Career advice (electrical engineering)

dean_ham

dean_ham

dean_ham

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Career advice (electrical engineering) also civil engineering

Hey guys... anyone work in the electrical engineering trade? I need some advice on what i shall do next?

Basically im 21 now and im in my last year of my 4 year apprenticeship with Bosch.

Qualifications i have so far are...

2 A Levels (B) electronics (B) IT
ONC electrical electronic engineering (MERIT-DISTINCITON)
NVQ level 1 performing engineering operations
nvq level 2 electrical installation
PAT testing cert
PAT testing management cert
16th editions wiring regs
couple more i cant remember lol

Working towards... which i will have by summer 2007....
HNC in mechatronics.. ill most prob get a merit/distinction
NVQ level 3 in electrical installation


I have the ability to do a degree. but is it worth it? And if so what degree is best for me? i dont know where the best place is to ask and thought if i ask the people working in the trade it will give me a true answer. Rather me asking uni's and them trying to fob me off by putting me on a course that their trying to fill up.

So do i finish my apprenticeship with bosch and if i get taken on earn £28-32k a year or bite the bullet and further my education while im still young with no ties, no debt, nothing.....

What do you recommend guys?

Cheers

Dean
 
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Electrical engineering will stand u in good stead afa finding a desent job for the next 8 years or so due to infrastructure refurbishment going on. afa specific advice on subjects etc, cant help there. Finished my degree like ten years ago.
 
I wouldn't do a degree wich costs you money. It's not worth it. I would have a look around and see what course/training you can find which is sponsored.

For example, yes im going to post it again..

http://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/rail/networkrailprofile.html

If you get on, you get sponsored, so no Tuition fees and guaranteed job over the summer (must as part of the course).

In the 2nd year you specialize in one of the following
* signal engineering
* civil and track engineering
* electrical and mechanical engineering

Theres more courses/training like that out there, with over companies its just finding it.

sticking with bosch and getting 28k is not something to turn down lightly thats a lot of money.
 
if i was you i would take the job (if the offer is there) - once you have the job then you can think of doing a part time degree, or maybe do well in the company and they may have a scheme where they pay you to do a degree (part or full time).
 
You need to ask what you want to be doing in 10 years time, are you going to be happy on the tools or do you want to move into management?

If you have a degree it will be a lot easier for you to progress to a higher level in any company. Most Engineering Managers jobs I have seen in recent trade publications ask for a HND or Degree. I'm not saying it's going to be inpossible for you to progress without a degree just a lot harder.

That's a nice wage btw, my lads who are classed as multiskilled engineers (maintenance) earn 27k on shift work.

Can't you ask Bosch if they will release you to do a degree after you are taken on? That would be the best option IMO. Even if it takes you 6 years part time, you will be getting paid and earning a lot more than recent graduates with no debt once you've finished.

I would personally grab every training course/qualification that you are offered, if you stop learning you will find it VERY hard to start again in the future. Open University is also an option for you.

Are you maintenance or installation? Your quals seem to suggest both to me. Good people are very hard to find these days, so I dont think you will have any problems finding work whatever you decide to do.
 
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