Electrician turned Engineer....

[schmidt16]

Hey guys, new to these forums and in search of a little knowledge and advice.
During high school I worked as an electrical apprentice wiring houses and various other buildings, planning on attending electrical engineering technology in Alberta (where I live). Eventually I decided to give industrial a go, trying to get over my crippling fear of heights. After working a few months I've decided to look into going back to school for EET! So I have a few questions about the job:
1. How much physical field work is involved and how many crappy hotels and camps will be staying in?
2. I live in the Calgary area. Is it possible to find a good job out here where I'm home every night?
3. I know ill do ok money-wise, but how's the outlook for future work?

Thanks so much!

 

[IRstuff]

I don't know about Canada, but EET doesn't necessarily get you a position as an engineer, unless it's a 4-year degree from an accredited school.I don't know which "job" you are specifically asking for, but most engineers spend a very tiny amount of time on the field.

TTFN
faq731-376

Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529

 

[Sparweb]

Get in contact with ASET, the province's governing body for technologists. They do an annual survey and publish the results of industry salaries, working hours, and the like, which will answer some of your questions. You could also try APEGGA, the equivalent body for professional engineers, just to make a comparison.

If you aren't ready to go up to For Mac just yet, don't worry, there seems to be plenty of work down here, too. If you aren't certain about your interests yet, make sure you give consideration to different schools and different programs, although I still hear good things about SAIT (many many years after my own attendance).
A few years ago I attended a job fair, mostly for entertainment because I was employed at the time, and I found that a lot of field work and entry level jobs are open in Alberta. Avoid picking a career path based on the working conditions you start with. Life changes and so does work, as your career goes on. You won't be doing field work forever.

STF

 

[schmidt16]

@SparWeb

Thanks for the reply! I'll definitely check into that. I know what you mean. I've done the on-the-road shift work in the field, I hate it, I have no desire to continue it. My initial plan was to get my Jman ticket then go into engineering, but now it seems like I'm not at all suited for this industrial job. I'm fairly certain about going into this, just need to prepare for school. Maybe look for ways to develop my knowledge of circuitry. Should've just gone and done it and skipped electrician completely. Oh well.

 

[Sparweb]

Schmidt,
I've marked this thread for future notification, so I should find out soon if you have any other questions.

I know a guy who took industrial eng. technology in school. He always found himself in between the best and the worst, no matter which "industry" he put himself in. Hearing his stories, I have lost any understanding I once had of the meaning of "industrial engineering technology". Do you get that diploma to manage a company, to design beautiful machines, or to run a CNC all day? Maybe yes, to all. What did you want to get out of industrial engineering tech?

Reason I ask: What do you expect will be different because you take EE technology?
Or what about Instrumentation Technology... Power Technology... ? Most of these fields involve field work, and that experience opens doors in your future career.

...Which leads me back to IRstuff's advice. Maybe, if you dislike field work so much, the university is the way for you to go.

STF