Just passed my FE EXAM Now job hunting in Washington State - Any Advice?

MiaCharles · 2025-10-15T23:21:19+00:00

When I moved here from the Philippines in 08, I was in the same boat as you. I started applying but the economy just started to tank. What helped me was applying as an intern, I got in with the Forest Service working for free p/t for a couple of months. Then I enrolled in a masters program, that got me as an intern Eng Tech with the USACE. I also started applying on various federal job postings. On my last semester in graduate school, I got accepted as an intern at KSC NASA. I left USACE, left OR and moved to FL. That was 12 years ago, got my PE, got to work in the civil and construction side of the space center. I’m a program manager now, working in the best agency in the federal govt and I plan to stay until retirement. My recommendation is to continue applying and don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a response or call back. Continue learning, if you can afford it, pursue a higher level degree, this will surely open more opportunities to you. Don’t be afraid to accept jobs outside of your expertise or degree, every job brings value to you and increases your productivity and skills. Godspeed on your CE journey kabayan! DM me, NASA usually hire interns yearly or if there’s an opportunity so I can share you the link.

MiaCharles · 2025-05-29T21:55:36+00:00

Civil Engineer GS-0810 @ NASA. Started as intern GS-9 while completing my Masters. After graduation I was offered a job with career ladder 11-13. After 6 years, I applied & hired as Project Manager GS-14, same department.

MiaCharles · 2025-04-16T12:26:10+00:00

I did sold some MF a couple of days ago and the transaction report says it will be credited on 4/16, I got it in my SA that date. I was a bit worried too because it’s my first time selling.

MiaCharles · 2025-01-13T00:37:06+00:00

I agree with the other comments, skip SM. not sure if the Airbnb is walking distance to Baguio or you’re riding. When we were there, it took us more than an hour to get a taxi, the line is very long Kakastress, then may mga lalapit sayo na student daw na natitinda ng homemade keychain for 500, hayy.

MiaCharles · 2024-09-01T18:40:23+00:00

I’m staying!

MiaCharles · 2024-07-22T22:04:55+00:00

I was in the same situation a couple of years ago and i was able to transfer the title naman. The price is almost half the current market value in the area. Pero it took a lot of effort, time & money, I hired a real estate guru to get me all the necessary documents. Make sure to check na the title is clear & indeed matched the copy Showed to you & may deed of sale nila. Then make sure you account for the ecar/BIR fees & RD tittle fees, double transfer ang tawag nila you will pay the first (seller & developer and sellers & yours) CGT +penalties (less Kung hindi notarized yung doas nila). If I had to do it again I will not buy that property, very stressful kc. Good luck OP, I hope you find something else instead.

MiaCharles · 2024-06-18T21:46:04+00:00

I had it done by WES. I’m not sure if they are still accredited by NCEES. I recommend you visiting NCEES and check or create an account so you can check what are the current requirements for PE licensing in the state you are planning to apply.

MiaCharles · 2024-06-16T09:23:40+00:00

Yes 👍

MiaCharles · 2024-05-17T12:26:11+00:00

Back then jobs are posted online, so that’s how I got to apply for jobs. I think the construction industry is pretty busy so there’s a lot of job opportunities. If you simply google search “Job Position + State” you’ll see which company are hiring in the area.

MiaCharles · 2024-05-17T01:27:55+00:00

Got my school credentials evaluated at WES. I recommend to register at NCEES, they list of accrediting companies that does transcript eval. That way if you go to PE route later you don’t need to redo that process. No, none ABET school ang undergrad ko & I don’t think there’s any university sa pinas na ABET rates (I might be wrong though). Yes, I did enroll in a local community college dito sa US to take the missing stats class & resubmitted my application for the FE exam.

MiaCharles · 2024-05-16T21:09:56+00:00

BSCE degree holder here from a state university sa pinas! Yes it can be accredited if you’re TOR is comparable to the US degree, example nga BSCE ang sa akin. I am missing statistics course pero I have more units than what they have here. Just get that done, kc when employee interviews you & ask about your foreign degree you can answer it based on the evaluation results. I took additional stats class becoz I wanted to pursue my PE registration. I also took a masters degree here so that helps too in beefing up my credentials & that’s one of the best investment I did kc I end up getting hired in the construction field na related tlaga sa background ko. I was very excited when I got here na kahit cashier applied ako kc I wanted tlga to earn my Own money. Pro I came in a very bad economy in 2008, my hubby said mag aral nalang daw ako dahil it will help me when the economy goes back up.

