Breaking into Engineering: How to Advance Your Career with a BEET Degree

[RSP02]

Hello everyone.

I got my BEET about 5 years ago(from Devry), since then I've been working as a field service tech. This wasn't the ideal career choice to go into. I think I've hurt myself in the long run staying here too long, but I want to try to make a change.

What do you guys think I should do to try to break into a eng. career? Maybe get a job as a eng. tech or something and work my way up to a full electrical eng.?

Every electrical/electronic job that I apply to I never hear any response back.

I would really appreciate any advice or help.

Thank you

 

[andersmc]

I'm also a Field Service Technician at Westinghouse Electric Company in the Nuclear Division. I do ultrasonic inspection on critical components within the utility. I'm starting my third year at DeVry working towards my BS. EET degree.

If it was me, I wouldn't be satisfied working as a F.S. Tech when you put in all that hard work to achieve your degree. Because I travel so much for my job, sometimes I think about cashing out and going to Penn State and getting a BA in Business instead. However, I do like DeVry, and I think I've gotten a lot out of them so far. My Labs are challenging, I don't know how you did it, I just hope I get there.

Either way, get those resumes out and get what your worth. This degree isn't easy...at least not for an online student such as myself, and I'm a straight-A student.

 

[Floid]

Well, (in my limited experience on the topic) if you want to get an electrical engineering job, you have a few options:

1.) Get an electrical engineering degree (BSEE).

2.) Start as an technician and try to work your way up. Just realize that you will probably be limited, but at my company we do have a few technicians that function more as engineers than technicians. Just realize that this may be a slow process (take 5-10 years) because you will really have to prove yourself and it may not be possible at all companies.

 

[fss]

Your lack of an engineering degree will hurt you. If you want to be an engineer, you should get an engineering degree.

 

[andersmc]

I do agree with you in both cases about the engineering degeee as well as working your way up as a technician. There are individuals in my office who are in the same situation. Mostly it's the ones that earned the engineering degrees are actually respected, with the exception of the guys in the industry who helped grow the business and were part of a great deal of research and development.

I don't see how you think DeVry's "Electronics Engineering Technology" degree isn't an Engineering Degree though. They are working on having it approved by TAC of ABET. I've shared my coarse studies from a coworkwer from WVU and Perdue, and they both informed me that it's legitimately all the education you need to be an engineer.

If it was a Tech Degree it would be a 2year program. That is what actually sets this particular degree apart from other Universities and Institutes (Penn Foster, etc..). In my case I'm finishing my degree and then going to Penn State and getting my Masters in Engineering Management.

Please show me fact which support your post about how this is not a real engineering degree.

Thanks
andersmc