Construction professionals who have left the industry and changed career

CBear1993

Intrigued to hear any stories of construction professionals/trades who’ve been a QS/ or engineer or whatever and left it.

On a different thread about careers it seems very apparent that construction industry workers are not happy in their career, particularly the office ones who have to put up with all the macho ego driven BS.

It’s hard to get into other industries away from construction when applying for jobs as I’ve known. Despite tailoring my CV as best as I could to highlight skills specific to other industries.

Rikand

CBear1993 wrote: »

Intrigued to hear any stories of construction professionals/trades who’ve been a QS/ or engineer or whatever and left it.

On a different thread about careers it seems very apparent that construction industry workers are not happy in their career, particularly the office ones who have to put up with all the macho ego driven BS.

It’s hard to get into other industries away from construction when applying for jobs as I’ve known. Despite tailoring my CV as best as I could to highlight skills specific to other industries.

Back to college with you I'd say. I knew a few lads who were all in construction and are now working as software engineers after going back to college and doing a masters or h.dip in software engineering.

CBear1993

Thanks. It’s one course that’s been mentioned a lot alright. I think it’s available through springboard as well.

CBear1993

Any others ?

impr0v

I originally qualified as a civil and structural engineer. I worked for four years or so for a local authority, and requalified in law after building up some cash pursuing my own software business. That business was related to the work I was doing with the local authority, and most of my work now, as a solicitor, is construction-related.

If you’ve decided to change profession my advice would be to try to do something that builds on (pardon pun) the experience you have gained to date, so that you are not starting from scratch in the new profession.

hedzball

became an electrician
then I did elec eng

and Im back working as a spark as im on twice the money and half the stress

CBear1993

impr0v wrote: »

I originally qualified as a civil and structural engineer. I worked for four years or so for a local authority, and requalified in law after building up some cash pursuing my own software business. That business was related to the work I was doing with the local authority, and most of my work now, as a solicitor, is construction-related.

If you’ve decided to change profession my advice would be to try to do something that builds on (pardon pun) the experience you have gained to date, so that you are not starting from scratch in the new profession.

How do you find the law element of construction? So you’re involved in arbitration, dispute settlements etc, contractual stuff? Big money in that I hear..

How long did the law degree take you, Another full 4 years bachelor degree I’m guessing ?

Fr Tod Umptious

Guy in our local town was a carpenter during the the Celtic Tiger boom.

When it all went to pot he retrained as a barber, started at the bottom sweeping hair off the floors of a local hair salon.

Opened his own barber shop in the mid 2010s, moved to a bigger premises late 2010s.

Pre COVID had about 5 people employed.

A great success story.

CBear1993

Fair play to him, not an easy stint either

CBear1993

Lot of construction pay cuts and redundancies being handed out at the moment, as well as a few firms going bust. Don’t let the cranes in the city fool you.

Could be a lot more returning to study or moving into other fields soon unfortunately!!

Tefral

CBear1993 wrote: »

Lot of construction pay cuts and redundancies being handed out at the moment, as well as a few firms going bust. Don’t let the cranes in the city fool you.

Could be a lot more returning to study or moving into other fields soon unfortunately!!

My LinkedIn is full of people saying they are looking for new opportunities.

Mental.

shesty

Recession hit my age group hard (civil engineers).Most diversified.
Of those I went to college with, a sample of what they have moved to now (12 years later) is teaching (primary), lecturing, data analytics based roles, (or roles that have come through a move into data analytics,and subsequent job experience,)accounting, bioengineering.A few are still in structural engineering, but not all buildings-also mobile phone towers and other industries.Public sector jobs also - energy regulation, Irish Water, ESBI.

I don't know what your background is but if you want to move out of construction there are options if you can sell yourself.An add-on college course never hurts either - most of those did Masters, and a few did Springboard courses.

CBear1993

Thanks !!!

neutral guy

Carpenter joiner I love my trade.Tired of sites mess/dirt/weather conditions/long journeys to work/early starts/agencies lies.Went into cabinet making ,same there,cold and dirty workshops/dust/fumes in spray room/permanent noise/tight time frames/panic on fitting.Mostly no cantines and sometimes no even toilets.So after 30 years of trade I moved into factory work,heavy machinery .Nice/clean/warm and heated workshop/white cantin/clean toilet.Not the same money for sure but a lot better conditions.Same process as carpentry just different materials.If I need more money I know how and were make them but I would not like come back to carpentry on daily basis anymore.

