Re: Getting a 2 year degree worth it?

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Hi, Im currently trying desperately to find employment. Ive been trying
> to do an electrician apprenticeship but am having no luck. I dont know
> if the economy sucks or what. My friend in his second year as an
> apprentice just got laid off. I filled out an application with the
> brotherhoood of electrical workers union but they told me around 20 of
> there apprentices in my area are not working right now so I dont have
> my hopes up with that. Im a college student I currently have about 76
> credit hours towards a business degree but am really having second
> thoughts about going into a business profession. The office type work
> really doesnt appeal to me and I need money now which is why I have
> looked into apprenticeships. Right now Im thinking of possibly getting
> a two year degree from a nearby community college in Electrical
> Technology, I only need 12 classes to get the degree. But I am worried
> that this degree will do little for me and it will be a waste. Im also
> thinking of changing my business major to something else, I would
> already have enough for a business minor with a different major but no
> technical majors it the university i go to sound that great. Anybody
> have any suggestions on the 2 year degree or an apprenticeship. Help!
>

Two year degrees tend to be the lower paying jobs anyway but are still
the most likely to be shipped offshore as it is easier finding people
overseas
who are capable of doing them. I hate to be negative about what you'd like
to do but you're probably best off getting your business degree...then YOU
can be one of the people sending the jobs overseas (of course, you never
send your own). I wouldn't advise anyone to get an electrical engineering
degree unless you intend to use it in construction (let's see 'em ship THAT
overseas). I have a 4 year E.E. degree, 20 years+ experience, and have been
out of work for almost 4 years (in the state with the highest unemployment
rate in the country, ironically a "blue" state)...I'm in process of changing
fields to financial sales.

Good luck and don't waste your time looking for a "fulfilling" job, just
follow the money. That's what the whores in charge are doing. Hopefully,
that'll give you enough money to have fun and security outside of work.

BTW--Read "Fire Your Boss"...realistic perspective in today's corporate
landscape.

"george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:HUHPe.15465$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
<snip>
>I have a 4 year E.E. degree, 20 years+ experience, and have been
> out of work for almost 4 years (in the state with the highest unemployment
> rate in the country, ironically a "blue" state)...I'm in process of
> changing
> fields to financial sales.

What is your field of expertise? We have trouble getting qualified
engineers because they all have multiple offers. The power industry is
starting to come back around and will likely experience a surge in new hires
in the next 5 years as the older engineers retire. I know of several large
utilities that are planning large increases in their capital expenditures
over the next decade to make up for nearly 2 decades of "getting by".

Charles Perry P.E.

"george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I hate to be negative about what you'd like
>to do but you're probably best off getting your business degree...

I agree with you abt a 2 yr degree being close to
worthless.... but for someone like me who has NO degree
a 2 yr degree is better than nothing. Yes?

I'm trying to break this down into goals. The
"immediate" goal is a 2 yr degree. If I achieve that
goal I will then worry abt a 4 yr degree. Do this in
stages yes?

Your idea above on a business degree is also something
that's occurred to me. I've bounced around a combo
business and IT degree. Or accounting and IT degree.
Reason being is it's very general degree and like you
said maybe not as "volatile" as an engineering degree.
Agree?

Frankly I'm viewing a degree just as another "tool in
the toolbox". Something I will use if needed. but not
something to depend on to bring me money or happiness.

I'm sorry to hear abt your unemployment situation.
especially with your EE degree and 20 yrs experience!!

I'm worried abt where the US economy is headed. I fear
the standard of living is slowly dropping and we just
don't know it.

I will read 'Fire Your Boss" book

Back to you.

