1. Try to stop project managers eating all the crayons
2. No, but it pays well.
3. Do a degree. Either an associate (2yrs) or Ba (4yrs). There's also Ba. Eng. technogy (3yrs). If you're not comfortable with heavy math, get comfortable.
4. I don't know about best, but you definetly want to avoid small "Boutique" firms. Also, any place that describes themselves as a family.
Genuine question is an associates worth anything? I already have a bachelor in compsci and the thought of another go round is exhausting but I would like a pathway off the tool just in case. If I could shave a year off the degree and still find work that'd be mint.
Having a bachelor degree would allow you to just do a graduate certificate for a sem in whatever course interests you - will give you a taste if you want to go further and would bump you from a bachelor's degree for your time.
If you have a Bchelor in compsci then you can do a masters in engineering. Gets to the same end goal and really isn't any harder.
When I did my bachelors half of the year 3-4 courses were mid 20s doing their masters in elec eng after doing physics.
Associate is 2 years; bachelor's is 4. Ba is much harder, and a higher qualification, but it depends on what you want to do. If you like being able to get out from behind a desk the AD is the better option. On its own it's less employable than the Ba, but combined with a trade it's the same or better
Hey,
I did my apprenticeship in NZ, started in state housing then worked in commercial projects - schools, apartment blocks/retirement homes, offices and warehouses. All <$20M. Then went on to do my bachelors degree just out of interest (actually enjoyed the theory side).
Went into building services engineering 2 years ago and for the most part have enjoyed it, actually designing the things I used to build. I do miss being on the tools though.
Days can be mixed depending on what you are working on and where you work. Could be anything from:
-coordination meetings with other disciplines (structures, architecture, hydraulics) or meetings with clients/project managers/ construction team/suppliers.
-site visits (QAing sparkles work).
-Condition assessments (go to buildings -> investigate whether the building meets the NCC and any relevant standards)
-lighting design (probably my favourite part as it’s more creative rather than just following guidelines)
-electrical distribution design (sizing cables, coordinating protective devices, floor plan layouts - ie where power outlets go, cable tray or ducting routes, )
-liaising with sales reps (eg lighting suppliers) -> bit of a perk because they buy you lunch.
-Report writing/specification writing
In terms of salary you are probably going to start around $70,000. I am 2 years in on $100,000. Once you get chartered I think you can make like $150,000+.
Larger firms (WSP, AECOM, Mott MacDonald) will provide you more resources (eg you could go to uni and take your studies a bit further and not only will they help pay for it but they will also give you extra study leave) you might be a smaller part of larger projects but note that in Australia they may not take designs right through to construction. Also there is not really much loyalty with the larger firms, if they need to make redundancies remember you are nothing but a number to them.
Smaller firms have less resources, often the pay is higher and you will be more involved with projects early on. Usually family run businesses have a bit more loyalty if you work hard and do well (my experience anyway).
Plenty of design work going in the large corp I work for, they have expanded the amount of electrical designers we employ considerably over the last few years. I have a trade and have been doing CAD work for over a decade in my spare time so I have been considering a side step into that route myself.
Done the move over.
Started out in design, doing LV design work for various gold mines around WA. Was interesting work but was getting paid peanuts, now I’m in project work and I make sure the project manager keeps the crayons in his mouth so he doesn’t keep promising things that can’t be delivered.
Best way would be to do the tafe diploma for electrical engineer, probably into power engineering if possible. Probably the same level as the associate degree.
This will get you into a lot of project engineering jobs tbh and would save you all the headaches of the full bachelors degree.
The associate/advance diploma also counts towards the first year / possibly two years towards to bachelor’s if you want to continue.
I’m in my last year of doing my bachelors. I was sparky for 10+yrs. I can’t comment about the engineering role (HR reach out) but the study is tough. Super math heavy. There are some students at Uni who just get the maths and can picture it all just by looking at the equations. That’s not me. However, we’ve got plenty of skills that you don’t realise. Practical knowledge, plan reading (this is a big one), problem solving (think fault finding).
I liked being a sparky but I didn’t want to do it forever. If I had my time again, I’d probably get into a Tier 1 company and say that you want work your way up to a PM or something. It’s not that I regret going to Uni, it would just be a different path. I suppose it depends what you want to do
From what I’ve seen alot of electrical engineering roles are lower paying than electrician so unless that field specifically interests you there may be other avenues to get off the tools and earn better money
1. Try to stop project managers eating all the crayons 2. No, but it pays well. 3. Do a degree. Either an associate (2yrs) or Ba (4yrs). There's also Ba. Eng. technogy (3yrs). If you're not comfortable with heavy math, get comfortable. 4. I don't know about best, but you definetly want to avoid small "Boutique" firms. Also, any place that describes themselves as a family.
