Friday, July 25, 2014

3 Frequent Questions as Part Time for Engineering Job

by Charles Gonzales Gagui - CleVer Vibration
Job Meeting Napoli 2012
1. Hope of finding a part-time engineering work? Hefty, but still possible. Usually part-time are considered by engineers if they are pursuing higher studies; consultants; R&D; taking a long vacation (3 months off) to 'actual' engineering work; boredom; or after retirement. What ever reason it maybe, engineers are always crucial resource to companies.

2. Is it possible to have a part-time engineering work without an engineering degree? If you don't have an engineering degree and wants a part-time engineering job, there is a slim chance for you. Prior experience in an engineering field, will give you an edge to get a part-time engineering job. If you decided to do engineering full-time, better pursue and choose an engineering course. An Engineering Degree will give you more in paycheck and consideration for raise increase and promotion.

Likely without an engineering degree, you will do engineering work through another engineer and be like an add bot. Sometimes, you will never understand what the hell you are actually doing, but at least your doing engineering work. Engineers attain respect through experience (with or without a degree). They are expected to think independently and act as they are paid to do. This is also expected from them when doing part-time work.

3. Is it reasonable to have a part-time engineering job if you already have an engineering degree? If you are fresh out of college, never consider part-time. Job advertisement don't call part-time for engineer as 'part-time jobs', they sometimes refer to it as contractual work or contract labor in a specified time frame, but circumstances like these specifies HIGH description skill sets. Occasionally, these arrangements are offered (sometimes secretly) and greatly depends on people you know and how valuable you are in the industry.

For Corporate entities, engineers are hired to solve dilemmas and make things possible. Solving these problems needs time and the allotted 8 hour work day are sometimes not enough. For offshore jobs working hours are normally 12 hours, but will have 3 to 6 months ashore vacation package. Other engineering jobs offer 4 day work week; flexible working hours; or work at the comforts of their homes. This is to maintain work and life balance and boost productivity and morale of employees.

It is counter productive for companies to hire engineers part-time, if they want to achieve revenues in a steady goal and able to pay an engineer's salary. Companies also trace these employees as it will be a conflict of interest and considered them as a valid threat that will potentially harm the company. Good example of this is the movie Paranoia (2013) with Liam Hemsworth acting as a double agent for a competitor. Engineers handles sensitive information, patents and proprietary documents of the company and will always have a confidentiality clause upon signing a contract.

Having said that, doing engineering as part-time will give you less payment fee in an immeasurable degree compared in doing full-time. Added to that, full-time engineers have regular benefits, raise, promotion, bonuses and maybe stock options. Comparing part-time payment in hours to full-time hours is also not close enough as a consideration. Companies are reluctant to invest to such cases. Mostly, engineers are not likely to go that road as they will not settle for less and antithetical of their character.

To be continued...

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