Advice // electronic engineering/ electronic Security Systems

ElusiveChair

Hmmm where to begin... first of all an advanced thank you to those that read on and give some advice.

I have a dilemma, do I return to college or continue on with an apprenticeship.

If I return to college, after one more semester (spaced over one year as I will be doing it part time) I will be awarded a level 6 QQI higher cert in electronic engineering. If I take this route I will also take up smaller follow on courses to try become exceptional all round.

If I continue on in my apprenticeship (still only in phase one despite working full time in the trade for 20 months) I will be shipped to Donegal for 4 months training, which is undesirable. The apprenticeship is “electronic Security Systems” which includes CCTV, access control, intruder and fire alarms etc. After 4 years (one of which will be periodically spent in full time college) I will be arwarded a QQI level 6 degree in electronic Security Systems systems.

I’ve spoke with a career guidance counsellor who told me they are both worth the same, however she didn’t seem to know a whole lot about engineering or trade.

Realistically is there much of a difference? I fear the apprenticeship training will be rather uneducational for those 4 months as I’ve already completed 3 semesters in electronic engineering and I’ve almost two years hands on experience so I’m fairly up to speed. However I don’t want to do a year in part time college and not be as desirable as someone who did the apprenticeship.

Can someone, especially someone in the trade give me some advice? Please

spurious

Will you have a job with the company you are with if you follow the apprenticeship?
Sounds like the apprenticeship is offering actual real world experience. What is in Donegal? Is it a big job?

ElusiveChair

spurious wrote: »

Will you have a job with the company you are with if you follow the apprenticeship?
Sounds like the apprenticeship is offering actual real world experience. What is in Donegal? Is it a big job?

Hi, yes I will still be in employment with the same company. In fact even more desirable to other companies as I’ll be free from the apprenticeship. Very few people in this trade have ever done an apprenticeship. As for Donegal, that’s where the apprenticeship training is provided for a duration of 22 weeks.

Thank you for responding!

spurious

I think I'd stick with the apprenticeship. You might end up with the same qualification, but the fact that you are in an actual job, making contacts, getting experience, beats book and college learning.

Plus you're being paid, which is always nice, even if the rates aren't great to start off with.

ElusiveChair

spurious wrote: »

I think I'd stick with the apprenticeship. You might end up with the same qualification, but the fact that you are in an actual job, making contacts, getting experience, beats book and college learning.

Plus you're being paid, which is always nice, even if the rates aren't great to start off with.

But, if I return to college it will only be a couple evenings a week and I will still be in full time employment by the same company and paid better. See my issue isn’t so straight forward

spurious

I suppose you'll have to talk to your employer. They are investing you as an apprentice, OK, not in money really, but in time. If you leave them will there be bad feeling? The last thing you'd want in a fairly specialised industry is bad feedback.
Point out your dilemma to your boss and see what he/she says.

ElusiveChair

spurious wrote: »

I suppose you'll have to talk to your employer. They are investing you as an apprentice, OK, not in money really, but in time. If you leave them will there be bad feeling? The last thing you'd want in a fairly specialised industry is bad feedback.
Point out your dilemma to your boss and see what he/she says.

My boss also happens to be related so he is quite happy to have me do the apprenticeship as it’s muxh cheaper on his part. However I’ve worked for other companies simply as an employee also. There is plenty of work at the moment and high demand for staff in this field. However I’d like to travel and being stuck in an apprenticeship until my middle/late 20’s just isn’t appealing, especially when I am often working alone or doing call outs, so I rarely get any on the job training anymore

spurious

Are the standards in your field universal?
Could you combine travel and picking up bits of work?
Late 20s might seem late to you, but believe me, it's not.

ElusiveChair

spurious wrote: »

Are the standards in your field universal?
Could you combine travel and picking up bits of work?
Late 20s might seem late to you, but believe me, it's not.

You see if I do one more year in part time college I will receive a “Level 6 degree in electronic engineering”

If I do 4 years of an apprenticeship I will receive a “level 6 degree in electronic Security Systems”

The 4 year term would be better related to what I actually do, but the just having a level
6 degree is all I need to travel, the rest I will continue to learn as I go and those additional 3 years I could spend making real money and investing in training elsewhere.

It’s a toughie and because it’s such a niche market no one really has an opinion.

spurious

ElusiveChair wrote: »

Y
The 4 year term would be better related to what I actually do, but the just having a level
6 degree is all I need to travel, the rest I will continue to learn as I go and those additional 3 years I could spend making real money and investing in training elsewhere.

It’s a toughie and because it’s such a niche market no one really has an opinion.

It is. Part of me would stay stick with the full training course, rather than have a bitty trainng for your CV made of add-on bits, but if you think you can get work that will train you further once you have the Level 6 in Electronic Engineering then maybe that's the one to go for.