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Studying Engineering
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3Faze



Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 99
Location: Lincolnshire, UK


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Let's just say there's no such thing as a straight line that is your career.

Left school at 16 to train as a chef, and that didn't work out (1st career mistake!). So I went back to college half way through the first year, doing Maths, Technology and Physics, struggled to catch up, never truely managed it.

Got bored so started fixing computers on the side, 18 months later, we had a very profitable 2 man firm making, mending and fixing puters. Somehow got the college grades I needed to go to University, and made my second career mistake and sold out to my business partner (he's damn near a millionaire now) and went to do a BSc in Computing.

Did several sidejobs at University including working on the door of the student bar (I'm only average size, but have the air of a psychopath according to the bar manager), helpdesk and overnight cashier for a city centre supermarket, working 9pm to 5am Friday night and Saturday night. - interesting job Shocked

Took a temp job working in a supermarket (Spar) in my first summer away from uni (it paid and was near home). Made supervisor in 4.5 weeks.

In my second summer I worked in IT support for a government department that you've propbably seen in the movies. Did well and was offered a permanent job after I graduated.

Went back to uni for the 3rd year, worked for Spar over xmas, graduated with a 2:1 honours degree, 3rd highest in my year and specialism.

Was offered a cable installers job with IFS Networks in Hull, UK, who I did a final year project for (basically, turned around the order and quotations side of their firm). Failed the medical (don't ask).

Went home to sort things out a bit, went back to Spar to help them out temporary and ended up working as a floating manager for them (coverring 8 shops, just generally helping things run smoothly, coverring the store manager's leave, etc).

There was a reshuffle at the top, and I realised I'd made my third career mistake, and missed my chance with the govt. Transferred to a head supervisor's job with Spar to keep out of the way of the managerial heads rolling. I did some IT work on the side, but my heart wasn't in it anymore (though I do still have breakfix contracts with a few local firms, which is a nice little earner), so I started fixing up and dealing cars on the side.

And that pretty much takes me to my current position. Just getting fixed to leave Spar and go work for Tesco's as a team leader on nights, and contemplating a business plan....

Post Fri Oct 08, 2004 12:12 am 
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aeldric



Joined: 08 Oct 2004
Posts: 100
Location: Melbourne


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Spockie Tech and others have said a lot of the things I would say.
1. Study what interests you.
2. Just because you do a particular course doesn't mean you are locked into that course for life.

Spockie Tech talks about the choice between the button-up corporate world and the relative freedom of the SOHO world.

I also have worked in both worlds. Unlike Brett I oscilate between the two. Everything Brett says is true. But if you can stand the politics and the mindless stupidity of some of the decisions your bosses will make - then big corporations will pay you big dollars. If you can take their stupid decisions (decisions based on deals made on golf courses) and turn them into working systems, then corporations will pay you unspeakably well.

But you will go home feeling dirty some days. And some nights you won't sleep, because you KNOW that you are spending $24 million to do a $1 million job.

That is why I oscillate. I have worked in a lot of different fields. Some were fun. Some paid well. None had both. I am now trying to create a situation where I can build robots for a living - I'll take less money if I can have more fun Very Happy

As for what is the best qualification..... I have degrees in biological sciences, communications and computer science. I also (like many computer scientists) have half a degree in Engineering.

Engineering is tough. Make sure it is what you want. A degree (or at least some subjects) in English or communications will help long-term - but the techie qualification will get you your first job.

Post Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:09 pm 
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Timothy Forde
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Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 247
Location: Vic ,Belgrave South


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Well thanks for all the advice and stories guys Smile
I'm doing a apprenticeship (with apprenticeships Victoria) as a fitter and turner for 4 years while studying a diploma/advanced diploma of mechanical engineering at night classes at box hill tafe and I may use it to go onto uni later lol
Took a while but it’s worked out thanks guys, if only they showed me this stuff at school
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Post Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:53 pm 
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aeldric



Joined: 08 Oct 2004
Posts: 100
Location: Melbourne


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quote:
Originally posted by Timothy Forde:
Well thanks for all the advice and stories guys Smile
I'm doing a apprenticeship (with apprenticeships Victoria) as a fitter and turner for 4 years while studying a diploma/advanced diploma of mechanical engineering at night classes at box hill tafe and I may use it to go onto uni later lol
Took a while but it’s worked out thanks guys, if only they showed me this stuff at school


There are no limits. Let me tell you a true story about a dear friend:

John wasn't very motivated at school and left part way through year ten. He finished a trade course (Electrician) before I finished my first degree. He had earned a bucket of money by the time I finished my first year at work (as a first year out graduate I was working for a pittance).

At that point he already had a few years of experience behind him (and some money saved), so he used his TAFE qualifications to get into a CAE, got exemption from first year (because of the good TAFE marks), then got great marks at the CAE. He had a diploma by the end of the year. With those good marks behind him he got into University of Queensland (the top Uni in Qld). He got exemptions for all of first year and part of second year in two different degrees.

