Keeping a foot in the engineering world.

[BradP]

I graduated three years ago with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. Then I worked for a start up company that did energy analysis for buildings. However I was doing mostly administrative work because the company had to do a lot of things to grow, and there just weren't that many opportunities. I chose to leave eventually, and am now working for a company as a math and physics tutor.

I enjoy tutoring, but there is not a whole lot of variety. I imagine it might get old after a while. But my main concern is that if I do just do this for a couple years, will I still be able to get a position as an engineer? I don't really know what kind of job I want exactly. I wanted to do energy analysis/auditing at first, but as I've tried to study it, it seems like gaining proficiency is an endless process of absorbing more details rather than putting any fundamental engineering skills or principles into practice.

That means if I do get an engineering position, it will probably be absolute entry-level in some other type of work. How would it look if I have just been tutoring physics and calculus at high school or introductory college level?

I just got my E.I.T. recently. Is there anything else I can do to sort of keep a foot in the door?

 

[lisab]

I was going to suggest the EIT .

I'm thinking that yes, it may have a deleterious effect on being hired, if you haven't done engineering in a while. You could take a few classes, maybe...or even get a master's.

Just curious: why are you planning to keep tutoring for a couple years? Is it because the economy is bad?

 

[BradP]

Hi, I don't know, I can think of a lot of reasons why I sort of want to do this for a while. First, I feel like it is intellectually stimulating. It is great review for a lot of topics, and it is a challenge to explain some things, even if I know how to solve them. I can add subjects if I master others. I like the self-reliant nature of the work.

The economy is a factor too. I've been job searching for a while and I just sort of want to focus on my work without constantly thinking about my career. I am also afraid I will not like a job I get. I have been skipping around companies with internships, the start-up company, and freelancing, and I feel like my next position should really be something stable, or else my resume will look terrible. So I thought maybe just make this a stable position.

But I am not even 100% sure I can support myself with it. I have been increasing hours but am still not at a full-time income. But, that is my own issue. What I am really interested in is what I could do afterward if I do pursue it, because I doubt I'll do it for like 30 years.

I could try to take non-degree classes alongside, but I don't know what I am definitely interested in, and it might be more difficult financially. Are there any good grad-level courses for someone who is basically undecided on a program?