Any Engineers In The House?

[brn agn]

I challenge anyone, and I am sure you have all experienced it, but work a 100+ hour week, getting to work at 8am, and leaving maybe around 2am, including Saturday and Sunday at times. And after that week, still think the money is important?!

Amen to that. I've had weeks of working 6:00AM-1:00AM...I know exactly what you are talking about.

[theoriginator]

I can't believe it. All those years of hopes and dreams, aspirations of being something, and this is it? Being born, having 5 years, then going to school for 12 years, only to spend the rest of your life making ends meet and trying to get ahead, then maybe after decades of saving money, and or retiring only to have a few years left to enjoy life. That's it? All those pointless books we read in school, history, and all that bullsh*t. Working a job is just like high school, the same old sh*t. I thought that maybe the people with real talent and skills were the ones that would make it, but it's completely the opposite. The ones with a talent for bullsh*ting the best are the ones that make it, not talent and skill. I guess I should study psychology to get into people's heads so I can figure out the best way to sell them something they don't need but want. This morning I heard on the radio "talent does what it can, genius does what it must". I guess she was right.

[jackfrost]

i have no idea what mech engineering is like, i'm a computer geek. graduated in 2001, and been making good money ever since. that said, however, don't do something just for the money. there are better ways of making money than working a job. work to learn a trade, and make money doing other things.

i would highly recommend anyone to take sales and marketing classes, especially if you're currently in college. i know you may hate sales, or not want to do it, but it could easily be the most useful skill in the world today.

[ho428]

I can't believe it. All those years of hopes and dreams, aspirations of being something, and this is it? Being born, having 5 years, then going to school for 12 years, only to spend the rest of your life making ends meet and trying to get ahead, then maybe after decades of saving money, and or retiring only to have a few years left to enjoy life. That's it? All those pointless books we read in school, history, and all that bullsh*t. Working a job is just like high school, the same old sh*t.

Congratulations, you've figured it out on your own.

99.9% of people go through life doing the best they can, that doesn't mean they're any less than the .1% that make it to the top.
I'm an engineer manager and machine designer, 25+ years experience, I kinda like what I do to a point but dream for that self satisfying job. The easy 6 figure salary you're searching for is a myth that all to many Engineering graduates think comes automatically. Some areas pay that but the cost of living balances it out. That's why houses that sell for $150,000 in one area cost $500,000 in another for the same house.
Also, I can't tell you how many Degreed Engineers I've hired that had no practical knowledge, they didn't last long in my field. They do well in a corporate engineering enviroment, which is one very boring job.

If you're good at what you're doing now, you can work into that 6 figure salary on your own by building a great reputation where you are in demand. It'd be much easier than the engineering route.

My 2 cents.

[bigvegan]

I can't believe it. All those years of hopes and dreams, aspirations of being something, and this is it? Being born, having 5 years, then going to school for 12 years, only to spend the rest of your life making ends meet and trying to get ahead, then maybe after decades of saving money, and or retiring only to have a few years left to enjoy life.

That's EXACTLY why I said it's best to find something you enjoy doing, and get the skills and education necessary to do it well.

That way, you'll be enjoying life WHILE you're working, rather than when you retire and only have a few years left.

If you're having fun EVERY day, making more money than you need is just a bonus. As long as you can make ends meet and provide for yourself and your family if you choose to have one, you win.

Money and happiness are two independent entities. Just because you need money doesn't mean it can make you happy.

The lack of money causes misery, as does the lack of food, water, shelter, etc.

But thinking an abundance of money will make you happy is as absurd as thinking an all you can eat buffet at every meal will make you happy.

Not to sound all Deepak Friggin' Chopra or anything, but for the most part you determine your own happiness. As long as your needs are provided for, if you're not happy, money can only buy you more expensive distractions.

If you didn't have bills to pay, and you knew you and your family would always have shelter, food, transportation, decent clothes, and the basic amenities of a pleasant life, how would you spend your days?

Answer that question, and act accordingly, and you're on the way to a life of contentment.

[Nine Ball]

BSME here, graduated in 1998. Actually started working as a salaried engineer in 1996, with 15 hrs remaining of college. Salary back in 1996 was $40K to start. Pretty good for still being a student!

If you want to make good money in engineering, get into the offshore oil/gas industry. I was clearing six figures within 5 years, with minimal offshore time (maybe 4-6 weeks per year total). Grads right out of college start out around $55K base right now, with an easy $10K extra for going offshore, then another $10K bonus. $75K right out of college.

Best part about it is that the cost of living in Houston is very inexpensive for a large city, and we have plenty of things to do here. No state income tax either! And I get to carry a gun

Tony

[MonzaRacer]

