what Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Is anyone here a chartered engineer (with the IET or IEE), is it worth it. I failed the interview before because apparently i didn´t have any management experience. Apparantly technical knowledge counts for nothing to this lot. What benefits do you get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaggaDagga Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I decided not to bother. I was a student member of the IEE, got a 2:1, have had all the right jobs since and haven't bothered with the IEE since I saw their "non-student" rates. Plus I thought their magazine was utterly dull - is their letters column still full of wittering about the word "engineer" being mis-used for undeserving jobs? I've never missed an opportunity through not being a member. As far as I know, nobody I work with bothers with them. I've seen it on a couple of CVs when we've been recruiting. In my own very personal opinion, MIEE on a CV either means "old fart" or "new graduate", so actually counts against someone in my mind. Of course, I may be missing something. But my impression is that they've become irrelevant to industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viterbi Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 What societies exist for electronic engineers apart from the IET and IEEE? My findings of the IET (then the IEE) is that it is very staid and dull, and dominated by people older than 50 working in defence and power generation. I stopped renewing my membership a couple of years after graduation because I didn't think I benefitted from being a member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungalow Builder Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I am a chartered mechanical engineer (IMechE) and found it useful as I went on to become a management consult. I was in defence & don't know whetehr it would have helped or not if I had stayed put.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iangilb Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Is anyone here a chartered engineer (with the IET or IEE), is it worth it. I failed the interview before because apparently i didn´t have any management experience. Apparantly technical knowledge counts for nothing to this lot. What benefits do you get. I am CEng MIET but cannot really argue with the comments made by others I agree that just MIET on your CV does not say much. CEng says some more but what is really important is whether you have got involved. I warn that the comment about 50+ and Defence/Power Generation has some validity. Nevertheless there are a range of people there, including students and young engineers and you can network reasonably. Some good points is that they sometimes hold trips to interesting places and your subs are tax deductible if you need them for your work (and can be bothered to tell the taxman). Just as a final warning, the last trip I went to I got talking to this guy. He was an landlord who was selling up but refused to sell the house he was letting out to his tennant, because for some reason he did not like him and though he was too keen to buy it - even though the tennant was offering well over the asking price. Didn't seem to cross his mind that the guy was probably simply trying to stay in his home and it was no skin of his nose if he let him. This did put me off a bit I must say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Is anyone here a chartered engineer (with the IET or IEE), is it worth it. I failed the interview before because apparently i didn´t have any management experience. Apparantly technical knowledge counts for nothing to this lot. What benefits do you get. For an Engineer, Chartered status is more important than a degree. Generally speaking is very useful for jobs where you are dealing with people who might not know you (consultancy work or working for large contractors). It is also important when you are working in a supervisory role, and especially so if you are working on potentially dangerous installations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbins Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I'm a CEng IChemE (aka Chemical Engineer). Chartered chemical engineers earn on average 20% more than the non-chartered peers. Get chartered, and look forward to that 20% pay rise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungalow Builder Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Also, being a chartered engineer does differentiate you from the bloke who mends your light who likes to call himself an "Electrical engineer" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iangilb Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Also, being a chartered engineer does differentiate you from the bloke who mends your light who likes to call himself an "Electrical engineer" My favorite is 'Satellite Engineer'. To me that is someone who is a highly skilled electronic engineer who works on space projects and the like. In reality it is the description of someone who climbs a ladder outside your house and drives a van with Homer Simpson on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandster Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 If you wish to work abroad yes, if not then it is a bonus but it's experience that counts (and your day rate) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoredTrainBuilder Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I'm CEng MIMechE and it has been an undoubted benefit for me despite the fact that I lost interest in pure engineering about 15 minutes after graduation and branched out into the much more lucrative worlds of commerce, contracts, project management etc. I've always found the letters and status are effective at shutting the white-sock brigade who remained at their ddrawing boards and earn half what I do. While I agree with the cynical comments in posts above, Institutions are yours to change. In the Railway Division of the IMecheE I've made tons of useful contacts and am rather proud of the tradition and history embedded for example in the London HQ and enjoy the events and talks. In some roles insurances premiums are less for companies who employee chartered engineers, or it compulsory to employ them. Go for it, and if you dislike the old fogeys simply outshine them. nb many employers refund the fees and they are tax-deductable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamUK Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Is anyone here a chartered engineer (with the IET or IEE), is it worth it. I failed the interview before because apparently i didn´t have any management experience. Apparantly technical knowledge counts for nothing to this lot. What benefits do you get. I am CEng MIMechE and for us it's worth having as we are an engineering consultancy firm and it adds credibility. We pay all our employee's membership fees for them so that's not an issue. The whole management thing's b*llocks. I had none on my interview though the interviewers were keen to ensure that I had the probity and aptitude commensurate with the field I am working with (i.e. if you are working in petrochems or nuclear, you approach the issues you are faced with seriously and sometimes have to stand your ground with operations). