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I&E Job Options
Posted on 5/20/25 at 6:44 pm
Posted on 5/20/25 at 6:44 pm
Just starting out at SOWELA in Lake Charles for Instrumentation and Electrical. Any advice? I’m trying to locate apprenticeships/internships to gain some experience but not having much luck. I’ve heard most people start out with a contractor such as Triad, ISC, MMR, etc. What is usually the career progression when starting with these contractors to get to I&E tech as I am seeing that you don’t necessarily start as a tech? Please correct me if I’m wrong any advice appreciated! Thanks!
18
Posted on 5/20/25 at 6:47 pm to milkman69
A trade school degree with some plant experience is your best bet.
Posted on 5/20/25 at 6:51 pm to milkman69
Very few come out of school and start as a tech. Most go into construction for a little while Try as best you can to get some loop checking experience. This will get you closer to some minor level troubleshooting. If possible, avoid hard money jobs as they have one goal in mind, finish ASAP. A T&M (Time and Material) job with a contractor is more like maintenance projects and have a slower pace that should give you a chance to get into troubleshooting.
Most plants will ask technical questions that relate to real world troubleshooting. It's a paradox that they want maintenance experience, yet entry into the field is 90% through construction.
You may have to end up working at a less than desirable facility to cut your teeth and get some knowledge, then apply at the bigger name facilities.
Once in a facility, find a niche in the Instrumentation (Digital, Control Valves, Wireless, etc) and learn everything you can about it.
Most plants will ask technical questions that relate to real world troubleshooting. It's a paradox that they want maintenance experience, yet entry into the field is 90% through construction.
You may have to end up working at a less than desirable facility to cut your teeth and get some knowledge, then apply at the bigger name facilities.
Once in a facility, find a niche in the Instrumentation (Digital, Control Valves, Wireless, etc) and learn everything you can about it.
This post was edited on 5/20/25 at 7:49 pm
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:07 pm to Cuz413
quote:
A T&M (Time and Money)
Time and Material.
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:08 pm to milkman69
quote:
Triad, ISC, MMR, etc. What is usually the career progression
There are probably the most opportunities nationwide with MMR, I think they’re like 3-5 times bigger than either of those other 2
If staying in Louisiana then you’ll have the opportunity to bounce around between all of them and move up as you want
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:13 pm to milkman69
If you are focusing on electrical, focus on controls, PLC's, Drives, and DCS. If you are solid in these you can write your ticket anywhere in the USA.
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:21 pm to milkman69
Is going to school an option?
2yr associate degree gets you hired on before you can finish school.
Even if you take night classes while working for a i&e contractor you should be able to land a spot with a maint contractor at a plant as a tech.
2yr associate degree gets you hired on before you can finish school.
Even if you take night classes while working for a i&e contractor you should be able to land a spot with a maint contractor at a plant as a tech.
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:26 pm to Ol boy
In before Mingo
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:28 pm to Ol boy
Starting the degree at SOWELA next week!
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:31 pm to milkman69
quote:
Starting the degree at SOWELA next week!
Start applying to any and all contractors that have i&e divisions tell them that you are going to school they will work around your schedule and give you time off if you show up to work and can pass a drug test. You will not be doing any tech work at first just changing light bulbs and pulling wire. But once you learn how to hold a communicator right side up and get half way done with that degree they will put you with a tech helping out.
This post was edited on 5/20/25 at 7:34 pm
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:35 pm to milkman69
You’re most likely going to start by pulling wire and bending conduit. Have a good attitude and learn and you’ll get a good job. It just most likely won’t be fresh out of school.
Take your learning into your own hands too. Do a lot of self study on control valves, DCS hardware, transmitters, motor starters, etc. You can learn a lot on YouTube.
Take your learning into your own hands too. Do a lot of self study on control valves, DCS hardware, transmitters, motor starters, etc. You can learn a lot on YouTube.
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:38 pm to milkman69
I can’t help you there but if you’re in Baton Rouge, Dow chemical has a great apprenticeship program.
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:40 pm to milkman69
My advice, as an electrical engineer who had long specialties in automation, instrumentation and power distribution, is find work with a small company - the smaller the better. At big companies, like MMR, you can easily get two years of experience five times, and then you’re ten years down the road and not very skilled.
