British Expatriate Network

Hello all!

I’m soon to become American through marriage. Woohoo!

Not sure if this is the write area to post, so apologies if im wrong razz

I’m interested in getting in touch with professionals in the US who were educated in the UK, specifically those who took education to degree level. I’m an engineering graduate and would like to talk to people who have had to negotiate the job market here in the US. How do US firms/companies view British qualifications? Will it be difficult for me to get a job to the level I am interested in? Are there many graduate programs etc? I have a few questions I would like to ask those who might be able to help me, so please get in touch. Its all very daunting for me as the professional institutions I have contacted so far in the US and UK have given me very conflicting information.

Id appreciate anyone who can help me replying or mailing me,
Many thanks,
Jim

jimbiz77@hotmail.com
???

Hello Jim,

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I have been applying for jobs and have found that American employers don't really understand our system. I've found the best thing to do is put a sentence under the name of the universities you went to on your resume explaining what they were. I'm a Cambridge Graduate, but had to explain that this was one of the most prestigious universities in the UK, and then I have an Open University MBA, so I had to explain that the OU pioneered distance learning and that the course was accredited by various professional bodies. American college degrees are usually 4 year but with really long holidays, so you might want to explain that your B. Eng is equivalent to a US 4 year college degree.

I hope this helps

Janet

They don't know what B.Eng is here either so say it's the equivalent of a BS (which is the same as a BSc). I have never had to translate my degree to a GPA, which is lucky because I got a 22 - I think they just accept the fact I have a degree and it's all hunky-dory.

I don't have a degree, being a bit of a drop-out but once I explained what I had done in the past professionally and my college work previously, it's never actually mattered. They pretty much told me in an interview that it sounded like I had a degree.

I still find it a bit funny though to work in a University setting where everyone assumes I have been through it all and got the bit of paper in the UK at the end when I really have not and am there more through good luck.

I have found that, despite the huge emphasis the US puts on education and the entire US schooling system, in the employment arena experience is equally as important.

In England I left school at the end of High School at the age of 16. I worked hard and applied myself to the numerous roles that came my way. I am now a software consultant, and earning a decent wage. My employer paid no attention to my schooling despite my mentioning it (I was concerned I would never get a job in the US based on my perception of the importance of Education).

I am sure this not the right place to have posted this, but I wanted to share the knowledge that a lack of a degree does not mean a person can not have a decent quality of life in this country.

Andy F

Andy, I don’t think anyone here mentioned anything about having a lower quality of life if you don’t have a degree. I have always believed that experience is just as important, but in the field of engineering, you need the right kind of experience.

I wish to become a chartered engineer and whether this is in the US or UK, I need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institute to do this. My post is about wanting to find and talk to other people who may be going through, or have already gone through, this process of employment with higher education.
wink

I was a teacher in england and want to become one overhere-- and (typically) no one has any idea what my qualifications are!!!!!
I have had to use a company to write a report, translating all my "english "quallies into american equivelents--It involves you writing to your Universities for confirmation of what you achieved etc. It is a real pain in the butt,and it does cost some money, but it does mean that you can wave this report in a potential employers face---and they'll understand--- finally. Plus I have found that our degrees, masters etc are far superiour to the american ones and the report shows this. I used World education service-- -on the net-- I wouldn't particularly recommend them but may be it is a place to start eek

Thanks to all who have posted so far. I appreciate it.

I have yet to find any institutions, government or otherwise, who have been able to agree on the education equivalencies between the US and the UK. One tends to say one thing, the other something different. I really think this is something that people might find useful if there was a proper, consistent equivalency between the US and the UK identified and agreed upon.

Thanks again all. grin grin

Jim

I have a BSc (Hons) in Engineering from a UK university and I am also a C.Eng through membership of an Engineering Institution.

I am in my second job in the USA and both companies were happy to accept my degree although my current company actually contacted the University to confirm I actually had a degree. So having all your paperwork will be handy.

You mentioned "Chartered Engineer" and that you wish to become one (IE not one yet). The system in the UK varies from Institution and in my case there was a minimum age reqyuirement along with the need to be in a position of responsibility and submitting a paper about your experiences.

C.Eng is good in UK (and Europe if you coff up extra to be a Registered Eng) but it is NOT recognized in the USA. If you intend to live in the USA I would not sweat about obtaining C.Eng; besides to keep it active thereafter you would need to keep your membership live which is $200 a year.

In my case I had C.Eng before I moved and the company recognized it as "Professional Engineer (PE)" equivalent for the purposes of giving me a level of seniority.

PE is a licencing status operated by individual states allowing you to perform certain duties (EG a design that needs approval by the State may have to be stamped by a PE). Although each state has their own program they are pretty much the same and if you get licenced in one state you can transfer it to another (assuming you took tests in accordance with current standards which would be true in your case).

How to become a PE

(1) You take an 8 hr general Engineering exam (broad based) known as Part 1.

(2) Take an 8 Hr exam in a specialized field of which there are a restricted number of fields (unlike UK) such as Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical.

Pass and you are then granted a PE licence in that state. Provided you got your PE by these two exams you should be good to transfer at any time between states.

Each state generally has colleges that provide courses to prepare for the exams.

In my case I'm 40+ and required to get PE (Mech) in MA when my degree is in Natural Gas Engineering so its going to be a lot of school work for me although the company will pay all tuition costs.

If you are fresh out of college its a walk in the park for you.

Sorry for the long winded answer.

Roger

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