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Hello, currently I work for local EPC company in Houston. I have been here 4 years since graduation from college, mostly involved in specifying instrumentation and studying the P&ID for changes. Also, producing purchase packages for the vendor. I have not gained any PLC, DCS, or SIS experience. The configuration and programming work of these systems is contracted to vendor (Emerson, Honeywell, etc.) to complete. We only write the systems specification for the vendor to abide by. I learned Allen Bradley SLC 503 PLC programming at a local community college and wrote some programs at home studying www.thelearningpit.com. But this was about 6 months ago. For the last 4 months, the company is downsizing and I have been aggressively looking for any work in the Control Systems field to gain more knowledge of this systems and hands-on. I have had no luck so far. The only companies that are interested are other EPCs companies in the Houston area. In EPC, I know they will assign me to one instrument and I will be stuck with this for months and never do any design. Design work is normally given to Sr. Engineers. I need to be in the field learning how to troubleshoot, etc.
I want a more challenging career in Control System Engineering and currently have a complex time finding a Jr. Control Systems Engineer position due to my lack of experience with the systems. I recently went to an interview with a control and automation engineering company and the interview was brutal. But I enjoyed it, although I could not program the PLC and answer most of the systems questions. The interviewer suggested I needed more hands-on experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting. He recommended the PE would not be useful if I don’t have practical experience.
My questions are:
1. Should I take the PE exam in October although I feel as if I don’t have the enough experience? Of course I can read many books and testing centers and pass this way. Or should I at least try and join a new company first.
2. Should use this time to continue studying programming Allen Bradley PLC at plcs.net and thelearningpit.com? I bought the software already at thelearningpit.com and I can order the books on plcs.net to begin studying. This way at the next interview I can go into detail and be well prepared if ask to program or identify functionality with PLC. This is not real world experience, but its start.
Currently, I am looking heavily for any company looking for Jr. CS Engineer with willingness to learn and be motivated. Most companies want contractors who have this experience already.
I just don’t know how to use my spare time to make sure I get the career job I want. Should I study for PE or studying PLC and DCS systems?
Thanks for any advice/questions/comments you may have.
I want a more challenging career in Control System Engineering and currently have a complex time finding a Jr. Control Systems Engineer position due to my lack of experience with the systems. I recently went to an interview with a control and automation engineering company and the interview was brutal. But I enjoyed it, although I could not program the PLC and answer most of the systems questions. The interviewer suggested I needed more hands-on experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting. He recommended the PE would not be useful if I don’t have practical experience.
My questions are:
1. Should I take the PE exam in October although I feel as if I don’t have the enough experience? Of course I can read many books and testing centers and pass this way. Or should I at least try and join a new company first.
2. Should use this time to continue studying programming Allen Bradley PLC at plcs.net and thelearningpit.com? I bought the software already at thelearningpit.com and I can order the books on plcs.net to begin studying. This way at the next interview I can go into detail and be well prepared if ask to program or identify functionality with PLC. This is not real world experience, but its start.
Currently, I am looking heavily for any company looking for Jr. CS Engineer with willingness to learn and be motivated. Most companies want contractors who have this experience already.
I just don’t know how to use my spare time to make sure I get the career job I want. Should I study for PE or studying PLC and DCS systems?
Thanks for any advice/questions/comments you may have.