Chris Said:

Frustrated Engineers ... are you bored off your rockers or maybe thinking of a career change?

We Answered:

Well for starters feel lucky. I graduated spring of 09, and still work at my internship at internship wages. Im not bored, im stressed.

With the lack of available jobs, I have started doing some subcontracting in opensource CFD. It pays a little better, but most of my hours are unbillable because they are spent learning the software. I enjoy my work and think its exciting, but I would like to work less than 60hr per week.

I doubt your company is that boring. Boring is a mindset. I would kill to have 60k income at my disposal. I have so many ideas that I would like to design and test. Even at your job, there is always something interesting in engineering. Especially with being in management, you have the ability to change the direction of the company, the ability to make a difference and make it exciting.

If your job seems hoplessly boring however. You may want to look into some of these:

Small Business (im in alternative energy)
Patent Agent (not as much training required as you might expect)
Freelance (you work alot, but you choose what projects you do)

Best of Luck to a Fellow Engineer!

Mary Said:

Career change to Civil Engineer questions?

We Answered:

Are you looking to get into Environmental Engineering? Because some programs have separated the two programs Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Never go backwards, you have your BS in ChmE, don't go backwards and get another BS. Get your MS in Environmental Engineering or Civil Engineering. Pass your FE first.

This will give you something you can put on your resume that is Civil related and help you get a job easier.

What part of the country are you located that they are hiring Civil Engineers? Because the job market for Civil Engineers and CE graduates is dead Southeast U.S. especially in Florida. I have done everything they have told me. High GPA, extracurriculars in professional societies, networked my butt off, internship experience, etc and I still haven't had a job offer for full time work. I have handed out over 100 resumes. (I know I handed out over a hundred because I had to buy a box of resume paper twice and they come in boxes of 50 sheets).