Electronics - Learn through Degree course or Expierence

LMK

I’m interested in people’s opinion of my situation –
I’m in my late 30’s, currently looking for a job – like a lot of others!! Background is I have over 10 years experience in Electronic R&D as a PCB/Mechanical Designer. I have a City & Guilds (T3) Electronics qualification, good knowledge/understanding of electronics but no real hands on experience (apart from 100’s of board layout’s … ) but I’ve soldering skills (basic), I do know how to measure voltage & current, know how to read a schematic ect.. I’m very interested in broadening my skill set to include experience in Test / Automation & if I can Design, basically become more of an all-rounder.
I’ve looked for jobs in Ireland but company’s that require board layout alone are few & far between, I’ve contacted companies with a view to contract work but either they outsource already (quiet a few to Asia), they already have a captive designer or the H/W engineers do it themselves, I’ve been offered PCB Design jobs in the UK & Germany providing I re-locate – something I can’t really do.
The Q. -- I’ve been accepted into a BENG in Electronics 4 year course, beginning this month but would I be better off trying to get on the job experience with the background that I do have, rather than spend the next 4 Years at Uni?

Shiny

I think you are better off going to Uni. Once finished you will have a degree
but unlike most of the others graduating with a degree, you will have 10
years experience under your belt already.

IMO, that is an attractive combination for a prospective employer.

Cheeble

You asked for an opinion, so please don't take this as anything but that.

I think it depends on what you mean by "better off."

If you mean will your life be enriched with the joy of knowledge and skills gained, then yes, without a doubt do the degree.

If you mean will your employment prospects be any better, then it seems less clear cut to me. Assuming you graduate with a good degree then your ten years experience will count in your favour: but not by very much. So don't expect to get the jobs or salary of someone with ten years postgraduate design experience.

The trouble is the experience you have, valuable though it is, is not the same kind that a seasoned design engineer would have.

Then there's the downside: you'll be graduating along with a lot of "bright young things" who are going to compete for exactly the same jobs where your experience will not count for much. They generally can relocate, and can be moulded in the company style, whereas you might be perceived to be carrying baggage from previous employments.

There's a good chance that, if you get anything at all, you will have to settle for a new graduate salary, not a positive result in your early 40's.

Unless you're certain that it's what you want to do, be sure that you've considered every other option. For example, what about freelance work from home, after all PCB can be done remotely.

Cheeble-eers

x in the city

I am doing a Masters in VHDL and embedded systems, ASIC design and C++. I have done layout and its not a very taxing job so most companies now outsource this to cheaper countries or let HW peope do it themselves.

Areas like VHDL and FPGA design are more skilled, hence deciding to go back to study this.

4 years is alot could you not do a degree in 2 yrs considering your work experience?

out of interest where in Germany is/was the design job,
? I would have relocated, been crying out for work in Germany....