Is this it? What now?

[The Lukas]

Okay, just passed my NVQ Level 3 Engineering Maintenance qualification. Also have Plumbing Level 2. Work at a place with an easy workload, easy commute, and whilst being uninspiring most of the time, it can have it's interesting moments with the variety of maintenance work that comes up.

I was keen to achieve these qualifications. I know have them, and money should be going up soon. But I'm now thinking "is this it?"

What else if there to do? Guess a degree of freedom is apparent. I feel I should still be learning as I've been doing so since I started school. Gaining the skilled tickets were a reason for me to work and now I have them. I felt I was moving forward and now I don't. What now?

Anybody else been in this situation? Guess you'd never be rich with your hands...

[Mazda Baiter]

If you have regular and steady work, quit whinging. Some people aren't that lucky.

You are looking for a challenge. Buy a track car, buy a car to restore, do your 'bike licence, do your truck licences. What has always been a dream? Work towards it.

[ewenm]

Get experience, get contacts, set up on your own (eventually).

[Pesty]

The Lukas said:

Okay, just passed my NVQ Level 3 Engineering Maintenance qualification. Also have Plumbing Level 2. Work at a place with an easy workload, easy commute, and whilst being uninspiring most of the time, it can have it's interesting moments with the variety of maintenance work that comes up.

I was keen to achieve these qualifications. I know have them, and money should be going up soon. But I'm now thinking "is this it?"

What else if there to do? Guess a degree of freedom is apparent. I feel I should still be learning as I've been doing so since I started school. Gaining the skilled tickets were a reason for me to work and now I have them. I felt I was moving forward and now I don't. What now?

Anybody else been in this situation? Guess you'd never be rich with your hands...

What exaclty do you maintain?

I started out working in factories as a maintenance Tech on factory automation. It led me in several different directions. I now have a job I enjoy decent enough money for somebody as stupid as me.

[lewis s]

Haha we have far too much in common!

I am just in the final stages of completing my NVQ 3 in Engineering, but i mine has been organised through my apprentiship. I am hoping to get a full time job in September (when my 3 year contract runs out), but i love my job at the minute .

Whats stopping you from looking for more interesting jobs while you still work at your place? Just don't let your managers know

[Steameh]

Maybe look to take the step up to a degree?

[working class]

Are you Mechanical or Electrical biased?

HNC in either of these would be a good next step.

[hyperblue]

Steameh said:

Maybe look to take the step up to a degree?

Do NOT do this.

[drivin_me_nuts]

hyperblue said:

Steameh said:

Maybe look to take the step up to a degree?

Do NOT do this.

Curiosity has got the better of me here. Why not?

[hyperblue]

drivin_me_nuts said:

hyperblue said:

Steameh said:

Maybe look to take the step up to a degree?

Do NOT do this.

Curiosity has got the better of me here. Why not?

It's another 4 years before you earn any money. If you've got the skills and qualifications to get into the workplace now and work your way up, there's no point in doing a degree. Engineering degrees mainly deal with theory, huge amounts of maths and physics, not hands on engineering like people expect.

[Jumpy Guy]

Must disagree. Whether you want to do a degree or not is up to you, but I would say that a degree is hugely important if you want to develop a career in engineering.

It also depends on type of degree and the sector you want to get into.

Whether its worth getting into engineering is another discussion..........

[drivin_me_nuts]

hyperblue said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

hyperblue said:

Steameh said:

Maybe look to take the step up to a degree?

Do NOT do this.

Curiosity has got the better of me here. Why not?

It's another 4 years before you earn any money. If you've got the skills and qualifications to get into the workplace now and work your way up, there's no point in doing a degree. Engineering degrees mainly deal with theory, huge amounts of maths and physics, not hands on engineering like people expect.

I would tend to think that an engineering degree is pretty much still a requisite to get on into the higher eschelons of engineering. I might be wrong, it was a long time ago that I did my Civil Engineering degree, but I don't think engineering has changed that much.

[Tom_C76]

drivin_me_nuts said:

hyperblue said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

hyperblue said:

Steameh said:

Maybe look to take the step up to a degree?

Do NOT do this.

Curiosity has got the better of me here. Why not?

It's another 4 years before you earn any money. If you've got the skills and qualifications to get into the workplace now and work your way up, there's no point in doing a degree. Engineering degrees mainly deal with theory, huge amounts of maths and physics, not hands on engineering like people expect.

I would tend to think that an engineering degree is pretty much still a requisite to get on into the higher eschelons of engineering. I might be wrong, it was a long time ago that I did my Civil Engineering degree, but I don't think engineering has changed that much.

You're getting confused here between Engineering, a degree qualified profession, and engineering as a trade...

