Advice Millwright to Software Developer

[DA-LION-619]

Having interviewed there, I can tell you now you will be asked to write code.
The problems aren't per-se going to be easy. Definitely not "hello world"
Even as a graduate.

Their philosophy is simple.
As an engineer you are adaptable and language is a tool.
Moving from language to language shouldn't be difficult or time consuming.
Writing fully idiomatic code does take some time but writing a solution in a language you first encountered today is expected, you figure it out while you solve the problem.

So unlike what is being postulated, your fundamentals need to be rock solid.
They'll question you on your data structures and algorithms, give your coding problems, test your ability to design a software solution (maybe not the last one for a graduate).

Achievable in pseudocode?

 

[cguy]

Achievable in pseudocode?

My expectation is that they would use a language they are familiar with (any language) preferably. Pseudo code is likely fine too, if rigorous.

Where I’ve worked we’ve never cared about “known” languages - the expectation is that the person will just learn what we use.

 

[DA-LION-619]

My expectation is that they would use a language they are familiar with (any language) preferably. Pseudo code is likely fine too, if rigorous.

Where I’ve worked we’ve never cared about “known” languages - the expectation is that the person will just learn what we use.

To paraphrase Margaret Hamilton then, programmers learned on the job.

 

[cguy]

To paraphrase Margaret Hamilton then, programmers learned on the job.

If they didn’t know the language, then yes, although the language is a pretty small component.

 

[Not_original]

PLC ain't all that bad. As someone that studied BEng Mechatronics, I can assure you that it won't make any difference having a degree or not. I do however think it comes with lots and lots of stress and the inability to escape your job: always on call, working 7 days a week is normal, no stability in your schedule etc.

However, you get to level up much quicker than in software, there is a higher demand (you can be pretty mediocre and still have a job), you'll learn a lot more varied skills that would allow you to become a project manager, or manager for any industry in general after a few years, ability to travel anywhere in the world and earn serious $$. There are even times when you need to do support and production gets cancelled after and hour or two and you still get paid for the full day.

But, its a notorious industry and you really need to be ballsy to succeed. If you don't see yourself as a hands-on person and prefer a comfortable desk job with normalish hours and not having to deal with angry people all the time, my advice is to jump ship immediately. Sure, you can go over to software after a while, but you will be miserable until then. Did I mention the part about using a factory toilet?

Hey there. As someone that cannot sleep due to having an epiphany that if I quit my job as an electrician and study electrical engineering at the ripe age of 38, I'll be done at 42 and will finally have some autonomy and not be bound to some silly enterprise management system and a zealous time management lady that gives my foreman a hard time if we did not do a specific job or inspection at a spefic day and hour and have this lady's output form part of my management's performance rating.

So anyway, aside from being the project pusher and dealing with requesting money for projects, what keeps you busy during the day and up at night. And now, is it worth my while pay wise as I'll essentially bleed myself dry for 4 years and then have to start a life from scratch again. What does the starting salary of a junior with an excellent technical background and a B Eng degree look like?

 

[hjst45]

Hey there. As someone that cannot sleep due to having an epiphany that if I quit my job as an electrician and study electrical engineering at the ripe age of 38, I'll be done at 42 and will finally have some autonomy and not be bound to some silly enterprise management system and a zealous time management lady that gives my foreman a hard time if we did not do a specific job or inspection at a spefic day and hour and have this lady's output form part of my management's performance rating.

So anyway, aside from being the project pusher and dealing with requesting money for projects, what keeps you busy during the day and up at night. And now, is it worth my while pay wise as I'll essentially bleed myself dry for 4 years and then have to start a life from scratch again. What does the starting salary of a junior with an excellent technical background and a B Eng degree look like?

Hi Gert,

You'd be surprised to hear that even with a degree, a starting salary for an engineering graduate is currently in the range of 10-20k, based on location. Obviously these guys won't have the experience you have. There is a gent from another company working on the same project as me that just finished his mechatronics degree at Stellenbosch: starting salary 12k. His colleague only has matric but went on robotics training courses and has 2 years of experience: earns more than him at age 21.

However, I am not sure what future growth is like and opportunities overseas for someone with and without a degree. Personally, it seems like we are all in the same boat, it all boils down to whether the person can do the job.

My advice is to rather save your money, find out what exactly it is you want to do, then teach yourself to do it or connect with people that already have a job in that field to help guide you. If you are an electrician, I believe you should easily be able to transition to any position that would usually be reserved for someone with a degree. Sounds like you just need to find the right company that recognizes your worth and sees potential in you.

 

[notayoba]

Hey there. As someone that cannot sleep due to having an epiphany that if I quit my job as an electrician and study electrical engineering at the ripe age of 38, I'll be done at 42 and will finally have some autonomy and not be bound to some silly enterprise management system and a zealous time management lady that gives my foreman a hard time if we did not do a specific job or inspection at a spefic day and hour and have this lady's output form part of my management's performance rating.

So anyway, aside from being the project pusher and dealing with requesting money for projects, what keeps you busy during the day and up at night. And now, is it worth my while pay wise as I'll essentially bleed myself dry for 4 years and then have to start a life from scratch again. What does the starting salary of a junior with an excellent technical background and a B Eng degree look like?

Don't want to discourage you too much, but starting a BEng so late after school will be a PROPER challenge. It's 8 hours a day of classes, and then study at night.

The main issue I see is that to get proper traction with the studies, school calculus, physics and chemistry should still be fresh in your mind.