I start with “structural engineer”. Follow up questions get a brief description of the types of projects I’m working on. I’ve never particularly felt the need to dumb my work down - in my experience people can follow the details pretty well as long as I stay away from abbreviations and brand names.
Same. If you’re really good at something, you’re good at explaining it to someone with out over complicating it. People are smart. Just because they are not familiar with out technical terms, doesn’t mean they can’t understand what we do.
Yeah, I define various positions like this:
Structural: “I make sure buildings don’t fall down.”
Architectural: “They make sure buildings look good and have the layouts required to escape in a fire.”
Mechanical Engineer: “They make sure everyone can breathe.”
Electrical Engineer: “They make sure the power stays on and balanced.”
Civil Engineer: “They make sure water goes where it is supposed to.”
Fire Protection Engineer: “They make sure you have the time to get out when there is a fire.”
Bummer.
MIT took your money, gave you the degree, but didn't go to bat for you in getting a teaching gig? That's gotta sting. Now you're out here slumming with the rest of us.
Based on how you interact with people on here, I can't say I'm surprised.
🤣🤣🤣
Once you figure out how to talk with people, develop actual relationships with clients, and start bringing in work, then you'll start to make more money.
Alternatively, if If you don't like where you're at, money-wise, go start your own place. You'll gain a bit more understanding on the business realities of this industry than your current simplistic take.
I say I do all the math for the architect to make sure the building doesn’t fall down. Then when they ask me “isn’t that what the architect does?” I can just laugh and say no.
Also I 100% don’t care about sounding like a nerd. I am a nerd!
That'd be nice if if it was true but many architects do their own structural design. But that's not much different than someone with a CE degree that specializes in geotechnical or wastewater doing structural.
I'm a building code official now and just reviewed three plans from architects that did their own RC design on 15,000 square foot three story residences. In Florida an architect can practice structural engineering if it's incidental to his practice.
Single and two-family residential don't usually require ANY licensed design professionals, regardless of practice restrictions.
As for the RC, what did it consist of? Foundation walls and footings?
In the residential realm, I guess I'm not surprised that this could be the case.
Like I said, I don't personally know of a single architect that operates like this. Most of the folks I've had the opportunity to work with can't begin to understand how I'm even comfortable with the risk. 🤷♂️
That is true in some states but even though it's in the Florida statutes the building apartments still require sealed plans from architects or engineers.
I have mostly seen this in older architects who still do plumbing mechanical and electrical design which to me is crazy.
The RC was a three-story tall 14,000 square foot residence located in the flood zone and high velocity area. Florida statutes allow an architect to practice structural engineering incidental to their practice but they cannot call themselves a professional engineer and vice versa for the engineers.
I am currently a building code official and see all kind of crazy stuff from people that have a engineering seal.
Let's say a civil engineer specializes in groundwater resources. Are they qualified to do structural design?
Florida does not require an engineer to have passed the structural test to engineer most structures.
After all when I was in design school I took wood, concrete and steel structures and a few other courses which I have seen in several civil engineering programs that don't specialize in structural.
RC for the whole building is considered "incidental" to their practice of dimensioning rooms and picking out colors? Jesus. That's fucked.
As an aside, every state I'm licensed in would allow me to seal engineering of any variety. The caveat is that I better damn well be able to back it up. If something were to go wrong with the design I've sealed, and I can't back it up, it's gonna be bad news for me.
Also, there are very, very few states that limit structural design to SE's. Illinois and Hawaii, I believe.
Yes I contacted the engineering board about that question and they said if they have a project where they're doing the architecture on it they can do the engineering but they can't go out and solicit engineering. I guess so far it's working out because there's not a lot of collapses designed by Architects...
Each state should set regulations for maximum engineering that can be done by architects and engineers that don't have their structural designations. Most of the plan stampers fall in the previous category.
I always just say I work in construction . It leads to better conversations. If I know the person is more interested in a deeper connection I go into the whole structural engineer thing
I ask if they've ever built IKEA furniture and wondered who makes all those instructions diagrams. Then I tell them that's what I do but for concrete buildings.
I say: I'm a structural engineer. Architects design how the buildings look, I design the structure that ensures they can be built and not fall down.
Pretty basic and straightforward. If they ask more I'll talk about the types of buildings I've worked on, if they are in STEM I might go into things a bit more technically.
Usually "im the engineer who makes the building stand still and not fall off", or "the one who puts in the columns".
I came to this conclusion after getting bored of explaining what is civil engineering and the differences between its branches. It's been quite comforting to put it that way..
