Joiner vs Electrician

Nate Silvers · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:09

I could but I only have a C in English and a D in Math. I stupidly chose Art & Design for college when I was 16. Regret that

.

UK-AL05 · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:10

Nate Silvers said:
I could but I only have a C in English and a D in Math. I stupidly chose Art & Design for college when I was 16. Regret that .

I got a D in english, I did pretty good in maths though. At the time college just enrolled me to do english again while doing a-levels and got a b.

There are probably some alternative routes in. Hnds might take you, hnds then allow you to end up in the 2nd year of a degree course in some universities.

Nate Silvers · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:18

I always hated Maths but recently discovered the beauty of it. Would love to learn it again.

Had a quick look at HND you recommended, need at least one A level but it says they start in January hmmm.

Does studying Math to A level and then applying for engineering sound good?

UK-AL05 · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:20

Nate Silvers said:
I always hated Maths but recently discovered the beauty of it. Would love to learn it again.

Had a quick look at HND you recommended, need at least one A level but it says they start in January hmmm.

Does studying Math to A level and then applying for engineering sound good?

I'm a computer science guy so I know nothing of engineering, but if you think you can hack it, i think go for it.

Nate Silvers · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:23

Computer Science, what kind? Sorry if that's a dumb question but what path did you take?

UK-AL05 · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:24

Nate Silvers said:
Computer Science, what kind? Sorry if that's a dumb question but what path did you take?

Me?

The usual route, I know people hnd's in engineering and they appear to be doing alright though.

I did a degree in cs straight from college, work as a software engineer, then going onto do a masters the start of this term of the academic year.

lewism · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:25

Nate Silvers said:
I would love to be a Mechanical/Electrical Engineer or working with computers. I read about how things like circuits, transistors, binary etc work. I can read for hours it's so fascinating.

Since I'm never going to be an engineer I figure a trade. It's not me at all, I'm like a nerdy no good with my hands person but being 24 living at home gives me enough motivation to do this!

No mate. If you want to be a mechanical/electrical engineer you're going about the wrong way to do it. If you love to read and you enjoy reading the material to do the job then that is 50% of the battle done. The other 50% is split between the motivation to achieve your goals and the balls to decide that this is what you want to do.

Honestly get a job in retail/asdas/tescos or whatever mundane job will pay your bills and put in the extra work at college/nightschool or even the Open University. If you go in for a job that demands attention, sweat and labour (all of these trades do, there is no easy ride) then by the time you get home after a days work, get fed and showered all you will want to do is sit on the couch and chill.

I emplore you to go to your local college and talk to someone about the options and paths available to get into mechanical/electrical engineering. Making the transition two years into an apprenticeship because you've had enough of crawling under floors for £4 an hour and then upping sticks is not the way to go about this.

Nate Silvers · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:25

So you studied computer science at Uni?

UK-AL05 · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:26

Nate Silvers said:
So you studied computer science at Uni?

Yes.

But the point is, your goals are not cut off from you. There are many ways into a career.

hnds, hncs, open university(i'm not sure if it counts towards your CENG) or just redoing your a-levels.

If you talk universities and colleges you might even be able to blag your way past the requirements because your a mature student.

Nate Silvers · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:33

lewism said:
No mate. If you want to be a mechanical/electrical engineer you're going about the wrong way to do it. If you love to read and you enjoy reading the material to do the job then that is 50% of the battle done. The other 50% is split between the motivation to achieve your goals and the balls to decide that this is what you want to do.

Honestly get a job in retail/asdas/tescos or whatever mundane job will pay your bills and put in the extra work at college/nightschool or even the Open University. If you go in for a job that demands attention, sweat and labour (all of these trades do, there is no easy ride) then by the time you get home after a days work, get fed and showered all you will want to do is sit on the couch and chill.

I emplore you to go to your local college and talk to someone about the options and paths available to get into mechanical/electrical engineering. Making the transition two years into an apprenticeship because you've had enough of crawling under floors for £4 an hour and then upping sticks is not the way to go about this.

I've done demanding jobs before, factory work on a fast moving line and strimming miles of grass/weed in 30 degrees heat.

I either apply for a trade apprenticeship or find some way into engineering but I'm thinking maybe I'm too late for that and I need to just get a job? I'm going to take your advice though it made me think. I'll visit my college on Tuesday see what they say.

You're right I need the balls.

UK-AL05 - Thanks for the advice too you've given me advice in two minutes than any careers advisor.

UK-AL05 · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:37

Half the time career advisers are just some random bloke off the street who knows nothing.

Nate Silvers · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:42

Well I just found this

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/aug/08/open-university-fees-rise#start-of-comments

Doesn't look good

lewism · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:43

Nate Silvers said:
I've done demanding jobs before, factory work on a fast moving line and strimming miles of grass/weed in 30 degrees heat.