CBear1993

neutral guy wrote: »

Carpenter joiner I love my trade.Tired of sites mess/dirt/weather conditions/long journeys to work/early starts/agencies lies.Went into cabinet making ,same there,cold and dirty workshops/dust/fumes in spray room/permanent noise/tight time frames/panic on fitting.Mostly no cantines and sometimes no even toilets.So after 30 years of trade I moved into factory work,heavy machinery .Nice/clean/warm and heated workshop/white cantin/clean toilet.Not the same money for sure but a lot better conditions.Same process as carpentry just different materials.If I need more money I know how and were make them but I would not like come back to carpentry on daily basis anymore.

Yeah, I'd say you'd make a fair whack at carpentry now with good rates as the shortages of good carpenters are higher, although I'm only speculating as I'm not one.

neutral guy

CBear1993 wrote: »

Yeah, I'd say you'd make a fair whack at carpentry now with good rates as the shortages of good carpenters are higher, although I'm only speculating as I'm not one.

There is high slaves with tools and own transport shortages.For example I have wake up at 5 on morning to start work at 7.30 in Dublin.
3/4 hours for journey every day with no pay for it.
160 euros per day with own tools and van.
Who pay for fuel,insurance ,tools ?
Mainly agencies work with unpaid gaps between jobs and not paid holidays.
Make a simple calculation of investment,maitenance,time loses and that will be the same as do factory work for 13 euros per hour before tax with annual increase of 1 euro every year.

CBear1993

A lot of carpenters make great project managers on sites and in companies from what I've seen, with their background.

Particularly when it comes to the higher end fitouts, bespoke woodwork etc. overseeing bar renovations and that.

popa smurf

Worked in construction in Ireland, England, Germany and Newyork, easily the best and the handiest was Germany clean and tidy, no shouting or roaring like the building sites here. In Ireland they used to take the biggest scumbag, lickarse and make a foreman out of him. Its changing now a bit but you still need to lick some arse to get on, last job I was on they were a right few running around after the boss one lad trying to do everyone else's job and running around like a fool. But you can make good money when your young if you are willing to work hard and travel to where the work is I had a modest house built and paid for by the time I was 30, thankfully I don't have to take any ****e from anyone any more I work on my own terms and work that suits me.

Wanderer78

popa smurf wrote:

Worked in construction in Ireland, England, Germany and Newyork, easily the best and the handiest was Germany clean and tidy, no shouting or roaring like the building sites here. In Ireland they used to take the biggest scumbag, lickarse and make a foreman out of him. Its changing now a bit but you still need to lick some arse to get on, last job I was on they were a right few running around after the boss one lad trying to do everyone else's job and running around like a fool. But you can make good money when your young if you are willing to work hard and travel to where the work is I had a modest house built and paid for by the time I was 30, thankfully I don't have to take any ****e from anyone any more I work on my own terms and work that suits me.

I'd imagine countries such as germany takes its trades seriously, not like here, where lads are treated like **** from a young age

popa smurf

Wanderer78 wrote: »

I'd imagine countries such as germany takes its trades seriously, not like here, where lads are treated like **** from a young age

No the difference was no thick irish foremen in Germany they wouldn't be entertained over there.

aido79

hedzball wrote: »

became an electrician
then I did elec eng

and Im back working as a spark as im on twice the money and half the stress

I'm currently studying electrical engineering after being an electrician for 15 years. Can I ask why you went back to being an electrician and what you are doing to make twice as much as an electrical engineer?

nthclare

Have a degree in horticultural myself and thinking of going to art college, always wanted to express myself in more than plants and man made topography.

I love creativity, money doesn't really motivate me, but I'm more interested in projects that I can do in my own time etc
I'm tired of deadlines and my mortgage is more or less paid for.

Kid is grown up now and doing his own thing, not married and I'm quite healthy and physically fit for a 44 year old.

