To infinity and beyond: engineering grads in alternative careers

Engineering would seem like a steady vocation, yet many engineering graduates choose to go into other fields. Engineering 'refugees' Gareth Corsi and Richard Chua reveal why they jumped ship and elected to pursue careers far removed from their university training.

The Journalist
Name: Gareth Corsi
Qualification: BEng (Hons) in Aerospace Engineering, University of Liverpool, UK, 1998

The journalist who fell into words
Gareth Corsi got into engineering because he was already doing an electronics course at college and later wanted to work with aircraft. He said, 'I thought that understanding what made them work would help.' Gareth went on to earn his BEng (Hons) in aerospace engineering. Upon graduation, he embarked on a promising career with one of the industry's headliners - until a rather fortuitous mis-step by his employer made him take flight.
'I worked for a major aerospace manufacturer, and was given a job which required a mathematician, not an engineer,' Gareth said. 'I made my case to my boss on a few occasions but was told that that was the job I would be doing for the indefinite future. So I quit.'

As Gareth put it, he 'fell' into journalism from aerospace engineering, landing at the Royal Aeronautical Society's flagship publication, Aerospace International and its technical publication The Aeronautical Journal. It was a job that needed someone with technical experience who could be trained to write, as in the aerospace industry it is prohibitively expensive to do the opposite. 'In the first six months I had hoped to return to engineering but soon discovered that I loved journalism and had a better talent for it than my original vocation,' he added.

Since then, Gareth's journalistic career has taken him as far as Budapest, Hungary, where he wrote for The Budapest Sun, Hungary's leading English-language newspaper. Most recently he has just concluded a stint as an English instructor in Nagoya, Japan, and will soon be resuming his writing career with a specialist publishing house in Malaysia.

'Engineering has helped hone my analytical and problem-solving skills, methodical attention to detail, persistence and tenacity. All of which are required to make a good journalist,' Gareth pointed out. Also, 'engineering courses now often work on management skills too, which are sought after in any industry - not just the media or engineering.'

Gareth's advice for engineering students and graduates is to 'keep your options open at all times. Look for different ways to complete your objectives and don't make decisions in haste - especially if you are thinking of leaving your chosen vocation. Try to find a mentor (or mentors) - someone to guide you and give you the benefit of their experience. When we are young, we think we are invincible and know everything, but we can learn so much from those around us.'

'In general, I have never had any illusions about my career. It is tough to succeed and not everyone will be like CNN's Anderson Cooper, but if you want to achieve and be rewarded, then you must persist,' Gareth concluded.

The Entrepreneur
Name: Richard Chua
Qualification: BEng (Civil) (Hons), Bachelor of Commerce, University of Melbourne, Australia, 1997

The entrepreneur who reached for the stars Richard Chua doesn't really remember why he went into engineering in the first place, but recalls that it had something to do with his parents' influence and wanting a 'bricks and mortar type career.' Following his graduation from the University of Melbourne with a double degree in civil engineering and commerce, he duly went to work for a prestigious local engineering firm. There he was project manager for star clients like ExxonMobil, and pursued a conventional civil engineering career for five years. Soon, though, he decided that he wanted to be involved in a business related to his personal interests. A lifelong fan of science fiction and movies, Richard had been an administration team member of MySciFiFan, a Malaysian science-fiction and fantasy enthusiasts' online community, for several years. In November 2006, he moved the community from cyberspace to real world by opening the MySciFiFan Outpost Cafe in Cineleisure Damansara. Located steps from the 10-screen Cathay Cineplex, the movie-themed cafe is a popular gathering spot for hobby groups such as the Selangor and Federal Territory Plastic Modelling Society, RPG players, boardgamers and costumers among others.

Today, as the founder and managing director of Outpost Management Sdn Bhd, Richard runs the Outpost Cafe; eToyz, a retailer of movie merchandise and collectible toys; and Outpost Events, an event management outfit that works with several film distributors to organise and run movie premiere events and publicity roadshows in the region for high-profile Hollywood blockbusters such as Hellboy, Batman: The Dark Knight, and Star Wars: Clone Wars.

Richard noted that his experience during his engineering career with project planning and implementation of physical retail outlets, as well as with the procurement process, has helped him immensely in his current career. Also, he picked up a number of management skills in his career as a civil engineer that are crucial for Outpost management, such as 'tolerance under high pressure, flexibility to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and an ability to communicate clearly.'

Richard advises students and graduates that they should 'use skills learned as a base for any career path, particularly analytical skills applicable to many businesses.' His advice to students, particularly, is to 'always strive for a H1 (a First Class Honours degree) as excellent grades do make a difference when seeking the job you want.'

Although the long hours caused by having to be on call for clients can be taxing, Richard says that the best parts of the job are being able to meet other fans with similar interests and being able to find those special and treasured toys for collectors - in short, 'delighting customers with fan activities they want.' p>

© GTI Specialist Publishers. Reproduced with permission.