Engineering Career Advice

[JRDNJ]

Hello Everyone,

I was hoping to get some job advice from anyone. To give you a brief background, I am an engineering student in the US studying naval architecture. I will be entering my forth and final year of undergratuate studies in September. After graduation, I plan to work for a few years then go back to get a masters in Naval Architecture and hopefully an MBA.

Lately I've been giving alot of though to different career paths. One that I am very interested in is motor yacht design and construction. What type of entry level jobs are available in this industry? I understand that most of the industry is based overseas (The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, UK, etc.). I'd be willing to work anywhere in the world. I think that would be a great experience right out of college. Although I currently can only speak English, I'd be more than willing to learn new languages.

I have some summer internship experience working for a large general contracting company and a shipyard. It was typical intern work but I was exposed to some great projects. The shipyard mostly built commercial vessels with the occasional custom yacht.

If anyone has any adivice for me I would greatly appreiciate it.

Thanks
John

[bigbri272]

Motor yacht design is were all the young bucks want to work!! Therefore compitition is high and pay is low....Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh but you said you had given this thought...I think you have some romantic idea about working in Europe...good luck!

[JRDNJ]

BigBri,

Thanks for your honesty. I think I've come to grips with the fact that entry level motor yacht design isn't the greatest paying job. However, it is something that I know I would love to do. I am still considering the other options as well; commercial, government (US Navy=$$$), and the oil/energy industry. We'll see what this next year of school and work can bring me.

If you or anyone else has any other advice I would appreciate the help.

Thanks
-John

[jehardiman]

Originally Posted by JRDNJ

Hello Everyone,

I was hoping to get some job advice from anyone. To give you a brief background, I am an engineering student in the US studying naval architecture. I will be entering my forth and final year of undergratuate studies in September. After graduation, I plan to work for a few years then go back to get a masters in Naval Architecture and hopefully an MBA.

...snip...
If anyone has any adivice for me I would greatly appreiciate it.

Thanks
John

What school? Does your dean have an introduction plan? Alumni contacts is one of the major entry paths.

PS...BTW getting a masters means you need to set that up that vector now! Otherwise; you may find the path harder a few years down the line. The NA/MBA or law degree is only useful if you want to move into management...not engineering. Managers are chosen for thier pliability/originizational skill, not engineering ability.

[dereksireci]

Originally Posted by jehardiman

The NA/MBA or law degree is only useful if you want to move into management...not engineering. Managers are chosen for thier pliability/originizational skill, not engineering ability.

I've not found a person with the masters in NA who could manage a little league team. They were all fine engineers but unfortunately get hired as managers and make everyone miserable.

djs

[jehardiman]

Originally Posted by dereksireci

I've not found a person with the masters in NA who could manage a little league team. They were all fine engineers but unfortunately get hired as managers and make everyone miserable.

djs

LOL From my experience, the problem with engineers that move into management it that they sometimes don't understand that their role has changed.

When you become an engineering manager that does not mean that you now have many underlings to do YOUR engineering. What it means is that a lot of engineers below you need you to remove the obstacles in the way of getting THEIR engineering done.

Very few promoted engineers make that thought transition.

[CDBarry]

I know both Palmer Johnson and Burger are hiring. Contact Westport and Delta as well.

[USCGRET/E8]

[quote=jehardiman;153860]What school? PS...BTW getting a masters means you need to set that up that vector now! Otherwise; you may find the path harder a few years down the line.

I definetly agree with this. If you want a masters, stay in school until you get it. A plus to getting it, is that if all else fails, you can come back and teach it!

[jmurf]

JRDNJ

Derecktor Connecticut
837 Seaview Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06607-1607
Toll-free: 1-800-691-2100

I know they were looking a few months back. Trinity also in New Orleans.
I found the luxury yachts a challenge, but the money is in commercial.

[Aquaplanning]

Take a look at:
www.heesenshipyards.nl [/url](http://www.heesenshipyards.nl/HEESEN...=141&tabid=251

or:
www.jongert.nl
(follow shipyard - jobs)

Especially the larger yards need personnel badly. the language is not a major problem.

Good luck,

Geert-Jan Smolders
www.Aquaplanning.org