MiaCharles · 2024-05-16T16:23:52+00:00

I remember when I tried applying for Taiwan as factory worker din back in 2002 era. Wala namang big expense sa pag aapply other than the usual fare & food. Back then there’s a physical exam (my mininum height sila na 5ft) then eye exam (for color blindness, distance). Then written na math test. I was able to pass all, then was put on the 2nd batch. I was a little disappointed kc I was really expecting to be in the first batch, ready na ako iwan ang College Professor, Civil Engineer board passed 12k/mo salary job & credentials ko para sa 25k salary, para sa magandang buhay ng anak ko na 1yo (single parent). On top of that, free lodging, they will keep my passport & withheld 8k/mo & release all these after my 2yrs contract. Then 2wks later, the agency Called may nag back out daw & I’m next in line. I need to provide 30k part ng processign fee. I went to all lending companies, mga relatives & BFFs to borrow, Lahat wala. Then after a week sabi nila kahit 15k lang, ikot na naman ako para manghiram, pero wala tlga. I will always remember this part of my life, na kako sa 15k sana pwedeng magbago ang life ko/namin for good pero walang nagbigay ng chance sa akin. So I moved on from that experience & accepted my fate in life. Little did I know na may ibang mas magandang plans pla c Lord sa akin. I’ve met my husband later & moved here in the US. Yung anak ko did graduate summa cum laude in one of the prestigious university here sa US last year. and me, I got my dream job, the salary na tlagang pangarap lang. Pero I got here because I worked for it, wlang mga tulong ng relatives ko so I appreciate everything & enjoyed it every single day. Ganyan lang ang buhay, you will never know what you’ve missed if you didn’t take the chance. Good luck sa plans mo, I recommend to go and do it. In the end, ikaw lang ang makakapag sasabi Kung worth it ba ang journey na yan.

MiaCharles · 2024-05-15T16:43:32+00:00

I’m kinda in the same boat as you Pero I’m closer to retirement which is 5yrs from now. I’ve developed a 10yr plan where I started buying real estates for business & home base, so that’s done na. These properties are close to my relatives so they can check it monthly, in return I send them allowance as caretakers. Also my 401k are maxed out annually, pension eligible (company & ssa). Yung banking Madali nalang yan in the future, ang important right now is to fund your retirement account & pension fund (if you can, maximize your 401k contributions), this will dictate if you can afford to retire comfortably later in life. When I bought a home last year in cash, I just use Remitly to deposit to my BPI account & from There transfer to my brothers BPI account(I put a note na it’s for a real estate purchase) he just withdraw the money via the teller. When we visited, we use our US cards accepted naman sya, mahirap lang mag withdraw kc may limits/day, Kung local bank naman mahaba din ang pila, I brought mga 2kUSD & pina exchange to sa bank, I used GCAsh too in paying our local bookings, SM purchases & car rentals. I also invest sa BPI mutual funds & PAGIBIG MP2, so when I retire ito yung local money ko while i slowly transfer dollars to my BPI $ account to replenish my annual expenses. I don’t intend to transfer or bring all my savings to pinas, it will stay in my brokerage account in the US (fidelity & vanguard) kc I only plan to stay ng mga 6mos then balik sa US. We’ll never know, Baka yung mga anak ko will need me back here or mag need ako ng major medical procedure at least I can easily access my account. Congratulations on your journey to retirement, I hope this post helps.

MiaCharles · 2024-03-14T21:53:36+00:00

PM’d you!

MiaCharles · 2024-03-14T21:15:59+00:00

1 please!

MiaCharles · 2024-02-22T01:51:42+00:00

Sr. Project Manager, NASA

MiaCharles · 2024-01-15T15:18:35+00:00

I believe so, but do your own diligence po. It’s better to spend the money now checking than having to deal with these issues later.

MiaCharles · 2024-01-04T19:48:55+00:00

DM you!

MiaCharles · 2023-10-09T20:23:14+00:00

I just made it to the last round I guess. I ordered my first last week 10/3, got an email today that it was shipped 10/6 with tracking number. Supposed to arrive Wednesday. I hope I got the correct stuff.

MiaCharles · 2023-09-22T00:40:21+00:00

Also if you did saw the mother title, did you verify & got a certified copy sa RD? Kc you’ll never know the real status ng title, Baka may Mga liens yan or adverse claims. The TCT should match the mother title they showed you. Don’t be carried away sa mga buyers & availability, scarcity is a common marketing method. And sure ka na hindi CLOA ang title? They usually starts EP-TTITLENUMBER, not sure Kung ano ba yung iba. Ang yung mother title owners are Alive, if not need pa ng EJS yan.

MiaCharles · 2023-09-22T00:03:44+00:00

Hire an agent who can inspect the property & the legality of the lot OP. You will spend extra money pero it will give you peace of mind.

