surveyor

civil technician

Fishbeck

I was promised growth opportunities, competitive pay, and consistent support in my role—and for a while, that held true. But as the company expanded, those commitments were lost in translation. Despite dedicating 3.5 years to this organization, I remained stagnant in the same position, living paycheck to paycheck, while managing two main offices and three satellite locations—all with minimal support. Worse yet, my requests for reasonable accommodations due to my disability were denied, and I had to plead for constructive feedback from superiors who seemed more invested in power dynamics than leadership.

Misinformation and misconceptions about my work became constant battles. Whenever I advocated for myself or communicated directly, I was unfairly labelled as "condescending" or "unprofessional"—accusations that were outright false. Too often, perceptions of me were shaped by others' miscommunications, which unjustly put my job at risk.

Ultimately, it became clear that my role was never about growth or respect—it was about compliance. I was expected to perform on command, stay silent, and never question the status quo.

FTC&H is a conservative 'slow but steady' growth company. They run lean and have a hire and fire methodology. Because of this, they run an elite core of managers surrounded by a thin layer entry level positions and CAD jockies. The pay is below industry standards. 

The managers, though diligent and I'm sure good people, lack management know how to aid in career growth. As an entry level technician, their way of teaching me was to advise me to 'ask a lot of questions', a cop out, especially if you dont know the questions to ask. I've seen plenty of people given enough rope to hang themselves on. 

If you want a good guage of company atmosphere walk around the offices at noon, pay close attention to the break rooms, they will be vacant unless an event is hosted, people eat at their desks. I always felt like I was going to get fired if I didn't sit at my desk 9 hours a day. 

This company is definitely good for some people, typically those with more experience who dont need growth.

I started with this company in 2014 and am very happy I did. From the onboarding process and training initially to the mentorship program and goal setting later, I feel valued and prepared for my job, from the first day. 

Management is transparent with plans and goals. It is overall a healthier place to work - no drama, very stable, hours are reasonable, and workload is monitored and distributed evenly. Because it is an employee-owned firm, you get the sense that employees care more and have a vested interest in making the company better and clients happy.   

I love my job!

Warning to everyone, do not work for this company.
They are a hire/fire fim who goes through many architects.
They is no room for advancement, they are only looking for CAD jockeys.
I was told many lies to leave my previous postion to move to Grand Rapids.
I moved here and built a home, only to be laid off and without any means to pay for our family home.
Lost home to forclosure.
They did not care, they only hired a new person to fill my "slot"" within a few days of being laid off.

Interesting mix of projects, tends to be focused on specialties with less focus on overall leadership.
Business systems for accounting, marketing, production, require significant employee effort and computer time.
Generally friendly and approachable staff and management.

Great project involvement with solid manager. The team was great and made many friends, although many who have left or are looking to leave. As a whole the department was unsupported by top leaders. Engineers running a business, not business people whatsoever. 

This company is a very great company to work for and with. If your looking for a place to work where you get to talk to many people throughout your work week then I would suggest working for this company because working at a convenient store will bring you people from all over.

Having worked in other A/E firms in the area, the attention to work/life balance is better here than most. Colleagues assume competence; autonomy and flexibility are the norm. Benefits and pay are good; annual raises are given. Mentoring program encourages well-rounded experience.

Every individual I had the pleasure of working with cared about coworker development and assisted me many times when I was confused. The management always remained effective in communication and I never felt out of the loop even as an intern.

Fair wages and wide variety of projects. Willing to train you in a lot of different areas. Overtime expected particularly during busy seasons with deadlines approaching. A lot of talented engineers and the firm supports women engineers a lot. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Surveyor 1 salary reported	$30.92 per hour
Civil technician 1 salary reported	$30.93 per hour

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