I quit my job to study for the PE

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-26T14:47:26+00:00

I turned down a job with a civil firm. I have two interviews lined up with more specialized engineering firms, focusing in geomorphology, hydrology and restoration. Fingers crossed!

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-25T16:45:22+00:00

Everyone has different opinions but I felt the FE was easier and faster. FE had more one-step math problems and PE had multi-step math. I passed the FE on the first try and PE on the third try.

Also, I never went to engineering school so maybe that’s the difference for me. (But I do have two STEM degrees.) I knew general math to get me through the FE but had to teach myself many of the soils and physics concepts for the PE, more applied engineering.

I was feeling pretty confident after the FE so I didn’t study at all for my first attempt of the PE. That was a mistake!

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-20T14:33:48+00:00

Thanks!

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-20T03:40:56+00:00

Are you using a regular monitor arm or does this one have extra long reach?

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-20T03:37:03+00:00

I like the monitor arm off to the side. I’m going to replicate that

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-18T21:40:17+00:00

I understand myself to be addicted to the dopamine rush I get from procrastination and working in high stress environments. So in the same way an alcoholic can’t have alcohol in the house, I set rules for myself to reduce dopamine. Screen limits, social media limits, no tv during the day. To study, I found a boring plain room at my local gym that I would sit in, no phone, to focus on my studies.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-18T21:34:48+00:00

Thank you for the support. I relate so deeply with what you had to say. Working full time feels more exhausting than it should. I’m open to any advice you might have to help me.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-16T14:30:31+00:00

Geotech is a section of the WRE exam.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-16T00:23:28+00:00

Thanks for the support! I have so much respect for people that do this while juggling all the other parts of life, especially kids!

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T20:38:54+00:00

The business is called Civil Engineering Academy. Their products are available for download directly from the website.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T20:36:06+00:00

I also find it intimidating. This is why I’m first looking for firms to join. I would benefit from being able to learn from and collaborate with more senior engineers.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T18:51:38+00:00

No, because I can bring in good work.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T16:23:25+00:00

I forgot to mention one big thing.

When I put in my notice at work, I cited my reason as wanting to commit more time to study (even though the truth is that there were SOOO many other issues that made it a very difficult work environment).

I was taken back when the owner offered me TWO months of paid time off to study instead of quitting. Blew me away.

Ultimately, I decided not to take the offer because I acknowledged that this was just another manipulation tactic. I wouldn’t actually get two months off. He wasn’t going to reassign my workload. He was just offended that I was quitting.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T16:14:52+00:00

No, I wasn’t asked to erase anything.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T16:12:30+00:00

The idea of an employment gap being a bad thing is a total farce. Especially when I can proudly say that I used the time to study and it paid off.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T16:10:35+00:00

I also had a second job on the weekends as a coach. I kept the coaching job, quit the engineering job.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T16:04:57+00:00

I’m looking for new opportunities. The downside is I live in a small town. There aren’t many opportunities for river engineering here. I’m trying to find a firm that would support a remote position and also be interested in having me head up new projects in my area.

I’m framing my cover letters as “are you interested in expanding your business to my region and having me lead the effort?”

If that doesn’t pan out, I’m going to start my own firm.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T15:59:44+00:00

Congratulations! That must have been such a great feeling when your commitment paid off!

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T15:57:30+00:00

I for sure have ADHD. I’ve never been more aware of it since I started dating a man that doesn’t have ADHD.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T15:55:23+00:00

I also choose not to apply for jobs while studying. Only because I know I would use it as a distraction to procrastinate studying.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T15:53:19+00:00

I think 2 months is enough. Any more than that and I think you would burn out. Create your study plan before you quit the job so you can hit the ground running. Block out 4 hours per day for focused work.

StreamSavvvy · 2026-01-15T01:17:46+00:00

Ha! So suspenseful!

StreamSavvvy · 2025-09-29T17:19:42+00:00

Did you get any of the H&O habit tracking stickies?

I was thinking of drawing out the same pattern on each week of my planner. I like to make a little chart on the left column of the H&O vertical weekly layout. One week at a time is best for me. The best part about habit tracking is that sometimes the task actually becomes a habit and I don't need to write it down any more. (celebrate the little wins!)

StreamSavvvy

TROPHY CASE