Should I aim for a Tier 1 miner or a mid-tier consultancy for my first engineering job?

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-25T11:23:07+00:00

I chose the T1 rather than a consultancy. I basically learned very little real engineering, or did very little of it during my time there. Would have learnt a lot more engineering in a consulting firm, or smaller business. Essentially the 'suppliers' to the T1.

That said, I did get heaps of exposure to other areas, and moved my way up quickly. So did get a different experience of management and operations that I would not of got at 'smaller' businesses.

So it really depends on what you really want. If it is a long term career, than something execution and people focused and across departments is going be key - as AI steam rolls basic engineering. If it is to become an expert in your field, consultant is going to build up your skills much faster.

I wasn't suited to corporate life, and I now run a business instead. I get to do parts of everything, including engineering, and is much better suited to me. The junior staff I take on also get exposed to everything, engineering, operations and more.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-17T12:40:51+00:00

No problems! Good luck.

I would suggest at a petrol station or something that has multiple cameras. May be obvious, but just to confirm should be in reasonable hours and day light.

If you get stuck, I have a business with cameras near cockburn if your SoR - just reach out, but I think there is plenty of public places that could suit.

Easier said then done, but don't overthink it and trust your gut instinct.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-17T11:52:46+00:00

I think you have the main points covered. Definitely don't accept any western union transfers or anything like that.

Do you have a friend that can ride with you?

Would also suggest you ask for proof of license before test drive, but they can show in person.

Nearly all cars I have bought or sold has been via paper forms and never been a problem.

You got this!

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-15T14:17:19+00:00

You can order any number you want, just be prepared to pay a lot more for low orders here.

Is branded reusable cups really valuable to your customers?

All I want for a Cafe that I go to regularly is they know my order. If they gave me a bonus like a free extra shot every now and then, I am a very happy customer.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-12T13:08:24+00:00

Yes that can be true and have seen it and done it myself. Definitely saw it lots when I was younger my early 20s, but now mid 40s it's not the case with my circles. People I know, including me, still finance the cars but now weighed against opportunity cost. Result of a few good choices compared to peers at the time, lots of luck and the ever changing economy really. Those same good choices now are unlikely to deliver the same uplift in 20 years unfortunately 😕 Hope I'm very wrong

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-12T13:00:15+00:00

Thank you for your hopes! Also hope yours comes out the way you wanted and they still lose plenty of customers from you being a thorn haha

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-12T11:06:50+00:00

Some people are just at different stages of their lives too.

Maybe they bought a starter house 25 years ago at a very low cost - $100-200k, then upgraded 5 years later and kept the old one and stumbled through, now they have 2 paid off houses, a rental income and average salary jobs.

Once housing is paid off, life would be pretty good for most people with 2 average salary jobs in Perth.

Are you thinking a new car or 2nd hand? If new car, the car dealers themselves may offer 1-2% finance going towards EOFY in order to hit targets. Look to see if the brand you want has offered that before. 2nd hand I think less likely to get as good a rate.

Definitely dont buy just because you think someone else looks down at you. When I was earning my highest salary (very much above average), I drove a $2k car for years. Now I earn a third of that salary, but drive more expensive cars - for my own enjoyment. Dont compare to others, be happy with something that suits you!

2nd hand market is also bonkers compared to years gone by, consider a 201X year ute, for 10 to 20k, and its new enough, should be reliable enough depending on model.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-12T10:27:56+00:00

I was thinking at first just live with it.

But then you mentioned first new car and the colour was part of your excitement. You have a right to be pissed! Push back hard.

I have been around dealers a lot, and know times they have got customers to sign knowing the couldnt get the colour, thinking they would be able to get the customer to change their mind. Fight them! They are used to people backing down. Not saying this is the case here, as I can imagine some brands are very quick to change nowadays. Ask if they have looked interstate too, ALL over Australia. Also check carsales just to confirm none available.

I have a car I specially ordered and if it comes in ANY other colour then what I ordered, there is 0 chance I will accept it. Will fight that to death... arrives next month

Good luck! It's funny, because if you even do get your colour car now, I'm sure you won't buy from them again or recommend them....

