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After becoming a Chartered Engineer, what is the next milestone or achievement?

Keith Mak
Should I focus on developing my technical skills, pursue project management (PM), or aim to build expertise in both areas?
  • 0

    That rather depends on your personality and your goal in life. I spent my entire career avoiding project management.

  • 0 in reply to Simon Barker

    Can't agree anymore. I'm still struggling with how to balance technical development and program management.

  • 0 in reply to ALEX Y.C. CHEN
    For me, I’m still dedicating more time to strengthening my technical skills while also managing the project schedule. Personally, I truly enjoy deepening my technical expertise and aspire to become a technical lead rather than transitioning into a full-time project management role.
  • 0

    I'm not sure I am the right person to answer this, being nearer the end of my career than the beginning.What follows is general observation.

    As above 'that is entirely a matter for you' So try to do what do you enjoy doing - you don't want to be doing something that makes you want to stay in bed rather than get out of it for more of your working life than is avoidable ! 

    Speaking personally, I've always been a problem solver and  visualiser and explainer not a natural leader. ( I can, but it's like my driving, any vehicle, badly, still including when its my own I drive every day )

    But you may prefer to organise a team and divvy tasks up for others. You may like talking to customers -or you may find them a total pain - this sort of thing decides if you are the right guy to lead  that meeting

    If you don't really know, do a bit of each when a chance to do a little arises, and then decide to chase more of what you find you like and less of what you don't.

    Looking back I realise  I never really planned very far ahead, and on the odd occasion I did, what happened never really matched that plan anyway ! But, I did tend to just go for the interesting stuff - which meant sometimes being the only one to ask 'when does the next plane leave' in response to 'we have a problem on this site that's miles away..' That approach sometime led to some interesting experiences, reading the manual while travelling, to arrive the 'expert' and carrying cards in the local language with the name of the hotel and contact info for a taxi driver, but I'm still here and I learnt a heck of a lot.  But for many that might feel way too stressful., so know your own limits.

    People in all these roles are needed, somewhere, it is more a case of finding where you fit in and feel you can do it well and are happy. And if you cannot get comfortable by changing what you are doing in the current workplace, then don't be too afraid to consider changing workplace, - to another one-, so long as you are very clear with all involved why that is .

    Mike.

  • 0 in reply to Simon Barker

    I rather wish I had and just stayed designing !

  • 0 in reply to mapj1
    Brilliant insights, Mike. This is the perspective I relate to the most. I completely agree that we need to find principles of contentment regarding our accomplishments. This isn't to say engineers should stop striving for growth, but achieving CEng is a massive milestone in its own right. As you mentioned about finding where we fit, CEng gives you that fantastic balance—the ability to stay hands-on and involved in practical work, rather than being forced exclusively into a full-time management or pure design track.
  • +1
    Great question, Keith. The next milestone after CEng isn't necessarily another certificate; it’s mastering the balance between your technical passions and career longevity. While engineers must always strive to grow, we also need principles of contentment regarding our achievements so we don't rush into roles that burn us out. 
    If your passion lies in technical depth, lean into it. The industry desperately needs technical experts, not just project managers. Achieving CEng gives you the professional standing to remain hands-on and stay close to the design action, proving that career progression doesn't have to mean abandoning the engineering work you actually love doing.
  • 0 in reply to Brian Masona

    Thank you, Brian. Your response truly meant a lot to me. I’d like to clarify that I’m not looking to move into a Project Manager role — my passion remains on the technical side: designing, building, and delivering solutions all the way to production. That said, taking on Project Manager responsibilities has given me valuable experience in ensuring systems are deployed smoothly and efficiently.

    At the same time, I’m expanding my knowledge in Cyber Security so I can take on greater responsibility in making sure my designs and implementations fully meet security requirements and industry best practices. I’m also continuously learning and pushing myself to grow further in the technical and design aspects of my career.

  • 0

    As an aside, I often, as a PRA, suggest that applicants should be able to answer the rhetorical 'interview' question of "what will you do with your CEng?".

    I do it partly to 'help' applicants who view it as a finish line and wall-certificate as part of some job tick-box need, but mainly to encourage candidates to reflect on the whole 'purpose in life' stuff.

    Far too many applicants arrive with an "I am not worthy" worry and think they need the certificate to be the professional engineer that they are (have been and can be...), and have no idea what they'll do after their coronation.

    I would also throw in a quick read of "What color is your parachute" by Boles(*), especially the intro anecdotes. It's all about knowing who you are and being happy with it, and what it brings (rather than chasing other peoples expectations for you..). An alternative bit of reflection is "The art of Being" by Fromm (I must read beyond the blurb..)

    [I'm not a great believer in 'goals at all costs', most people's life plans never include old age and demise..; Stick with generic compass directions, see Competing Values Framework (Quinn & Rohrbaugh) for quadrant choices] 

    (*) Parachute Color: I have the 1999 edition. First Ed was 1970. Continues to be updated by Boles!

  • 0 in reply to Philip Oakley

    I think we should remember our place a bit more... We are Peer Engineers there to advise on the process and requirements and not to moralise on the reasons for applying

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