M&E Main Contractor

[dantsmp]

Hi, as a fresh grad from mechanical engineering in one of the local universities, would like to ask if anyone in this forum has any experience working in the M&E sector on the main contractor side, and would like to hear your views on career progression.

Also, how does joining the main contractor side differ from joining engineering consultancies and stat boards, in terms of salary, career prospects etc.

Thanks

Originally Posted by dantsmp

Hi, as a fresh grad from mechanical engineering in one of the local universities, would like to ask if anyone in this forum has any experience working in the M&E sector on the main contractor side, and would like to hear your views on career progression.

Also, how does joining the main contractor side differ from joining engineering consultancies and stat boards, in terms of salary, career prospects etc.

Thanks

its all abt the kind of life u want. stat board is stable standard increment, work life balance and good bonus. trade off is ur career usually ends as some sort of assistant mgr (AD inflated job title).

go to pte sector starting pay lower, more risky, no job security if no projects secured, but if u make it to MD or Director level pay is much higher than what stat board make.

[dantsmp]

i see, thanks!

Originally Posted by dantsmp

Hi, as a fresh grad from mechanical engineering in one of the local universities, would like to ask if anyone in this forum has any experience working in the M&E sector on the main contractor side, and would like to hear your views on career progression.

Also, how does joining the main contractor side differ from joining engineering consultancies and stat boards, in terms of salary, career prospects etc.

Thanks

if you want to be involved in engineering for your whole career, personally, i think it's better to start at vendor side. you'll learn how things work at ground level. you'll be exposed to more shits. you're doing the shits. you'll be working directly with suppliers, subcons, clients and internal team.

after your stint at the vendor side, you'll have a better understanding why vendors do things in a certain way. how they bluff in tender bid. how quality is neglected to save time and money. how come 90% of all projects are delayed.

then when u moved over to the client side or as a consultant, you'll know how to deal with the vendors.

dont care so much abt pay now. dont be so short-sighted unless you need the money urgently

Okay, Going to throw in some real advice. Your job progression in the M&E construction line will be more or less like this, u start off as engineer, then senior engineer, asst manager, project manager, assistant project director, project director etc.

your role as a contractor is do installations as per consultant's drawing. you will be involved in building services such as fire protection, air con mech ventilation, plumbing and sanitary, lift, electrical etc.

Progression in this line is extremely slow as u see your friends rise and shine in other industries while u slide at snail's pace.


Suggest if you want to come into M&E, prepare for the long haul, dont expect to see fast results. If you are impatient, not wise to come in.

but if you are patient enough, you still can make a decent and honest living.

Originally Posted by dantsmp

Hi, as a fresh grad from mechanical engineering in one of the local universities, would like to ask if anyone in this forum has any experience working in the M&E sector on the main contractor side, and would like to hear your views on career progression.

Also, how does joining the main contractor side differ from joining engineering consultancies and stat boards, in terms of salary, career prospects etc.

Thanks

main con do installation, consultant do conceptual and detailed design.. Both pay low..

Originally Posted by dantsmp

Hi, as a fresh grad from mechanical engineering in one of the local universities, would like to ask if anyone in this forum has any experience working in the M&E sector on the main contractor side, and would like to hear your views on career progression.

Also, how does joining the main contractor side differ from joining engineering consultancies and stat boards, in terms of salary, career prospects etc.

Thanks

[dantsmp]

Thanks for the advice everyone! just wondering, is career progression slow because large amounts of experience must be gained, or is it due to bureaucracy? Compared to the early 2000s, there's quite a number of projects around these few years, which is expected to continue in the near to medium term future, so shouldn't there be many opportunities to move ahead once the required experience is gained?

Originally Posted by dantsmp

Thanks for the advice everyone! just wondering, is career progression slow because large amounts of experience must be gained, or is it due to bureaucracy? Compared to the early 2000s, there's quite a number of projects around these few years, which is expected to continue in the near to medium term future, so shouldn't there be many opportunities to move ahead once the required experience is gained?

every individual case is different. it is hard to say "generally" what will happen except for stat board or ministry where everything is more or less fixed by policy.

someone can share his or her own unique exp in a pte co, but you will not have the same exp as him because everyone luck, company, connection, iq, eq, timing etc is different.

Career progression is slow due to both bureaucracy and because M&E is a large field and it takes a long time to be proficient in it.

On the contrary, as Singapore is entering a slowing economy. Many developers are slowing down as well and there aren't many big projects foreseen as there is limited space in Singapore. There can only be so many Marina Bay Sands kind of project.

Having said that, there will still be many A&A works and maintenance work that is required to maintain the existing installations, meaning you still wont go out of job, engineers will still be needed.

Opportunities will start to flock to you once you acquire a number of years of experience just like every other industry out there, but bare in mind will be slower than people in other industries.

Suggest you try Oil & Gas, much more satisfying in terms of magnitude of project and also the renumeration package. I personally think thats the best route for mechanical engineers.

Originally Posted by dantsmp

Thanks for the advice everyone! just wondering, is career progression slow because large amounts of experience must be gained, or is it due to bureaucracy? Compared to the early 2000s, there's quite a number of projects around these few years, which is expected to continue in the near to medium term future, so shouldn't there be many opportunities to move ahead once the required experience is gained?

Why is there no mention about professional engineers.

Anybody out there to help shed some light about their package and career prospects?

It seems hard to find much information about the salaries/prospects of Professional Engineers on the web.