"Charles Perry" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:HUHPe.15465$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
> <snip>
>>I have a 4 year E.E. degree, 20 years+ experience, and have been
>> out of work for almost 4 years (in the state with the highest
>> unemployment
>> rate in the country, ironically a "blue" state)...I'm in process of
>> changing
>> fields to financial sales.
>
> What is your field of expertise? We have trouble getting qualified
> engineers because they all have multiple offers. The power industry is
> starting to come back around and will likely experience a surge in new
> hires in the next 5 years as the older engineers retire. I know of
> several large utilities that are planning large increases in their capital
> expenditures over the next decade to make up for nearly 2 decades of
> "getting by".
>
> Charles Perry P.E.
>
>

Unfortunately (considering where I live), it is test automation (A.T.E.) for
manufacturing test of electronic products. It's been awhile since I've
heard
of multiple offers...glad to hear that is happening again. That definitely
hasn't
been the case for me or anyone I know around here. The really silly thing
(IMHO)
is that I often DO get passed over due to limited (1 year) automotive
experience...
doesn't seem to matter that I've worked on satellites, missiles, computer
products,
GPS (including satellite simulators), medical products, etc...guess I'm just
not
"bright" enough to figure out automotive sensors that buzz because you left
your
lights on <g>.

George

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> I hate to be negative about what you'd like
>>to do but you're probably best off getting your business degree...
>
> I agree with you abt a 2 yr degree being close to
> worthless.... but for someone like me who has NO degree
> a 2 yr degree is better than nothing. Yes?
>
> I'm trying to break this down into goals. The
> "immediate" goal is a 2 yr degree. If I achieve that
> goal I will then worry abt a 4 yr degree. Do this in
> stages yes?
>
> Your idea above on a business degree is also something
> that's occurred to me. I've bounced around a combo
> business and IT degree. Or accounting and IT degree.
> Reason being is it's very general degree and like you
> said maybe not as "volatile" as an engineering degree.
> Agree?
>
> Frankly I'm viewing a degree just as another "tool in
> the toolbox". Something I will use if needed. but not
> something to depend on to bring me money or happiness.
>
> I'm sorry to hear abt your unemployment situation.
> especially with your EE degree and 20 yrs experience!!
>
> I'm worried abt where the US economy is headed. I fear
> the standard of living is slowly dropping and we just
> don't know it.
>
> I will read 'Fire Your Boss" book
>
> Back to you.

It is a funny thing about American society and what seems to be
valued the most...with the exception of lawyers and doctors, all
of the highest paid occupations that I can think of DON'T require
college. Well, I'm working on "going with the flow", and becoming
a financial advisor (takes about 8 weeks of hard study + about
another 10 weeks of company product specific training + about
6 months to build up a customer base), after all that, the LOWEST
paid one that I know personally (I know three) makes $200k.

Good luck in whatever you decide,
George

"george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>It is a funny thing about American society and what seems to be
>valued the most...with the exception of lawyers and doctors, all
>of the highest paid occupations that I can think of DON'T require
>college

I know George. And this is what worries me abt even
going back to school at my age (47).

I personally know people who have cleaning businesses
that make more than my engineer boss. Less stress,
less hassle and they make more money. Go figure.

I'm sure I will continue with the classes even if I
have to take 3 hrs per semester. But I'm giving VERY
serious thought to alternate sources of income that do
NOT require a degree. Not sure what tho. Heck maybe a
coffle shop?

>. Well, I'm working on "going with the flow", and becoming
>a financial advisor (takes about 8 weeks of hard study + about
>another 10 weeks of company product specific training + about
>6 months to build up a customer base), after all that, the LOWEST
>paid one that I know personally (I know three) makes $200k.

Wow!

If this works out for you do you see yourself never
being an engineer again?

