Move from engineering - to what?
Discussion
Degree qualified (civil engineering [BEng])
Age - mid 30's
Experience - 65/35 site [surveying / setting out] / office [design / CAD]
Salaried - poor : 35k-40k pre tax / 23k-28k post tax
Contract - Non applicable (250-300 per day pre IR35)
Not worked since IR35 kicked in and the contracting roles dried up; prior to that I was working on sites surveying and setting out. The day rates were just about worth it but I won't settle for the pay roll bearing in mind job stress, it's not worth it. I haven't worked for about 18 months now. Assuming the contract work never takes off again I'm not interested in engineering but I've no idea what else to do. Wondering what others with similar backgrounds have turned their hands to alternatively?
Age - mid 30's
Experience - 65/35 site [surveying / setting out] / office [design / CAD]
Salaried - poor : 35k-40k pre tax / 23k-28k post tax
Contract - Non applicable (250-300 per day pre IR35)
Not worked since IR35 kicked in and the contracting roles dried up; prior to that I was working on sites surveying and setting out. The day rates were just about worth it but I won't settle for the pay roll bearing in mind job stress, it's not worth it. I haven't worked for about 18 months now. Assuming the contract work never takes off again I'm not interested in engineering but I've no idea what else to do. Wondering what others with similar backgrounds have turned their hands to alternatively?
It hasn't been the best of times over the past several years for oil and gas and not the greatest of times to try and enter the energy arena due to supply and demand but that wouldn't stop me trying to leverage my current experience and side step into it. Persistence will be key here I would think and any contacts you may already have or can make.
I can understand the issue with IR35. Engineers in the UK are very much underpaid imho. If you don't mind overseas work then look into the different sectors that are applicable but obviously that is dependent upon flights returning sometime soon.
For me personally I love working overseas with the challenges it brings and the diverse backgrounds of the people you end up working with.
I can understand the issue with IR35. Engineers in the UK are very much underpaid imho. If you don't mind overseas work then look into the different sectors that are applicable but obviously that is dependent upon flights returning sometime soon.
For me personally I love working overseas with the challenges it brings and the diverse backgrounds of the people you end up working with.
Civil service? Ministry for Housing and Local Government (MHCLG) and Home Office both recruiting right now I believe for post-Grenfell related positions. There is a lot of work going on in fire / building regs / construction products.
I made the switch at a similar time of life as you, with similar qualifications (although I had CEng too which helps open recruitment doors - get it if you can is my view) but coming from a mechanical background and into a product safety role.
Hugely interesting (to me) to be on "the inside" and to affect change, however slowly, on all the legislation I used to have to comply with in industry!
I made the switch at a similar time of life as you, with similar qualifications (although I had CEng too which helps open recruitment doors - get it if you can is my view) but coming from a mechanical background and into a product safety role.
Hugely interesting (to me) to be on "the inside" and to affect change, however slowly, on all the legislation I used to have to comply with in industry!
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