IMHO, in an ideal world everyone would have the benefit of attending some university courses to push oneself intellectually and perhaps gain some appreciation that there is some subject matter that is above (or beyond) us. Additionally, we would all have to perform some type of menial labour to learn that no task is beneath us regardless of the station we were born to.
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What did you do for a career and would you pick it again?
- Thread starter Xyphota
- Start date
IMHO, in an ideal world everyone would have the benefit of attending some university courses to push oneself intellectually and perhaps gain some appreciation that there is some subject matter that is above (or beyond) us. Additionally, we would all have to perform some type of menial labour to learn that no task is beneath us regardless of the station we were born to.
Doggggboy
Ultra Member
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
― Robert A. Heinlein
Xyphota
Ultra Member
The whole education system is messed up, but I don't think the problem is people taking basket weaving classes. Most of an engineering degree is a also waste of time as far as what is actually used in your job. The actual benefits of undergrad apply regardless of discipline if one is taking it seriously.
I completely agree with @Crosche, everyone should have the opportunity to improve themselves, but I'd also add that everyone should have to work in a customer service role in retail LOL.
I completely agree with @Crosche, everyone should have the opportunity to improve themselves, but I'd also add that everyone should have to work in a customer service role in retail LOL.
Haven't had a go a "die galantly" yet. I've been putting that one off.
[Edit: The sonnet was hard]
Rauce
Ultra Member
I did a university degree that was not entirely useless but useless unless I pursued grad school. I wasn‘t confident enough to keep going down that path so I did what had been my summer job (bike shop) full time for a few years. That turned into an office job at a bike company. It was nice getting to work on stuff I was interested in, learn about manufacturing and get great deals on bikes and parts but that industry really relies on people’s passion and the pay is crap. I got layed off when the parent company relocated the office to the US.
I’d already been doing hobby machining and fabrication so I went and did a millwright pre-apprenticeship program at a college. It was free but a bit tight financially with no income for four months. I landed a good job after that and I think it really helped that I was a bit older and already learned a lot about metalworking and machinery on my own. No portapotties or grunt work, mostly precision and problem solving. One downside for me at that job though was not getting to play machinist or welder. There were full time machinists and welders there so no treading on their turf unless it was g job and you said pretty please. I would have stuck around there longer but after 3 years, two more levels of trade school and additional training I hadn’t seen a raise. Had no trouble finding another job and getting 50% more per hour. The 3 years experience rebuilding rotating equipment sealed the deal.
In retrospect I don’t think I’d do it too much differently if I could go back. I‘m not sure if things are any different now but 15 years ago when I was high school the only way most teachers would have pushed a student towards a trade was if they were struggling academically, which I think is a shame. I still remember a teacher I had in grade 9 integrated tech telling me he was disappointed I wouldn’t be taking metal shop with him in grade 10 because I was a “smart kid”.
I’d already been doing hobby machining and fabrication so I went and did a millwright pre-apprenticeship program at a college. It was free but a bit tight financially with no income for four months. I landed a good job after that and I think it really helped that I was a bit older and already learned a lot about metalworking and machinery on my own. No portapotties or grunt work, mostly precision and problem solving. One downside for me at that job though was not getting to play machinist or welder. There were full time machinists and welders there so no treading on their turf unless it was g job and you said pretty please. I would have stuck around there longer but after 3 years, two more levels of trade school and additional training I hadn’t seen a raise. Had no trouble finding another job and getting 50% more per hour. The 3 years experience rebuilding rotating equipment sealed the deal.
In retrospect I don’t think I’d do it too much differently if I could go back. I‘m not sure if things are any different now but 15 years ago when I was high school the only way most teachers would have pushed a student towards a trade was if they were struggling academically, which I think is a shame. I still remember a teacher I had in grade 9 integrated tech telling me he was disappointed I wouldn’t be taking metal shop with him in grade 10 because I was a “smart kid”.
DPittman
Ultra Member
Like some comedian said " I plan on living for ever...... so far so good"Pfft! Speak for yourself! I fully plan to live forever!