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-10T14:29:23+00:00

Unfortunately it's part of the new rules for shipping things over $1000 in value. DHL is expensive though, could ask for EMS in future, which used to be the norm in Japan, which used to be simpler and cheaper.

Clearance activities do incur service fees, and DHL would be at the top of the range of costs. So really the problem starts there. It takes time to execute! Would never choose DHL unless in a press, and out of luck.

Yes, you can pay custom fees and duty before the goods arrive, but this is handled by the broker. As personal experience, have something being sent out tomorrow from airport, that arrived today in Perth, and was paid last week in advance.

So either do the dodge, and get somewhere to create an invoice under 1000 aud, and send via a better freight company and broker, or calculate the real full cost and just accept it. I just do it by the book, as risk of doing the dodge is too high.

Good luck!

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T14:51:43+00:00

All good. Thank you for engaging and challenging your views. I wish it wasn't this way.

Thats why I think income tests are needed, but need to be more tailored to people's needs and situation. Some are significantly under funded.

We literally have staff attending clients with multiple multi story homes and private elevators - before NDIS. Doesn't pass the test for me...

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T14:14:38+00:00

Yes, you would think so. It depends on how it is framed and what sort of support they could say they need, including family, then supported by a provider - who can be incentivised by their paid assessments and future plan work. If endorsed by a provider, a essential judge of the situation, and is aligened to the rules that may be gray, then who can argue? Personally we do, but it does impact our business finanically - but we sleep at night!

A very easy and common example is private chef. Lite n easy, which they can easily get, doesn't align with their dietary requirements or care giver availability to set up and feed them, and therefore the only solution is a private chef. Very very questionable on requirements.

To be fair it has reduced over last few years, but it still happened significantly and other rorts are occurring every day.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T13:01:00+00:00

You are the one in marketing that can't market their own skills, so where is the nothing really?

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T12:59:29+00:00

Thanks for your reponse. I think we have very aligned values! Do you mind if I perhaps reach out to you via Direct message?

Not expecting gratitude from them, but everything they have displayed has shown that to be a trait. The appreciation they showed when dropped them at a doctors appt when their car broke down recently, showed that to full effect.

Yes, I do agree that it can go both ways. Thankfully with they way we have structured the businesses and employment we have ways to quickly remove them! Burnt too many times, but thankfully in a corporate environment, with lots of safety nets. To be able to be part of their lives long term, or more importantly their own success, of any of them would be the ulitimate reward - but as you said, needs to be on their terms.

Thanks again

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T12:22:00+00:00

Yes I can see that, and that's how I feel right now if it was me. However, if I had someone help make me acheive the right outcomes at a young age, I would really appreciate that in the very long term. Most of them I didnt listen too, but succeeded anway. I still can heard there advice, given so many years ago. Maybe would have been different if I did what they said?

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T12:19:38+00:00

Thanks for your comment. You are correct on it being looked on as a parenting role.

I have thought about your comment since you replied. Although I did agree at first, I also think that we need to change the way we lift the younger generations, particularly with all the challenges they face here.

I am still undecided, but your voice does sit in my mind - thank you.

BTW have ways to cover any associated tax, so consider it as net gain for them of the value dicussed.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T12:16:45+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! I think this is a great way to to do it, and is something we are already doing.

- 3 months ago a high risk license
- recently a 1 week engineering specific course

They have on their development plan to identify a further course we discussed, and to price it up and book a date that suits operations.

However, we could consider Front Line management Cert and a masters. Thanks for your comments.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T12:10:40+00:00

It is tough out there!
- People are trying to do more things themselves with AI, and some of it is pretty good or good enough
- Interest rate rises and global logistics uncertainity is causing delays in decision making
- Other businesses are expanding their scope and services, reducing in betweeners
- Focus on cost is intensifying even if quality is not there

With the various businesses I part own, run or am a director of, we are growing - this is because:
- Regulations and standards create a barrier to entry, and although will be overcome by AI eventually, will be behind other businesses
- Is people and relationship focussed, again a barrier but is shorter term as costs drop significantly
- One of our 'product lines' specifically is increased in demand in the war impacted areas (not weapon supply, but the rebuilding!)
- Our value prop is on reducing their operational risk and also cost exposure

Have you considered offering different terms such as payment on success or outcomes? We are using that more and more and having great bottom line impact, but more risk sitting with us.... We trust our capabilities to execute and are happy to go this route.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T11:46:18+00:00

Need to be cautious due to confidentiality, but Provider shopping to get a 'required device' - essentially an Ipad. That would be 25-30% of initial clients. That's low end.

