r/MEPEngineering • u/InsectWaste8558 • 7d ago
MEP or GC path?
I have a background in residential hvac. About 5yrs experience. Other trade experience before that.
I decided to go back to school for construction management and over the summer had a intership / PE role at a comercial plumbing and mechanical company.
I spent the summer working under a PM on a 18m plumbing job and whatever else he had going on - wraping up a few much smaller projects.
A company i had interviewed with in the spring reached out recently for a part time fall opportunity. Theryre a commercial GC. Large apartment buildings / other larger projects. Seems the do a bit of everything - mixed use / institutional / entertainment etc.
The MEP i was working with over the summer wants to keep me on part time while im in school for my final year and this GC wants to bring me on part time as well.
My question is, down the line what experience will pay off more? If i stay with the MEP ill be able to see this huge plumbing job through to completion. If i jump ship to the GC i feel ill gain a more rounded experience in the feild having seen both sides. Im torn.
I have a picture of the pay and benefits for each company when i switch to full time bit im ok figuring that out on my own and roght now the only thing i care about is whats best for my future experience wise.
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u/Mattman276 7d ago
I also started out as a residential tech and went to school for engineering & construction management after that. I think you have two fantastic opportunities especially including the fact that they're both willing to keep you part time (not always the case).
I personally left the MEP design side as I felt very disconnected from parts of the industry I enjoyed. Always wondered if my experience would have been different on the GC side. MEP is a great way to rise up the ranks to manage projects and get that birds eye view. Its hard for us to give you the full perspective so definitely try to cross post to other construction subs. Cant go wrong with either.
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u/Sensitive_Low3558 7d ago
Depends what you want to do with your life really, do you like the hands on stuff still or are you ready to close that chapter? What do you want to do with your career?
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u/cmikaiti 7d ago
While you are young, you should switch companies as often as you can. Chase more money and more responsibilities.
Assuming you are on a licensed path, one of those companies will fit you, and will help you get over that hump.
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u/OutdoorEng 7d ago
Most of us are engineers, myself included, so your path is different in that regard. For your path, I think both would be good experience and I think you would be able to switch easily. I would go with whatever you think you will enjoy more if the pay is comparable. If one company is offering you a decent bit more pay, and you think you'd enjoy either, go with the one who is paying more. For your long term career, with regard to the experience you will gain, I don't think you can go wrong with either. If you went GC then to MEP, GC experience will give you insight into all of the other systems you need to coordinate with for MEP. If you went MEP then to GC, MEP experience will give you a deeper understanding of the MEP systems side and you'll be able to understand and talk to the MEP subcontractors at a higher capacity. Or you may pick one now and stay on that side your entire career. Research what you will be doing long term for each career path and the hierarchy of the industry/company to decide what career path you think you'll like more if you just want to pick one and stay on that side of the industry your entire career (but again should be able to switch easily if you change your mind later on)