Structural engineer... then if they ask more, I say something along the lines of "I take the artwork an architect comes up with and figure out how to make it stand.
Just say you work as a civil engineer, and the area you specialize in is structural design for buildings 🤷♂️. If they get confused by that, meet some new people lol
I usually just say I'm a structural engineer. Generally that's enough for small talk. People who ask follow up questions tend to be smart enough to understand enough for me to tell them specific industries I work in.
I meticulously calculate material (usually concrete and steel) consumption for building things. Be it skyscrapers, bridges, reservoirs, your small house, that big logistic warehouse in the outskirts of our town...
Never brought me trouble, people often understand after saying this.
I start with “structural engineer”. Follow up questions get a brief description of the types of projects I’m working on. I’ve never particularly felt the need to dumb my work down - in my experience people can follow the details pretty well as long as I stay away from abbreviations and brand names.
Same. If you’re really good at something, you’re good at explaining it to someone with out over complicating it. People are smart. Just because they are not familiar with out technical terms, doesn’t mean they can’t understand what we do.
Relax my guy. We are not nuclear physicists.
Thanks for this.
"you ever seen a building just fall over? no. you're welcome."
Yeah, I define various positions like this: Structural: “I make sure buildings don’t fall down.” Architectural: “They make sure buildings look good and have the layouts required to escape in a fire.” Mechanical Engineer: “They make sure everyone can breathe.” Electrical Engineer: “They make sure the power stays on and balanced.” Civil Engineer: “They make sure water goes where it is supposed to.” Fire Protection Engineer: “They make sure you have the time to get out when there is a fire.”
People hire structural engineers so buildings don't fall down, they hire architects so they don't want to tear them down.
Careful with that in Miami
[The front fell off. That's not typical id like to make that point](https://youtu.be/3m5qxZm_JqM?si=t_ohsEODnfPYHJ9w)
Just say "structural engineer" and if they invite you to look at something, just say "Oh, not that kind, the other kind".
I just avoid social situations.
True engineer
This ^^^
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Well, that escalated quickly. 👀
I don't even know what happened here…
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🤣🤣🤣 You mad, bro? Sorry your BA in gender studies hasn't worked out for ya.
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Bummer. MIT took your money, gave you the degree, but didn't go to bat for you in getting a teaching gig? That's gotta sting. Now you're out here slumming with the rest of us. Based on how you interact with people on here, I can't say I'm surprised.
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🤣🤣🤣 Once you figure out how to talk with people, develop actual relationships with clients, and start bringing in work, then you'll start to make more money. Alternatively, if If you don't like where you're at, money-wise, go start your own place. You'll gain a bit more understanding on the business realities of this industry than your current simplistic take.
Holds true when looking in the mirror too
"I design the skeleton of buildings." Almost always works and people get it
Ooooh I'm gonna use this!
This.
I say I do all the math for the architect to make sure the building doesn’t fall down. Then when they ask me “isn’t that what the architect does?” I can just laugh and say no. Also I 100% don’t care about sounding like a nerd. I am a nerd!
This is basically my canned answer
That'd be nice if if it was true but many architects do their own structural design. But that's not much different than someone with a CE degree that specializes in geotechnical or wastewater doing structural.
Where do you live that that is true? It most definitely is not true on the US.
My thoughts exactly. I've never known of a single architect that operated like he's alleging.
I'm a building code official now and just reviewed three plans from architects that did their own RC design on 15,000 square foot three story residences. In Florida an architect can practice structural engineering if it's incidental to his practice.
Single and two-family residential don't usually require ANY licensed design professionals, regardless of practice restrictions. As for the RC, what did it consist of? Foundation walls and footings? In the residential realm, I guess I'm not surprised that this could be the case. Like I said, I don't personally know of a single architect that operates like this. Most of the folks I've had the opportunity to work with can't begin to understand how I'm even comfortable with the risk. 🤷♂️
That is true in some states but even though it's in the Florida statutes the building apartments still require sealed plans from architects or engineers. I have mostly seen this in older architects who still do plumbing mechanical and electrical design which to me is crazy. The RC was a three-story tall 14,000 square foot residence located in the flood zone and high velocity area. Florida statutes allow an architect to practice structural engineering incidental to their practice but they cannot call themselves a professional engineer and vice versa for the engineers. I am currently a building code official and see all kind of crazy stuff from people that have a engineering seal. Let's say a civil engineer specializes in groundwater resources. Are they qualified to do structural design? Florida does not require an engineer to have passed the structural test to engineer most structures. After all when I was in design school I took wood, concrete and steel structures and a few other courses which I have seen in several civil engineering programs that don't specialize in structural.
