Stuck in a rut at current job, is a hnc worth it?
Discussion
Could be a long post but I'll try and keep it brief and to the point. 33 and worked for the same company for 15 years, apprenticeship then full time. In cnc machining, don't mind the job in itself, pays not amazing but overtime tops it up but I feel a bit 'stuck' the company is easy enough to work for and isn't any bother but it's never going to get any more exciting than it is. Promises of pay rises, training, up skilling and new machinery never comes off so I've learnt not to expect anything, and with people retiring or leaving and not being replaced it feels like it's on a bit of a wind down.
A local college is offering a hnc course (mechanical engineering) part time 2 evenings a week, I'd be self funding which isn't cheap, and with a young family free times not exactly in abundance.
I worry another decade will slip by and I'll be in the place just treading water and just getting by.
Has anyone done a hnc and has it opened more doors for you? Or is there any other routes to consider for a new challenge and hopefully some career progression? Is this just a phase everyone goes through or is the grass genuinely greener if you get more qualified? If you read all that thanks for sticking with it.
A local college is offering a hnc course (mechanical engineering) part time 2 evenings a week, I'd be self funding which isn't cheap, and with a young family free times not exactly in abundance.
I worry another decade will slip by and I'll be in the place just treading water and just getting by.
Has anyone done a hnc and has it opened more doors for you? Or is there any other routes to consider for a new challenge and hopefully some career progression? Is this just a phase everyone goes through or is the grass genuinely greener if you get more qualified? If you read all that thanks for sticking with it.
I decided against a hnc after my apprenticeship, I think it’s worth it only if you have a drive to go up the ladder, but even if you don’t have a hnc and have the drive and competence to go up then you can do it no problem.
I have seen plenty of jobs advertised requiring a hnc or degree, but if you have the experience and constant progression in the workplace, who is going to bin your CV just because you don’t have a hnc?
I have seen plenty of jobs advertised requiring a hnc or degree, but if you have the experience and constant progression in the workplace, who is going to bin your CV just because you don’t have a hnc?
I have 3 HNCs in Engineering - A mechanical and structural were done through my apprenticeship, and a "general" one in engineering done along the way to studying my degree part time.
Personally I'd not bother funding a HNC off your own back. The cost is one thing, but doing any study part-time is a bit of a b
d. I don't have a young family and I still struggle to fit stuff in. I'd say they're only 'useful' when you're younger and first trying to get your foot into the door somewhere. Engineering is an odd one in that some companies will insist on qualifications XYZ (usually when those in the hiring positions have those qualifications themselves), while others will look at experience lots more. Try and get somewhere with the second bunch.
I'm a bit younger than you at 28 but I've always been in positions where on paper I'm not qualified enough (haven't finished my degree still, not chartered, and every position said it was required.) Being able to lean on your experience and interviewing well goes much further in my opinion.
Start getting your CV out there and you may be surprised what comes back.
Good luck
I re-did my CV recently as I'm moving jobs so if you want a copy of the template or whatever then feel free to ping me a message
Personally I'd not bother funding a HNC off your own back. The cost is one thing, but doing any study part-time is a bit of a b
d. I don't have a young family and I still struggle to fit stuff in. I'd say they're only 'useful' when you're younger and first trying to get your foot into the door somewhere. Engineering is an odd one in that some companies will insist on qualifications XYZ (usually when those in the hiring positions have those qualifications themselves), while others will look at experience lots more. Try and get somewhere with the second bunch. I'm a bit younger than you at 28 but I've always been in positions where on paper I'm not qualified enough (haven't finished my degree still, not chartered, and every position said it was required.) Being able to lean on your experience and interviewing well goes much further in my opinion.
Start getting your CV out there and you may be surprised what comes back.
Good luck
I re-did my CV recently as I'm moving jobs so if you want a copy of the template or whatever then feel free to ping me a message
If already in machining then Titans of CNC Academy may be worth a look for upskilling.
https://academy.titansofcnc.com/
https://academy.titansofcnc.com/
Have you asked your firm if they’ll fund the HNC? If you’re doing the course in your own time they might well agree to it if they’re not losing you during working hours. I’d have thought there’s no harm in asking, unless you’re desperate to leave and concerned about repaying course fees if you leave early.
It had crossed my mind to ask but I'm pretty sure I already know the answer, but they can only say no I suppose. I think it could just be I feel like I haven't progressed any skills, my last bit of training was about 10/11 years ago when we got a new lathe+barfeed. I do enjoy the job in itself so maybe just getting a bit more knowledge of programming would be a better use of time
Do it.
I did a 5 year apprenticeship in 2001 to 2006 in precision engineering in aerospace.
1 year C&G 201 then 2 year ONC and 2year HNC in mechanical engineering. I had the option to do a HND (1year) and then top up to a degree (another 1 year).
I didn't take the option and, whilst it didn't affect my move into Quality Management, I kind of regret it. It created so many discussion points about not advancing "because I didn't have a degree" that I got fed up. I'm good at what I do and my results show that but it kept coming up in conversations in my advancement.