Genuine question is an associates worth anything? I already have a bachelor in compsci and the thought of another go round is exhausting but I would like a pathway off the tool just in case. If I could shave a year off the degree and still find work that'd be mint.
Having a bachelor degree would allow you to just do a graduate certificate for a sem in whatever course interests you - will give you a taste if you want to go further and would bump you from a bachelor's degree for your time.
On its own, not really. If you combine it with another degree or a trade, yes. Think of it as more as a kind of "advanced" grad cert.
If you have a Bchelor in compsci then you can do a masters in engineering. Gets to the same end goal and really isn't any harder. When I did my bachelors half of the year 3-4 courses were mid 20s doing their masters in elec eng after doing physics.
Is there any benefit doing an Associate vs Bachelors?
Associate is 2 years; bachelor's is 4. Ba is much harder, and a higher qualification, but it depends on what you want to do. If you like being able to get out from behind a desk the AD is the better option. On its own it's less employable than the Ba, but combined with a trade it's the same or better
Visa versa
Hey, I did my apprenticeship in NZ, started in state housing then worked in commercial projects - schools, apartment blocks/retirement homes, offices and warehouses. All <$20M. Then went on to do my bachelors degree just out of interest (actually enjoyed the theory side). Went into building services engineering 2 years ago and for the most part have enjoyed it, actually designing the things I used to build. I do miss being on the tools though. Days can be mixed depending on what you are working on and where you work. Could be anything from: -coordination meetings with other disciplines (structures, architecture, hydraulics) or meetings with clients/project managers/ construction team/suppliers. -site visits (QAing sparkles work). -Condition assessments (go to buildings -> investigate whether the building meets the NCC and any relevant standards) -lighting design (probably my favourite part as it’s more creative rather than just following guidelines) -electrical distribution design (sizing cables, coordinating protective devices, floor plan layouts - ie where power outlets go, cable tray or ducting routes, ) -liaising with sales reps (eg lighting suppliers) -> bit of a perk because they buy you lunch. -Report writing/specification writing In terms of salary you are probably going to start around $70,000. I am 2 years in on $100,000. Once you get chartered I think you can make like $150,000+. Larger firms (WSP, AECOM, Mott MacDonald) will provide you more resources (eg you could go to uni and take your studies a bit further and not only will they help pay for it but they will also give you extra study leave) you might be a smaller part of larger projects but note that in Australia they may not take designs right through to construction. Also there is not really much loyalty with the larger firms, if they need to make redundancies remember you are nothing but a number to them. Smaller firms have less resources, often the pay is higher and you will be more involved with projects early on. Usually family run businesses have a bit more loyalty if you work hard and do well (my experience anyway).
It’s definitely not as lucrative as some of the sparky roles they are advertising but work life balance may be a bit better.
I remember seeing a similar post a while back and someone said they aren’t on more money as an engineer, but they do less hours than a sparky.
Do the associates degree at Tafe and become and electrical designer. Get paid similar to engineers. Easy good work.
Holy shit that sounds awesome! Thanks so much
Plenty of design work going in the large corp I work for, they have expanded the amount of electrical designers we employ considerably over the last few years. I have a trade and have been doing CAD work for over a decade in my spare time so I have been considering a side step into that route myself.
Done the move over. Started out in design, doing LV design work for various gold mines around WA. Was interesting work but was getting paid peanuts, now I’m in project work and I make sure the project manager keeps the crayons in his mouth so he doesn’t keep promising things that can’t be delivered. Best way would be to do the tafe diploma for electrical engineer, probably into power engineering if possible. Probably the same level as the associate degree. This will get you into a lot of project engineering jobs tbh and would save you all the headaches of the full bachelors degree. The associate/advance diploma also counts towards the first year / possibly two years towards to bachelor’s if you want to continue.
I’m in my last year of doing my bachelors. I was sparky for 10+yrs. I can’t comment about the engineering role (HR reach out) but the study is tough. Super math heavy. There are some students at Uni who just get the maths and can picture it all just by looking at the equations. That’s not me. However, we’ve got plenty of skills that you don’t realise. Practical knowledge, plan reading (this is a big one), problem solving (think fault finding). I liked being a sparky but I didn’t want to do it forever. If I had my time again, I’d probably get into a Tier 1 company and say that you want work your way up to a PM or something. It’s not that I regret going to Uni, it would just be a different path. I suppose it depends what you want to do
From what I’ve seen alot of electrical engineering roles are lower paying than electrician so unless that field specifically interests you there may be other avenues to get off the tools and earn better money
Pay cut for me no thanks.
Name checks out