Nigel Goodwin

All council jobs in the UK have to be advertised and applicants interviewed, even when the post has already been filled internally - it's such a huge waste of time and resources, but the councils say it has to be so.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

Hero999

I went to an interview a few months ago.

They asked me about my experience and a few technical questions, e.g. asking me to draw basic schematics of different switch mode power supply topologies. I felt I did alright but I didn't get the job because I had applied for two vacancies, engineer and trainee and was too qualified for the trainee but the other applicants for the engineer had more experience and qualifications than me.

Now I'm thinking about doing a degree but I'm not sure whether it would be worthwhile or whether I have the commitment.

I already have an HND which could put me into the second year of a degree course and I could do it part time but I don't think I want to do that:

• I've already worked and studied at the same time and I hated it.
  
• It's been two years since finishing my HND and it'll be three by the time I'd start my degree so I wouldn't feel confident.
  
• I still live with my parents and have virtually no real life experience and the whole going away to university thing would help my personal development.

The main things that putting me me doing a degree in general are:

• I do admit I'm of the academically lazy disposition and I don't know if I have the commitment.
  
• I currently have enough money to move out now which I won't do because of the current sate of the housing market and if I go to university I could get into debt and come out with no degree and be far worse off.

However if I do go and get a good degree I could stand to gain a lot:

• I could get a better job.
• The life experience involved in getting the degree could be priceless: if I successfully manage to manage my own finances, time and overcome my academic laziness I'd boost my self-esteem.
• I could also mitigate the possibility of debt by getting a mature student grant, investing my student loan and working part time.

If I do a degree what course should I do?

Has anyone done any of the following?

• Mecatronics
• Electrical engineering
• Electronic engineering
• A generic engineering degree

I'd like to do something that's more practical than theory; I'd actually like to design and build things, not just do maths and theory.

There again, as there's no money in engineering in this country, should I leave engineering altogether and do something else?

Come to think of it, in a way I'm happy at the moment, life is easy, they don't expect much from me at work and my parents are always around to help me. I'm just bored, I'm bored with my job and don't have much of a social life.

I suppose getting another job (I'm currently looking) might help me but a degree would make that much easier.

I could carry on like this for the next 10 years; is being bored a good reason to do a degree?

__________________
I also post at the following sites:
http://www.stop-microsoft.org http://www.heated-debates.com
Screen name: Aloone_Jonez

Nigel Goodwin

I think you're looking at the same problems as Digitan, there are a LOT of people out there who may be far better qualified than you - but getting a degree may not guarantee you a better job, those days are long gone.

My daughter is currently looking at Universities for next year, but she's looking at maths, and probably a Masters degree rather than a Phd - if nothing else an extra years teacher training will guarantee a job as a maths teacher, the UK is desparately short of maths teachers!.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

jpanhalt

Hero, Get the degree.

It is imposssible to know whether you will need it or not. One thing is for sure, though, it won't be a disadvantage. Unless, of course, you have too many and appear to be a professional student.

What is "Mecatronics?"

John

blueroomelectronics

Mechatronics
Mecatronics

__________________
Bill
Smart Kits build Smart People
http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

Hero999

Looks good about the foriegn language part.

Wtf is social Environment / Setting? Is it a lession on going down the pub and socialising?
I'm up for that.

__________________
I also post at the following sites:
http://www.stop-microsoft.org http://www.heated-debates.com
Screen name: Aloone_Jonez

Hero999

I've decided that, I'll apply for university and for a few jobs.

That way I can keep my options open: if I get a good job then great, If not then I can consider university.

__________________
I also post at the following sites:
http://www.stop-microsoft.org http://www.heated-debates.com
Screen name: Aloone_Jonez

DigiTan

Contrary to what everyone expects, I'd recommend getting the degree. Not because it would benefit you directly; but because recruiters are so closed-minded, no one will even listen to you without one.

__________________
The most-hated young engineer in America.
* AVR Projects
* Robot War: TI
* About

rjvh

Hi Hero

what do you want to do (i mean working wise)

you're now 26 so if you start working now you do get work experiance and in a year or 4 you can flow through to management position if you like

age wise if you want in a management position you have to be there before 32 or it realy gets harder and harder to get in that position and still have options to grow furter (a lot of people that enter these positions when they are 40 stay there till they stop working)

if you doing another degree you getting more knowledge in another field but it's more likely you will end up in a research development job or teaching job

also very rewarding job oppertunities in this derection

for me personaly i am in the management now and I realy like it and still have a lot of opertunities to grow further in my career

but if you're more a creative technical guy that want to find things out investigate situations than do another degree i would say

also have a thought where the jobs are gona be in the future

that makes the difference if you gona specialize on a sertain topic or just get a wider education so you can look to more than one field

Robert-Jan

Hank Fletcher

I've had a few of those, too. It's kind of sweet when someone has the conscience to try to make amends for their own interview process. I don't take it personally, I think they're just being careful not to burn bridges with professional people.

I remember this one interview I had in Brampton, where the interview involved a kind of roundtable lead by the principal, with the vp, the former teacher, and I think someone else there, too. The principal was completely off her rocker, and the looks across the table from the other people there were like, "We're sorry! Save yourself! Take us with you!" The principal was so demanding, and the job wasn't all that anyway - it was completely daffy.

adaminc

A Few of my friends have had troubles getting a job right out of college in the EE/EET Sector. Me personally, I am joining the Canadian Forces as a LCIS Technician, so I have a job now.

Hero999

Well I've been working (not counting my apprenticeship) for two years now.

A management position?

No way.

That's sounds more like the kind of thing I'd like to do but I don't know if I want to do it so badly to do a degree.

__________________
I also post at the following sites:
http://www.stop-microsoft.org http://www.heated-debates.com
Screen name: Aloone_Jonez

crust

Its hard to "classify" management positions unilaterally. I am a manager and I still do plenty of my own schematic design, code, firmware, PCB, debug, etc. The plus side is that I also get to dictate in general how a project should go but not work on the detailed design of every aspect of the system. I have a small team that works for me. Is it more work to manage and be a key engineer? Absolutely, and you have to commit way more of your time to do it. But it is quite rewarding both in compensation and the respect you earn from others.

__________________
www.ps3toothfairy.com -- Full IR control for your PS3

Hero999

The down side is that if the sh1t hits the fan you'll get the blame for it.

__________________
I also post at the following sites:
http://www.stop-microsoft.org http://www.heated-debates.com
Screen name: Aloone_Jonez

DigiTan

That'll happen anywhere. Expect the royal treatment until they decide they don't like you anymore. In every job I've worked, I've seen successful personnel canned after 15+ years of service because the higher-ups had some random vendetta. If they don't like your face or your last name, project success won't mean jack.

If you're worried management work will detach you from the design work--no one's going to argue that isn't possible. But if you're looking to fly under the radar, I can definitely tell you being liked is far more important than accountability.

__________________
The most-hated young engineer in America.
* AVR Projects
* Robot War: TI
* About