A friend of mine told me, and i haven't looked into it, that when he took his job he was required to sell all his stake in GS to prevent conflicting interest. Taking his job granted him some favorable tax benefits and he was able to save some 75 million at day one.
I have been working for two years and interned for 3 summer sessions at the same place. I have the utmost respect for all machinists because, as you said they know their stuff, however when management feels that you are just another cog that is easily replaced doesn't bode well for morale. I was an idealist when I began my engineering education and will miss it immensely but it just doesn't make economic sense. When I work a 50+ hr week my hourly rate, when you factor in opportunity cost from attending college drops down to a greeter at walmart.
Well as some general background I work in a small aerospace firm with approx. 20 other engineers and it may be true that my experience is colored by this particular job but I see it as:
1. Bad ROI you work really hard in school and spend a significant amount to graduate. My student loans have ballooned to nearly six figures.
2. Salaries, though I make more than most entry level engineers my sister who works in healthcare makes 25% more than me 4 months out of school.
3. There really isn't much prestige in what I do. In the hierarchy of our company I am essentially one level above an assembly person.
4. As older engineers put off retirement, and if one of the Detroit auto manufacturers goes out of business, the market will be flooded with highly skilled employees further suppressing my potential for earnings.
5. Expected to work 45 hrs a week and times when I have worked up to 55 hrs there is no appreciation or reward.
Yep, this fall I will be quiting my engineering job to back to graduate school in a health profession. Its a shame too, I just graduated two years ago as a BSME and BSEE but working as an engineer just wasn’t rewarding.