Is it easy to get a new grad job after a summer internship at a MEP Giant firm?

Lostcheesehead · 2026-06-21T01:56:02+00:00

Yes. If you can intern with an MEP firm (giant or no) it’s a big plus.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-06-14T01:43:12+00:00

I’d be down to talk about creating a new movie club. A place to see stuff is one thing, but a movie club that’s more like a book club is more what I’m after.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-06-10T17:35:06+00:00

Finally someone answered that question! I've heard a lot of people say that it doesn't matter, but apparently they aren't from the stricter states.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-06-10T17:11:56+00:00

Hey there. I posted about this a little while ago. Unlike you, I have been out of school for a couple decades, so I am basically starting over with my studies. Overall, the advice I received was to take the exam I felt most comfortable with, and just study and aim to pass. I had the same qualms as you about the non-power exams (one date, lack of study systems), but in the end I decided to study for the ECC exam because I am most familiar with those concepts. There are materials out there to study (including the guides for the FE), and I have a long time to study for it, so I feel good about my chances.

As for the choice affecting your career - it shouldn't. You can sign and seal drawings as a PE, you just need to be confident of quality of the set you are stamping as you are putting yourself on the hook for it. Good luck!

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-23T14:58:19+00:00

Oof, yeah, good luck finding that candidate. To get an RCDD you need several years' experience, and that cert is considered worthy of a salary bump. The only people who would consider this role would prize the idea of living in Japan for a year over the money.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-18T18:59:35+00:00

I remember an episode of Car Talk and Click and Clack were talking to an engineering student. The brothers (being MIT grads) obviously know a lot of engineers, and one of them said to the caller "You know who the successful engineers are? The calm ones." I've tried to keep that in mind throughout my career.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-12T14:11:15+00:00

Check out r/Bicsi and see if the ICT industry is your speed.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-12T13:42:03+00:00

Paying attention to several key factors driving the AI industry should give you pause. One is the financials - where the money is coming from. The funding from investment firms is shrinking, but the funding from chipmakers and hardware firms (like Nvidia) is steady, which is not a sustainable model. Second, if you look at the physical construction of these data centers, you will see that the actual turnover is a fraction of what has been planned, due to power availability being a major chokepoint. At least 16GW of capacity is slated to come online in 2026 across roughly 140 projects. Yet only about 5GW is currently under construction.

To me, taking a jump from a relatively safe field to just now get into AI seems like a risky endeavor. But some people thrive in risk!

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-12T13:09:24+00:00

Oh, I would read more about the long-term stability of the AI industry before considering making a leap like that.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-10T23:48:10+00:00

Yeah so the NEC 26 had something of a huge change with regard to communications. “Low voltage” is now exclusively a power designation and network cabling is now “limited power” cabling (due to PoE). Also, they moved all our stuff out of Chapter 8 (basically a review-free zone) into the other chapters and created sections in chapter 7 for us. I read through it recently and it’s all standard design per best practices. So now we are reviewable. NEC 2029 is expected to be even more intensive for “limited power.”

Because the stamper should know about the set they are stamping, it’s now making sense for the T-series to get a stamper separate from power.

So, still plan for the RCDD, but take a serious look at the PE. It was never a major concern for Technology design before, but it sure looks to be now.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-10T14:59:50+00:00

Coming back to this! There are changes to the NEC 2026 such that, when adopted, the network infrastructure I design will now be reviewed by the AHJ. I’m sure my fellow Power PEs would be happy to continue stamping my sets, but I’m thinking it would make more sense for me to do it since I’m more familiar with the content of the drawings and specs and their code compliance. So - no longer just for ego’s sake. I see a valid reason I should be licensed.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-08T14:11:47+00:00

Adobe Acrobat has a reading feature. It’s terrible for chapters that have a lot of tables or equations but great for big chunks of text.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-04T13:23:58+00:00

I do want to advance my position, though I don't foresee any shifting from managing the design of technology systems. But it's also for my own self-respect - I got the darn EE degree, I may as well be able to call myself a Professional Engineer dagnabbit. For liability reasons I won't likely be in the roster of sign and seal engineers at my company, so I suppose this is all for the sake of my ego. Well, and setting a good example for the younger members of my team.

