Are you an Engineering Technician?

Question

If so, how easy was it to get a job after college? I'd just go ahead and be a full out engineer but that'll double the time it takes to get done with college..

Answer 1

I was an engineering technician that later eventually earned a Master's of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. There are lots of technical training programs that provide an electronics foundation in fewer than 4 years that can provide you with reliable employment prospects, however, these positions typically range from $30-65K. They often involve rather tedious assembly work or mundane repair activities that seldom proceed farther than trouble-shooting to discover which card is faulty then swapping out the entire card. The days of near-genius electronics "Macgyver-like" trouble-shooting that was well-compensated or home tinkering to develop innovative patents that would make you wealthy are long past. Most electronic devices today are more cost effectively replaced than repaired, no matter what the technical training brochures say.

Graduates with 4 year degrees from ABET accredited engineering schools spend their time analyzing, improving, and designing from scratch complex systems. For this reason, they often make $65-95K. Robotics, state of the art medical device development, and complex automated control systems are rapidly expanding fields that require a continual infusion of new engineering talent. But design and development of these systems requires the technical and analytical foundations of a 4 year accredited degree.

If you can handle the additional academic demands of the post-calculus math and physics, then travel the 4-year degree path. If you need a rent paying job sooner, then try a technician training program first and continue your education part time afterwards. But be prepared for the unrewarding and unchallenging prospects that most entry level technician jobs provide.

Good luck to you. Always keep learning and you'll never be bored.

Answer 2

I am the engineer that hires technicians, and I have to tell you, that I am very disappointed with the techs I have hired in the past. They come out of school not knowing which way to plug in a capacitor! Their education is worthless, as far as I can tell. They literally cannot tell me the difference between a polarized capacitor and one that isn't. And if I show them, they cannot figure out which way to solder it in!

I will take a 50-year old ex-navy tech any day of the week, who never did go back to school. They at least know how to turn on and use a scope!

Plus, the guys I hire only work 9-5 then don't touch their profession until the next morning. I would expect them to set up a lab in their garage and try and figure out what it is they have learned in a practical way. I offer parts, scopes, soldering stations so they can build a simple amplifier and make it work, then see if they can really control the gain, bandwidth, or see if the filter really has the right cut-off frequency. But no one does. There is no real interest in their profession- only a paycheck. I ate, drank, and lived electronics when I was young, and still do today. That is the kind of tech I am looking for!

Answer 3

Engineering Technician is an affiliate degree (2 years). Engineer is a Bachelor's degree (4-years). Engineers make lots greater money and have interaction in greater problematic and delightful artwork, nevertheless the technician's artwork does contain the form of technical skills to an exceedingly sophisticated point. that's an argument of ways long you go with to stay in college.

Answer 4

I'm a tech, and the job is not like these people are saying. It depends alot on where you work. My job is very interesting, i get to do almost the same work as a true engineer. And to the people that expect interest 24 hour a day interest in only electronics only is going to be impossible to please, if thats the employees they want. A good emplyeee is well rounded, versed in many areas.
That being said, if you have the chance ot finish college now, PLEASE DO IT! I am currently a full time tech finishing my bachelors part time. It is a nightmare. During the semester I don't have any free time and I feel like I'm in jail. It's way harder when you get older, plus you try to deal with students younger than you. Also people talk like there's something wrong with you if your still in college at 40. So if you want to finish DO IT NOW, if you don't you'll regret it when your older.

Answer 5

Technician usually have the boring jobs.
If you're OK with basic stuff, get the diploma.
If you want (and can do it) more challenge and a better paying job, then go to the Univ.

As for getting a job, it is fairly easy in ANY field. It just depends on the personality of people. I interview people every week for jobs. Personality counts. If you're a smart technician, you can do just as well as an engineer that's so-so.

Answer 6

No, I am not Engg Techi but I know one thing for sure that it is the knowlege that you acruqire in your studies that sets you apart from the lot!