I certainly would have. I strayed into electronic engineering right out of high school, but it was at an institution whose instructors had no business teaching. They were simply electronic-educated folks who were between jobs in the industry, so I left. I got a job as a chainman a few months later, then went back to school and did a dual major in aquatic biology and chemistry. I worked as a surveyor all the way through school, advancing to crew chief with a half-day crew. Upon graduation I had a job offer as a field biologist, but had discovered the fascination of surveying, so I stayed in the surveying field and never looked back. I loved every minute of it (almost). I was born to do it, and very fortunate to have been able to.
I can't imagine doing anything else, but also know that if a few things had fallen differently when I was 18-22, I'd never have gotten into surveying, and would be.
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Nigel Tufnel:
Well, I suppose I could work in a shop of some kind or... or do um... freelance... selling of some sort of... um... product, you know...
Marty DiBergi:
A salesman, you think you...
Nigel Tufnel:
A salesman, like, mabye in a haberdasher, or maybe like a... um, a chapeau shop, or something... you know, like: "Would you... what size do you wear, sir?" and then you answer me.
Marty DiBergi:
Uh... seven and a quarter.
Nigel Tufnel:
"I think we have that...", you see, something like that I could do.
Marty DiBergi:
Yeah... you think you'd be happy doing something like-...
Nigel Tufnel:
"No! We're all out, do you wear black?", see, that sort of thing, I think I could probably muster up.
Marty DiBergi:
Yeah, do you think you'd be happy doing that?
Nigel Tufnel:
Well, I don't know, wh-wh-what are the hours?
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My degree is in civil engineering but I would have had to leave Illinois to get my license as a PE, which was my long term plan. ?ÿI did a lot of surveying off and on and do to various circumstances I ended up doing that for 30 some years. ?ÿI retired about 3 years ago and can??t say I really miss working although I do work part time but not often. ?ÿI think it was April the last time I worked.
Another accidental surveyor here.?ÿ I can't say what I'd do differently because my career was pretty random until I hung out my own shingle.?ÿ Even then, there were a number of "right place, right time" events that significantly shaped the direction I ended up going.?ÿ
I haven't identified a retirement target yet, but it's probably only a couple years away.?ÿ Despite the perchance nature of much of it, it's been a great ride, and has left me financially secure.?ÿ Maybe not exactly rich, but quite comfortable nevertheless.
I did work experience with a surveyor early in high school years as family knew I was good at math (and good enough at English for professional communication it turns out) and I have been on that track ever since, except for a short detour as an assistant engineer over the GFC with a Council, graduating (surveying degree) start of the GFC was not ideal timing! Picked up a post grad diploma in town planning while working at Council as didn't pay as well as private but would pay for study.
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Now licenced and solo/part contacting to a firm I've worked for in past so I'm still on tools not stuck at a desk managing ten staff and signing off their work. Since the work experience never seen myself doing anything else.?ÿ Unless body fails or I lose the spark intend to keep at it as long as I can.
