Well I was laid off on April 2nd, so I won't be getting a raise from unemployment. On the other hand, three of my buddies have received their pass results. Here is what their gracious employers offered:
This is why alot of engineers end up looking for a new job after getting the PE. With the PE you can then market yourself as available to take on more responsibilities, which will then lend the new company the ability to pay you more.
I agree. If you are required to stamp your own designs as well as the designs of everyone else in your department, you deserve a decent pay raise even if your day to day responsibilites have not changed. I know the company has professional liability insurance but if something bad happens, your license is on the line. However, if you still do the same designs and the boss continues to stamp them then I don't really see how you would deserve a pay raise because you haven't increased your value to the company just by possessing the license. Just my $.02.
I agree with you on this one...but I also see others points as well.
Be careful with how you're billing out. The big project I was working on at the time had me locked in at the EIT rates through the end of the project despite the fact that I got my PE 1/2 way through. The company was not billing me out at a higher rate and my duties for the project did not change, so they didn't give me an immediate raise. I didn't get the raise until after this project was complete because only then was I actually doing more and was able to be billed at a higher rate.
Point taken. That's not how our contracts are written however, they are long term contracts 5-years which allow for promotions and basically flat rates for types of workers and we just bill hours. I've taken on a ton more responsibilities than other EITs but can't get the raise until I get the PE.
You guys are oversimplifying here. In the consultant game, credentials are quite important. The addition of a credential, especially an engineering registration for an engineering firm, DOES improve your worth to the company even if you never stamp anything.
I think my comments may have been misunderstood. My specific comment was about not providing additional services when faced with decreasing compensation while improving your credentials. I'm already providing additional services with reduced pay and benefits; I'll have a problem if compensation is again reduced, particularly if I'm able to put a couple letters after my name.
That's all fine and good, but you are still an at-will employee. If you decide to not do what the company expects of you, they are perfectly happy to fire your *** (unemployment is a lot cheaper than paying even your reduced salary).
I'm aware of that. And since I'm young, unmarried, and have no kids, I'm in a financial position to be a little less conservative about the issue.
SapperPE is dead on right, if you can sit there and say i am profitable to the company, treat my clients right and provide and good work product, then you will have the ability to bring more work in to your company and potentially earn more in compensation as a result. I do not believe simply because you passed your PE you deserve a raise, however, you should look to shoulder more responsibility and seek out more potential work. A PE license presents creditbilty in the eyes of piers and client who, if you are keeping them happy, will come back to you with more work.SapperPE said:
