guitarjamman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2011
- Messages
- 82
- Reaction score
- 9
I need some advice from you seasoned vets out there in the civil world. I feel like I am getting taken advantage of at work but do not know enough about the professional world to be sure.
A little background about myself: Recently passed my F.E. exam and graduated from a state university with a BSCE in civil engineering in December of 2009. My father owns his own civil engineering/land surveying company and I worked for him all through college and before college. My total experience would ammount to about two years through him and I was his lead surveyor/party chief; main draftsman for both AutoCAD and GIS; and would do a lot of design work. I worked for a few other companies during my time at college as an intern (surveying/drafting and engineering correspondence). So my past experience is hefty for most college grads in civil engineering.
I immediatley got a job working for a local civil engineering company after graduation and here I am today, 1.5 years later still working at the same company. When I started off I took the $40,000/year salary with 50% health benefits and 2 weeks sick/vacation time. I was happy to have been offered a job during the economic slump. Just had my yearly review and was offered a 3% raise so this makes my total salary a whopping $41,200/year with the same benefits. Am I getting screwed here? I feel like this pay is pitiful compared to a lot of my fellow graduates who had no experience and managed to find a job (some making upwards of 60K/year).
Here is the internal problem I am facing though, I like working here. My boss is very easy to get along with, all my co-workers and I get along great, and I do have a lot of responsibility at work. I have my own projects that I am completely in charge of and do not get micro-managed. I have a very secure position working here, I am quite valuable to the company (was told during my review) and know that if tough times hit, other people will get canned first in order to keep me aboard. There is a comforting feeling knowing that I still get to come to work tomorrow.
I told my boss that I am not satisfied with my pay during my review and he said he will see what he can do (have been told this before, nothing ever comes of it). I have a lot of student loans to pay back and want to begin my own life, but with this pay I am struggling to do so. I feel like I am worth more money due to my experience, abilities with design, drafting, surveying, and now project management skills. Am I right to seek work somewhere else or is my pay around the average for someone with my abilities and skill set?
Any advice is appreciated. Hope this does not sound like a long winded complaining session (If it does, thank you for making it this far). I know there are a lot of people struggling to find work right now which makes me feel a little ridiculous complaining about my situation, but I do not know enough about the working world of civil engineers to know any better. It is up to me to better my own situation if possible....opportunities are not just going to fall into my lap like they have previously.
A little background about myself: Recently passed my F.E. exam and graduated from a state university with a BSCE in civil engineering in December of 2009. My father owns his own civil engineering/land surveying company and I worked for him all through college and before college. My total experience would ammount to about two years through him and I was his lead surveyor/party chief; main draftsman for both AutoCAD and GIS; and would do a lot of design work. I worked for a few other companies during my time at college as an intern (surveying/drafting and engineering correspondence). So my past experience is hefty for most college grads in civil engineering.
I immediatley got a job working for a local civil engineering company after graduation and here I am today, 1.5 years later still working at the same company. When I started off I took the $40,000/year salary with 50% health benefits and 2 weeks sick/vacation time. I was happy to have been offered a job during the economic slump. Just had my yearly review and was offered a 3% raise so this makes my total salary a whopping $41,200/year with the same benefits. Am I getting screwed here? I feel like this pay is pitiful compared to a lot of my fellow graduates who had no experience and managed to find a job (some making upwards of 60K/year).
Here is the internal problem I am facing though, I like working here. My boss is very easy to get along with, all my co-workers and I get along great, and I do have a lot of responsibility at work. I have my own projects that I am completely in charge of and do not get micro-managed. I have a very secure position working here, I am quite valuable to the company (was told during my review) and know that if tough times hit, other people will get canned first in order to keep me aboard. There is a comforting feeling knowing that I still get to come to work tomorrow.
I told my boss that I am not satisfied with my pay during my review and he said he will see what he can do (have been told this before, nothing ever comes of it). I have a lot of student loans to pay back and want to begin my own life, but with this pay I am struggling to do so. I feel like I am worth more money due to my experience, abilities with design, drafting, surveying, and now project management skills. Am I right to seek work somewhere else or is my pay around the average for someone with my abilities and skill set?
Any advice is appreciated. Hope this does not sound like a long winded complaining session (If it does, thank you for making it this far). I know there are a lot of people struggling to find work right now which makes me feel a little ridiculous complaining about my situation, but I do not know enough about the working world of civil engineers to know any better. It is up to me to better my own situation if possible....opportunities are not just going to fall into my lap like they have previously.