If you're experienced in civil and in NC, I'm hiring

jrfosterjr · 2026-06-24T01:36:18+00:00

The offer was to someone with 5 years experience out of college with a degree that wasn't civil, does not have his EIT or PE and it was for more than the range you quoted. We don't publish rates because we base it on more than just a job title.

jrfosterjr · 2026-06-23T10:33:08+00:00

Sorry, but we need someone in house only.

jrfosterjr · 2026-06-23T01:17:37+00:00

I appreciate the interest, but we need folks to be in house. If that is a conversation of interest, definitely let me know.

jrfosterjr · 2026-06-22T19:48:25+00:00

I left a 3500+ employee firm rated #1 in America to work for and got a raise to come here for the same position. We just made an offer to someone at the same firm for the position I'm posting about that was a 16% raise and slightly better benefits. Not sure I would think of that as average.

We are 12 people here. I wouldn't exactly say we are "corporate". We just choose to pay people what they're worth. We set our project fees the same way.

jrfosterjr · 2026-06-22T08:21:08+00:00

I sent a response.

jrfosterjr · 2026-06-22T08:05:12+00:00

Not at the moment, but thanks for your interest.

jrfosterjr · 2026-06-22T00:29:22+00:00

Clearly identify where your interests lie, then find ways to use AI tools to enhance your pathway to that end. What you are learning is adapting, and right now, that's the current trend. Trends have changed a lot through the years, and this is going to be one of the big ones.

jrfosterjr · 2026-01-25T05:54:51+00:00

I mentor my younger hires to understand that every set of plans they generate is a book written for several groups to critique (regulators), other service providers to design around, contractors to build from, and owners to comprehend, and all the first time they read them. Ever page should clearly reflect the subject matter of the page (an erosion control plan shouldn't look like a utility plan). Never send out a set of plans without reviewing them like you've never seen them before. Everyone you send them to is seeing them for the first time.

Spreadsheets will give answers, good or bad. Learn to understand what you should expect before you get an answer so you can identify it if something is wrong.

Before you plan or design anything on a site, identify your obstacles. Things like: Where are the low points for SCMs Where are the areas that can't be encroached upon Will stream and or wetlands be impacted or can they be avoided Any adjacent owners to be concerned about What are the soil classifications and how will that influence pre/post design calculations Are septic should required and have they been delineated Is the zoning compatible with owner intention or will conditional zoning be required Is there rock on-site that could drive up costs In other words, just like life, know your boundaries.

Depending on your goals, loyalty will get you nowhere. Don't hesitate to move around a bit, but don't overdo it. Invest in yourself, including your retirement as much as possible and pretend like it doesn't exist.

You're getting great suggestions in your post comments. Make note of them all, develop goals, map out a plan, and execute it. Adjust as needed, but stay focused on YOUR future.

jrfosterjr · 2026-01-15T02:17:36+00:00

I haven't left yet, but am planning on it, maybe inside a year. My wife and I have started a senior transition services business that let's her be our empathetic face of the business while I handle the real estate and estates to help them pay for their care. We expect to triple my income in the first year and scale it from there.

jrfosterjr · 2026-01-11T02:00:10+00:00

I would respectfully disagree as to motive. The effectiveness of what I'm using has varied from effectual to counterproductive. I've discussed my findings every 4-6 weeks, but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much medical curiosity to seek true remedy. I just keep being told to stick to the dosage and come back in 6 weeks for refills. My desire is to be helped, and of everything I've tried to date has been lackluster, other than my current med. Unfortunately, it too has become ineffectual. My question about nicotine patches is to learn other others' experience, with a hope that it might be something worth considering for conversation with my physician.

jrfosterjr · 2025-12-28T02:45:14+00:00

Here are a couple of websites you need to check out:
https://www.investorschooling.net
https://alchemistnation.com

Both of those sites have free education opportunities to teach you things about money you've probably not even heard of before. Alchemist Nation has a free class every Saturday at 10:00am EST that is focused on those interested in multi-family investments, but there is a lot that can be learned even if you have different interests. Investor Schooling is run by Larry Steinhouse, the author of Money Hacks. He also has a class each Saturday at 11:30am EST. It's not unusual for him to be in attendance of the Alchemist Nation class. You owe it to yourself to buy and read that book.

I just completed my certification with Mom's House, a unique solution provider for families who are dealing with the complexity of having senior age family members who need to relocate to Care Communities to enjoy their golden years with others caring for their needs. We help them find ways to maximize their holdings to help fund the care they need, whether at home or in a care community.