I either apply for a trade apprenticeship or find some way into engineering but I'm thinking maybe I'm too late for that and I need to just get a job? I'm going to take your advice though it made me think. I'll visit my college on Tuesday see what they say.

You're right I need the balls.

UK-AL05 - Thanks for the advice too you've given me advice in two minutes than any careers advisor.

Yes but after the end of that hard shift you still have to knuckle down and do 2 hours of revision every night. Most people do not have what it takes to stick it out and get stuck in jobs they do not like because of financial commitments. You are in a good position because i'm assuming since you live with your parents that your financial commitments are minimal so you can work a shelf stacker position and still have the time to give it your all.

Check out the Open University and actually have a look at some local engineering companies in your area. Explain your position and ask if you can come down and have a tour around. That will give you an idea of what they are looking for from thier new recruits. Do they want an HNC/HND/University degree or someone with determination and a will to succeed and they will provide the training for them.

If you get a job with an engineering firm you can always work your way up or move within the industry. Much harder to do if you're a joiner...

UK-AL05 · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:44

Nate Silvers said:
Well I just found this

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/aug/08/open-university-fees-rise#start-of-comments

Doesn't look good

I think the new loans system includes part time students, and full time students. Look at the loan terms, I.E The student loan I have gets written off, if I don't pay it back.

"student loans company"

Nate Silvers · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:55

lewism said:
Yes but after the end of that hard shift you still have to knuckle down and do 2 hours of revision every night. Most people do not have what it takes to stick it out and get stuck in jobs they do not like because of financial commitments. You are in a good position because i'm assuming since you live with your parents that your financial commitments are minimal so you can work a shelf stacker position and still have the time to give it your all.

Check out the Open University and actually have a look at some local engineering companies in your area. Explain your position and ask if you can come down and have a tour around. That will give you an idea of what they are looking for from thier new recruits. Do they want an HNC/HND/University degree or someone with determination and a will to succeed and they will provide the training for them.

If you get a job with an engineering firm you can always work your way up or move within the industry. Much harder to do if you're a joiner...

I guess I am in a good position, hate living at home but you're right. I dunno about asking for a tour, maybe just phone and ask? Doubt they'd take time out for me. I had a quick Google search for Engineering companies and looks like sheet metal workers / fabricators and cars. Engineering is a diverse job though right?

UK-AL05 said:
I think the new loans system includes part time students, and full time students. Look at the loan terms, I.E The student loan I have gets written off, if I don't pay it back.

So you have a choice to pay it back or not?

UK-AL05 · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:58

Nate Silvers said:
I guess I am in a good position, hate living at home but you're right. I dunno about asking for a tour, maybe just phone and ask? Doubt they'd take time out for me. I had a quick Google search for Engineering companies and looks like sheet metal workers / fabricators and cars. Engineering is a diverse job though right?

So you have a choice to pay it back or not?

If you can pay back, you do, but if you can't it gets written off. Its a disguised tax rather than loan.

Nate Silvers · 15 Aug 2011 at 00:03

Ah so it's one of the loans based on how much you earn once you land a job? It's sad that education is only for the rich now.

UK-AL05 · 15 Aug 2011 at 00:10

Nate Silvers said:
Ah so it's one of the loans based on how much you earn once you land a job? It's sad that education is only for the rich now.

Not really, these loans let anyone go to university. If you understands the terms its a relatively risk free investment. Its covers the loses if it screws up, you only pay a bit back if you can afford it afterwords.

Don't read newspaper comment sections, you just end up raging with stupidity in there. People play politics all the while, with poor people blaming the rich, and rich people trying to subvert poor people i.e Grammar schools for my little boy, but for no one else etc etc They have problems imagining themselves in somebody else's shoes.

Sinny · 15 Aug 2011 at 00:31

Nate Silvers said:
I could but I only have a C in English and a D in Math. I stupidly chose Art & Design for college when I was 16. Regret that .

And? I got a D in English and D in Maths (B's in Science and IT though), I went back to college and took my maths again, as long as you understand stuff like Trigonometry, Pythagoras then the rest is just remembering the equations which are pretty easy, I am terrible at maths, yet I got through it.

Just have to put more effort in, nobody is thick, I realised that when I actually revised for the first time when I was 18 lol.

Nate Silvers · 15 Aug 2011 at 01:50

Haha fair enough, you like Science then or was that a class you didn't misbehave in

I don't remember what Trigonometry/Pythagoras even is but I'll learn it at home

Thank god for the Internet.

Think I'm ready for this though got new motivation and perspective. I've grown out of everything I used to do like skateboarding, gaming, Facebook, drinking on a Saturday. I remember I said I'd never stop skating, seems like a total waste of time now. Well not a waste just bottom priority.