<p>I am working as an engineering intern for a construction company this summer. I am actually a Mechanical Engineering major and will be a Senior next year. So far I like the internship...it is quite different from a design engineering internship (at least from what I can tell so far). I like the fact that I get to do a little of everything (business, planning, project management, engineering, etc). No I don't design anything, but it seems like a good way to gain overall engineering experience. Would you disagree?</p>
<p>Anyways, if I decided I liked the internship, I would be hired on after I graduate and the goal would be to become a Project Engineer. </p>
<p>I have a few questions for those of you who have experience as a field/project engineer or those of you who know something about the position.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If I decided I wanted to be a design engineer sometime in the near future, would the skills of a project engineer be appealing or transferable to a design engineer position?</p></li>
<li><p>What are your general opinions on the project engineering position? Good experience, bad experience, etc?</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>Does your company do any engineering in-house? This might include designing temporary structures to support the construction process. If not, then the skills won’t transfer to a design position.</p></li>
<li><p>I assume “project engineer” is just the job title of the entry level positions in your company? That’s how it works in the two construction firms I’ve worked for. Here, the next step in the career path for a project engineer is an assistant project manager or an assistant superintendent. Is it the same for yours?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If the above is true, then whether or not your experience will be good or not will depend on what your expectations are. Long hours and high stress is the norm in the industry, but (in my opinion) the sense of accomplishment when you complete a project on the construction side can’t be matched by anything else.</p>
<p>Yes that is pretty much how it works as far as I can tell so far. I guess if I don’t like it then I will find something else after I graduate. I am not sure long hours is really what I am after. Especially if I have a family. I would rather work normal hours and have a life than work a job that allows me no outside time for family or hobbies. </p>
<p>That is a shame to hear, but I guess that is to be expected. </p>
<p>Best thing you can do in this internship is to observe and talk to the full time employees. Try and get a sense of what it will be like. I highly doubt it will be a typical 9-5 job, but there should still be some time for yourself outside of work. It just probably won’t be all the time, especially when you’re nearing project completion.</p>
<p>Yea I will probably end up at a normal design engineering job then. I have options for that and will probably not continue on with this. I guess we will see. </p>