Recommend me a job
Discussion
firstly, DJRC the exit is that way --->
Right, so...
I have come to a realisation that, whilst I loved studying engineering at uni, actually doing it doesn't really hold my interest for long. Here I am (again) a year in to a job and I just don't care about it anymore. I've figured out the things that need figuring out now I'm not interested in doing it over and over again to different engines. My interest is held while I am figuring stuff out, understanding it, but once that bit is done the interest is gone; I must move onto something else. It is like having a thirst for knowledge but then not getting the same kick out of actually putting any of it to practice.
This mindset was even there during my PhD. Granted there was so much to figure out I was content for about 3 years. But once I'd done it, writing it up became a right PITA because I'd lost interest by that point and had no motivation to cover the same ground again by regurgitating it all into a book sized thesis no-body will read.
I am not professing to be a whizz-kid here. I can figure some things out quickly, others take much longer, but I also don't always need to go down to the super microscopic level (where complication can suddenly increase exponentially) to be satisfied. My PhD was quite different to a lot of others in that it covered a broad range of subjects and experiments. I imagine 4 years of CFD modelling the minutiae of a fly's fart would have had me shooting my own face off by the end of the first year.
So basically I need to change tack and find a job where I am in a position of forever having to understand something new. Are there any jobs like that?
Patent Attorney sounds like it might be a good fit, but not sure I could exist on a trainee salary (in this area) and being 30 next year, nor do I feel like facing another 3 years (minimum) of sitting tough exams. That is what I have done for the past decade over undergrad, masters and PhD and if I am honest, its left me feeling a bit burned out. I would be grateful if any who reads this and is a Patent guy would let me pick their brains over PM.
I have also in the past applied to the Speedo Aqualab as that combines research with my greatest sporting passion; Swimming. That has been fruitless thus far because they have no vacancies.
Right, so...
I have come to a realisation that, whilst I loved studying engineering at uni, actually doing it doesn't really hold my interest for long. Here I am (again) a year in to a job and I just don't care about it anymore. I've figured out the things that need figuring out now I'm not interested in doing it over and over again to different engines. My interest is held while I am figuring stuff out, understanding it, but once that bit is done the interest is gone; I must move onto something else. It is like having a thirst for knowledge but then not getting the same kick out of actually putting any of it to practice.
This mindset was even there during my PhD. Granted there was so much to figure out I was content for about 3 years. But once I'd done it, writing it up became a right PITA because I'd lost interest by that point and had no motivation to cover the same ground again by regurgitating it all into a book sized thesis no-body will read.
I am not professing to be a whizz-kid here. I can figure some things out quickly, others take much longer, but I also don't always need to go down to the super microscopic level (where complication can suddenly increase exponentially) to be satisfied. My PhD was quite different to a lot of others in that it covered a broad range of subjects and experiments. I imagine 4 years of CFD modelling the minutiae of a fly's fart would have had me shooting my own face off by the end of the first year.
So basically I need to change tack and find a job where I am in a position of forever having to understand something new. Are there any jobs like that?
Patent Attorney sounds like it might be a good fit, but not sure I could exist on a trainee salary (in this area) and being 30 next year, nor do I feel like facing another 3 years (minimum) of sitting tough exams. That is what I have done for the past decade over undergrad, masters and PhD and if I am honest, its left me feeling a bit burned out. I would be grateful if any who reads this and is a Patent guy would let me pick their brains over PM.
I have also in the past applied to the Speedo Aqualab as that combines research with my greatest sporting passion; Swimming. That has been fruitless thus far because they have no vacancies.
dudleybloke said:
Just the ticket! Will apply right away.on second thoughts...sticking my hand up a cows foof? maybe not!
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Monday 13th July 14:09
Otispunkmeyer said:
Patent Attorney sounds like it might be a good fit, but not sure I could exist on a trainee salary (in this area) and being 30 next year, nor do I feel like facing another 3 years (minimum) of sitting tough exams. That is what I have done for the past decade over undergrad, masters and PhD and if I am honest, its left me feeling a bit burned out. I would be grateful if any who reads this and is a Patent guy would let me pick their brains over PM.
As I was reading your post, Patent Attorney was the first thing that came to mind.My brother works in the industry down in London. Not an easy role to get into, but worth it in the long run. Starting salary is circa £20-25k across the country with his employer.
If you have some questions, drop me a PM and I'll ask him to answer them for you.
Might help if you list what you can actually do? Beyond engineering you don't really say.
Consultancy is a good fit if you want a decent salary and are easily bored as you do get a lot of variation. Atkins, Serco, or AMEC are worth looking at.
If any of your skills are transferable within the nuclear sector, even better as there is a resurgence in that market at the moment. Defence, Aero and O&G are somewhat depressed.
Another option would be one of the regulatory bodies, Off-shore, Rail, Nuclear. Plenty of variation to go at but then you have the issue of public sector working.
Consultancy is a good fit if you want a decent salary and are easily bored as you do get a lot of variation. Atkins, Serco, or AMEC are worth looking at.
