Well, it's something I've been thinking about doing anyways.

In the 3 and a half years I've been an electrician I've thrown my back out twice, had surgery for a hernia, and damn near lost a finger, and I'm only 21. Kinda scary to think what 30 years of the **** might do to me.

So, I'm currently unemployed, construction around here has pretty much come to a stop, and I'm lost. I really don't like the idea of dealing with my back being broke down, and working in some pretty harsh conditions, and I'm young enough to possibly make the change.

So I've been debating with myself to possibly go back to school, and maybe major in computer science, or something close to that area. I enjoy computers, maybe a little more then the average person..

I wasn't the best student in high school, mainly because I simply didn't go..thought I had better things to do or whatever, so I'd end up at a Community College..which doesn't bother me.

But what I've been worried about is, what if I do go to school, and get out, and there aren't any openings?

Do people who normally finish college get out, and find the job they are looking for? Or atleast fall close to the type of job they are looking for?

 

I went to school to become an electrician, and after school quickly learned I could do it, but it wasn't for me. I even was #1 in my state for Motor Control. But it didn't quite interest me. So I dipped into PLC Programming. Instead of being the one physically installing all the conduit, pulling the wire, wiring up the motor starters, etc, I was the one controlling them all, sitting at a desk. Or sitting at a control cabinet, in the field.

I self taught myself in about 1 year. PLC Programmers are highly valuable as their aren't many, and there are even less who do a good job at it.

Look into Allen Bradley Programming. Its basic ladder logic. Its quite simple actually.


Learn basic PLC programming in a couple months, move down south, and make over 100k a year. Automation to them is like rocket science. I'm not saying it in a dickheaded way, but they are 10 years behind.

 

Yea. Unfortunately, I'm still pretty unskilled as far as it goes with electrical theory, etc. Not sure how much that would matter for PLCs, as I don't know a whole lot about them. I know that companies like Eaton Cutler Hammer do quite a bit with actually building the PLCs, and sometimes the programming behind them.

 

I got hired by a controls company as an apprentice right out of tech school. My apprenticeship was supposed to be 3 years, but I got it done in 1. I was generating more income than 20 year engineers. I learn quickly, and you always learn quicker when your younger.

If your familar with DOS programming or understand basic IF-AND-THEN statements, then Bristol Babcock PLC's are right up your alley. If your used to reading ladder diagrams, then Allen Bradley is the way to go.

Allen Bradley would be the most popular, and ladder logic will soon be a standard in PLC programming.



Also, if your any good with AutoCAD, most control companies are looking for draftsmen all the time. You can work your way up.

 

I just got my associates, and i dont feel like i can get a job better than anyone else.

And honestly, after I graduate with my bachelors, i dont know if i can get a job either. =(

 

Well not with that kind of attitude. If you work hard and want something, then you can do it. I don't have a degree and I'm doing well. I've been with this company for almost 7 years now and in that time I've had 5 positions. All have been a step up one way or the other. Sometimes you can't come in high, but starting low and working your way up shows people you are a hard worker and want to learn and be successful.

 

I would even argue that's what happens most of the time.

 

Thats what happens 95% of the time.

I was never one for college. The only people I know who haven't done well without a degree are the lazy ************* that bitch about their job at McDonalds, but never do anything about it.

Why not acquire a skill that you can't get in college? Isn't that more valuable? **** paying all that money. I went to tech school for free in high school, and made my way to where i am now.

I was always told to be an electrical engineer. I knew I could be one, easily. But why go to school for 4-6 years, be hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and then take 10 years to pay it off while only making ~100k a year? **** that.

I have engineers in my company that come to me for answers. And guess what, they all don't have any field experience. So they have no clue, the right things to do. Ever try to troubleshoot something designed by an engineer without any field experience? Its ridiculous.

 

I understand what you guys are saying..

And I'm a novice at best with DOS programming, not exactly skilled, but not exactly green to it either. Much of it I'd have to learn either way.

And yea, working as low man on the totem pole for a while and then moving up will have to be done regardless, I understand that, I guess for what I would like to do, doing that still wouldn't be too bad.

