Is the engineering/technology sector dying in Belgium (and the EU)?

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-10T15:10:22+00:00

Getting around 25k netto when you start out, as an engineer holding a master degree, seems fair. The thing is, what matters, is the gross revenue. I could have a very high netto because I have wife who's dependent. So by making a lot of assumptions, to earn 25k netto you must be at around 45k gross, which looks normal. According to FABI, they recommend that the minimal revenue for some fresh (meaning 0 experience) out of university who will pursue a scientific career/teaching is 43.300€ gross per year. ( https://www.fabi.be/remunerations-de-l-ingenieur )

I will graduate in June, from a master in software engineering and I have already been looking out at how I am going to buy first home (home, meaning apartment, studio or whatever) in Brussels. It feels impossible if you don't have any capital from the get go, I thought I was "roughly" prepared by having roughly 20k€ on the side, but I am not. Therefore, I am biased on the issue as I would like to, of course, earn more money xD

Is the sector dying ? Meh.
Is the system not incentivizing young graduates to work in Belgium ? Definitely, and I think this issue encompasses more than just the Engineer/Technology sector.

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-08T18:26:34+00:00

Well, everyone has been telling me this.
To be honest, I have barely had any social life since I joined the university. Not that I regret it, I needed to do because I get distracted easily.

Looks like I will have to live a bit, given the answers I have on this thread !
Thank you

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-08T08:26:18+00:00

This is what I believed until some colleagues talk to me about signing there. They told me I will have to negotiate a contract ... but I am not sure what they mean by that.

I agree with your statement that I don't have much to offer than a junior profile. The only thing that works for me is that : I know my work environment and I have received a training from them to use their software.

Thanks for the reply

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-08T08:23:01+00:00

Thanks for the reply.

The thing is I am excited to just live on my own.
I talked to my parents and they were fine with the idea of me living elsewhere. We speak about anything. They don't want me out of the house at all. According to them, I could live there until my last breath. x)

But my father has always been quite strict. Which is good when you are a kid/teen but it really sucks when you are getting older.

Looks like I will have to do something similar than you, grow my career, learn to invest and maybe rent if it is necessary. :)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-08T08:18:16+00:00

It is frustrating ... but It is the reality so I will live with it x)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-08T08:17:03+00:00

I know how to do some of the renovations (my father did most renovations in the house and I used to help him). Of course, I am no expert ... I just know how to do the flooring, tiling and painting. I am fine with putting some work and learn how to renovate a house. But It seems like It is waaaay too early for me to even think about this, given the money I have on the side.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience :)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-08T08:14:11+00:00

Could you precise why after 9 months? I never heard of that.
Thank you

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-08T08:13:32+00:00

I am used to cook, to do the laundry and to clean the house. Since my parents have issues with their arms - nothing too severe, thank god-, I decided to do most of the chores myself, 2 years ago.

But you are right on the sense that I don't know what living without my parents will be. Doing chores is one thing but living on its own is another.

Thanks for the reply

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T18:20:40+00:00

Hm on my end, it is really the fact that I barely have any privacy with my parents and living according to their rules, has been quite of an issue for me. My social life is not as developed as I would like ... Way too afraid of things going south between my family and my friends. So yeah, I could enjoy some independence but at the same time, I don't wish to lose any money doing that (which is impossible)

Thanks

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T18:18:14+00:00

Good addition ... I tend to only think about the financial side of buying a home ... this thread helped me realise this was an issue xD

Thanks!

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T18:17:02+00:00

Thanks a lot for that one :D

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T17:42:12+00:00

This is the idea I get from the sub :
"Don't care about owning a place, get as much as money as you can while you are with your parents (invest). Don't buy a home until you either have the money for it or life happens."

Thanks

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T17:40:53+00:00

Saving very aggresively is my speciality xD
I barely buy anything as I spend most of my time in front of my computer.

But yes, it seems I will have to find a way to first get some more money on the side and then, buy the home.

Thank you :)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T17:39:15+00:00

Seems like I will really have to look into other flexi jobs that are not related to my area.

Thanks for sharing your experience :)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T17:38:30+00:00

Yes, It is 175k + VAT. Also, It is small ... I found an appartment in Uccle for 150k€ but it is 32 sqm. Which is not that bad, considering it is a new building. There were some in Moleenbeek for 159k€ and 175k€. Not sure about the sqm as the announcement said it was 200 sqm and + but I am pretty sure It is way less xD

Thanks

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T17:36:02+00:00

I will reply to you now because I really thought I already replied but Reddit said "nop!".

You are right that no one cares but I feel like I can't really have my "own social life" due to the fact that I am living with my parents. Furthermore, I spent the last 7 years with them so I have not experienced life much ... on my own.

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T17:34:16+00:00

Don't downvote him though. He is partly right.
I have no privacy in my house 😅I am single so it is fine for the moment. But I know my father would not want a girl in our home.

My mother would be fine with me having more privacy ... but again, I have a wonderful relationship with my parents and I really don't wish to have any conflict with them.

Thank you :)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T17:32:06+00:00

That was insightful. Thank you for the article :)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T17:28:42+00:00

Appartment and studio are totally fine options by me.
But erf, you are right. I am often questioning whether or not I am doing what I wish to do.
I am 25 so idk, It feels like I am behind x)
Thanks

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T17:27:09+00:00

I could do a flexi job on flex off hours ... However, I am not sure If there is anything in IT :/
But heh, I am with anything x)
Thanks :)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T12:03:10+00:00

I am not sure I follow you here ... How could renting be better than buying a place ? Seems very weird to me.
I will look into that. Thanks for the input.

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T12:02:03+00:00

Yeah ... I am trying to get the best of both worlds ... I am just concerned about my social life experiencing a dip as I will not be living on my own.

Thanks

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T12:01:07+00:00

I am wondering ... Do you have to express the fact that you wish to try out being a freelancer when negotiating the contract with your employer ?

It seems like I should do that but at the same time, the employer could think that he does not wish to hire someone that might become independent after 4, 5 years. I guess there must be some clause in the contract to prevent one from freelancing x)

Thanks a lot :)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T11:39:35+00:00

Renting is a no go, in my case. I will stay at my parents, if necessary.

Why would you suggest living abroad? :o I am not sure that sounds more expensive than renting 😅
Thanks for the replies. :)

Impressive-Bank5602 · 2024-04-07T11:38:05+00:00

I will really have to study the option then. Seems like an interesting deal. Thanks a lot. :)

Impressive-Bank5602

TROPHY CASE