I'm also getting into crafts especially leather craft and wood carving.

I think there's going to be a new renaissance soon and we'll stop buying shoite from the far East and handmade goods will be sought after more than a machine engineered piece of sh1t

CBear1993

nthclare wrote: »

Have a degree in horticultural myself and thinking of going to art college, always wanted to express myself in more than plants and man made topography.

I love creativity, money doesn't really motivate me, but I'm more interested in projects that I can do in my own time etc
I'm tired of deadlines and my mortgage is more or less paid for.

Kid is grown up now and doing his own thing, not married and I'm quite healthy and physically fit for a 44 year old.

I'm also getting into crafts especially leather craft and wood carving.

I think there's going to be a new renaissance soon and we'll stop buying shoite from the far East and handmade goods will be sought after more than a machine engineered piece of sh1t

I know a young lad in Kildare who has just started this over the last few months. Is making leather goods, women's bags and satchels etc. Doing very well.

Then again we're on the cusp of 4th industrial revolution (digital) apparently.

nthclare

nthclare wrote: »

I think there's going to be a new renaissance soon and we'll stop buying shoite from the far East and handmade goods will be sought after more than a machine engineered piece of sh1t

Err, you might want to rethink about that. Delivery companies have never been so busy delivering stuff from China.

CBear1993

Funny, you never hear of anyone leaving another industry mid-career to join construction.

hedzball

aido79 wrote: »

I'm currently studying electrical engineering after being an electrician for 15 years. Can I ask why you went back to being an electrician and what you are doing to make twice as much as an electrical engineer?

I was working as an eng 2012-2014 admittedly the economy probably wasn't in it but I dont think I was breaking 40. I see the same stuff up at about 55 ish now.

I'm 50 basic plus mileage and ot. A lot of holidays but no other real perks. Openly I'm touching 6 figures for the past few years. Mainly a lot of industrial and automation. Lot of vsd and plc work. Travel a bit but can get in handy too if I need to.

I'm lucky enough with this crowd at the moment (small enough and can't afford to lose lads) I guess the office didn't suit me nor the dealing with countless it lads and Friday meetings.

I have full reign of my day and generally who I deal with.

Edit.. separate to that income I may or may not fox a bit depending who is asking. I served my time in a slaughterhouse and a few years mining and quarrys. The dirt and blood and **** never bothered me. I make a point of not getting wet and thermals 6 months of the year deal with the cold. Im also mid 30s so not sure how much more

CBear1993

Anyone done the BIM courses through TU Dublin or IT Sligo?

aido79

hedzball wrote: »

I was working as an eng 2012-2014 admittedly the economy probably wasn't in it but I dont think I was breaking 40. I see the same stuff up at about 55 ish now.

I'm 50 basic plus mileage and ot. A lot of holidays but no other real perks. Openly I'm touching 6 figures for the past few years. Mainly a lot of industrial and automation. Lot of vsd and plc work. Travel a bit but can get in handy too if I need to.

I'm lucky enough with this crowd at the moment (small enough and can't afford to lose lads) I guess the office didn't suit me nor the dealing with countless it lads and Friday meetings.

I have full reign of my day and generally who I deal with.

Edit.. separate to that income I may or may not fox a bit depending who is asking. I served my time in a slaughterhouse and a few years mining and quarrys. The dirt and blood and **** never bothered me. I make a point of not getting wet and thermals 6 months of the year deal with the cold. Im also mid 30s so not sure how much more

Did you find the engineering degree and experience as an engineer helped with the work you are currently doing as an electrician?
I mainly worked in construction so have very little experience with PLC's or VSD's but it is the type of work I wished I could have gotten into when I worked as an electrician. I probably would have continued to as an electrician to be honest if I had and not bothered going back to college to get a degree.
My goal is to try to get get into the automation side of things when I finish my degree.

JohnChadwick

CBear1993 wrote: »

Anyone done the BIM courses through TU Dublin or IT Sligo?

Interesting in doing a course in BIM/Revit - in the mechanical and electrical side of it. If it allows me to work remotely on a regular basis i'd be very happy with that.

Did you move into the BIM side of things yourself from construction?