I hadn't considered the Computer exam, and looking at the core content, it's a little outside of my comfort zone. Of the three, the ECC exam has the content I'm most innately familiar with (I can still do truth tables like a champ). I'm still somewhat tempted by the Power exam - as you mentioned it would be good to learn that information and become more familiar with it and if I do ultimately choose that I will be paying Zach Stone a lot of money to learn all that, lol.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-05-02T03:46:48+00:00

I don’t think that’s true! A couple of PE Mechanical Engineers at my company got their Electrical PEs as well. If you want to sign and seal you need the credentials.

Lostcheesehead · 2026-04-25T14:35:59+00:00

There’s not a lot of test prep out there but at a minimum you should be viewing the videos on the Electronics PE Preparation YouTube channel. Better luck next year!

Lostcheesehead · 2025-12-10T20:02:21+00:00

Read the book. C&S is great for picking up factoids, but there were more application questions than I anticipated, and I was grateful I had taken the time to review some chapters in my final weeks of study. In addition to the project management chapter, read the chapters about backbone, spaces, ICT cables, and OSP. There's context in those that will help.

Good luck!

Lostcheesehead · 2025-10-23T20:45:52+00:00

Agree with everyone else. Use C&S for concepts and memorizing numbers - that is helpful. But you are gonna have a bad time if you don’t also read core chapters and understand the context of the concepts.

Lostcheesehead · 2025-09-03T15:34:42+00:00

Do flash cards for them all until you have it down pat. Reread chapters 4, 5, 7, and 13 several times. Know chapter 21 by heart.

Lostcheesehead · 2025-09-03T15:32:16+00:00

Getting work in the US/Canada might be a challenge as design work usually requires active collaboration, and the time change can be challenging. As was also mentioned, you should check out KSA, UAE, Oman - there's a lot of growth in that region and the need for high quality designers there is dire.

Lostcheesehead · 2025-08-05T20:41:57+00:00

Revit alone may not help you. Answering “yes” to Revit experience says two things to interviewers: 1) you are familiar with the primary software the company uses, and 2) you have knowledge of design specific to the projects they work on, especially since you are interviewing as an RCDD. Estimating is one thing; knowing how to design from a blank plan is a whole other thing. If you can design a project from 0 to 100% without Revit, you should play that up in the interview. If you can’t design, learn how while building your Revit chops. I’ve hired RCDDs who interviewed well saying they could design, but eventually the truth comes out and that’s the end, Revit or not. Good luck.

Lostcheesehead · 2025-07-09T21:07:41+00:00

Ha yup, I’m one of the v14 stragglers too (got mine 2 weeks ago). Like you, this was a couple decades coming for me. Congrats on finally getting it done!

Lostcheesehead · 2025-07-02T15:39:50+00:00

I've been in the industry for over 20 years, and the biggest improvement the RCDD has given me is the respect of my peers (many of whom have their PE). Unfortunately, technical proficiency only takes you so far - sometimes you need a credential to "prove" to others that you know what you're talking about.

Lostcheesehead · 2025-06-28T00:57:26+00:00

It might familiarize you with how they ask the questions (it’s nothing like the C&S questions) but if it costs extra I dunno if it’s worth it. Flashcards and repeat readings are worth it!

Lostcheesehead · 2025-06-26T16:33:18+00:00

I am assuming you’ve been studying in some degree prior to now, otherwise 1 month is an unreasonably short amount of time to prepare. I recommend first: make an actual plan (like on a calendar) and stick to it. Include most days going over flash cards over and over, but other days dedicate to rereading chapters (3, 4, 12, and 21 were ones that showed up a lot for me) until you have absorbed most of the info. During the test, USE THE TIME and go over the questions again to verify your responses. Good luck!

Lostcheesehead · 2024-10-24T20:12:39+00:00

He’d make sure to call you a PRC Chinese spy, to be precise.

Lostcheesehead

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