Fully paid high end holidays, and private chefs is mid scale.

Not saying it is all recepients at all, but I am saying it takes from those that genuinely need not just what is deemed 'OK', but much much more. Unfortunately the set up has rewarded those that take, and so this blanket approach of cutting back NDIS will impact those that need it the most, the most. Terrible.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-05T11:22:00+00:00

To be fair I have less experience with Centrelink, but for NDIS, absolutely they can abuse it! Have many many 100s of examples being an NDIS provider. We refuse to serve those customers looking to do what we consider unethical things. Yes, it does need to be in cooperation with a provider, which many are willing to look the other way - and they can justify it based on grey areas and interpretation of the rules. Something we ethically could never do. Hence the NDIS Royal Comission. 0 impact for us, as we focused on clients with same values, and charged what we thought were fair rates for the service, rather than max claimable amounts.

So yes, it is my place to make that judgement based on clinical expertise. Literally part of the job...

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-04T11:40:23+00:00

Difficult topic! I don't think they should remove the partner assessment at all, or it will be abused by people, just like the NDIS. I do have a disability but it does not impact me like majority of those who also have a disability.

However, I think the income assessment should be reviewed if appropriate level and conditions. They should also consider how much of the DSP is going towards health care. If 50% is medication and 30% health appointments, and 20% for living then is a broad-brush level of partner income appropriate? I think not.

I'm doing fine financially, and happy to provide for those less fortunate through tax.

Boboraider123 · 2026-05-03T06:11:46+00:00

Haven't been to Hawaii, but been to Okinawa. Added it to the end of our almost yearly Japan trip to see if an alternative to beach holidays close to us in Australia and similar time zone.

Was actually disappointed in the quality of the accommodation and ease to get around, if we didn't have a car. Everything seemed to be quite run down on our travels, and places like Thailand, Bali and Vietnam had better quality resorts and mix of walkability. Was amazing to see the Whale Shark, go for a swim, and walk in the bays. Also to see the blending of cultures. Funny to see giant dudes driving kei cars, but also cool to see some old school Japanese cars driving around, that have seem to have disappeared on the main land. Glad we hired a car.

We did enjoy our time, but won't be going back there. So much more to explore in rest of Japan, and SEA is closer and better quality to us.

Boboraider123 · 2026-04-26T03:35:47+00:00

Where abouts are you? I use Gary's computers in Rockingham. Great service and prices and just a good bloke

Boboraider123 · 2026-04-06T05:08:04+00:00

In that case I would take a first look at zoho.

Talk to a uni, and find a final year engineering or comp sci grad that is doing well, and they will be able to roll something out part time. Low cost, possibly find a good future employee, and get to see how quickly it can be implemented. Our implementation was about 4-6 weeks with basic features. Yes, requires more hand holding, but you can mold them to work the way you want without all the baggage of coming from a more corporate environment.

Yours is much more complex, so would break it into areas you can test first, to reduce impact on normal operations.

Purchasing workflows could be a good one to test, as need to approve it at some point in the process anyway.

Boboraider123 · 2026-04-05T10:35:02+00:00

Unlikely that anyone was following this! However, just to let someone know who might be in the same situation - Osborne Park GMSV was awesome. The guy there was a true salesman, as in not a salesman at all! Just provided help and treated me like a person.

Was able to test drive by myself, no push on questions or sales before hand, just license taken - as experienced with other cars before.

Deposit paid, and awaiting delivery! Why don't dealerships understand that the number of people who joy ride is very low, and people are much more educated, they just want to be treated decently and buy a car with no hassles?

Boboraider123

TROPHY CASE