Beginning his career as a graduate engineer with Cell Engineering, Nathan Ting moved to Darwin in 2015 with an opportunity to start-up and manage the new Darwin branch of the electrical consultancy, on the basis that he would achieve Chartered Status. Now a Chartered member of Engineers Australia, we caught up with Nathan to find out about his journey.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
As a kid I dismantled things around the house, wanted to know how to make things work and mucked around trying to make things work better. I discovered what engineering was and decided study it after I took a careers quiz in high school.
Why did you pursue Chartered Status?
The graduate program at Cell Engineering participated in Engineers Australia’s Professional Development Program (PDP), a pathway to achieving Chartered Status. I joined the program to develop the qualities and experience required to practice as a Professional Engineer. As a result, I was entrusted by my organisation to start a new branch in the Northern Territory last year.
I feel the community respects and trusts the engineering profession and by becoming Chartered, I am supporting this belief.
What advice do you have for someone who is just starting their Chartered journey?
It's never too late to start.
Your time and motivation will probably be the most challenging part of the assessment process. I urge anyone considering signing up for the program to consider what you want to achieve in your career rather than what you will receive.
I have recently published a post on LinkedIn with more tips to becoming chartered, if anyone would like to read more.
How did you structure your Chartered assessment pathway?
I initially used a competency matrix to identify areas where I was lacking in experience, allowing me to discuss specific areas with my organisation as part of my professional development.. As a result, when the opportunity was present, my organisation allowed me to work on particular projects to obtain the experience requested.
After obtaining most of the experience required, time and motivation was the next challenge to overcome in order to complete the competency reports.
I participated in the Get Chartered Program that Engineers Australia offered in Darwin. This program included monthly meetings with targets to achieve. As the meeting reminders popped up in my calendar, the coming deadline motivated me to finish writing a report. Through this program, I was able to complete eight competency reports in six months.
What did you learn about yourself during this experience?
During the process of becoming Chartered I realised that I enjoy being challenged by my work. In order to complete the competency reports, I had to step up and get more experience. And I am now in a management position, establishing the company in a new region, something I never thought I would do when I started studying engineering!
Want to learn more about Chartered Status?
Join Engineers Australia for an information on Chartered Status this Thursday in Darwin:
Defining your career pathway: Use Chartered to plan your professional development
Thursday 9 June, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Engineers Australia, 9 Cavenagh Street, Darwin