Automation vs. Construction - career advice please

[Jason Philip]

Currently working as a control system technician focusing on installing wiring on conveyors and control panels, get 12.5 p/h and lots of work away from home. Have previously done residential / commercial & industrial installation electrician jobs. Am torn wether to go back to construction, for potentially better money, ideally going towards self-employed contracting. The progression in my current job would be commissioning and design of systems, but I can't see the money going up to where I want to be in the next few years. I'm sort of just looking for feedback from people on either industry who might be able to look in the crystal ball and tell me what's the better option, or at least just share their own experience and opinions. Thanks.

 

[netblindpaul]

Stick it out in the automation industry.

 

[Bobster]

Yep stick it out, an 12.5 is pretty low. Especially working away from home. You really need to be talking to your boss.

Standard in house panel builders, that just follow dot to dot wiring plans are on similar money, with no unsociable working or hours.

 

[Jason Philip]

Thanks for the replies !

 

[Jason Philip]

Stick it out in the automation industry.

Any thoughts on why automation is a better option?

 

[netblindpaul]

Better career prospects, less of a race to the bottom on price which exists in construction, no builders.
You can stay in the line you are, move into factory maintenance, move into training/teaching, move into design, programming, commissioning etc etc.
This route could take you over into BMS and the like, where as it is a more difficult career path to go from 7671 installations works into BMS then automation.
Just my opinion.

 

[Megawatt]

Better career prospects, less of a race to the bottom on price which exists in construction, no builders.
You can stay in the line you are, move into factory maintenance, move into training/teaching, move into design, programming, commissioning etc etc.
This route could take you over into BMS and the like, where as it is a more difficult career path to go from 7671 installations works into BMS then automation.
Just my opinion.

Stay in automation, it never stops changing and good luck on your decision

 

[KennyKen]

Stay in Automation, Although have a word about the hourly rate. Especially if you’re working away!

 

[marconi]

Apart from automation being so interesting, the trend is for more and more of it, which includes robotics and remotely controlled limbs, tools, manipulators.

The cranes at this Stanford- le-Hope, Essex super-port near me are all computer controlled robots:

See: DP World London Gateway Virtual Tour - https://www.londongateway.com/why-gateway/take-a-virtual-tour

Also take a look at BBC2's 'Inside the factory' especially the one on the Nescafe instant coffee factory in Derbyshire for state of the art food production:

BBC Two - Inside the Factory, Coffee

Gregg Wallace visits a coffee factory that produces 175,000 jars of instant coffee a day.

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC Two - Inside the Factory

A look at some of the largest factories in Britain.

www.bbc.co.uk

Automation, control and instrumentation are the fields I would stay in for a satisfying career.

 

[Jason Philip]

Well it's a pretty strong case, thanks for all the replies, I'll take it on board and stick at it.

 

[Bobster]

You need to start pushing for PLC work and safety system design, for me the most interesting part of the work. An the added bonus that the pay starts rapidly increasing once you get good.

 

[edexlab]

I know the OP and have been discussing this with him,
We have similar backgrounds and I've come from Construction and spent last 4 years doing Automation so I'm another vote for Automation !

However I noticed that all the replies were from Automation people but none from Construction.......

Anyone want to give some balance to this for the OP

 

[netblindpaul]

I did move from automation into construction, following redundancy, but pretty much hated it, too many cowboys who wanted to work for nothing, so started the way back almost immediately.

 

[KennyKen]

I’ve been in construction/Project work for many years mainly Heavy industrial. It’s good for job satisfaction especially doing nice steel conduit runs. Other than that for mental stimulation I’d rather the Automation route.

 

[Jason Philip]

I’ve been in construction/Project work for many years mainly Heavy industrial. It’s good for job satisfaction especially doing nice steel conduit runs. Other than that for mental stimulation I’d rather the Automation route.

I do enjoy a bit of conduit work