Project Engineers
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm after a bit of advice. I graduated from University last year and walked straight in to a good job, I'd done lots of ground work with the company, summer placements, sandwich year etc. I find the job interesting and my immediate colleagues and manager are fantastic.
My main problem is that although tho company is pretty large (2000+ employees), I've joined fairly high up the progression tree. To progress within the company there are very few steps above me, these are however MASSIVE steps, it would be manager of my dept. then directorship level, as you can imagine there is also no defined progression path for my role.
Although my company does have a graduate scheme my department doesn't really support it (Training department don't think they could properly implement a system because of nature of my role, something I agree with really and was made aware if this before getting the job).
Obviously I want to progress my career and by this time next year (ties in with the end of my next project) I would like to have moved on or at least be well in to looking /applying.
My role currently is basically that of a project engineer, but with a CAD design aspect to the initial stages of the project.
As mentioned I'm not on the graduate scheme and am not receiving any extra training.
I would like to improve my project management skills and include budgeting skills etc. I currently don't do any of this, with the aim of moving to a larger company with a better training scheme that can then allow me to progress to project management. I've looked on the various Project management association websites and would like to achieve something like a CAPM from the PMI.
I've looked at various options and this looks like a good course that I could do in my own time to allow me to progress to the CAPM.
http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/course/m...
Am I looking on the right path? Anyone in a similar role able to offer their experiences?
Apologies for the rambling post and thanks in advance!
I'm after a bit of advice. I graduated from University last year and walked straight in to a good job, I'd done lots of ground work with the company, summer placements, sandwich year etc. I find the job interesting and my immediate colleagues and manager are fantastic.
My main problem is that although tho company is pretty large (2000+ employees), I've joined fairly high up the progression tree. To progress within the company there are very few steps above me, these are however MASSIVE steps, it would be manager of my dept. then directorship level, as you can imagine there is also no defined progression path for my role.
Although my company does have a graduate scheme my department doesn't really support it (Training department don't think they could properly implement a system because of nature of my role, something I agree with really and was made aware if this before getting the job).
Obviously I want to progress my career and by this time next year (ties in with the end of my next project) I would like to have moved on or at least be well in to looking /applying.
My role currently is basically that of a project engineer, but with a CAD design aspect to the initial stages of the project.
As mentioned I'm not on the graduate scheme and am not receiving any extra training.
I would like to improve my project management skills and include budgeting skills etc. I currently don't do any of this, with the aim of moving to a larger company with a better training scheme that can then allow me to progress to project management. I've looked on the various Project management association websites and would like to achieve something like a CAPM from the PMI.
I've looked at various options and this looks like a good course that I could do in my own time to allow me to progress to the CAPM.
http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/course/m...
Am I looking on the right path? Anyone in a similar role able to offer their experiences?
Apologies for the rambling post and thanks in advance!
Hmm tricky one that. I'm a PE at the moment and came from a project controls background and with a technical degree at Uni. Personally, and it'll depend on your industry, I find that reputation can be worth as much as if not more than a CV and a track record is essential to give a youngun some gravitas within the team. The older discipline engineers will lead green PEs a merrydance if given half a chance. I'd agree that it's not really something you can learn via a training scheme, and unfortunately the industry and academic world believe that anyone can learn to be good at anything - but leadership in parricular is something which I believe is neccessary for PEs to have and like the military, I don't believe you can learn it if you're a naturalborn follower. It can be nurtured and developed if you have a leaning that way though.
I'd suggest either staying where you are and just adding another project or two to your experience before worrying about career progression, or else consider moving to a smaller organisation, not a larger one. I don't personally put much value on formalised training schemes for our roles because we need to be so adaptable. Going to a smaller outfit will stretch you because they'll just need you to get on with things. What I'm really saying is don't rely on someone else teaching you - just get on and do it. The estimating and budgetary control aspects are straightforward enough. Does your current employer subscribe to the Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) by any chance? They have some handy short courses which might help, and it'll be free to your employer if they are ECITB contributors.
I'd suggest either staying where you are and just adding another project or two to your experience before worrying about career progression, or else consider moving to a smaller organisation, not a larger one. I don't personally put much value on formalised training schemes for our roles because we need to be so adaptable. Going to a smaller outfit will stretch you because they'll just need you to get on with things. What I'm really saying is don't rely on someone else teaching you - just get on and do it. The estimating and budgetary control aspects are straightforward enough. Does your current employer subscribe to the Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) by any chance? They have some handy short courses which might help, and it'll be free to your employer if they are ECITB contributors.
Hmm tricky one that. I'm a PE at the moment and came from a project controls background and with a technical degree at Uni. Personally, and it'll depend on your industry, I find that reputation can be worth as much as if not more than a CV and a track record is essential to give a youngun some gravitas within the team. The older discipline engineers will lead green PEs a merrydance if given half a chance. I'd agree that it's not really something you can learn via a training scheme, and unfortunately the industry and academic world believe that anyone can learn to be good at anything - but leadership in parricular is something which I believe is neccessary for PEs to have and like the military, I don't believe you can learn it if you're a naturalborn follower. It can be nurtured and developed if you have a leaning that way though.
I'd suggest either staying where you are and just adding another project or two to your experience before worrying about career progression, or else consider moving to a smaller organisation, not a larger one. I don't personally put much value on formalised training schemes for our roles because we need to be so adaptable. Going to a smaller outfit will stretch you because they'll just need you to get on with things. What I'm really saying is don't rely on someone else teaching you - just get on and do it. The estimating and budgetary control aspects are straightforward enough. Does your current employer subscribe to the Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) by any chance? They have some handy short courses which might help, and it'll be free to your employer if they are ECITB contributors.
I'd suggest either staying where you are and just adding another project or two to your experience before worrying about career progression, or else consider moving to a smaller organisation, not a larger one. I don't personally put much value on formalised training schemes for our roles because we need to be so adaptable. Going to a smaller outfit will stretch you because they'll just need you to get on with things. What I'm really saying is don't rely on someone else teaching you - just get on and do it. The estimating and budgetary control aspects are straightforward enough. Does your current employer subscribe to the Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) by any chance? They have some handy short courses which might help, and it'll be free to your employer if they are ECITB contributors.
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