Exengineer
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What would you do if your engineering career flamed out whether at age 25, 40 or 55? Do you have a back-up plan on how you would make a living if you could not continue as an engineer?
Having a back-up plan
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matt267 PE
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We had a Interior Designer in our group that later moved into a marketing Position. She left to become a Physical Therapist and last I heard she became a nurse. Another person in our sustainability group is leaving to become an equine veterinarian. They made/are making the move in their twenties, so, IMHO, it easier early in your career than later, but it is never too late. It may be difficult later in life if you want to a be professional athlete, but some people have played golf on the "Seniors" Tour that were not professional golfers in their 20's, 30's, or 40's.
It is never too late if you have the ambition and drive, but you need to be reasonable.
It is never too late if you have the ambition and drive, but you need to be reasonable.
open a tiki bar
Wouldn't you have to FU__ something up royally for your career to completely flame out? Plenty of jobs out there for most Engineering fields. I know many people who have been fired and moved on to the next place down the road.
I would start an Etsy store, attempt to sell my shitty crafts, and make no money in the process.
Yeah I've (unfortunately) seen some good, competent people let go, and they've always been able to find another job with a competitor. I can only think of two people who were laid off and trouble finding jobs. One person ended up pursuing their dream career, so that worked out for them. Have no idea what happened to the other person.
wilheldp_PE
PE, LEED AP, SPAM KING
I already own a small side business doing laser engraving (currently making nameplates for the new office my company is building). It doesn't make a profit, but it pays for laserable materials for my other projects.
I've made a little money on the side selling BBQ. I have an absurdly large pellet smoker (I've smoked 120 lbs of pork shoulder at once, and the smoker wasn't completely full). That's a hard way to make an easy living because pulling pork is annoying...plus, I'd need a health department license to do it legally.
I could do what I currently do (forensic engineering) part-time either independently or with a competitor to my current company. I know a few guys that have left my current company and now come back for joint inspections with other companies. They say that they make almost as much doing it part time with other firms as they did with my current firm.
I'd like to work at a golf course in some capacity. I don't like people enough to be a club pro (they have to teach...or at least learn how to teach as part of the curriculum). But I could be a ranger, cart guy, shop help, etc.
My back up plan (and probable future career path) is some combination of these options.
I've made a little money on the side selling BBQ. I have an absurdly large pellet smoker (I've smoked 120 lbs of pork shoulder at once, and the smoker wasn't completely full). That's a hard way to make an easy living because pulling pork is annoying...plus, I'd need a health department license to do it legally.
I could do what I currently do (forensic engineering) part-time either independently or with a competitor to my current company. I know a few guys that have left my current company and now come back for joint inspections with other companies. They say that they make almost as much doing it part time with other firms as they did with my current firm.
I'd like to work at a golf course in some capacity. I don't like people enough to be a club pro (they have to teach...or at least learn how to teach as part of the curriculum). But I could be a ranger, cart guy, shop help, etc.
My back up plan (and probable future career path) is some combination of these options.
matt267 PE
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Dexman PE PMP
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In a way I'll be starting my backup plan the end of the month. I'll be leaving my current job with an engineering consulting firm to go work with a project management company. I'll still need a little technical engineering, but most of it will be management of design consultants and contractors while they figure out the details.
Generally yes, but not always. If people spend too much time in one specialty it can be difficult to find a job elsewhere. Or finding a new engineering job could mean physically moving to a new region - something that people aren't always willing to do. Careers in some engineering fields that require a security clearance can get derailed quite easily for relatively mundane reasons.
Exengineer
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I believe if a person sticks to the mainstream engineering majors of Civil, Electrical, Mechanical then they should always have prospects. All other engineering majors are risky and some even rubbish. Some engineering majors are at risk of being discontinued at many universities.
Hmm can't say I agree with that. What majors are at risk of being discontinued? Source?
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