Hello
I was hoping I could get some advice on this. I am considering starting a HNC but I want to be certain I am doing the right thing given the cost involved.

I originally trained as a mechanic when I left school but through various twists and turns I have ended up with a degree in Marine Science and at the moment I work in fish farming. Because of my mechanical background I have always been involved in a little bit of maintenance in this career. Fixing pumps, servicing generators etc.
I have decided that I would like to start working as a full time maintenance or installation engineer in this industry. I never got a formal qualification as a mechanic so I only have my science degree.
Since most of the maintenance and installation engineers I met in this industry have electrical backgrounds, and my electrical knowledge is not fantastic I am considering doing the Electrical and Electronic Engineering HNC through Teeside Uni via Open learning.
Would this be a good choice or a good idea? Most of the systems we use in water treatment and pumping are electrical and rely on PLCs for control, there is also alot of lighting and alarm systems.
Any advice at all would be very helpful and appreciated. I know I want to move towards working as an engineer in this industry I just need to find a way of changing from Science to engineering.

 

Welcome to AAC!

What is it about electrical engineering that attracts you? What are your interests (high power/power distribution, control systems, analog/digital circuit design, etc)?

How much math, science, and engineering have you already taken?

How much money are you making? How much do you expect to make as an EE?

Have you talked to any career advisers at the school you're considering?

How many more years do you anticipate working? What kind of debt would you incur in pursuing a degree?

 

Hello
I was hoping I could get some advice on this. I am considering starting a HNC but I want to be certain I am doing the right thing given the cost involved.

I originally trained as a mechanic when I left school but through various twists and turns I have ended up with a degree in Marine Science and at the moment I work in fish farming. Because of my mechanical background I have always been involved in a little bit of maintenance in this career. Fixing pumps, servicing generators etc.
I have decided that I would like to start working as a full time maintenance or installation engineer in this industry. I never got a formal qualification as a mechanic so I only have my science degree.
Since most of the maintenance and installation engineers I met in this industry have electrical backgrounds, and my electrical knowledge is not fantastic I am considering doing the Electrical and Electronic Engineering HNC through Teeside Uni via Open learning.
Would this be a good choice or a good idea? Most of the systems we use in water treatment and pumping are electrical and rely on PLCs for control, there is also alot of lighting and alarm systems.
Any advice at all would be very helpful and appreciated. I know I want to move towards working as an engineer in this industry I just need to find a way of changing from Science to engineering.

Is this really what you want to do? Fish Farmer sounds so much nicer and healthier than maintenance engineers..

 

Hello
I was hoping I could get some advice on this. I am considering starting a HNC but I want to be certain I am doing the right thing given the cost involved.

I originally trained as a mechanic when I left school but through various twists and turns I have ended up with a degree in Marine Science and at the moment I work in fish farming. Because of my mechanical background I have always been involved in a little bit of maintenance in this career. Fixing pumps, servicing generators etc.
I have decided that I would like to start working as a full time maintenance or installation engineer in this industry. I never got a formal qualification as a mechanic so I only have my science degree.
Since most of the maintenance and installation engineers I met in this industry have electrical backgrounds, and my electrical knowledge is not fantastic I am considering doing the Electrical and Electronic Engineering HNC through Teeside Uni via Open learning.
Would this be a good choice or a good idea? Most of the systems we use in water treatment and pumping are electrical and rely on PLCs for control, there is also alot of lighting and alarm systems.
Any advice at all would be very helpful and appreciated. I know I want to move towards working as an engineer in this industry I just need to find a way of changing from Science to engineering.

Talk to employers / potential employers in your area. "Distance Learning" programs are proving to be a big letdown for most employers - that is, the people educated through those programs are not as qualified as those educated at traditional schools. My company won't hire people with distance learning degrees anymore.

Even schools with physical classes have been ruled out - they are just not up to par. We feel sorry for the people that have wasted their time and money at certain schools that are just not successful at placing applicants in the industry they are educated for. The US schools often report % of students with full-time employment within 6-months of graduation but they don't report whether or not the education was needed for the particular job.

End message, talk to employers about what school they would like to see on your resume.

 

End message, talk to employers about what school they would like to see on your resume.

I second that advice, and there may even be an opportunity to work on your education while working towards a new position at the right company. They might help pay for it, or at least be supportive.

 

TBH (and I know this sounds very pessimistic), my experience of job searching recently has left me in no doubt that you need to be early to mid-20s with degree to get jobs in engineering.

The kicker here is often they don't care what subject was studied as long as you have a degree and a general interest.

The "engineer shortage" is a complete lie, it's pushed many youngsters with no real engineering interest, into engineering degrees (mostly software or electronics as "clean hands" jobs), as a result the market is full of young graduates who are willing to work for peanuts and companies can take their pick.
These big employers also seem to be heavily in support of migrant engineers, who will often take minimum wage.

Someone older and more experienced can only really find temp work or short term contracts and such work usually involves mentoring the above group.

Some people get lucky, but generally it's a real mess out there.

I personally think the best way to go is toward roles that demand experience and someone who is willing to get "hands on", repairs and maintenance being two such areas, as in these areas you need real skills and an ability "walk the walk". I interviewed for such roles and the interviewers were real hardcore engineering types with over 30 years experience, no poncy idiot in a suit asking you to solve electronics calculations on paper, we're talking "what type of equipment would use the following sensors and why?" or "how would you approach repairing a 3 phase motor control system" or "what type of weld would you use on thin gauge sheet aluminium and why?".

OP I would suggest doing electrical (17th or 18th edition, or whatever we're on now) and maybe ONC / HNC electronics if you have time.
If you want to join the CAD party and sit at a desk all day, just get any old degree ("the history of frog spawn" will do).