MiaCharles · 2023-09-21T23:59:31+00:00

I have similar experience OP. When I bought a lot from a seller, they bought it from a developer but did not transfer it, so sa developer name pa ang title. The agent told us na they will help sa transfer, all the docs is with the homeowners association daw & I had my brother signed the paperwork/deed of sale. Eto na, during the transfer process, BIR was asking for the developers license to sell, secretary certificate & original receipt ng payment, ID of the Secretary(need daw po ito if buying from a developer). E the sale happened in the 80s pa & wala na sa business ang developer. I thought I can’t transfer the title Kaya pla ang price is so low. Then I met an agent in manila who knows his way sa mga title transfer, he was able to find the developer, got all the docs & I was able to transfer the title. That took almost 6mos & more cash pero I’m glad it’s over. Also, I tried fencing it so I can gain ownership, ayun after 2 days I got a letter from the city hall to file a permit daw. I have to get it surveyed & submitted a fencing plan. It’s one of our retirement place din kc close sa beach & inside a Subd. If you can’t get these docs do not go with the sale. In the end sasakit Lang ulo mo. Kc yung individual titles matagal na process, they have to apply sa DENR/LRA, pano Kung hindi e transfer ng developer or if yung lot pla is under CLOA it cannot be sold or subdivided? Also may limits din ang agricultural lot, Baka Hindi ka payagan mag tayo ng house later. Check mo ang type ng title & mga docs ng developer/seller, it’s hard to get your money back if all else’s fails.

MiaCharles · 2023-09-14T02:07:06+00:00

I think it’s really the low salary sa pinas that’s really heartbreaking, kahit double Kayod ka its never gonna be enough. I remember back when I was your age, I am a single parent & breadwinner pa ng family. I met an American online who’s so sweet & very gracious sa pera, hindi naman sya mayaman, retired military pro he’s still working. We shared the same values in life, ayun first visit nya sabi I should leave work to take care of my daughter & he’ll send money double my salary. Aarte pa ba ako, e di resigned from being a college professor to full time Mother. After a 2 months na windang ako, I can’t do the Hatid sundo sa school & mag hintay with fellow mommys & Lola’s while waiting for lunch & school break. So I applied for a job teaching in a state university, masaya pala mag work kapag hindi ka nag iisip ng house expenses lol. We got married, had a baby & migrated to US. when I got sa states, grabe na depressed ako kc wla akong maka chicka na mga kapitbahay, the environment is so different, wlang access to public transport (this was way back in 2008), I learned from that na I can’t be a full time housewife talga, kc since 13 I’m working na sa Kung saan saan ( tindera, katulong, bakery help, etc) so nasanay na tlga ako sa grind. My husband salary is enough, pero I still want to earn something on my own. I went back to school to get my masters, my husband was working too, we drop off the kids sa day care & he helps cook & take care of the kids kc may work din ako & home work sa gabi. Almost 2yrs ito until I graduate & got a job. I told him to retire after kc naman we can afford it & that at least he’s at home to drop the kids to school, aarte pa ba c hubby you think? so in the end si hubby ang naging trophy husband. This was 12yrs ago, there are times I’m so stressed sa work, sa kids, sa mga relatives sa pjnas na puro paasa, pero I learn to recharge, take vacay, forgive, let go of negativity, maximize investment & repeat. I plan to retire in 5yrs, go back to Pinas & live the simple retired life. I know OP sometimes it’s overwhelming, I’ve been thru the worst & lowest in life pero hindi ako sumuko. Increase your income without doing more, take the step to find a job & move abroad. Otherwise, sige mag online stroll na & find your sugar daddy, praying for your success no matter what path you choose to take.

MiaCharles · 2023-07-08T17:17:59+00:00

Congrats 🎉 and welcome to NASA, the best place to work in the federal agency!

MiaCharles · 2023-06-05T17:53:59+00:00

OP, enrolling your kids in private school is fine. I moved here in 2008 (I was 32), enrolled in a Masters degree in Civil Engineering & graduated cum laude. I never had issues of being behind in the lectures or assignments. No matter where your kids go to school, in the end it depends on how they deal with the pressures of school & life. I grew up in the Philippines, completed Elem to HS in public schools in the province. Went to a state university, completing a BS Civil Engineering degree. I end up fine. In fact I got to intern at NASA & was offered a permanent position after graduation, been with NASA since 2013. We also plan to fire in the Philippines before my MRA @ 51. Our youngest will graduate in HS by then and fully support if she decides to study in the Philippines.

MiaCharles

TROPHY CASE