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnney Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 First off - how many engineers are there on this site? I am! mechanical, although slowly moving into project management etc. My advise is get chartered. My old manager said it made a big difference to which CV he reads, other have said it makes no difference. I have yet to take this advice - don't feel I have enoughe experience. Getting there now, hope to start going through the hoops next year, ready for any down-turn, I want to be at the top of the CV pile. hence why my advice. My only concern - are you ready for it. Have you got enough experience to have the chartered status? If your face don't fit, or talk the talk then people will question how you got it later. Hence why I haven't gone for it yet. Peers have, but I am already 3 jobs ahead of them. If your near 30 DO IT! JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksky Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Don't waste your money. I am a chartered engineer with the IEE now called IET. Complete waste of time - never added a penny to my pay packet costs £145 a year. In the UK there is little recognition of the chartered engineer. The IEE has sold out and does nothing. The status has been erroded to not worth having. A prime example is Part P of the wiring regs. - As a chartered electrical engineer, thanks to the IEE, I cannot fit a power socket in my kitchen. It is all about money for the boys and Gordon. The IEE is just another old boys club centered around London. I pay my fee - just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backtoparents Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Access to the library and online resources is useful, but what puts me off is the utter twaddle that they put in these magazines they seem intent on sending. btp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpw Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 If there is relatively little effort in getting chartered then you should do it. It does have some cachet and girls will fall at your feet when you tell then your are not really a car mechanic and that you actually design nuts and bolts for a company in the midlands. If you are working in a specialised area, and for that reason it is difficult to get say management experience, or time at a plant or site, then you need to think a little more carefully about where you are heading with your career. I didn't bother getting chartered and chose instead to specialise and get a PhD. Having a doctorate easily trumps being chartered and lawyers and senior exec's at dinner parties generally have to concede you are not really a car mechanic when you say your doctor Bubb. I can say from experience that my PhD made it a very simple to get work authorisation in the USA through the 'alien of extraordinary ability' route. Saying I was a chartered engineer would have meant nothing to the immigration authorities. So factor this into your plans and seriously consider doing a PhD. I can recall being very disappointed by the Institution of Civil Engineers in London who seemed more concerned about protecting the interests of employers than furthering the cause of their members. Why for example were they issuing guidelines on pay for young engineers, and in what way were they fostering entrepreneurial endeavours? In my mind the lovely old building was being used as an employers club. Hope this helps and good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnney Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Yes it wont add any to your pay if you stay in the same company. Leave the company more easily and maybeget better pay to boot. JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoredTrainBuilder Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 (i.e. if you are working in petrochems or nuclear, you approach the issues you are faced with seriously and sometimes have to stand your ground with operations). Or railways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarman001 Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 IEEE/IET membership is good for access to the technical libraries online. The magazines are pretty lame. I am not a member - in fact most electronicd engineers I know are not members. I think it mainly applies to electrical/power, mechanical, chemical and civil. I don't know if it'd be worth my while. I wouldn't mind it, but I don't want to put in any effort if I'll get little back - also sounds as if you have to have some management experience. What prompted me re-hashing this thread? I was in Costco this weekend and they only let 'chartered engineers' join up - or so it said on the board in the store. I must follow that up - ridiculous if so. No way I'm getting an MEng and an MSc then not be able to shop at Costco lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mranderson66 Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 I'm currently going through the process of trying to get chartered through the experience/professional review route. In all honesty I can't be arsed, have no interest in doing it and find the whole thing a bit "jobs for the boys", but I think in many industries you won't get past a certain level without it. I'm currently a Senior Engineer and have been told that I may get a Principal role without it, but would not go any higher. I'm currently in Australia and got in without a degree or being chartered, but many countries do require it, that's the main reason for trying to get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porca misèria Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 My favorite is 'Satellite Engineer'. To me that is someone who is a highly skilled electronic engineer who works on space projects and the like. In reality it is the description of someone who climbs a ladder outside your house and drives a van with Homer Simpson on it. Heh. I've done quite a lot of work in rocket science satellite-related technology, most of it developing systems for the Earth Science community. Never heard the term 'satellite engineer' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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