What to do next??

clickerquicklic

Hey lads , thanks in advance for the advice, basically im an electrician 4 years out of my time and just wondering has anyone done any courses they recommended or anything else. Not sure what to do next have done a pneumatic and hydraulic course in DIT and thats about it.

I was looking up a few courses in DIT and theres a few but there 3 nights a week and i really couldn't commit to that.

So anyone please feel to let me know what you've done or would recommend cheers.

fishdog

What interests you most??
The first thing is to decide what you like because it is easier to be dedicated to what you enjoy.

Next you have to see if there are oppertunities in the areas that you like. I know it sounds obvious, but there is no point in commiting to a course if you will not be able to get work in that area.

I was looking up a few courses in DIT and theres a few but there 3 nights a week and i really couldn't commit to that.

3 nights a week is alot if you are working full time. Perhaps look at something that you can do alot of the course work at home.

PLCs interest me. Once you have the software you can work at home alot, read up on the internet, books and manuals. This may cut down the class time. I found that being a sparks is a big advantage in this area also. Look into it, but maybe PLCs dont interest you. I find them fun!:D

clickerquicklic

Thanks man , yeah i remember doing plc's in college and it was interesting and a bit of fun once you get into it.

As regards getting into something were there is work i'm pretty happy at the moment and eventually could move up the ranks to become an electrical clerk of works , but im a bit off that at the moment.

I have to say all electrics interests me love the really technical stuff trying to get your head around wiring diagrams and figure things out , i have always found the theory side quite easy thankfully , its the bending conduit that i used to struggle with most.

Yeah im working full time , really wanna get stuck into something , how did you get into the plc's? Did you do a course on this ??

Thanks for the help FISHDOG.

Stoner

If you wanted to keep your hand in on site , you could consider something like a project managers class, there are part time degrees in this (time consuming) but very little maths

You could look at the part time electrical engineering that fishdog is currently studying on a full time basis.

sligo IT have some nice distance options electrically and you could check out the whole environmental / generation option with them and dundalk IT

there are IT options with Oscail (distance no need to attend classes)

And I think FAS have some PLC options, but they change a lot with industry requirements, but they may have something you like.

If it was me and I was starting 3rd level again, I'd look into Dundalk IT and study generation.

the best thing to consider here IMO is knowing what interests you and what are your limits and operate within them, don't over or under estimate your studying ability.

fishdog

how did you get into the plc's? Did you do a course on this ??

I would not like to mislead you. I am not working with PLCs (yet!). I am studying full time at the moment and my major is control and automation (PLCs). Next September I will start my final year. Shortly I will sart work for the summer with a consulting company in a control & automation department.