 

FWIW, my friend creigan was an electrician, got laid off, got his CCNA, and hired at my company starting at 60k a year working on our data network doing monitoring and surveillance.

 

The only problem with earning experience in the field is that you dont get anything to show for it.

A college degree basically says, this person has studied and has put alot of effort foreward to pass school.

Take the air force for example.

They wont let just anyone get in the officer program, they want someone with at least a bachelors degree, which is 4 years, if you take ur 15 hours each semeester which is in some cases tough to do. And nearly impossible if u have a full or part time job.

So college is definetly important, but it can be expensive.

I have tons of scholarships and I get to go free, other than my gas and food. and im at a university.

 

I'm going back to school even though I have 7 years of professional work experience as a generator technician.

3 years of school at DeVry until I earn a Bachelors in Applied Science for BMET. This is another technician job but the starting pay is higher then a journeyman level in my current career field. I'm not happy with the job offers that I got so far. I think I can do better for myself by going back to school and earning a real degree.

If I ever get a call from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Dyncorp inc., L-3 Vertex, Battlespace, General Dynamics, General Atomics and DOD. I will quit the school thing and pursue a career with one of these government funded companies.


You cant go wrong with furthering your education because this is one thing that no one can take away from you.

 

Field experience says you have working real work experience and can jump right into the job and do it.

a college degree without field experience means you have a broad understanding of it, but absolutly no idea how to apply that knowledge.

Preferrably you need a balance of both.

FWIW i never went to college. 4 years in the USAF doing telecom, then i got out with no college and 4 years experience and companies were throwing me 50k job offers left and right.

then the ".com" bubble busted, and i was lucky enough to work for a company that not only survived but thrived while its compedators were filing chapter 11 left and right.

From my personal experience, this is generally what college Vs trade schools will get you. yes i know there are exceptions, but ive seen this alot.


College, 4 years for bachelors 25k in student loans and a 25k salary job. Over time you will pay an extra 10k on that loan in interest. 3-5 years in bump maybe to 35k, 4-5 later maybe 45k, 5-6 years later with another degree 70-80k, you have a decent chance of making it past the 100K mark as long as you keep going back to college and bolstering your education, the sky is the limit.

Tradeschool - 3 months to 1 year schooling, very little educational debt, $18-$25 an hour wage, over the next 5-10 years you will probbably nearly double that amount, hitting 70k-85k, but PROBABLY wont ever break the 100k a year mark. You start out making a LOT more than most college grads, and you will get raises faster, but eventually totally top out and not see much growth on income.

 

See, around here the trade school I went to was accredited, was a 5 year program, and was year round. However, I had serious issues with the text, and lack of explanation given to me. Not 100% sure how you figure out electrical theory through a book that talks in some sort of mystical code.. but I couldn't do it, which got me booted from the program. However the apprenticeship director gave me a passing grade, so I wouldn't be placed on academic probation, if I decided to go back to school.

 

Jack is right, experience + knowledge is the best scenario. At least in the manufacturing field. You really need to learn PLC programming though to be a good electrician. But in a factory type electrician job, with PLC knowledge, you will have a leg up on just a standard electrician who can run wires to and fro. Changing and wiring lighting is ok, as is changing a blown fuse or 5 everyday, but most likely, without some technical know how, you will be a conduit bender, and wire puller, fuse checker, and the mechanics for the machines won't help you a bit..

There's money to be made for a good electrician in the manufacturing field. But it's still gonna be, Get dirty and sweaty when you have to replace a motor on a 600 ton press.. Unless you can delegate the guys that aint as bright as you are..

 

You have a lot to learn. If I got my degree in Entertainment Art, it would have helped me 0% in what I'm doing now. Just because you have a degree in something doesn't mean you are qualified for whatever you're going to do. You basically get a generalized learning of what you are going to be doing. The last two positions I've had both required degrees, yet I don't have one and got them pretty easily. I knew the right people and worked hard to prove that I could do the job and my reviews and work ethics speak for themselves.

Like I said before, my friend is a structural engineer with a Masters degree and I make almost 20K a year more than him.