The exact time when the euphoria of getting your PE wears off

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CE_Gator

CE_Gator

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So the exact length of time that the euphoria of passing your PE exam and getting your PE lasted exactly 4 weeks for me. That was how much time it took my bosses to figure out that they now can dump a ton of projects on me and tell me that I was in charge of these projects. If these projects fail then it is my fault and if they succeed, they will bury me in more projects. I'm up to my eyeballs in work now. Oh well, that is life.

 
The euphoria usually wears off when you see your fellow P.E.s posting miscellaneous PE posts in a CE/ME/Eng Discipline specific area...

In all seriousness, it wears off rather quickly. For me it was probably just a week later when I realized it was going to be a battle at work to get any financial rewards for obtaining it.

 
It was probably about two weeks for me. I was rewarded with more projects and no compensation until I changed jobs. I recently changed jobs/got promoted in another division.

 
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Well, this is highly dependent on your specific specialization and employer. I am fortunate to work for a great company that values the credential and symbolic value of the PE, and responded accordingly.

Keep your head up Dulce... if civil engineering is what you enjoy, the PE is definitely worth it in the end.

Also, go diggers!

 
I am still getting sporadically euphoria even till now LOL.....

The main reason, our company need PEs, young PE since average age in my company (employee owned) is 55+ and there are maybe 40% of us are under 45! and maybe 20% are PE (under 45!).....so it's good especially our bosses keep bringing our name up in meeting that we need PEs etc....so PEs are placed very high in company wish-list

 
It hasn't worn off for me. The amount of effort I put into getting this license was unreal. Waking up at 3am to study, living off redbull. It makes me happy to think I am strong enough to do anything if I set my mind on it.

I didn't get a raise but I was given a high bonus in December. *shrugs* I did it for me and I'm hoping when I switch jobs I can reap the financial benefits.

 
For me the thrill ended about a month after I got the results back; which was also about a week after I had my stamp, new business cards, and state license card in my possession. But like many others here, that was also around that time it was pointed out to me that a PE won't help me get promoted any higher than my current position.

 
Road Guy said:
Usually the PE euphoria wears off when you realize that you still have to get up and go to work every day for another 20+ years or so.......
Click to expand...


That's when it happened for me....I think I was setting up a happy hour to celebrate, and my boss walked over and said "what so you got a stamp now so you think you don't have to work?" That about killed it for me.

But to be honest, I thought I'd be more excited than I was. When I saw the green box that said PASSED on the NCEES website, it was more of a relief/calming feeling than euphoria. A whole bunch of stress just disappeared from my body. There is a stages of grief waiting for the results posted on this board somewhere. I was definitely a stage 5 before I found out.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
cupojoe PE said:
Road Guy said:
Usually the PE euphoria wears off when you realize that you still have to get up and go to work every day for another 20+ years or so.......
Click to expand...


That's when it happened for me....I think I was setting up a happy hour to celebrate, and my boss walked over and said "what so you got a stamp now so you think you don't have to work?" That about killed it for me.

But to be honest, I thought I'd be more excited than I was. When I saw the green box that said PASSED on the NCEES website, it was more of a relief/calming feeling than euphoria. A whole bunch of stress just disappeared from my body. There is a stages of grief waiting for the results posted on this board somewhere. I was definitely a stage 5 before I found out.
Click to expand...
that stress relief from you feeling is the best...the initial euphoria was like a climax during sex then...you have this long calm moment or it's like coming down from E (from what I read) ...the calm stress free moment..

It's still carry on as of today

 

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