Opinion required from Engineers working with the council.

penguin00

Hello there,
Opinion required from Engineers working with the council.

Im looking for a bit of information on working as an assistant engineer with a county council. The thing is that I applied for a position and heard back that I had come first in the order and that there is a position available for me. Now don’t get me wrong I am absolutely chuffed with it but I am with a good company at the minute, they fought tooth and nail to get me into a really good RE position and that is not up until September. All this happened after I applied for the job with the council. I was hoping to get on the panel and come somewhere down the line so maybe give me time to think about things and take a position later down the line if one come up.
I have heard second hand stories from people saying it’s a cushy number and they do nothing…..Which I don’t believe, I dont want to enter a work environment like that anyway.

So I am asking anyone that has worked in an engineering consultancy what do you think the merits in working with the council are compared to a large consultancy. The pay in the consultancy is a little less on what I am being offered by the council but not by much and id say the consultancy may match it… Its getting a bit quiet in here and im not sure what sort of work is in the pipe line after September?

Would the council consider keeping me on the panel if I turn down the position or is that a bit cheeky asking?


Any help on this matter would be great as I am hoping to come to a decision by next Tuesday!

Thanks

P

Tails142

penguin00 wrote: »

Hello there,
Opinion required from Engineers working with the council.

Im looking for a bit of information on working as an assistant engineer with a county council. The thing is that I applied for a position and heard back that I had come first in the order and that there is a position available for me. Now don’t get me wrong I am absolutely chuffed with it but I am with a good company at the minute, they fought tooth and nail to get me into a really good RE position and that is not up until September. All this happened after I applied for the job with the council. I was hoping to get on the panel and come somewhere down the line so maybe give me time to think about things and take a position later down the line if one come up.
I have heard second hand stories from people saying it’s a cushy number and they do nothing…..Which I don’t believe, I dont want to enter a work environment like that anyway.

So I am asking anyone that has worked in an engineering consultancy what do you think the merits in working with the council are compared to a large consultancy. The pay in the consultancy is a little less on what I am being offered by the council but not by much and id say the consultancy may match it… Its getting a bit quiet in here and im not sure what sort of work is in the pipe line after September?

Would the council consider keeping me on the panel if I turn down the position or is that a bit cheeky asking?


Any help on this matter would be great as I am hoping to come to a decision by next Tuesday!

Thanks

P

Been working as a civil engineer for the past year in a government department, think OPW, but not actually OPW... I presume councils would be a similiar story to what I've experience as I've talked to other engineers in other public government departments and they've experienced similar.

The whole pace is completly different to private sector. You will be able to work up a day and half holidays each month with flexi time. This is done basically working the standard hours, 9.30 to 5.30 with a half hour lunch. This included tea breaks at 10.30 and 4.30 and most people clock in after a half hour lunch and then go for a walk for another 30 minutes. Anyway... that means that on top of the basic 23 days holidays, not inlcuding extra days at christmas,easter and bank holidays, you're looking at at least 41 days holidays!

As to the working environment, it will most likely be enjoyable, but it will be a mixture of people who are hard working and dedicated to their jobs and others who are 'institutionalised' and go to sleep with their feet up on their desks for a few hours each day. Have a good luck at them, cos no matter how much you think you wont turn into them, you will!

I think personally now is a good time though to join the public sector, as I can see a lot of lay offs coming down the line, so getting into a nice secure job is really what you want. But just be prepared for being idle, if there's no money in the coffers, you'll be sitting there with no budget, no work to do, twiddlying your thumbs and reading the irish times from cover to cover. Could be a bit depressing, but sure you can just start up your own business and run it from your office

If you decline the position I dont think you'll get to stay on the panel, its possible though. One thing to keep in mind though is that things in the public sector usually move very slowly, if you say that you're not free to take up the job till september they'll probably go for it.


If I was you, I would go for it, you have nothing to lose really, if you dont like it you can get another job sure! Maybe talk to your current boss candidly about future work loads and whats on the horizon, without mentioning that you're thinking of jumping ship.

Dundhoone

I recently moved from consultancy to council.

None of the councils that I know of have a flexitime setup - the previous poster is a civil servant rather than a public servant - and they clearly have a different setup. If the budget is spent, you start planning spending next years. I have yet to see anyone "reading the times" or "asleep at their desks". If you want that, I suggest you PM the previous poster for details, you wont get it in the council. I expect they will push for you to start within a month, they may give you a week or two extra if you push them.

My observations so far are that you will not advance your technical knowledge working for councils - they value people who know a little about everything rather than a lot about something (in my opinion, this is a major weakness)
What you will gain is good management experience. If you can motivate a team in a non-profit making situation, you can do it anywhere.

My advice is to get a good technical grounding in whichever area you are working in with the consultants - soak it up. Then make the move to council work.

Jemmy

Tails142 wrote: »

As to the working environment, it will most likely be enjoyable, but it will be a mixture of people who are hard working and dedicated to their jobs and others who are 'institutionalised' and go to sleep with their feet up on their desks for a few hours each day.

I think personally now is a good time though to join the public sector, as I can see a lot of lay offs coming down the line, so getting into a nice secure job is really what you want.

If you decline the position I dont think you'll get to stay on the panel, its possible though. One thing to keep in mind though is that things in the public sector usually move very slowly, if you say that you're not free to take up the job till september they'll probably go for it.

Well ive only just finished college and working for the council, so only there a few weeks. But the engineers im working with are kept busy, they dont stress themselves but are always working. Its really up to yourself and the pace you want to work at.

As Tails said I think it would be a good idea to get into the public sector now. Ive two friends in the private sector that have been let off because things are getting quiet. One of which worked for a very large well known company.

If it was me id take it.

penguin00

Firstly thanks for the advice and opinions its good to hear you are not all dossers in there:D. Secondly Im not thinking of changing the job to slack off or take it easy, I have been working for the past five years and I suppose with Civil Engineering the consultancy has been able to put me into various projects from Structures, Motorways ,and Drainage and always kept busy. Yes it is slowing down but I would like to think im safe where I am. But who knows! The leave and flexi time are a plus alright (this council has flexi time) But no reason alone to switch jobs.

Well I have another few days now to get back to them.
Thanks again

P