I would recommend electric engineering, or something similar, if the vehicles electrical architecture (power distribution) is what you are interested in.
I do electronic packaging (junction boxes)for automotive, and spend my day driving the development of printed circuit boards, and the plastic...
I would find another job and go. You can stay where you are at, finish your degree, and they will pay for it, but you'll just be that much more in debt to the company, and still have to wait 3 years. I left while owing back tuition money and the company was willing to make payment...
I took 3 years of architectural drafting in high school, and afterwards went to school for architectural drafting, with the eventual goal of becoming an architect. Eventually got a job drafting in the construction industry, realized I hated the industry as a whole, and moved into mechanical...
If I had little to no experience, I believe the most important things to finding a job are, geographical location, personal sacrifice, and making sure your name is out there on the job boards, and cold calling.
Location: I am in SE Michigan, so while we have lots of people out of work, there...
Stay until you find a job. I never like having gaps on my resume. And any experience, no matter how unrelated to what you want to do, can be worded or explained in a way that it benefits you at a future employer. If you quit now you have two years xp, with a gap that is however long it takes...
Have only been offered a signing bonus once. Not sure how typical it is. If you get one you are lucky.
I work in automotive and have heard of starting salaries anywhere between 45-60k at least in my corner of Automotive (electronic packaging). With some experience you could probably pull...
I work about 45 hours. Not counting any late night meetings with overseas counterparts. But those are few.
Occasionally we have to work late to help with a project, but that happens maybe twice a year.
But I don't even like working 45. Between that and drive time it really cuts into...
I would also say CAD training/career. You will probably need it at some point. I worked as a designer for most of my career and it really helped jumped start my career once I got my engineering degree.
A machinist is not a bad idea either. The ability to read prints, and understand...
Trade workers making more money than an engineer is not always true. You need to compare years of xp, type of work, location, company, overtime etc.
I work in Automotive, and although there are line workers making more than me (My uncle made 100k+), their hourly rate is maxed, less than mine...
The only thing I really miss at my current job is flex time. We have to work until 5 no matter what time we get here. I would rather come it at 6 or 7 and leave by 3:30. 5 oclock really ruins my evenings. I have been here over 3 years and have worked only one Saturday.
But I get unlimited...
I agree with others, you really need to know what sector you want to go into.
Our designers use mostly UG for our automotive plastic design. However, they sometimes use Catia. Our engineers use Solidworks to check the designers work. I even have a copy of AutoCAD I use on occasion for quick...
I can't comment on much except for the part about your age and the benefits of such a degree.
I graduated when I was 32. Like you I had experience already which helped me to land a new job upon completion. My degree was what boosted my career to the next level.
You still have 30+ years...
I worked for a Japanese company and they more or less told me (thru my manager) that my current position was where I was expected to work forever. So I can imagine it was a bad question to ask about moving around within the company. I noticed that they never promoted from within. Even going...
My sister is a construction project manager and has a degree in construction managament. If you plan on remaining a PM, I would lean towards option 1. Will your company pay for it? Do you even need a degree? Maybe some kind of certification would be better.
My sister has no need for an...
I have been hearing this for my entire career and at one time thought that 2D prints were going away.
However, there are too many machine shops that use prints, and even some that can't even look at the 3D data. Heck, some can even read GD&T.
Some of our toolmakers use 3D to create our tools...