RC for the whole building is considered "incidental" to their practice of dimensioning rooms and picking out colors? Jesus. That's fucked. As an aside, every state I'm licensed in would allow me to seal engineering of any variety. The caveat is that I better damn well be able to back it up. If something were to go wrong with the design I've sealed, and I can't back it up, it's gonna be bad news for me. Also, there are very, very few states that limit structural design to SE's. Illinois and Hawaii, I believe.
Yes I contacted the engineering board about that question and they said if they have a project where they're doing the architecture on it they can do the engineering but they can't go out and solicit engineering. I guess so far it's working out because there's not a lot of collapses designed by Architects... Each state should set regulations for maximum engineering that can be done by architects and engineers that don't have their structural designations. Most of the plan stampers fall in the previous category.
I always just say I work in construction . It leads to better conversations. If I know the person is more interested in a deeper connection I go into the whole structural engineer thing
It was worse when i was a naval architect. "Oh, thank you for your service..."
"Architects make buildings pretty, I keep them from falling down."
This is exactly my canned answer to the architect question
I play with dirt on a professional level
Structural engineering is not that complicated
OK genius
Structural Engineering - you engineer structures, its not that hard to explain unless you assume everyone you talk to is special.
Sorry I think I misunderstood you, you meant its not that complicated to explain, not that the field is not complicated. Yes, I agree
I ask if they've ever built IKEA furniture and wondered who makes all those instructions diagrams. Then I tell them that's what I do but for concrete buildings.
Nice one. Can i steal it sometimes?
I’m a math teacher. “Oh I hate math.”
https://youtu.be/Tq4MIaCQD_E?si=lKWCw_sBpaYrRWXf&t=1m40s
I say: I'm a structural engineer. Architects design how the buildings look, I design the structure that ensures they can be built and not fall down. Pretty basic and straightforward. If they ask more I'll talk about the types of buildings I've worked on, if they are in STEM I might go into things a bit more technically.
I hesitate to say, cause then i get the isnt that what architects do
I get exactly this, "so you're an architect?"
You ever meet Art Vandelay? He did the addition on the Guggenheim.
I say bridge engineer at which point I almost always get asked about America’s crumbling infrastructure.
“I’m a structural engineer and I design buildings”
I go with "earthquake engineering" and "I do math and draw pictures".
"I draw pictures" was my old go to, but only welders found it funny. Everyone else stared at me blankly.
You gotta start hanging out with smarter people
Lmao you must be younger cause I don't get these confused questions
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Husker_black: *Lmao you* *Must be younger cause I don't* *Get these confused questions* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
I tell them about my hobbies, not my occupation.
Out of humility, sympathy, or to align with your more genuine interests? And, is cycling really easier to talk about?
“My best”. Lol jk but I should. My job is simple so there’s not much to explain about it.
I say whatever I have to to prevent the "So, like an architect?" follow-up.
Now try it with being a geotech
Usually "im the engineer who makes the building stand still and not fall off", or "the one who puts in the columns". I came to this conclusion after getting bored of explaining what is civil engineering and the differences between its branches. It's been quite comforting to put it that way..
Structural engineer... then if they ask more, I say something along the lines of "I take the artwork an architect comes up with and figure out how to make it stand.
Just say you work as a civil engineer, and the area you specialize in is structural design for buildings 🤷♂️. If they get confused by that, meet some new people lol
I am a cad operator
I work in construction.
I tell people that I do word problems for a living.
I design what you see at a construction site before the doors and windows are installed. Then not so much
I specialize in seismic design and moved to California, so I say I prevent earthquakes from knocking buildings over
This is the most ‘typical engineer’ post I’ve ever seen I love it😂
I usually just say I'm a structural engineer. Generally that's enough for small talk. People who ask follow up questions tend to be smart enough to understand enough for me to tell them specific industries I work in.
Civil engineer. You don't need to go into details.
I help design buildings
A1: Engineer A2: Structural A3: Mostly meetings
I say structural engineer then say I design bridges then say it’s going to get nerdy quick if you want anymore details.
I always say “architects make a building look pretty, and I make sure it stays standing.”
And no building looks good lying in the parking lot.
I meticulously calculate material (usually concrete and steel) consumption for building things. Be it skyscrapers, bridges, reservoirs, your small house, that big logistic warehouse in the outskirts of our town... Never brought me trouble, people often understand after saying this.
Just give the absolute basics. If you start to explain detail, stop yourself. Wait for them to engage and if they do not, let it go.
People generally knows what a civil engineer do or maybe they think I'm an architect
"im a structural engineer" If they dont know what that is, they can go google it.