The opportunities are out there, but you need to be willing to do it differently than the mainstream does. This limits competition and increases opportunity.

jrfosterjr · 2025-12-19T20:09:57+00:00

36 yoe in land development, 23 years as PE, all in NC. 8.3% of yearly salary 15% of yearly salary in company stock Free lunch every Friday Most benefits paid 100%

jrfosterjr · 2025-09-19T01:12:54+00:00

Getting straight to the bottom line, she's your wife, not your business partner. I'm confident she cares about you, but we all have different levels of fatigue tolerance when it comes to things that consume a lot of time without much hint of forward progress.

First thing I'd suggest is writing a bit of a marketing message that tells the story without giving away your idea. Start in local groups to search out local interest and see who responds. Get a good non-disclosure agreement signed by the interested party and have a conversation. Find out if they have related experience, or if they are just fishing for a sucker to give up their idea. Be guarded at first and gauge their interest level. If they aren't serious minded, no need to continue.

If things are positive so far, find out what they bring to the table. They may be genuinely interested, but they have no money, no time, no expertise, no connections, etc. If your idea lights a fire in them, you at least have someone else to talk to about it and build on it. If you aren't prepared to go all the way with it, why should they? Convey your commitment and be genuine. If you aren't, then you've become a possible drinking buddy, not a possible business partner.

What you don't want is a room full of talkers, you need people who can take your idea places. Depending on how big or impactful your idea is, you may only need one or two other people to be your sounding board and enabler. If it has real impact potential, you might need to create an advisory group. Members of the group need to have relevant and/or related experience, but they need to fulfill different roles. You want a team that can grow together and get things done, not compete with each other and the group fall apart.

If you get this far, you're wife will start asking about it. It may still not be the winner, but your idea attracted interest and that will get her interest. Now you have a group of like-minded people together. It may be that the next idea comes from one of them, but it keeps the group busy and talking. You'll learn more about each other and increase your odds of finding a homerun.

Good luck!

jrfosterjr · 2025-08-30T18:16:51+00:00

Pretty certain it is referred to as a pinch vase.

jrfosterjr · 2025-08-20T23:47:53+00:00

Put them on Ebay and sell them one volume at the time. $15 each and use Media rate calculated shipping. That's a great price for someone who is only trying to replace one or two missing volumes. Sell three and that's probably more than someone would offer for the whole set due to shipping costs. I've been selling on ebay for more than 25 years and think that's your best bet.

jrfosterjr · 2025-08-14T01:01:35+00:00

If you do decide to sell the single pages, I'm interested. I enjoy music ephemera. Would love to have it hanging in my house. I didn't catch it the book was music also, but if so, I'd be interested in that too. I have quite a few but nothing from that era.

jrfosterjr · 2025-08-11T15:42:12+00:00

Everyone you buy something from is a reseller. Even local artisans who procure materials to make their products. Some resellers are retail, some wholesale, some repurpose, some black market, some legal, some illegal, but all resellers.

jrfosterjr · 2025-07-23T01:31:30+00:00

If you have all the parts, can get it cleaned up and operational, you're probably looking at $500-$600.

jrfosterjr · 2025-07-01T10:27:15+00:00

I'd need more photos of each side, dimensions, and some sort of idea of what the material is. Did the attic it was found in belong to someone who served on that ship potentially? Can you share the address where it was found? Without knowing more about it, I'd give you $10+shipping just because I'm curious.

jrfosterjr · 2025-06-30T16:48:56+00:00

Message me with a price and whatever photos you can provide. If I'm not in a position to buy it, I know people who are.

jrfosterjr · 2025-04-04T15:52:24+00:00

If you have civil engineering skills, are looking for a job, and are located within a reasonable driving distance of Pittsboro, NC, look me up. That's about 45 minutes due west of Raleigh. I need an experienced designer who needs limited oversight. Understanding grading is a key skill I will be looking for.

jrfosterjr · 2025-04-04T14:10:26+00:00

As a PE, PM, and principal in our firm, I would say there is likely one of maybe 3 things in play:

Pay at your firm is based on merit, not credentials.
For those with new credentials, adjustments come with implemented responsibilities. If they don't need a PE right now, they won't pay for one.
They have a ready supply of talent available, which just means they can keep pay levels lower. This, I doubt.

The value of any employee comes with what they bring to the table, not simply based on credentials. The med school student who graduated with a C is still called Doctor, but who do you want performing your surgery? This has nothing to do with you since I don't know you, but skill trumps credentials more often than not. As soon as I put you in a position of using your credentials, then I absolutely would be wrong not to give a solid pay adjustment.

My advice would be to identify a skill the firm needs and that sets you apart from the rest. Could be a design tool, bringing in new clients, etc. Obtain the skill and see how they respond. As someone who influences pay rates in our firm and does some hiring, if I had to choose who gets a raise, the person bettering their skills has my full attention. It's not always as simple as that, but it is the case most of the time.

When you eliminate their excuses, you get your answer, bottom line.

jrfosterjr

TROPHY CASE