I currently attend a technical school for an associates degree in maintenance electricity. I've just finished up intro classes on motor control and PLCs, and they have peaked my interest quite a bit. I have many questions but I'm not sure if this is the appropriate forum for them, I apologize if it is not.

So I'll just ask one. The program I am in does not focus solely on industrial control but, like I said before, I do and will continue to have classes about it until I am finished. That being said, how likely do you think it is that I will get an entry level job in this field after I receive my degree?

 

Well that is sort of a loaded question that has no real answer..........depends.

Like most jobs, employers want experience, but you need a break to get that experience.

Having said that, in my opinion one of the things wrong with this country is that we are pushing kids to solely go to college and get a 4 year degree. We have high school councilors who are telling kids that they are "failures" if they do not go this route. We have school boards who are chopping shop classes out of the curriculum and we have a huge "baby boom" retirement on our hands. If you pick up any control/maintenance magazine now a days, all you hear about is the impending shortage of skilled craftsmen.

Having said all of that, what do you enjoy. Do you enjoy the creation of something, the repair of a broken machine, the challenge of getting something running etc. Then I will say your chances are great. There is a massive shortage coming and already here. You will still have to hunt out that "big break" that gets your foot in the door and then it will be up to you to take it and run.

I have never met an employer who was not willing to train you if you proved that you were willing to learn. This is a field that you will never master, many think they have, but they are dead wrong. You must settle into the fact that you will need life-long learning in order to survive in this business.

I started out as a Maintenance Tech, kept learning, went to night school and got numerous degrees and am now a Maytag Repairman, an IT specialist, an Automation Engineer, a project manager, etc. I solve problems, and that is what you have to want to do. I do not care about titles only results. I pound out code all day and then go home and wrench on my car or build and remodel a new den.

You have to love the field of control, maintenance, engineering and not get hung up on title etc. I will never trade my "Craftsman" experience. When I sit in rooms full of other Engineers, I know what is involved in the entire process from cradle to grave. I have been in the dirty hole wiring, been in the clean office designing, sat in the meetings, pulled the wire, wrote the program, run the start-up etc.

There are as many opportunities out there as you are willing to create. There is a huge shortage and yes you will find a job, the rest is up to you..............go for it.

Dave Ferguson

Mechanic, Engineer, Technician, MCSE, CCST, CAP, CE, PE, NICET, ASI and on and on the world is at your feet

 

I totally agree with every word written by Dave Ferguson. I do not think I have any further things to add to it. I am a have been in the automation business since 1982. and till now, even though I am the head of the company, I still "work" with my own hands and brain and most of the time do things from A to Z .. you really need to love Automation from the bottom of your heart in order to achieve something. It is not a matter of "title" .. it is just a matter of "know-how" and to get things done.

Ashraf Zaki

 

Thanks to the both of you for so thoroughly answering my question. I have some more if you do not mind.

What are some things I could do to give me a leg up on my competition? What I mean by that is things like independent study of programming languages for example or online certifications.

Is there a need for employees willing to regularly travel? If you have done this before, what kinds of benefits did you receive if any?

 

Getting a leg up is easy. Get some experience. An internship is better than nothing. Merit badges are OK, but will never beat having actually done
something.

A LOT of automation involves things built in one place and installed somewhere else. Travel is almost a foregone conclusion.

 

The technical aspects of automation will always revolve around some level of programming, but if there are any particular processes which interest you, getting some knowledge of those processes will aid you greatly in performing automation work in those areas. Examples of what I mean - things like power generation, distribution, etc. - you can better physically understand what you're trying to automate when you know what the goals of the process are.

Naturally you can't learn them all, but if you can learn a bit on the ones that interest you, it'll aid you greatly in the future.

 

Weeeellll,

I have 2 sons currently finishing their Engineering degrees. They have done things like......join ISA as a student member,join IEEE as a student member, joined local Engineers club chapters etc. All things look good on resume but more important, you network, hear speaches, get magazines full,of info etc.

As I said before, any and all education is never wasted. You will pick something usefull up, if you are open to finding something usefull.

Get an internship, go to every job fair and interview even if you have no intention of taking the job/internship. I still go out and interview now and then. It builds your skills and gives practice. You will be amazed.

Most "clubs", ISA, IEEE, etc, have plant tours, and speakers at meetings who are a wealth of knowledge.

There is no magic bullet, no secret formula etc. Nothing comes for free, but the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow is worth the chase. Hang in there, be humble, build wiskers, and realize that every line on your resume is experience. Mine is 4 pages long and packed. You hear all of these rules about 1 page, 2 pages maximum etc, I have been offered every job I applies for sending 9 pages out, 4 resume and 5 training and education (been to a lot of training in 20 years).

It is not a sprint but a marathon, train accordingly.

Dave Ferguson