Hi friends,
I graduate in the spring with an environmental engineering degree. I have previous experience in local government paper-pushing from before I went back to school, and I spent a year working as a wastewater plant operator when I took last year off to avoid online class hell, but I don't want my career to have anything to do with water/wastewater and that is obviously the big one for environmental engineers. I am currently sitting on a job offer that I think I shouldn't take, but I'd like some outside input
>QA technician position for a landfill development company
I'm told they have "technicians" of all educational backgrounds, up to doctorate level, but I don't know if I want that on my resume if this position doesn't work out long-term
>hourly is the same as I made at the plant ($18/hr)
This is really the big one that sours me on the offer. I would make more returning to the plant with my degree. The original offer was $17/hr and they will not go above 18
>significant overtime and travel expectations
Do I really want to make $65k/year at the expense of an average of 60 hours/week plus not being home a majority of the time? I think not
>nature of work is in line with what I'm looking for
I have zero desire to end up in design and I want to stay in the field as much as possible
>could reasonably expect to move up into project management within 2-3 years
I'm told a PM with my educational level began as a QA technician and moved up into project management after approximately two years
Basically, I like the nature of the job, and I like where it can take me professionally, but the pay offer is honestly shit and I'd be taking the job with the express intention of quick upwards progression, and I'm worried that if it doesn't work out, I will have started my career in work that (on paper) I'm overqualified for. I'd also be locking myself out from looking for and accepting a better offer between now and my graduation. Any thoughts?
I graduate in the spring with an environmental engineering degree. I have previous experience in local government paper-pushing from before I went back to school, and I spent a year working as a wastewater plant operator when I took last year off to avoid online class hell, but I don't want my career to have anything to do with water/wastewater and that is obviously the big one for environmental engineers. I am currently sitting on a job offer that I think I shouldn't take, but I'd like some outside input
>QA technician position for a landfill development company
I'm told they have "technicians" of all educational backgrounds, up to doctorate level, but I don't know if I want that on my resume if this position doesn't work out long-term
>hourly is the same as I made at the plant ($18/hr)
This is really the big one that sours me on the offer. I would make more returning to the plant with my degree. The original offer was $17/hr and they will not go above 18
>significant overtime and travel expectations
Do I really want to make $65k/year at the expense of an average of 60 hours/week plus not being home a majority of the time? I think not
>nature of work is in line with what I'm looking for
I have zero desire to end up in design and I want to stay in the field as much as possible
>could reasonably expect to move up into project management within 2-3 years
I'm told a PM with my educational level began as a QA technician and moved up into project management after approximately two years
Basically, I like the nature of the job, and I like where it can take me professionally, but the pay offer is honestly shit and I'd be taking the job with the express intention of quick upwards progression, and I'm worried that if it doesn't work out, I will have started my career in work that (on paper) I'm overqualified for. I'd also be locking myself out from looking for and accepting a better offer between now and my graduation. Any thoughts?