I’m an Electrical Engineer. I‘ve always regretted that I didn’t follow my heart and became an Aeronautical Engineer. But I do like Electrical Engineering so perhaps I would have been happy with any type of engineering- I’m an engineer first and an Electrical Engineer second…
I unintentionally had a career change and am now working in Transportation Engineering (95% administering Transportation programs, 5% providing an electrical opinion to our Transportation group). It’s the best job I’ve had so far. I moved to this job because of a desire to have someone that could be knowledgable on Roadway Lighting and Airfield Lighting. Our group doesn’t need an Electrical Engineer full-time, so at this stage in my career (retiring in a few years) it’s a good fit for me and my employer.
I’ve found that jobs are 10% things I like doing, 70% things I don’t mind doing, 20% things I dislike doing. If I don’t like a job then it probably is 30% things I don’t like doing.
Don’t stay in a job you hate, it will eat you up and be bad for your employer. But be realistic, you’re being paid to do a job that will have some crappy parts.
My recommendation is you get your P.Eng. designation before you consider a career change.
I unintentionally had a career change and am now working in Transportation Engineering (95% administering Transportation programs, 5% providing an electrical opinion to our Transportation group). It’s the best job I’ve had so far. I moved to this job because of a desire to have someone that could be knowledgable on Roadway Lighting and Airfield Lighting. Our group doesn’t need an Electrical Engineer full-time, so at this stage in my career (retiring in a few years) it’s a good fit for me and my employer.
I’ve found that jobs are 10% things I like doing, 70% things I don’t mind doing, 20% things I dislike doing. If I don’t like a job then it probably is 30% things I don’t like doing.
Don’t stay in a job you hate, it will eat you up and be bad for your employer. But be realistic, you’re being paid to do a job that will have some crappy parts.
My recommendation is you get your P.Eng. designation before you consider a career change.
GlenG
Glen
I'm a bit late to the thread, but I'm a Mechanical Engineer with almost 30yrs in, stick it out and get through your EIT. If you are truly bored ask for more, as somone who leads a large group of metal workers, engineers and technologists, managers always appreciate somone asking for "more" or "different challanges". Once you're thru find a job that you enjoy more, it's takes most people a few years to get into a job anyways. As a Mecahnial Engineer you can work in almost any industry, I've worked NDT, machine tool, machine design, reliability and aerospace, so you don't need to feel constrained by what you are doing today.
Downwindtracker2
Well-Known Member
At one stage of my life I would work during the summer, ski during the winter. I did that for couple of years. When I skied, which I enjoyed doing, I paid the lift company money . When I worked, the company paid me money. So that was how I viewed work. My carpenter's ticket allowed me that life style.
was someone doing that? I hope I wasn't perceived as doing so....my point was the vocation skills aside, its a powerful credential.
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Xyphota
Ultra Member
I haven't interpreted anything as engineer bashing and as the advice has been overwhelmingly to stick it out, I'd say perspective pointing the other way is still welcome!
I've really enjoyed hearing about what everyone's careers. Now I need to get everyone's advice on a more important matter...
Who did you choose to marry, and would you pick them again??
Just kidding
I've really enjoyed hearing about what everyone's careers. Now I need to get everyone's advice on a more important matter...
Who did you choose to marry, and would you pick them again??
Just kidding
#1, best friends wife, noI haven't interpreted anything as engineer bashing and as the advice has been overwhelmingly to stick it out, I'd say perspective pointing the other way is still welcome!
I've really enjoyed hearing about what everyone's careers. Now I need to get everyone's advice on a more important matter...
Who did you choose to marry, and would you pick them again??
Just kidding
#2, random lady off the internet, yes
Me? I'm going to be 42 forever.@Susquatch is like 95 and counting so you should be fine for another 50 years
Six O Two
(Marco)
I worked summers at a few bikeshops through high school and university. Being a bike shop mechanic is the job I hold most fondly in my heart and often think of returning to, but of course it's crap pay and really hard to support a family or buy a house being a bike mechanic.