Engineers with professional accrediation

Interceptor

Hello.

I would like to hear from you if you are a member of a professional engineering body (IEI, ImechE, SAE etc)

Apart from getting cheap car insurance with IEI and joined at the most basic level, is there anyone who has gone to the effort of gaining Incorporated or Chartered status? Do you know of a situation where someone with accreditation was hired in preference to someone who didn't have it? In your career do you think you will need it? Would you like to have the letters CEngMImechE after your name?

I have been underwhelmed with responses from several people who work for large multinational engineering companies to the value of accreditation and would like your opinion. Don't be shy now...

'cptr

CathalMc

There was a thread about this in Engineering I was involved in a while back, have a search around. The general consensus seemed to suggest that for EE there's little professional benefit apart from the perks: cheaper car insurance, IEEE publications etc..

cargrouch

Isn't it a good excuse for a bit of "networking"? I'm not aware of any other benefits but they don't exactly push it do they?

breadmonkey

Apart from getting cheap car insurance with IEI

You get cheaper car insurance?! How do you join?

The head of my department was going on about doing exams to become a chartered engineer. He said that because the degree is accredited, we will get exemptions from two of the 3 exams?

Can anyone tell me what are the three exams, which ones I am supposed to be exempt from, what stage in one's career does one do them and what it actually means to be a chartered engineer?

Interceptor

Membership and/or accreditation is ultimately to enable networking and the promotion of engineers in industry. Would you prefer to hire/work with engineers who went to the effort to gain chartered status? I was a member of IEI some time back but most of the publications and netwrking events were related to civil engineering, not mechanical/electrical/other.

Ok, can I ask you to do something? If you are an engineer and have read this thread please post the answers to:

1. Would you like to gain incorporated or chartered status at some point in your career?
2. Do you believe senior engineers and managers actively promote and hire engineers who advance their knowledge and manage their skillbase?
3. What society/academy would you most like to be a member of?

Thanks in advance - your opinion is valued.

'cptr

Interceptor

CathalMc wrote:

There was a thread about this in Engineering I was involved in a while back

that would be this one

CathalMc wrote:

The general consensus seemed to suggest that for EE there's little professional benefit apart from the perks: cheaper car insurance, IEEE publications etc..

Maybe, but what about ME?

Borzoi

Interceptor wrote:

1. Would you like to gain incorporated or chartered status at some point in your career?

I've been long fingering this for a while (years TBH) been to a few meetings regarding getting Ceng - it actually doesn't seem that hard

Interceptor wrote:

2. Do you believe senior engineers and managers actively promote and hire engineers who advance their knowledge and manage their skillbase?

It's an edge against the other guy. For my own sake, to be an independant consultant, you really need the Ceng, and that's something I have goals towards

Interceptor wrote:

3. What society/academy would you most like to be a member of?

I'm in two other prof societies, that are very much work realeted, and work relevant - there are others, but you've got to set limits

Interceptor

Cheers Borzoi - from talking to people in industry it seems to be something people do later in their careers or after an MBA. You are right about setting limits but some engineers don't pay much attention to career planning or further study once their degree is finished.

'cptr

copacetic

Interceptor wrote:

Cheers Borzoi - from talking to people in industry it seems to be something people do later in their careers or after an MBA. You are right about setting limits but some engineers don't pay much attention to career planning or further study once their degree is finished.

'cptr

i think most engineers pay a lot of attention to future study and career planning. but depending on what arena you work in chartered isn't of much use compared to project management or even general management qualifications. I know for civil/structural even some mechanical it is important but for the vast majority not so. In fact I don't think I have ever met another professional electronic engineer who was chartered. 9 years out of college..

Dilbert75

I'd say that in public sector or consultancy, it carries weight. In private industry, it probably carries less weight. What it does is differentiates you from other people who describe themselves as "engineers", whether qualified by accredited degree or not. (These days it seems that anyone who can service a boiler is an engineer).

You could also argue that in a job-seeking situation, the Professional Engineer, who has been assessed by his/her peers and deemed to have attained the qualifications and responsible experience necessary to qualify for C Eng, is a better bet than someone who is "only" giving their own version of their qualifications and experience. A rubber-stamp, if you like.

The push to gain more Chartered Members is, IMO, to catch Ireland up with international levels of Professional Membership.

Interceptor

I advertised to hire two engineers recently and got twenty replies, of which one had Chartered status with IEI. The level of detail this guy had taken with his qualifications and career was impressive and he was at the top of the pile very quickly. I think it marks out certain individuals as being 'above average' and noteworthy.

A Dub in Glasgo

Interceptor wrote:

1. Would you like to gain incorporated or chartered status at some point in your career?
2. Do you believe senior engineers and managers actively promote and hire engineers who advance their knowledge and manage their skillbase?
3. What society/academy would you most like to be a member of?

Thanks in advance - your opinion is valued.

'cptr

1. I have attaind Chartered Engineer with the IEE (now IET)

2. Mainstream industry - No, Industries that have an impact on safety - Yes. I work in the safety critical rail signalling industry

3. I am a member of 2 here in the UK. the IET and the IRSE.

Dundhoone

Interceptor wrote:

Do you know of a situation where someone with accreditation was hired in preference to someone who didn't have it?
In your career do you think you will need it?
Would you like to have the letters CEngMImechE after your name?
1. Would you like to gain incorporated or chartered status at some point in your career?
2. Do you believe senior engineers and managers actively promote and hire engineers who advance their knowledge and manage their skillbase?
3. What society/academy would you most like to be a member of?

It still looks good on the civil side cv. Things is theres such a shortage of civil engs at the moment, everyone gets hired!
1. Yes I'll get it, in case I need it. Its a career marker if nothing else.
2. I think they promote engineers who will bend over backwards and work lost of extra time unpaid. If your not one of these, a few extra letters aint gonna matter.
3. I'd like to be part of a society/academy that wasnt run by senior partners/directors of companies - a society that had the balls to loosen the white collar a little for us less senior suckers.

As for adding CEngMImechE just because you pass an interview/a couple of exams.......well its a bit silly isnt it....a simple Ceng should do the trick.