If any of your skills are transferable within the nuclear sector, even better as there is a resurgence in that market at the moment. Defence, Aero and O&G are somewhat depressed.
Another option would be one of the regulatory bodies, Off-shore, Rail, Nuclear. Plenty of variation to go at but then you have the issue of public sector working.
The Beaver King said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
Patent Attorney sounds like it might be a good fit, but not sure I could exist on a trainee salary (in this area) and being 30 next year, nor do I feel like facing another 3 years (minimum) of sitting tough exams. That is what I have done for the past decade over undergrad, masters and PhD and if I am honest, its left me feeling a bit burned out. I would be grateful if any who reads this and is a Patent guy would let me pick their brains over PM.
As I was reading your post, Patent Attorney was the first thing that came to mind.My brother works in the industry down in London. Not an easy role to get into, but worth it in the long run. Starting salary is circa £20-25k across the country with his employer.
If you have some questions, drop me a PM and I'll ask him to answer them for you.
Thanks for the offer to ask your brother some questions. Very kind, hope he doesn't mind! I'll put 2 or 3 together and fire them over when done.
rhinochopig said:
Might help if you list what you can actually do? Beyond engineering you don't really say.
Consultancy is a good fit if you want a decent salary and are easily bored as you do get a lot of variation. Atkins, Serco, or AMEC are worth looking at.
If any of your skills are transferable within the nuclear sector, even better as there is a resurgence in that market at the moment. Defence, Aero and O&G are somewhat depressed.
Another option would be one of the regulatory bodies, Off-shore, Rail, Nuclear. Plenty of variation to go at but then you have the issue of public sector working.
As for what I can do? Not sure how to phrase them but at the moment my work is mostly Engine calibration for running on diesel/gas blend, combustion and emissions optimisation, experimentation (DoE) and data analysis. In my PhD I did a lot of experimentation with HV electronics and analysis via digital imaging. I am not super good at one particular thing, but can turn my hand to lots of different things. But mostly my work for the past 5 years has been devising experiments, interpreting the results, writing papers, reports and giving presentations that explain them and how it all works.Consultancy is a good fit if you want a decent salary and are easily bored as you do get a lot of variation. Atkins, Serco, or AMEC are worth looking at.
If any of your skills are transferable within the nuclear sector, even better as there is a resurgence in that market at the moment. Defence, Aero and O&G are somewhat depressed.
Another option would be one of the regulatory bodies, Off-shore, Rail, Nuclear. Plenty of variation to go at but then you have the issue of public sector working.
Hadn't read good things about QinetiQ last I checked. Was a while ago now. Atkins may be a good one to check out. I have a friend who works there at the moment in their Derby office. Will have to ask him what he gets up to, he seems to be progressing quite fast so I guess they are keen to push the people who want pushing.
I have a couple of mates who work for the EPSRC (or whatever it is called now). One mate was a bit like you, went into industry after a PhD and got bored with a couple of jobs. Now works in the funding in physical sciences, so is learning about new research at different establishments continually.... Seems to keep his interest despite the politics.
I went into the foundry industry which has a myriad of variables which kept me occupied for almost 18 years until earlier this year I moved into electronics! Luckily the skills I have picked up are quite transferable!!
Mike
I went into the foundry industry which has a myriad of variables which kept me occupied for almost 18 years until earlier this year I moved into electronics! Luckily the skills I have picked up are quite transferable!!
Mike
mike9009 said:
I have a couple of mates who work for the EPSRC (or whatever it is called now). One mate was a bit like you, went into industry after a PhD and got bored with a couple of jobs. Now works in the funding in physical sciences, so is learning about new research at different establishments continually.... Seems to keep his interest despite the politics.
I went into the foundry industry which has a myriad of variables which kept me occupied for almost 18 years until earlier this year I moved into electronics! Luckily the skills I have picked up are quite transferable!!
Mike
OH was just on at me about places like the EPSRC and I have a friend who works in the ESRC and says it's pretty fascinating. So they sound like they're worth a look too. I'll see if they have any offices in the area. EPSRC actually funded my PhD!I went into the foundry industry which has a myriad of variables which kept me occupied for almost 18 years until earlier this year I moved into electronics! Luckily the skills I have picked up are quite transferable!!
Mike
Will probably send some speculative applications to patent attorney's here. Done the numbers and the grad salary is doable, just need to get a feel for the extra curricular exam/revision work to see if it's something I'm going to stomach. It certainly reads like it would be an extremely fulfilling job.
The Beaver King said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
Patent Attorney sounds like it might be a good fit, but not sure I could exist on a trainee salary (in this area) and being 30 next year, nor do I feel like facing another 3 years (minimum) of sitting tough exams. That is what I have done for the past decade over undergrad, masters and PhD and if I am honest, its left me feeling a bit burned out. I would be grateful if any who reads this and is a Patent guy would let me pick their brains over PM.
As I was reading your post, Patent Attorney was the first thing that came to mind.My brother works in the industry down in London. Not an easy role to get into, but worth it in the long run. Starting salary is circa £20-25k across the country with his employer.
If you have some questions, drop me a PM and I'll ask him to answer them for you.
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