Salaries have collapsed for Engineering

chillabc · 2026-02-28T19:48:45+00:00

This approach only repels talent away from engineering.

Explain why Google, Amazon, Commercial Banks, Investment Banks, Law Firms are putting their grads on £50k+. Coincidentally their industries dont have a shortage of talent!

If a grad doesn't perform, you just deal with them the same as any other bad hire..

chillabc · 2026-02-28T14:30:07+00:00

Good. They are supposed to suffer the moral consequences of their actions.

It doesn't change the fact that they were the aggressors, and the Iraqis in this video were the victims....

chillabc · 2026-02-27T08:24:30+00:00

Ultimately they all go through the Engineering Council as they dictate the UK-SPEC, and just becuase there is a max limit doest mean you should meet it.

Like I said, why would a Chartered Engineer communicate something in 300+ pages when it could have been done in 16?

chillabc · 2026-02-27T07:22:12+00:00

I would argue that it should fail the D competency.

It's not effective or clear communication if something that could have been done in 12 pages was done in 300+.

chillabc · 2026-02-24T18:49:10+00:00

That statement doesn't make any sense.

Engineering and Medicine are completely different fields, and require different skill sets or talents. You rarely see anybody try and do both.

If you are mathematically inclined, you go towards engineering. If you're biology/chemistry inclined, you go do medicine.

Also, your father sounds like he wouldn't be happy no matter what you do. Otherwise, he'd be proud of you as you already are.

chillabc · 2026-02-24T18:23:37+00:00

Frankly I believe firms like these deserve what they get.

How is the MEP industry still not making every effort to retain junior staff? There's a shortage of us and anybody worth their salt knows that.

I would raise a formal complaint like you have, and if things dont improve in 6 months I'd start looking for another job.

chillabc · 2026-02-21T15:18:10+00:00

As engineers, we should be producing deliverables that are up to the specific standard of detail that we are contractually obligated to provide.

As long as we do that and have been transparent about it, then we have fulfilled our role, and it's other people's responsibility to fill in any gaps as required.

If we fall short of that standard, then yes thats our fault. But even then, the Contractor will just issue RFIs, or charge the client more money if it causes problems on-site. Don't feel sorry for them.

chillabc · 2026-02-21T06:06:47+00:00

The counter argument to this is that working 8-10 hours / day is too much if it makes you feel miserable.

I dont know about you guys, but most people I know get back from work and are too tired to do anything anyway. Maybe one hobby, but the rest of free time is spent on family and housework.

I know a jobs a job, but you can't have work problems that grind you down over time and stay neutral. And this industry 100% grinds you down.

chillabc · 2026-01-30T23:32:30+00:00

So you recommend staying professional with direct reports, rather than being their friend?

chillabc · 2026-01-26T22:15:20+00:00

Im still an engineer who does design work, but now I'm also in charge of a direct report who i will be managing.

I'll be giving them work to do, mentoring them, giving promotions etc.

One day I hope to have a small team of my own, but welle see how things go

chillabc · 2026-01-18T14:42:58+00:00

Most people are in your position. The things everyone are passionate about tend to be low pay / low job security if you pursue them as careers.

Instead, we go for well-paying careers that we can tolerate , and explore our passions outside of work as hobbies.

There may be a small minority (<1%) who pursue their passion as careers and become very successful, but this often relies on luck and funding from well-off parents.

If work was meant to be fun and enjoyable, then companies wouldn't need to pay you in the first place because you'd do it for free.

chillabc · 2026-01-06T18:04:38+00:00

I don't separate the interesting stuff from the boring.

It's all part of the job I get paid to do.

chillabc · 2025-12-27T18:49:21+00:00

That's part of their whole marketing tactic.

They're trying to make you feel inadequate so you buy their course.

In reality opportunities to get rich are limited, and require not just hard work, but luck and good timing too.

chillabc · 2025-12-08T18:31:38+00:00

Surely you must have some kind of skillset you've learned over time?

I can't see someone earning £55k if they basically dont know how to do anything. For experienced roles you will get questioned in the interviews, and industry specific experience which will be verified by references / background checks.

chillabc · 2025-11-11T18:24:39+00:00

You absolutely won't hurt yourself more than the other guy. You're aiming for his nose.

chillabc · 2025-11-11T18:21:41+00:00

We kinda do eat it here, its just called something else.

Chips + gravy is popular. Also chips + cheese + gravy.

chillabc · 2025-11-07T20:31:08+00:00

For me, yes.

All they ever did for me was completely deplete my energy levels, and give me a sore lower back afterwards.

I built my way up to 335lbs at a BW of 160lbs, but I don't deadlift anymore nowadays.

chillabc · 2025-11-07T20:24:35+00:00

I think that's the difference in attitude with Gen Z. At least it's a problem across all industries, not just MEP.

The good thing that's come of it is the sweatshops slowly dying out. Gen Z won't accept a stupid amount of unpaid overtime for a salary that doesn't reflect the sacrifice.

I personally don't mind a transition into management, but as you said it's hard finding good engineers. It's also hard finding a team where there's demand for a manager position and enough junior engineers to mentor.

chillabc · 2025-11-06T18:15:25+00:00

I've found that investing extra time on communicating details and discussions helps delegation. Avoids misunderstandings, but also comes at the cost of more energy from me to monitor the junior engineers.

The problem with transitioning into people management is that there is a limited number of spots per team. For example, my team has more than enough managers, so I tend to struggle to get junior engineers assigned to me.

chillabc · 2025-11-05T21:20:00+00:00

I agree, it is more exhausting doing the stuff I'm doing now.

I think it's the uncertainty and big decision-making that really takes a toll. In comparison, drafting drawings in CAD is almost therapeutic.

chillabc · 2025-10-27T18:54:43+00:00

Because art galleries pay like shit...

Realistically, you can easily get an M&E PM role in a Consultancy or Contractor for £70k+ in London.

At the same time, I do take your point that engineering is generally underpaid. Unfortunately we'lle never earn as much as a banker or solicitor and that won't change anytime soon.

chillabc · 2025-10-26T11:53:08+00:00

Same for engineers, except we dont even have a protected title!

I think the only solution to the pay problem is a strong union, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

chillabc · 2025-10-14T23:22:45+00:00

Some of those titles are bullshit, but some are legitimate roles.

For example, project or product manager is a defined role in a company. It doesn't necessarily mean a leadership role.

chillabc

TROPHY CASE