I went from Quality into Operations and am now Senior Operations Manager and run my plant, and this was helped along with me completing a MBA over the last 2 years to close that gap and stop people saying I wasn't good enough.
I was told not to bother with a degree and go straight for a master's because of my experience in management and it worked out fine. Quite a few people in my cohort who had the same experience as me.
TLDR: the right qualifications are never a waste, and if they appeal to you, can be so much fun and a fantastic experience. Don't do something for the sake of it as you won't be committed.
I did a 5 year apprenticeship in 2001 to 2006 in precision engineering in aerospace.
1 year C&G 201 then 2 year ONC and 2year HNC in mechanical engineering. I had the option to do a HND (1year) and then top up to a degree (another 1 year).
I didn't take the option and, whilst it didn't affect my move into Quality Management, I kind of regret it. It created so many discussion points about not advancing "because I didn't have a degree" that I got fed up. I'm good at what I do and my results show that but it kept coming up in conversations in my advancement.
I went from Quality into Operations and am now Senior Operations Manager and run my plant, and this was helped along with me completing a MBA over the last 2 years to close that gap and stop people saying I wasn't good enough.
I was told not to bother with a degree and go straight for a master's because of my experience in management and it worked out fine. Quite a few people in my cohort who had the same experience as me.
TLDR: the right qualifications are never a waste, and if they appeal to you, can be so much fun and a fantastic experience. Don't do something for the sake of it as you won't be committed.
So my background was I started a sheet metal apprenticeship which would of only got me nvq level 3 as my highest qualification but left to start another apprenticeship in mechanical maintenance (still on the tools) with a hnc being my top qualification. By moving around different companies I am now in an engineering position (with a once in a blue moon touching spanner’s). Having the hnc had definitely helped me but so has moving around different individuals and different roles (tech, surveyor, off tools tech, off tools engineer). I would ask the question do you still want to be involved with the tools? I only ask this as if not it might be better to ship a hnc and go degree. It might be better to do hnc and then do degree if you are still undecided with it all.
I did an electrical engineering hnc 2006-2008 as part of my apprenticeship. Can't say it's been of much use since until I was made redundant last year, the majority of similar jobs advertised had it down as either a requirement or desirable. The manager that then employed me started me off on a much higher pay grade than another recent starter that didn't have an hnc.
If you're looking to change jobs or progress in the future then I'd imagine it can only be a positive step, although I think costs have gone up significantly since I did mine.
If you're looking to change jobs or progress in the future then I'd imagine it can only be a positive step, although I think costs have gone up significantly since I did mine.
sjj84 said:
I did an electrical engineering hnc 2006-2008 as part of my apprenticeship. Can't say it's been of much use since until I was made redundant last year, the majority of similar jobs advertised had it down as either a requirement or desirable. The manager that then employed me started me off on a much higher pay grade than another recent starter that didn't have an hnc.
If you're looking to change jobs or progress in the future then I'd imagine it can only be a positive step, although I think costs have gone up significantly since I did mine.
Many tradesman posts advertised have a recognised apprenticeship and a HNC as a desirable or essential requirement. If you're looking to change jobs or progress in the future then I'd imagine it can only be a positive step, although I think costs have gone up significantly since I did mine.
A HNC is going to make the chances of future employment and progression better.
R6steve said:
Could be a long post but I'll try and keep it brief and to the point. 33 and worked for the same company for 15 years, apprenticeship then full time. In cnc machining, don't mind the job in itself, pays not amazing but overtime tops it up but I feel a bit 'stuck' the company is easy enough to work for and isn't any bother but it's never going to get any more exciting than it is. Promises of pay rises, training, up skilling and new machinery never comes off so I've learnt not to expect anything, and with people retiring or leaving and not being replaced it feels like it's on a bit of a wind down.
A local college is offering a hnc course (mechanical engineering) part time 2 evenings a week, I'd be self funding which isn't cheap, and with a young family free times not exactly in abundance.
I worry another decade will slip by and I'll be in the place just treading water and just getting by.
Has anyone done a hnc and has it opened more doors for you? Or is there any other routes to consider for a new challenge and hopefully some career progression? Is this just a phase everyone goes through or is the grass genuinely greener if you get more qualified? If you read all that thanks for sticking with it.
Welcome to adult life for most of humanity. In my opinion getting qualifications won’t make a great deal of difference. Most jobs get boring, tedious etc once you’ve done them for a while so unless you want to jump around different sorts of jobs where you’re always learning/doing different things then like most of us it’s a case of grinding the rest of your life out.A local college is offering a hnc course (mechanical engineering) part time 2 evenings a week, I'd be self funding which isn't cheap, and with a young family free times not exactly in abundance.
I worry another decade will slip by and I'll be in the place just treading water and just getting by.
Has anyone done a hnc and has it opened more doors for you? Or is there any other routes to consider for a new challenge and hopefully some career progression? Is this just a phase everyone goes through or is the grass genuinely greener if you get more qualified? If you read all that thanks for sticking with it.
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