Well after looking up all my math course credits, and all the other stuff I took many years ago to try and get into the Air Force as a flying mechanic (fix the hard to repair units then test them before releasing them to flight line)I looked into several different degrees, such as enigineering stuff and after seeing 2 yrs of crap Ill never use and had 12 yrs of in high school (I dont give a good goose about conjugating or proper sentence contruction if I am trying to design a part).
I looked into a lot of degrees I could use my math degree I could have(heckI even have theoretical, quantum and partical physics and it doesnt help me a dang bit.
I agree with some that buisness would be a better venue.
I have enough math credits to fill out almost 3 yrs of full time colege credits (if I wanted the complete tihng in math I need another year of crap that has nothing to d o with math) ,,,forget that.
all I want is a job working on cars where I dont have to deal with idiot/liar/dishonest service managers.
I was working up to $30k a year (this would ahve been good cash in my area) with benefits and got sidelined by 2 other techs lying about me damaging a car.
So now I am working in a shop and the idiots wont give me work to do in great quantity.
If there is something I CANT fix on a car/truck I can figure it out.
I am a diag tech have close to $50k in tools and some still being paid for, but seem to find that if I am dishonest/bill padding tech i could make some head way.
What sucks is I guess I am too nice a guy and let them walk on me.
But so far the look for a different job is continueing May even have a chance going back into a dealer ship as a diesel tech for a Ford dealer.
Now As for a body man not making good money, how the heck not.
If I had a shop at home I could lay out several custom jobs(yes , like I said I can do just about anything on a car)a year,
Heck I had one guy a couple years ago pay me $1000 to LAY OUT flames, nothing else, someone else shot them(and sucked at them) I got a friend to scuff and reshoot them as I had no indoor area to fix them.
One thing I havent got to do is air brush much except some minor touchup/high lighting.
I watched a local (read that as rural)body shop that had a guy ONLY doing frame work, and he turns over $100k a year in southern Indiana. His brother only works 3 days a week at that shop shooting paint and 2 days at another shop and that guy is turning $70k-$80k a year.
Neither guy has gotten outrageous in thier lifestyle and they both worked to get where they are. When the frame work is thier it gets the one guy a lot of overtime in the shop, other times he is working on peoples custom repairs.
We just pulled a very crooked 67 Galaxie 500XL 7Liter up to there and the frame will get pulled probably next week, then we are going to add in reinforcement,make sure its straight and then reset it and then actually put the cage in the car through the floor and weld it to the frame. Yes I am going to help on that as I sent the guy to this shop.
The engine is getting a full on going through, we are going to add on 2 turbos and use 2 4bbls throttle bodies, a customized Megasquirt and the guy has figure to have less than $20k in whole car when its done. But the shop does some work, gets paid, then does more.
My uncle runs his 2 bay body shop with him only and has built 2 houses, put 2 kids through college buried a wife and son all on his small buisness.
Yes he had other sources of investments to make long term money he is just now realizing after 20 plus years.
And he has a month wait in his shop for people getting insurance work alone.
If you cant make it in the body shop, take a close look at HOW you arent making it, rather than blaming the job it may be your just not using it to its potential.
But if spending $20k-$50k going to school and then having to pay for that and live IF you can get a better job good Luck.

[MonzaRacer]

Well after looking up all my math course credits, and all the other stuff I took many years ago to try and get into the Air Force as a flying mechanic (fix the hard to repair units then test them before releasing them to flight line)I looked into several different degrees, such as enigineering stuff and after seeing 2 yrs of crap Ill never use and had 12 yrs of in high school (I dont give a good goose about conjugating or proper sentence contruction if I am trying to design a part).
I looked into a lot of degrees I could use my math degree I could have(heckI even have theoretical, quantum and partical physics and it doesnt help me a dang bit.
I agree with some that buisness would be a better venue.
I have enough math credits to fill out almost 3 yrs of full time colege credits (if I wanted the complete tihng in math I need another year of crap that has nothing to d o with math) ,,,forget that.
all I want is a job working on cars where I dont have to deal with idiot/liar/dishonest service managers.
I was working up to $30k a year (this would ahve been good cash in my area) with benefits and got sidelined by 2 other techs lying about me damaging a car.
So now I am working in a shop and the idiots wont give me work to do in great quantity.
If there is something I CANT fix on a car/truck I can figure it out.
I am a diag tech have close to $50k in tools and some still being paid for, but seem to find that if I am dishonest/bill padding tech i could make some head way.
What sucks is I guess I am too nice a guy and let them walk on me.
But so far the look for a different job is continueing May even have a chance going back into a dealer ship as a diesel tech for a Ford dealer.
Now As for a body man not making good money, how the heck not.
If I had a shop at home I could lay out several custom jobs(yes , like I said I can do just about anything on a car)a year,
Heck I had one guy a couple years ago pay me $1000 to LAY OUT flames, nothing else, someone else shot them(and sucked at them) I got a friend to scuff and reshoot them as I had no indoor area to fix them.
One thing I havent got to do is air brush much except some minor touchup/high lighting.
I watched a local (read that as rural)body shop that had a guy ONLY doing frame work, and he turns over $100k a year in southern Indiana. His brother only works 3 days a week at that shop shooting paint and 2 days at another shop and that guy is turning $70k-$80k a year.
Neither guy has gotten outrageous in thier lifestyle and they both worked to get where they are. When the frame work is thier it gets the one guy a lot of overtime in the shop, other times he is working on peoples custom repairs.
We just pulled a very crooked 67 Galaxie 500XL 7Liter up to there and the frame will get pulled probably next week, then we are going to add in reinforcement,make sure its straight and then reset it and then actually put the cage in the car through the floor and weld it to the frame. Yes I am going to help on that as I sent the guy to this shop.
The engine is getting a full on going through, we are going to add on 2 turbos and use 2 4bbls throttle bodies, a customized Megasquirt and the guy has figure to have less than $20k in whole car when its done. But the shop does some work, gets paid, then does more.
My uncle runs his 2 bay body shop with him only and has built 2 houses, put 2 kids through college buried a wife and son all on his small buisness.
Yes he had other sources of investments to make long term money he is just now realizing after 20 plus years.
And he has a month wait in his shop for people getting insurance work alone.
If you cant make it in the body shop, take a close look at HOW you arent making it, rather than blaming the job it may be your just not using it to its potential.
But if spending $20k-$50k going to school and then having to pay for that and live IF you can get a better job good Luck.