[elster]

Jumpy Guy said:

Must disagree. Whether you want to do a degree or not is up to you, but I would say that a degree is hugely important if you want to develop a career in engineering.

It also depends on type of degree and the sector you want to get into.

Whether its worth getting into engineering is another discussion..........

It is indeed I did my apprenticeships and electrical qualifications.

I have now decided that I would like to do more electronic based work and now started back into education to do a BEng in Electronics.

The roles I want to do I need a degree to be able to get there, I could however plod along doing industrial electrical installations and maintenance for the rest of my life. However I would be bored.

[Google [bot]]

Emigrate. Good qualification to have for a visa abroad, maybe Aus/NZ/Canada?

[Stu R]

Depends really. Without knowing the theory, you can't really be an engineer imo. The question is do you want to be an engineer? what sector / market / industry etc.

I wouldn't class many [if any] people below a certain age as proper engineers without a degree these days. Folks like my dad, who haven't got a degree but has been doing it all his life, and have had to sit all kinds of courses and qualifications for tickets just to get promoted, sure, but then I know he could walk through the degree course in no time at all.
Similarly, I know plenty of people with engineering degrees who don't know their ar*ehole from their earhole.

I suppose where you see yourself in a few years time. I'd argue that if you're still driven to learn, and have an interest in engineering, it's probably worth your time going for a degree. Playing devil's advocate, the market is fairly saturated at the minute and you're not entering it at the best time, so if you can get/keep some solid work it could be worth jumping at. There's always the option of some OU type degree or part time study in your free time later on if you think it's worth it. Could it be worth asking your employer to pay you through a degree? Quite a few places do it.

As for emmigrating, I don't really think an NVQ L3 is substantial enough to bolster your chances of being accepted, perhaps a little but not significantly. They're looking for degrees largely from what I've seen.

Edited by Stu R on Friday 12th March 00:54

[Pesty]

drivin_me_nuts said:

hyperblue said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

hyperblue said:

Steameh said:

Maybe look to take the step up to a degree?

Do NOT do this.

Curiosity has got the better of me here. Why not?

It's another 4 years before you earn any money. If you've got the skills and qualifications to get into the workplace now and work your way up, there's no point in doing a degree. Engineering degrees mainly deal with theory, huge amounts of maths and physics, not hands on engineering like people expect.

I would tend to think that an engineering degree is pretty much still a requisite to get on into the higher eschelons of engineering. I might be wrong, it was a long time ago that I did my Civil Engineering degree, but I don't think engineering has changed that much.

If I understand the OP correctly you are getting too hung up on the 'Engineer' word does he want to get to the upper eschelons as you put it?. I think the guy is looking for more hands on maintenance work rather than needing a degree with all that theorie that is involved which les face it he wont use 99% of it when he is finished.

HNC in electronics/ mechatronics possibly would be useful but without us actualy knowing what it is he is maintaining now its hard to say.

Is he now working in a factory as facilities maintanance or equipment, fitter or electrician etc etc.

[Smashed]

The Lukas said:

Anybody else been in this situation?

I felt the same after completing my apprenticeship. Throughout life we have always had a common goal and that was the current qualification we were training for. My plans have now broadened beyond that of education towards my career and general life plan. I guess it's odd to have a life plan but I know what I want to head to and I think it's important to have some kind of goal, keeps you sane and focussed.

[Smashed]

drivin_me_nuts said:

hyperblue said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

hyperblue said:

Steameh said:

Maybe look to take the step up to a degree?

Do NOT do this.

Curiosity has got the better of me here. Why not?

It's another 4 years before you earn any money. If you've got the skills and qualifications to get into the workplace now and work your way up, there's no point in doing a degree. Engineering degrees mainly deal with theory, huge amounts of maths and physics, not hands on engineering like people expect.

I would tend to think that an engineering degree is pretty much still a requisite to get on into the higher eschelons of engineering. I might be wrong, it was a long time ago that I did my Civil Engineering degree, but I don't think engineering has changed that much.

My dad worked his way up within engineering and is on a decent wedge now, however he has always stated to me how he wished that he completed his degree. He would of been on this amount 10 years ago had he done so.

Which is why I'm going to be doing mine, the jobs in my place especially require a degree. There's just no questioning it. But this depends on what the OP wants to do, carry on getting hands on with stuff or move to a more office based job.

[hazzel_frazzel]

The Lukas said:

Work at a place with an easy workload

There's your problem. Honestly. try to find a job at a place with a higher workload, something to really challenge yourself. It will be hard at first, but so rewarding, and you'll end up finding out a lot about yourself in the process, and probably surprise yourself with what you are capable of