Engineering career/general life advice...

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by timwilky

The problem is Chris, Engineers are a much maligned species in this country. The title is generic for the guy who repairs your washing machine. FFS we even have computer engineers who are nothing more than software installers etc.

I have said it before to you Chris. I am afraid you need to be prepared to be mobile to get those plum jobs. We employ some very clever guys specialising in blade design etc. A huge number of these specialist engineers stuggle to speak English.

I'll agree to that. I take the **** out of a tenant at work for some of their job titles. A sky fitter is an engineer for Pete's sake
Thats a point that annoys me, so glad the FM company we deal with are quite old school

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I'm not time served or any practical qualifications for that, but seriously 38-45k as a fitter?

Yeah, thats what the good ones earn at Nissan
A time served fitter at the FM company we use at work earned over 60k in 2011. Which was as much as the director of the FM office

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

And actually at the end of the day I like the people there, I don't want to walk and leave them in the sh*t to be honest!

if you want to work for peanuts then you will never be short of a job.

ask them what the prospects are for you staying with the company and going full time. they might be paying shizz wages as they suspect you might just up and leave.

[kaivalagi]

I believe if you want to progress with your career you may well need to get involved with some other companies to have some varied experience to strengthen your "portfolio"

I have a 2.1 BEng in Electronic Computer Systems and a Postgrad Dipl in Telecomms and Networks and ended up going into software design instead of the hardware side of things. It wasn't until I got made redundant in what I thought was a great long term prospect that things actually got a lot better for me. After having 10 years experience of analysis/design/architect/tech pm work I now have my own company contracting out my skills and haven't had any long spell without work ever...sometimes I do need to travel a fair bit and stay away for a few days at a time but sometimes I can work from home with flexible working hours etc

If you want something similar I'd suggest you get some varied experience by working for several places over the course of a few more years, each time commanding a better wage for the new job...if you stay in one place you wont get the pay increases you deserve (for the most part). Once you have some in-demand skills and experience then look at consultancy jobs maybe?

Or.....If it's more about just getting some more wages for the foreseeable I would speak to the company telling them that you think you are being totally underpaid for what you can do and that you are seriously looking at alternatives....chances are if you are the only decently skilled guy there and the business wouldn't work well with you gone they'll think about doing something for you...then take it from there maybe?

Hope that helps

[yorkie_chris]

Bib, At the moment, it says project engineer on my card. However that's not to say I have the responsibilities that a project engineer in a larger company would have.
They set me on on a starting wage, probably thinking just that. But I've invested my time in learning the job so that would hopefully give them some confidence.

Kaivalagi, I'm planning on having a chat with them when a recent project is finalised. (especially if the customer orders a couple more) as they were practically having a happy-w*nk over it and it's all my work really.
They've mentioned commission on further sales of that item... but not mentioned numbers yet.

[Bibio]

ahhh the commission. what that actually says is take a carp wage and top it up.

no bad thing TBH as i had a job that was just that at one time, i made shizz loads on commission.

keeps you keen keeps them happy and in times of slack work keeps their business going.

I've just applied for a job doing what i actually enjoy doing within my job full time. I'm just worried that it will make it boring day to day.

[maviczap]

YC, you've got transferable skills and you're getting to that point in life where you'll be wanting your own place.

At £8 an hour you're not far above the minimum wage, so if you don't get a boost in wages soon, I'd be transferring my skills to a better paid job, otherwise in 5 years time you'll still be in the same position.

I understand your loyalty to them, but loyalty isn't going to pay a decent enough wage to get you a mortgage.

[timwilky]

Chris

I know we are looking for Mechanical Engineers. But i am afraid in Bristol. Ansys, Pro-E, Tidal Bladed, Fluidity etc.

It is a business that is only a few years old so nobody has decades of experience to compete with. Tidal Turbine Generators, we think it will be growth market and currently have a 1MW research turbine in the water. and need to move from research into industrialisation, development and production.

[yorkie_chris]

I'm sure there's massive potential in that and since starting diving I'd be really keen to move closer to the sea.

But anyway, the general consensus seems to be definitely underpaid and do something about it.

(not that I really needed telling, but I'm sure you all know how easy it is to find yourself plodding along in the status quo)

Chris, looking back I wish I'd have chose engineering tbh, I've worked in engineering roles even though I trained as a chippie, I had a role in the last place the same as a qualified engineer would have but I was lucky as I had a manager who knew I could do the job, but I had opportunities come up occasionally that would've gained me better roles had I been qualified, but hey ho.

When I was your age they were crying out for fitters, engineers etc in Brum, you literally could walk out of one in to another, there are still engineering jobs down here in abundance but obviously no use to you.

Anyway to answer your op, your employer is taking the **** with your wages and they know it, as mav said, thats just above minimum wage, they couldn't get anyone as qualified as you for even close to that if you left.

I would politely ask them for the going rate (take in evidence from websites what that is), worst they can do is say no, then I'd like to see them replace you for that money.

Although not the best work I'd try and get some work in automotive engineering, looks good on the cv, be valuable experience too.