08/murder-city-danger-forbeslife-cx_de_1108murder.html

This list has the first Cali city coming in at number 7
http://www.city-data.com/top27.html

I'm the first to admit my anger towards C.A.R.B. and the lady that created the bill that took away the rolling smog exemptions - No, it was not Arnold, though he signed the bill.

What really pisses me off, is the fact that just because a light is on, on my dashboard, means that I automatically fail, even though if you could ignore that light and smog it anyway, it will pass. Apparently, The CEL P0420 code lights up when the cat hits the 50% efficiency level. 50%? There's plenty of cleaning life left for crying out loud! I'd be more amenable to 25-20% efficiency let. I am also pissed that we can't buy aftermarket cats and in the case of Toyota (not sure about other makes), I have to buy the entire exhaust system, not the headers. Why do I need a new muffler? the piping? Sell me the damn cat!

I do understand some of the reasons for not allowing junk yards not to sell used cats.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

If CARB really cared about clean air they'd allow you to meet the clean air standard (tailpipe sniffer) however you damn well pleased - with or without a cat. If you can get your car to meet all the standards without a cat (I know a guy personally who had a 400+ RWHP heavily modded 951 that could do this because it was properly tuned), so be it.

CARB and the whole smog game has been hopelessly corrupted by greed and power. It's a giant money-making racket now operating under the guise of doing things for the common good. If you have enough $$$, you can get an exemption for damn nearly anything. If you don't have money, it doesn't matter what you do, you have to meet all their standards and (more to the point) do it THEIR way - even if yours is better!

[dd74]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

The difference in power between a full race exhaust and one with full emmisions controls is more like 50 horsepower.

Really? On what car? A 911? A Rotax-powered kart? A Studebaker Lark?

Who cares anyway: until its on the track -- something as obnoxious as a full race exhaust shouldn't be in existence. I don't care what state you live in.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by slodave

light is on, on my dashboard...

Can't you do a cash for clunkers deal with your Corolla?

[slodave]

Originally Posted by dd74

Can't you do a cash for clunkers deal with your Corolla?

Matt says no. It technically is not a clunker. I saw an ad for a new Corolla for 10K after the rebate and some factory rebates. I could also write the sales tax off... Grrr.

This list seems to confirm.
http://www.edmunds.com/cash-for-clunkers/eligible-vehicles.html

According to the list, 911's are not eligible.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Matt, have you considered auto sales?

Har, har.