u/raiblaze

So I'm a Civil Engineer in my late 30s, with more than 10 years of experience in the construction industry. The problem is, sobrang general ng work experience ko. I worked both in the private and government sector. Handled and supervised projects and have done tasks from planning, estimating, QS works, site supervision, planning and scheduling, drafting (2D and 3D), site coordination, structural analysis and design, all of that pinatos ko especially sa mga sideline ko (structural design, drafting, and estimating). I even had project management experience dahil sumasideline ako as freelance contractor dati for some small residential projects (but due to bad investments hindi na muna pwedeng mangontrata as of now).

Honestly, confused ako sa takbo ng career ko ngayon. I'm a generalist, and as of now, I think nagiging hindrance siya sa paghahanap ko ng WFH job as a construction estimator or QS. Idagdag pa yung wala akong prior experience sa AU or US contractors. I even reached the final interview with a client na tatlo na lang daw kami for interview, pero di ako nakalusot despite all the experience I had. So I'm thinking, maybe nagiging hindrance yung pagiging generalist at lack of experience ko sa AU or US client. This is the only application na umabot ako sa final stage out of 50+ na inapplyan ko. Very humbling for an engineer with 10+ years of experience and at his late 30s na puro successful na ang mga kaklase.

So, to cut the story, I really want to specialize. If hindi magkaigi itong estimator/QS route, I am planning to specialize into BIM. I am not new into Revit. I am using Revit since 2017, although as a modelling tool lang. The BIM itself, zero experience pa ako. So, I have modelled most of my projects as a project engineer noong nasa government pa ako (since sa akin din ang drafting, particularly the structural plans). The biggest is a 7-storey hospital building.

My question is, will it be enough na ipakita ko yung previous Revit models na naidraft as a portfolio to apply for a BIM modeller na hindi entry level? or maybe having a salary na hindi pang-entry level? I am from the province so uupa talaga if Manila ako magwowork. WFH jobs, I think di muna ako aasa for now kasi baka hanapan din ako ng prior international experience.

Do you think ok itong route na gagawin ko? Also, may mairerecommend ba kayong companies na pwede applyan. I am planning to walk-in siguro, I think mas may chance kesa magpasa lang ako sa online. I am targetting multinational companies din sana.

Thank you, Engineers!

I am a Project Engineer and I have experience on almost general construction sa mga previous work ko (supervision, estimating, QS, drafting, structural design, planning, documentation, management), but I want to look for a more focused role sa estimation or QS na WFH sana. I am currently self-employed and freelancing, but unstable ang income so I am planning to look for a more stable income and wfh lang.

In your CV, did you include all your responsibilities sa mga previous work nyo? Or did you just tailored it para mafocus ang responsibilities na more aligned sa estimating and QS roles? Also, is it a good idea to include na nagffreelance ako for 2 years na? I was employed kasi last 2023 pa, then after that nagffreelance na ako.

Thank you Engineers!

Good day.

I am a Civil Engineer with almost 10 years of experience as a Field Engineer and working in a government agency. Few years ago, I decided to resign in previous work as an Engineer to career shift into a VA (not CE related field). Income in VA is good, but unstable.

Few months ago, napapag-isip isip ko na bumalik sa Engineering profession, but not as a Field Engineer. Hindi kaya ng katawan ko ang araw-araw na nasa site, and my interest talaga is mostly in the QS / Estimator / Designer field. Is it advisable pa ba to start over as a QS or Estimator? Or transferable ba yung experience ko as a Field Engineer and government experience para makakuha ng non-entry level na QS or Estimator role?

Thank you, Engineers! 🫡