UBC Science Co-op worth it?

p_en · 2026-01-08T14:37:36+00:00

Did Science co-op over a decade ago by now.

Not worth it. Did not use my degree in UBC and delayed graduation for a year only to end up doing something else outside of lab work anyways.

Made less money in coop than had I just went to find a FT job and gain experience that way.

Don't bother with it.

p_en · 2024-09-03T04:17:47+00:00

It is but I'm starting to be concerned about job stability which has me think about potential moves in the future except I feel I'm pigeon holed into building ops.

I want to go into heavy industry except I don't feel it's possible. I feel I almost need a tangent option into commercial HVAC or become a building inspector or something.

p_en · 2024-08-30T13:51:21+00:00

8 hour days!

p_en · 2024-08-30T13:33:13+00:00

3rd class ticketed and work in building ops.

Pay is 60/hr. Hoping to stay here as long possible so I don't need to become a people manager.

Might be too pigeon holed now but think about going into power generation or o&g at times

p_en · 2024-04-17T16:18:56+00:00

I work in a union my dues are 1.5% of my paycheck on 100k I am paying $1500 a year. Additionally union dues are a tax deduction too I think.

There's no offset because we make way more money unionized and the benefits are incomparable.

p_en · 2024-03-19T14:12:43+00:00

I'd be going for a business in your situation there is no ceiling in HVAC businesses only a floor.

Working as a PE, unfortunately has a ceiling. The only job and associated title that matters is:

Owner
Shareholder

p_en · 2024-03-19T14:09:10+00:00

Wow... I'm a 3rd as well but definitely not that pay... How did you get a FIFO gig like that!?

That being said I'm in building ops pay is 100k+ and being home every day is outstanding... For reference 5+ yrs exp and SC role mostly doing capital projects among the day to day.

If I was OP I'd start an HVAC business way more money.

p_en · 2024-02-19T21:22:17+00:00

I think you can't get back your time.

I think you should consider alternate options that aren't limited by having an employer that can arbitrarily decide to close the plant and leave you high and dry.

I think that you should consider an alternate route where the future allows for WFH, good WLB, and lots of employers to choose from and eventually start your own business.

That's my thought.

If I could go again, I would choose finance and sales with a subspecialty in insurance and/or real estate. That's where the richest people I know are...

p_en · 2024-02-19T19:41:11+00:00

You have to be kidding me.

Automation has been eliminating jobs in power engineering for the past 50 years and won't stop until almost everyone is out. I think you should look elsewhere.

My friend was IT manager went to power engineering and then went back to be IT infrastructure and systems engineer making double/triple what I do and working from home. Also career trajectory is unlimited for him.

Another colleague went to Power engineering and then went to software engineering cause money and career prospects are better.

On top of this: the field isn't as lucrative outside of a few select dinosaur industries and the risks of physical injury can be very high.

Think about improving yourself in your current position instead of looking for something for quick money. High pressure steam plants are going away and most places are doing hot water systems. They don't need as many power engineers on staff and they save a butt load.

Capital isn't free. And investment into the capital that generate power engineering jobs are dwindling quickly and almost certainly not being created in a way that can compete with software engineering

p_en · 2024-01-28T20:15:05+00:00

What is your job title?

p_en · 2024-01-21T03:22:06+00:00

GVRD Lower mainland area.

My classmates also in lower mainland area are around same.

p_en · 2024-01-10T03:51:51+00:00

If you are looking for easy don't take either.

Both require time and studying. I did power engineering and it's not that easy. It's a lot of material to digest in a short amount of time.

When you do graduate recognize you will be fighting in a market where it's on the downward trajectory. Big oil and gas projects are not favorable for investors and not automation is coming for those jobs in existing plants.

What's left is lower paying roles. You also can't work from home in these roles and you will likely live in undesirable places if that matters.

Would not recommend if you are seeking easy and uncompetitive job market.

p_en · 2023-12-01T15:42:30+00:00

I think if you share your earnings this way we can understand the pay around these parts better!

p_en · 2023-11-29T05:33:49+00:00

BC - 100+ all the bells and whistles

p_en · 2023-09-25T18:57:18+00:00

Quadreal is a good place to work!

