Staying relevant in the engineering domain

[Todd Moxley]

Hi,

I graduated last year with a bachelors in mechatronics.
In order to fulfill my bursary requirements I started to work for an IT company in support and project development.
I am worried that I will fall behind and have doors closed on me for not being directly involved in the engineering sphere later on.
I am considering studying part time to complete my NQF certificates in motor trade in order to keep my skills relevant and hopefully gain hands on experience. I am not sure if this is actually beneficial to me if I have a bachelors already as much of the work for the NQF certificates has been done at bachelors level and I do not want to spend money unnecessarily on things I have already learnt or don't provide a positive return.

Does anyone have any advice about how to stay relevant and any recommendations regarding doing trade studies?

 

[GregLocock]

I can't see how more trades really helps much directly.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[IRstuff]

Is there anything like a professional engineer licensure you can pursue? In the US, there's a precursor test Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which, along with other prerequisites gives you an Engineer in Training (EIT) status.

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[SWComposites]

Get a job in your desired field. Now.

 

[IRstuff]

It's a condition of the grant the OP got for college, I'm assuming.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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[phamENG]

How long do you have to work out of your field?

How much free time do you have? Find a firm/company in your desired field and offer to intern with them part time if you can work it into your schedule. If the IT company is aware that you're there "against your will" because of a requirement from your grant, hopefully they'll be willing to work with you as you try to get into your desired field. Maybe you can do 4 10-12 hour days for the IT company, and then put in a day at a company in your field. You may have to do it as "volunteer" work, but it sounds like a pretty good option if there's no other way to get there and it'll help you build relationships and a network.

 

[CWB1]

I'd check to see if you couldn't simply repay the loan/grant and go work as an engineer, most of the time there are options because reality happens. Several friends did exactly that with ROTC scholarships, using them as a loan to pay for school and simply choosing to repay the scholarship rather than join the military.

 

[rotw]

Can you literally omit from your resume that you are currently working at all and while working at your current IT position, look actively for jobs in the mechatronic field to start as fresh graduate. Prospective employers would understand if there is an unemployment gap from school to 1st employment. When you land an offer, switch immediately so there will be no discontinuation in your cash inflows (salary) so you could fulfill your bursary requirements. You could do some part time studies to explain what keeps you busy in your unemployment gap. The whole thing might not be very nice from honesty point of view, but I just feel for you that you cannot fulfill your aspirations and maybe get trapped in that path.