Advice on Pursuing UK Chartered Engineer as a Project Manager

Why would you doubt your mentor?

I don't doubt my mentor but he did say it was in his opinion, I just wondered if others agree who have had similar experience. From reading the UKspec there seems to be a tendency to emphasise project management, plus IMechE articles sometimes show chartered engineers who are project managers.

I don't see either title as holding you back from achieving your goal...they might have similar requirements as well....but I'm not one to change boats in the middle of a stream...so to speak...One goal at a time....You can always add on additional credits for another set of initials in the future....

http://www.bcs.org/category/14957

And tomorrow it will advise something else, and the next day that will change again. Advice: don't get caught up in the daily BS, as week-to-week the requirements change and I assure you, the market in the UK has more chancer's and money grabbers than you realise. They will tell you anything at a price. Be careful of what you digest as factual and real.

Your mentor is probably far more correct than you realise.

Sam..

I think you should follow your own advice, and your heart! don't forget its your life, and your career.

Your mentor, as wise and knowledgeable as he may be, said the right thing... "in my opinion". What happens if you do what he suggests and you hate it... you will blame him! The same applies for this forum too!

You are a clever and intelligent man, make your own mind up, then you only have yourself to consider if you made a bad decision.

If it was me offering advice.. I would say this..

If it feels good do it! If it doesn't, don't!

The very best of luck in what you do, and remember you make your own opportunities!

If you want an advice, finish your bachelor degree on whatever it is and then do a MEng on Industrial Management. Moreover, if you want to enter a certain company, do th MEng at the University they recruit from (probably the closest geographically).

I did something similar and it worked for me, so it might work for you as well.

I've been through this and can understand where your mentor is coming from. There are skills you can still accomplish in project management but there are ones you will struggle with, like "apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of mechanical engineering problems".

Even though you've been through three years there is still a lot to do. It doesn't sound like it but by the time you get through the final reports, application, nominations, interview etc you'll probably agree.

So if it is important for you to become chartered then I would stay where you are for another year and get it done. If you walk away from it now I would suspect you'll not go back to it. I know a lot of people who have done that but I don't know anyone who has picked it up again.

If I were you I'd complete it but that's easy for me to say because I have already done it and similar to you, I'm now in a more commercial role.

Finally, it can depend on the industry you're in. I'm in oil and gas and CEng status is actually quite highly regarded, especially in the oil majors. Maybe in other industries there is little value in having it?

First of all, what specific kind of projects are you trying to manage?...

What does it do for your job prospects? If you are able to qualify for CEng, then do so. It won't do you any harm to be a CEng. It is not limited to pure 'engineering', it has a broad coverage and would embrace project management as one of the many specialised qualifications counting towards your Continued Professional Development CPD - which is now a requirement for on-going membership - and probably a basic requirement in job advertising.

So do it now while you have the chance. I always wanted to be a CEng, but circumstances forced me to settle for IEng. Not that it mattered because in my whole career my IEng status has never been called on or questioned - but the 'engineering knowledge' gained to qualify for elevation and entry to CEng, but never to finish the course, has been essential to do my job and put to good use to my personal benefit - but I gave up chasing CEng. I am too old to try now

As others have said, if you don't make the effort now when you can, you are not likely to get back on track to make the grade at a later date.

Good luck.