He worked nights as a Gymnastics coach, so he had enough money to get by while he studied a dual-degree course.

Three years later he had a dual degree (degrees in psychology and science if memory serves) with Honours in Psychology.

By then he had a HECS debt to worry about so he decided to go back to work. With a dual degree and Honours in Psychology, the police offered him a job. His Psychology degree meant that he moved straight into a Hostage Negotiation kind of role with the Qld police force, then into Counter-Terrorism and VIP protection a year later.

A few years later he quit the police and got into politics. With his diverse background and his multiple diplomas and degrees he was very popular in the party. He was nominated by the party, ran for a seat in Qld parliament and won. He won again recently.

To the best of my knowledge, John has never passed year ten, but he has two diplomas, two degrees (one with Honours), and I think he may also have a Masters Degree by now..... and he can wire your house.

In addition he has served as a bodyguard for Bill Clinton (amongst many others), done things that neither of us can talk about, and he is a Member of Parliament.

His name is John English. He is an MP in Qld, and this is a true story.

Your teachers don't tell you this, so I'll say it again:

Chose what you enjoy - then take it where you want to go. There are no limits.

Post Thu Oct 28, 2004 10:17 pm 
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Glen
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Joined: 16 Jun 2004
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just poking around now for some courses for next year and wondering if anyone out there could help us out on this point...

im looking to do CNC engineering, but it seems like you cant just do that as a course first off. do you have to do some form of basic engineering before you can go on to do all the little sub-courses like tig welding and so forth?

im just looking to go to TAFE at the moment anyway. $350 a year for the courses and it seems like tafe is far lower in W.A.N.K factor than university is anyway. less number crunching and brain straining and more building and machining it would seem. (is it really that way??)

from earlier on in the thread it seemed like a few of you where CAD and CNC type workers... how would one go about getting a job in that sort of area (CNC specifically)? is there a job shortage in that field or anything.

cheers in advance.
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2005 8:06 pm 
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Spockie-Tech
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Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 3160
Location: Melbourne, Australia


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Ajax is probably the person you want to talk to..

unfortunately he's recently got himself both a new girlfriend and a new business, so hes vanished back into RL (Real Life) for a while.. Try sending him an email at ajax@robowars.org and see if you can prod him to come to the forum and answer a few questions for you.. Smile

My experience of TAFE vs Uni is pretty much in agreeance with your assesment. If you're the sort of person that likes getting your hands dirty and are looking for a more "trade" sort of work, go with TAFE.

If you like "engineering" things that *should* work, only to have the gritty real-world not agree with your theoretical analysis of phase/vector relationships in your circuit and have some grimy TAFE techie say "Dude ! dont you know you need to allow for the <insert obscure kludge> effect ?", and bung an extra cap in apparently at random which brings things to life, then go to uni.. Laughing

Actually, its not that bad, and in all fairness, you probably have a better shot at some higher paid jobs with a uni degree than a tafe one, but you can upgrade the TAFE degree with some extra theory later on if you need it and be a far more valuable engineer than some fresh-outta-3-years-of-uni "engineer" with a head full of equations and burnt fingers from holding the soldering iron at the wrong end.. Wink
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Post Fri Aug 19, 2005 2:57 am 
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kkeerroo
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Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 1459
Location: Brisbane


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Not quite Brett. Engineering is a 4 year corse.

What I learned at uni was that engineering students don't learn how to build anything. They may think they do but after a few painful years out in the real world they would end managing projects rather then doing the fun stuff. For example I am a drafter but I seem to spend more then 50% of the time doing paper work or other tasks.

My advice is work you way up from the bottom.
Diploma of Eng (TAFE) -> Bachalor of Technology (TAFE + Uni) -> Bachalor of Eng (Uni)
It will take longer but you will learn more and you will now when to stop if it no longer becomes fun with all the maths abd business type crap.
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Post Fri Aug 19, 2005 7:33 am 
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marto
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Joined: 08 Jul 2004
Posts: 5459
Location: Brisbane, QLD


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@ kkeerros. What uni would you reckon would be the best for engineering in QLD.

I'm looking at doing engineering next year but I still haven't decided what course or where.

BTW maths isnt a problem
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Post Sat Aug 20, 2005 2:00 pm 
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kkeerroo
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Joined: 17 Jun 2004
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Location: Brisbane


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What type of engineering? Mechanical, electrical, civil, ect......

I would say QUT, but thats mainly because thats the one I went to.
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Post Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:35 pm 
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marto
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Joined: 08 Jul 2004
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Location: Brisbane, QLD


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I was thinking electrical but not sure atm. Might do a double or if I can get a scholarship might influence me a bit. Atm am sorta tossing up between UQ and QUT. Might have a chat tomorrow
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Post Sat Aug 20, 2005 9:05 pm 
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