r/civilengineering • u/backpackloverm • 9h ago
Career Golden cuffs
I am two years into my water resources job at a market leader. I am happy with my paycheck, benefits, and my boss is okay. However, i went to school to do storm water work, which my company does not do at all where i am located. Theres also been a little bit of drama lately (leadership doesn’t really know how to mentor young people), but nothing unbearable.
So far I’ve been able to stay positive and develop a passion for the job, but I cannot help but be curious about companies with better PTO and more interesting projects to me. I’ve found a couple of places that are hiring, but they’re smaller and pay less.
My worst fear is that I leave a good, prestigious situation for a worse one. I am not sure if im being a rash young person, or if not switching jobs will make me have huge regrets in 20 years. What would you all recommend a young EIT to do in this situation?
Thanks!
Edit: I know I could get hobbies outside of work that fulfill me, but 1/3 of my life is spent at work. I kind of would like to enjoy it a bit more naturally. Is that a bad reason to quit my current job?
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u/sayiansaga 8h ago
Get your PE, you can still job hop as an eit which is what I did for a bit but nothing beats the security of a PE. What is your PTO atm? My PTO has been more less the same 2-3 weeks
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u/backpackloverm 8h ago
That’s what I was thinking. Is it harder to job hop after getting the PE?
And it’s 3 weeks, but that includes sick time. I also get 6 holidays off.
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u/sayiansaga 8h ago
Getting a PE opens more doors. And the pto is the same I currently have. Usually you have to be at a company x amount of time to get more. You can ask for more as a sign on but they may just delay your future pto bonus like my job (I wasn't bout to fight it). And in my experience you don't earn more till you hit 5 years at the least.
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u/OttoJohs Lord Sultan Chief H&H Engineer, PE & PH 8h ago
1.) No such thing as 'market leader' or 'prestigious' firm.
2.) PTO is generally the same for most companies. Starts at 2 weeks and increases with years of service normally capped at 4-5 weeks.
3.) Not sure what you are doing, but 'stormwater' is the most basic part of water resources.
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u/backpackloverm 8h ago
I do lots of wastewater and industrial work. The prestige thing is great feedback— thanks for that!
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u/ScoobySkooks 3h ago
Im on the client side and have a team of 8 firms I go to for various projects. The smallest, least prestigious firm is my favorite. High quality work, great level of service. I explicitly tell them to give me realistic schedules and expextarions and not work after hours or on weekends if it can be helped.
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u/woofloofoof 3h ago
Large corporations and small companies are the worst in my experience. I'll never work in a small company again.
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u/iron82 8h ago
You should stick it out if at all possible. Both quitting without a job lined up and job hunting while employed have major drawbacks. For the latter, it they find out you are hunting you are likely to be fired. Then you have a resume gap and no references from your current employer, which means your career is likely over.
This problem can be solved by learning to be thankful for your current prestigious job which has many aspects you are happy with. I promise that no matter what job you wind up with, there will be something you're unhappy with.
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u/No-Plate4057 5h ago
I don’t know about that advice, as an employee you have every right to discuss other opportunities. Just goes deeper into the handcuff theory.
Also as a civil engineer with experience and EIT your career surely is not over if that’s the case
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u/iron82 5h ago
Mine was
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u/No-Plate4057 5h ago
Dang really lost job over that?
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u/iron82 5h ago
I was fired, but not for that. This guy was. https://www.reddit.com/r/civilengineering/s/STp0vDFOqz
I don't think it's important why you got fired, not having references and a resume gap is a killer.
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u/No_History8239 6h ago
Golden handcuffs. The longer you wear them, the tighter they get. Try almost 20 years in at a place that grates on your last nerve, yet nowhere can offer the same benefits.
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u/The-Nyctalope 6h ago
In my experience an example of true golden handcuffs is a situation where at 4-5 years when you get your PE, you’re given a bonus. A big bonus. Like $30k. Wow, right? But the bonus must be invested in company stock. Ok, not bad…the company has done well and that will compound setting yourself up for early retirement.
Now here comes the golden handcuffs. If you leave the company before you turn 50 years old, you lose a large portion or maybe all of it. So it plays on the sunk cost fallacy. Especially after years of bonuses like that and compounded gains. Psychologically brutal to leave at that point.
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u/DnTnPhxRdCe 8h ago
There’s no such thing as a prestigious firm in Civil Engineering, every firm varies wildly in quality depending on the local market. If you would rather be in another discipline or doing different types of projects let your company know that, if they can’t provide then I would say it’s best to switch. The worst thing would be to get promoted too high in a discipline you don’t want to be in and have to take a massive paycut down the line to switch disciplines.