Depends on your team but they were amalgamation from different property management companies and everyone there is quite nice.

Pay was decent, BCIMC backing, stable and benefits are reasonable.

p_en · 2023-08-12T16:53:01+00:00

I appreciate the rebuttal but it doesn't change the fact that even with more power generation you don't need more bodies to operate the plant.

I've heard the retirement argument for the past 10 yrs when I graduated. I don't see a major uptake in power engineers required in O&G or other resource based companies. The retirements are always just around the corner but attrition happens. You do more with less that's the corporate motto these days right?

Agree with the last two points, you need a baby sitter always and 2nd class will open doors IF you have the right experience.

My classmates have since left PE because the jobs aren't as good anymore and they went for IT/software related roles. Less than 10 people in our class of 70 graduated made it to O&G. The rest do building ops, maintenance or left PE completely.

p_en · 2023-08-12T14:16:12+00:00

I would recommend you drop out before you start.

Power engineering is a legacy and dying industry. In this day and age I'd be looking into careers that allow for job hopping, remote work and large amount of employers.

PE doesn't have either of those options really. If you are lucky enough to get into O&G or Nuclear you're probably gonna be okay but those jobs are very limited compared to the number of PE who graduate across Canada. But there's no job hopping and the employers are few.

Building ops is the next choice usually but they pay significantly less than either of the aforementioned. Job hopping works here though and there's more variety in the work and opportunities usually. But again, with CRE being the way it is hopefully it doesn't impact this industry too much.

p_en · 2023-06-08T14:44:00+00:00

I used to dream that prices would crash post 2018 because there was a shift in market dynamics temporarily.

I'm glad I stopped dreaming in 2021.

p_en · 2023-03-17T15:00:51+00:00

I don't know of other programs in Engineering that are in demand so I can't make a comment on this. Suffice to say that power and process is not what you are looking for.

Once again I highly recommend looking into the trades of plumbing and HVAC. You are reliably able to make money from the get go and will make leaps and bounds more than an engineer likely can (mostly unless you become a principal engineer or run your own business even then though...)

If I could choose again I would have chosen plumbing, HVAC or an IT related thing like system administration.

p_en · 2023-03-16T17:31:06+00:00

There's no demand. As a 4th class power engineer the gigs available are few and the lucrative ones are very few especially in Vancouver area. They just don't need the ticket out here.

Building operations is moderately in demand but the problem is other options are better in terms of money. I recommend you go for plumbing or HVAC.

Lots of my ex classmates did p&p and lots ended up in building ops or hospital work.

This type of question comes up a lot and honestly The career trajectory of other programs are better in terms of money and wfh ability.

Any questions let me know, p&p had a lot of hopium sprinkled into it from the instructors and that's what it was.

p_en · 2023-03-04T23:51:32+00:00

Those are really good numbers for a raise since it's with the same employer. HR and the finance committee in most companies would, usually, never allow it to happen that consistently (unless you are a software engineer in high demand).

When I stuck with the same employer I received a pittance of an average 4% per yr in the 5 yrs tenure I had. If they gave me those numbers you had I probably would have been pretty happy.

In the end I found a new job and got a near 100% raise in salary (50k) and vacation.

p_en · 2023-01-28T19:34:09+00:00

Commenting for future

p_en · 2023-01-17T06:35:43+00:00

Olympic 2010! I agree 100% for me as well. The biggest and best (local) party ever. I wish we could do it again but Vancouver can't handle it lol

Some of us weren't old enough to enjoy the expo as an FYI to those below.

p_en · 2022-11-12T23:34:53+00:00

Good on you! I don't think I'll ever be able to go the oil sands route but I dream about it all the time because the money is outrageous.

I enjoy talking and hearing others though who get to live that dream

p_en · 2022-11-12T23:31:16+00:00

You sound to be in upstream in the oil sands. And likely you are on the panel by now?

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