Experienced background...Where too now?

[welderdoofus]

I started in the mechanical trades, diesel, gasoline, a special knack with hydraulics and pneumatics. I veered off course into the sandblasting industry for 8 years, where fabrication skills and welding became strong knowledge. All the while I was working with the mechanical trades and kept a mixture of engine, pneumatics, hydraulic and other facets at hand.
Now I am enrolled in an engineering curriculum, and am interested in taking my past experience to a new height.
I however am finding the doors in the current marketplace are very much closed. Coming to an understanding, that I lack the actual college degree.
Is my past hands on experience worth anything? Is employment in the engineering sector hopeful, or are there no open doors for a veteran of the trades?

 

[bklauba]

Although a good number of folks who participate in this forum might have like experiences, your background for a beginning student engineer is a bit odd. You might find yourself knowing more about certain subjects than your instructors. That doesn't mean you have to PROVE that; certainly there are plenty of other things they know better than you. If nothing else, you'd be able to compare what is taught with your knowledge, and appreciate the gaps, one way or the other.

The payoff might likely be realized down the road, when you are able to blend the benefits of fresh engineering training with your extensive experience.

To really take advantage of it, you might consider starting your own business. Take a few biz courses (acctg and mktg) during your engineering training. You would then have management skills, plus the ability to make decisions based on biz, scientific and "real world" values and experience. Make the thing really fly, and ride the wave, or take the offer that "you just can't refuse" from the big firm buying you out.

You bring a good amount to the table now. Your plan would only enhance that. Just don't to lock yourself severely into any preconceived notions about where the opportunities lie; things are changing quickly.

Good Luck!!

BK

 

[BillPSU]

As a recent college grad and a person with 30 years of manufacturing engineering I can attest your experience will help you considerably if the degree dovetails with your experience. Currently welding engineers are in demand especially dealing with Code welds, high strength material welding and exotic metals welding. Niche markets in EB and laser welding continue to look for experienced people. Medical device manufacturing engineers are very much in demand.

Project management is another hot area and using MS Project experience is another area of interest. Quality Assurance/Control and implementation of Lean are also areas of demand.

Finish up your degree as HR will not even look at your resume without a degree.

 

[welderdoofus]

To bklauba and BillPSU

I thank you both for some very clever, well directed advice. The going into business thing (bklauba), been there-done that-4 yrs. Got out because too many crooks, and I began to know my attorney better than my wife. I have started buying real estate, so I will be back-slow but sure the second time. The first time I came fast and strong, STUPID!!! I will do something again, I will however approach more cautiosly the second time. The business educ. you recommend, my Dad's been telling me the same thing!

BillPSU- I assume that means Penn State? If so, I am purchasing properties in York, Pa. not far from Penn.
I live in Maryland. I have already considered Weld Engineering-I am also a CWI, so I am currently in a construction inspection job, in Baltimore, MD. After shutting down my business 1.5 yrs ago, I needed to get my feet back on the ground.

Good info from both of you gentleman. THANKS!!!

 

[BillPSU]

welderdoofus

I am sorry to disappoint you but the PSU I am famiiar with are the Gorillas of Pittsburg State University in Kansas.

http://www.pittstate.edu/

I'm currently working in Wichita as a contract manufacturing engineer. There are actually a lot of jobs here in Wichita related to the aircraft industry. I have interviewed with several of them but my experience is mostly in machining and fabrication of steel and iron and my age in stopping me from being hired at the aircraft plants. I do find it interesting as I was a N/C Programmer for 12 years yet I am not even considered for programming jobs at the aircraft plants because of the job spec requiring CATIA which I know I can learn but I have no job experience.

I did just graduate from PSU last May. I now have the required credentials and experience but now I feel my age is my current handicap. Most HR departments are looking for the young and promising not the older experienced people. Of course age discrimination is against the law but try to prove it.

 

[welderdoofus]

BillPSU

PSUittsburgh State-got it. I really never even knew of a Pittsburgh State, how did you manage this from Kansas, if you don't mind me asking? ONLINE DEGREE, maybe??

I am currently doing an online with Kennedy Western. It's a BS way of doing it, let me tell you! I have 2 kids, 2 dogs, too much house and property, rental properties, 2 under rehabilitation, many headaches: needless to say it is gonna take some time.
I was a high school dropout from a NUCLEAR family, you can surmise, I am really struggling. I worked my tail off in my 20's, my wife and I are truly against all odds in a melting pot Mid-Atlantic Social Econonic He##. At 31 yrs of age, I am not sure how I got here?? And not really sure where I'm going??
All I am really sure of is at one point, I was extremely lucky!
My degree program? The math portion, CHRIST HAVE MERCY!!! I am convinced if I emerge from the mathematics portion, I will FLY through the rest!!!

I feel for you on the age thing, you are probably right. Keep in mind, the system realizes the deficits of your predecessors. The young people nowadays are lucky the spanish are coming in such large numbers, because a playstation does not have a recoil starter. They are finding activities like mowing the lawn and other repetitive needs very cumbersome, sometimes confusing in fact. When I grew up, I killed my own chickens, and pigs, and cattle that I raised, kids nowadays don't even realize that a chicken was ever alive!

So don't sweat the small stuff, once society comes to a head, all will realize that laziness is the beginning of the sociological whirlpool. Only the strong, will eventually swim out. Hopefully, this reality is still ahead for you.

 

[BillPSU]

Pittsburg State not Pittsburgh State is located in Pittsburg, Kansas. I actually attended classes full time for 2 1/2 years to complete my degree. The first semester I even stayed in a dorm and shocked a whole group of college kids. I attended classes and most of my professors were younger than me. In one class a teacher while referring to the Vietnam War said "none of you remember this". I thought ,yeah sure, and we landed on the moon when I graduated high school.

Keep working for your degree.

Bill