It is a issue. There is me doing a master degree in electronic and electrical engineering yet if I say I'm a engineer, people will assume I install satellite dishes.
Engineers! Get in here!
- Thread starter Marky
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It is a issue. There is me doing a master degree in electronic and electrical engineering yet if I say I'm a engineer, people will assume I install satellite dishes.
It's probably a lot to do with having just spent 4 years at uni working your testicles off to get what is widely recognised to be a bloody hard degree, only for everyone to assume you're working as a sparky or a fitter or something that requires a year of evening courses
The further into your past that gets, the less bothered you get by it I suppose. It doesn't bother me all that much these days, as you say, now it's more just a source of amusement at what other professions have found a way to try and make themselves sound more important by sticking the word engineer in a job title.
It can be confusing when people describe themselves as an electrical engineer when they're really an electrician though (as one example), as they are markedly different skill sets and they'd likely both struggle to do the others job.
Soldato
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Yeah I don't really care anymore.
My mum just got BTvision and I had to smile when she said the engineer would be coming to install the box.... She was okay using that title yet she contributed to getting her two son's engineering degrees.
My mum just got BTvision and I had to smile when she said the engineer would be coming to install the box.... She was okay using that title yet she contributed to getting her two son's engineering degrees.
Soldato
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It is a bit of an issue when the most famous engineer in the public eye is that guy off Eastenders.
I'm a qualified engineer working as a technician but get paid for travel time. I quote my hours from leaving my door in the morning to getting back to my door in the evening.
Soldato
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I know loads of engineers, I don't see what all the fuss about. In fact I know one who is thick a pig poo; didn't even finish school, he's now a refuse engineer for the council!
Errrr.... Thanks for the info padre......
In other news. My tiny little nipples went to France.
Soldato
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Of course I was being completely sarcastic. I have huge amounts of respect for engineers.
Hmmm, in fact the next time my boiler dies and they offer to send out an engineer i'll say it's rather unnecessary to send out the people who designed the boiler.
No,engineers in almost all fields will be exept employees and thus will have a fixed salary. I've been working far in excess of the contracted 40hrs the last weeks trying to help a project hit a customers deadline. I won't see a penny extra directly.
Soldato
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I understand your pain, but it is still a non issue.
My business card says 'Sales Engineer' Because that's what customers I meet like to see, my qualifications don't make me an engineer, which is why I'm about to hopefully jack it all in and go to College next year and work on that! So I respect your pain, and understand the pain, but it's a non issue. Most people are plebs anyway who won't really realise what being an Engineer means.
Associate
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Most of this issue comes from the fact it's unprotected. The general public in, for example, Germany know what an engineer is about as well as they know what a doctor/lawyer is. When you have maids at hotels being called "Pillow Engineers" alongside people on the front line of the next generation of new technology - it's no surprise most people have no idea what an engineer actually is.
The principal mechanical design engineer where I work doesn't even have a degree, and this is in a pretty large company. He wipes the floor with uni grads. Having a degree is by no means the be all and end all in engineering.
Oh, and I don't get paid travelling time, but do get overtime.
Oh, and I don't get paid travelling time, but do get overtime.
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I actually think it's less of an issue than people make out.
As kahn is my friend irl and I might refer to him in conversation with others, I say he's an engineer or a structural engineer and people find it an impressive line of work.
Never do people go "is that like a gas fitter" or anything like that.
If you are a bonefied engineer and earning a hefty wage, then get over the fact us brits don't bow down in admiration. Or move to Germany where Helga will tug your todger just because you have your fancy degree
As kahn is my friend irl and I might refer to him in conversation with others, I say he's an engineer or a structural engineer and people find it an impressive line of work.
Never do people go "is that like a gas fitter" or anything like that.
If you are a bonefied engineer and earning a hefty wage, then get over the fact us brits don't bow down in admiration. Or move to Germany where Helga will tug your todger just because you have your fancy degree
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Caporegime
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You mention how over worked you are with little extra reward in many of your posts/threads. Have you considered doing something else instead or perhaps moaning less?
To the guy that said I get off on this debate well, first of all it's not a real debate, it's people getting worked up over a misappropriated title. I understand it, I just don't understand why it has to happen so bloody often on these boards. But it's also amusing so it's not all bad
Soldato
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I bet his boss has a degree and wipes the floor with everyone to such an extent that his title is actually 'mop engineer'
Every engineer here below the management grade gets paid overtime aswell. Management lack of overtime is cancelled out by the car scheme to be honest anyway.