Building Services engineer interview/career help

Building Services engineer interview/career help

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Ver.4

Original Poster:

20 posts

206 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
So I have been presented with the chance at a building services interview at a graduate level. There will be a £2-3k pay cut from what I am on currently, however I am hoping in the long run this will be something long forgotten.

For those who haven't seen my other employment related thread, I am currently in a job where I have nowhere to go career wise and feel as though I am basically doing 2nd level technical support, albeit being paid nicely to do so.

I have found the CIBSE website and also looking into the company that I have the interview with. It all sounds very challenging but exciting nonetheless. The combination of something different pretty much every day and a mixture of design and project management work really gets my attention as they were the two favourite modules in University.

I guess what I am asking for here is some help as to what to do to prepare for this interview. Is there any advice anybody can give/latest hot topics in the area/websites to read up to get a better grasp on the field?

Secondly anybody who has been or is in this field, could you share your experiences of what to expect and the possible career paths to take? The job I am in now pays fairly well however lacks the challenge and development I really hoped for.

Thank you all in advance for your help in this.

48Valves

1,926 posts

208 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
quotequote all
Ver.4 said:
So I have been presented with the chance at a building services interview at a graduate level. There will be a £2-3k pay cut from what I am on currently, however I am hoping in the long run this will be something long forgotten.

For those who haven't seen my other employment related thread, I am currently in a job where I have nowhere to go career wise and feel as though I am basically doing 2nd level technical support, albeit being paid nicely to do so.

I have found the CIBSE website and also looking into the company that I have the interview with. It all sounds very challenging but exciting nonetheless. The combination of something different pretty much every day and a mixture of design and project management work really gets my attention as they were the two favourite modules in University.

I guess what I am asking for here is some help as to what to do to prepare for this interview. Is there any advice anybody can give/latest hot topics in the area/websites to read up to get a better grasp on the field?

Secondly anybody who has been or is in this field, could you share your experiences of what to expect and the possible career paths to take? The job I am in now pays fairly well however lacks the challenge and development I really hoped for.

Thank you all in advance for your help in this.
I've been in the BS industry for the last 12 years.

It can be challenging at time, but that is generally more down to work load than any particular project. It's the same with excitement. There can be long periods of churning out spec offices or schools, but if you get into the right organisation you may get to work on some very interesting projects.

My previous employer was one of the worlds largest consulting engineering companies but the BS division tended to chase easy work and churn it out as cheap and as quickly as possible.

My current employer is the opposite. They target interesting larger projects such as Labs, hospitals, high end residential and so on.

The latter is defiantly most interesting but comes with more pressure as the clients tend to be more demanding.

As for careers. It largely depends on whether you go Mechanical or Electrical. There is a massive shortage of electrical engineers at the minute, so that may be an easier route to get in.
I'm often surprised at the diversity of staff we have. We obviously do M,E & P, but also acoustics, fire engineering, vertical transport, specialist lighting design, CGI, communications, sustainability and probably more than that.

As for the current hot topics. look at BIM and sustainability.

ST86Dave

289 posts

125 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
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I work in the building services sector, I hear an awful lot of people saying theyre short on a mechanical engineer or two, seems the recession hit the industry fairly badly, but seems to be picking up again steadily now. Where abouts are you guys based?

ST86Dave

289 posts

125 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
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Warren Street London?

ST86Dave

289 posts

125 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Most frustrating thing for me is there seems to be no honesty any more. I sell more than design, (I'm a salesman), and people just don't care who they screw over. All for a few extra quid.

ST86Dave

289 posts

125 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Not if you're London based..

Ver.4

Original Poster:

20 posts

206 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
Good news! I was successful and looking to start soon. It is a graduate mechanical position. I will be based in the north-west. I am taking a drop in pay for this but in the long run I'm hoping it is a more rewarding and prosperous career.

I am hoping to try and achieved chartered status as soon as possible, this is something that was discussed during the interview. Have any of you gone through this process? Any advice or tips?

Edited by Ver.4 on Sunday 22 February 19:52

ST86Dave

289 posts

125 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
Ver.4 said:
Good news! I was successful and looking to start soon. It is a graduate mechanical position. I will be based in the north-west. I am taking a drop in pay for this but in the long run I'm hoping it is a more rewarding and prosperous career.

I am hoping to try and achieved chartered status as soon as possible, this is something that was discussed during the interview. Have any of you gone through this process? Any advice or tips?

Edited by Ver.4 on Sunday 22 February 19:52
Congrats fella, you in a design consultancy?

Ver.4

Original Poster:

20 posts

206 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
Yes it is a design consultancy.

Is this what field you are in? If you don't mind could you give me an insight regarding what to expect/prepare for? And the best way to go about achieving chartered status and progressing in this field?

ST86Dave

289 posts

125 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
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Ver.4 said:
Yes it is a design consultancy.

Is this what field you are in? If you don't mind could you give me an insight regarding what to expect/prepare for? And the best way to go about achieving chartered status and progressing in this field?
I can't help in that respect I'm afraid, I'm a sales manager for a manufacturer in the Building Services sector. The only thing I can tell you is that it seems more and more these days that cost is more important than quality, so if you've specified a high quality product for a design specification, expect a piece of crap from China to be put in instead....

Ver.4

Original Poster:

20 posts

206 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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According to toxicnerve, you are supposed to be less cynical smile. I'm curious as to what toxicnerve thinks...

I just hope I can build a good career out of it I suppose. So any advice is appreciated.

ST86Dave, how long have you been in the field? Any hot topics you suggest I read up on before I start?

Ver.4

Original Poster:

20 posts

206 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
I have read through the thread you placed on here toxicnerve thank you for that it provided a lot of information on what to expect when working in this field...it does sound a little like a "dog eat dog" environment working for a few of the organisations mentioned in there.

Needless to say though I am still very much looking forward to joining the industry as I feel as though my current position is taking me away from what the enjoyed at university.

One thing that stands out from the thread is that the work/life balance doesn't seem all that great. Being asked to go away on a like it or lump it basis etc. Being fairly newly married, the strains this field seems to place on relationships does seem a little daunting.

ST86Dave

289 posts

125 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Can I ask which consultancy you are at Sir?