"george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:h%LPe.9345$(E-Mail Removed)...
<snip>
>
> Unfortunately (considering where I live), it is test automation (A.T.E.)
> for
> manufacturing test of electronic products. It's been awhile since I've
> heard
> of multiple offers...glad to hear that is happening again. That
> definitely hasn't
> been the case for me or anyone I know around here. The really silly thing
> (IMHO)
> is that I often DO get passed over due to limited (1 year) automotive
> experience...
> doesn't seem to matter that I've worked on satellites, missiles, computer
> products,
> GPS (including satellite simulators), medical products, etc...guess I'm
> just not
> "bright" enough to figure out automotive sensors that buzz because you
> left your
> lights on <g>.
>
> George

Ouch. The electronics industry has to be the worst for electrical engineers
right now. My brother has never (14 years since graduation) worked in his
field. He has an aerospace engineering degree. He ended up as a production
engineer at a wire manufacturer.

Charles Perry P.E.

<phil-news-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 14:14:05 -0400 Charles Perry
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> | "george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> | news:HUHPe.15465$(E-Mail Removed)...
> |>
> | <snip>
> |>I have a 4 year E.E. degree, 20 years+ experience, and have been
> |> out of work for almost 4 years (in the state with the highest
> unemployment
> |> rate in the country, ironically a "blue" state)...I'm in process of
> |> changing
> |> fields to financial sales.
> |
> | What is your field of expertise? We have trouble getting qualified
> | engineers because they all have multiple offers. The power industry is
> | starting to come back around and will likely experience a surge in new
> hires
> | in the next 5 years as the older engineers retire. I know of several
> large
> | utilities that are planning large increases in their capital
> expenditures
> | over the next decade to make up for nearly 2 decades of "getting by".
> |
> | Charles Perry P.E.
>
> I hope those capital expenditures aren't be sidetracked and siphoned down
> the bottomless pit called BPL. <snip>
>
No, plain old T&D infrastructure.

In areas where BPL would be cost effective (high concentration of customers)
other established technologies are more effective (DSL, Cable Modem). In
areas where DSL and Cable are not available, BPL is too danged expensive.

> Two friends of my nephew (ages around 15) were asking about what to fields
> to go into in college. That had expressed interest in computers. But I
> suggested they could make more money going into engineering, particularly
> power engineer in EE. One of them actually seemed to be interested in it
> (after I told him a little about how generators worked).

Good for him. It is often very easy for an EE to move into the IT field and
nearly impossible for an IT professional to move into engineering.

Charles Perry P.E.

"Charles Perry" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>Good for him. It is often very easy for an EE to move into the IT field and
>nearly impossible for an IT professional to move into engineering.

Hmm..... good point!

Thanks for sharing

I'm actually more interested in computers...but
statement above makes sense

It reminds me of another suggestion a counselor gave me
abt a business degree. He suggested getting an
accounting degree over a business degree. When I asked
why he said "Cause an accountant can be a business
man.... but a business man cant be accountant"

Is this basically what you are saying abt engineering
vs IT?

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "george" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>It is a funny thing about American society and what seems to be
>>valued the most...with the exception of lawyers and doctors, all
>>of the highest paid occupations that I can think of DON'T require
>>college
>
> I know George. And this is what worries me abt even
> going back to school at my age (47).
>
> I personally know people who have cleaning businesses
> that make more than my engineer boss. Less stress,
> less hassle and they make more money. Go figure.
>
> I'm sure I will continue with the classes even if I
> have to take 3 hrs per semester. But I'm giving VERY
> serious thought to alternate sources of income that do
> NOT require a degree. Not sure what tho. Heck maybe a
> coffle shop?
>
>>. Well, I'm working on "going with the flow", and becoming
>>a financial advisor (takes about 8 weeks of hard study + about
>>another 10 weeks of company product specific training + about
>>6 months to build up a customer base), after all that, the LOWEST
>>paid one that I know personally (I know three) makes $200k.
>
> Wow!
>
> If this works out for you do you see yourself never
> being an engineer again?

I'd probably still do it as a hobby as I love electronics...decided on
becoming
an electrical engineer when I was in third grade...wrote to the colleges I
was
interested in when I was in seventh grade (got accepted by all of them when
I graduated high school). But, at this point I have enough ground to make
up,
that if the financial advisor job works out, I won't go back. BTW, I am
three
years older than you.