The tough thing about finding work with small companies is that they are not generally the ones that your trade school placement office will have the relationships with. But if you have the gumption to work the phones, I advise you try to find a small startup and grow with them. You will have to do a lot of things and your training will be broad and varied.
I love your career choice, BTW!
The tough thing about finding work with small companies is that they are not generally the ones that your trade school placement office will have the relationships with. But if you have the gumption to work the phones, I advise you try to find a small startup and grow with them. You will have to do a lot of things and your training will be broad and varied.
I love your career choice, BTW!
This post was edited on 5/20/25 at 7:41 pm
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:41 pm to milkman69
Get on with one of the contractors listed above and show up on time and be useful and show you want to learn more and the sky will be the limit.
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:45 pm to nugget
SOWELA’s job placement department is terrible, you will need to market yourself bigly.
FYI, per guys in this field, if you are in construction longer than two years you’ll never transition to a maintenance position. Construction I&E is a dead end.
FYI, per guys in this field, if you are in construction longer than two years you’ll never transition to a maintenance position. Construction I&E is a dead end.
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:48 pm to notiger1997
quote:
Time and Material.
Yeah, yeah, yeah I stand corrected
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:53 pm to KemoSabe65
quote:
FYI, per guys in this field, if you are in construction longer than two years you’ll never transition to a maintenance position. Construction I&E is a dead end.
Typically because they never stay at the same place long enough to build up a reputation with the construction superintendent to get hired ton as a maint tech and then get noticed by the company man to get hired as a company hand.
2-3yrs go by and they have been jumping around chasing turnarounds and per diem and topped out pay and now they don’t want to take a maint job working 40hr a week and entry level tech pay.
All about choices
Posted on 5/20/25 at 7:54 pm to KemoSabe65
Don't forget BBP. Great company hiring techs now in LC.
You'll work construction and can be kind of a dead end of pulling wire and running conduit for 2 years before maybe getting on the instrument side.
I will say aptitude will shine quickly. If you apply yourself.
I taught at Sowela for a year at night while working as a tech.
YouTube is your friend. You can learn as much as you want. Especially with free manual downloads from every manufacturer.
Look up and read on and watch videos on..
Endress and Hauser have the best instrument videos.
Rosemount DP transmitters
Emerson DVC positioners
VAC positioners
VEGA radar both open air and guided wave
Fisher valves
Fisher 3582s
Valtek valves
Switchpacks
Crystal pressure calibrations
Fluke multimeter.
mA drivers
Trex communicators
Control valves. Rising stem vs quarter turn.
PLC programing as a specialty. Name your price.
Analyzers and chromatograph types. Name your price.
You'll work construction and can be kind of a dead end of pulling wire and running conduit for 2 years before maybe getting on the instrument side.
I will say aptitude will shine quickly. If you apply yourself.
I taught at Sowela for a year at night while working as a tech.
YouTube is your friend. You can learn as much as you want. Especially with free manual downloads from every manufacturer.
Look up and read on and watch videos on..
Endress and Hauser have the best instrument videos.
Rosemount DP transmitters
Emerson DVC positioners
VAC positioners
VEGA radar both open air and guided wave
Fisher valves
Fisher 3582s
Valtek valves
Switchpacks
Crystal pressure calibrations
Fluke multimeter.
mA drivers
Trex communicators
Control valves. Rising stem vs quarter turn.
PLC programing as a specialty. Name your price.
Analyzers and chromatograph types. Name your price.
This post was edited on 5/20/25 at 7:56 pm
Posted on 5/20/25 at 8:43 pm to milkman69
quote:
What is usually the career progression when starting with these contractors to get to I&E tech as I am seeing that you don’t necessarily start as a tech?
An internship can be a great way to get your name in with a company. Pay attention, ask questions and have a good work ethic.
I won’t tell you not to hire on with a construction company, I actually work for one of the ones you listed. It will be a frustrating experience for you even with a degree from a good school. As others said, you will start out with your degree in your pocket as unskilled labor. You definitely have opportunities to advance, and advance at a decent rate, but at least half the guys working for these companies are trying to make it to the technician level and most won’t.
If you get a chance at an internship, let your actions show that you’re interested in learning. They probably won’t let you do very much as an intern, but be alert. Be more than just a warm body that shows up and tails someone around the plant.
Posted on 5/20/25 at 8:47 pm to milkman69
Heard living and sleeping in your car and showering at planet fitness until your 50 will allow you to retire early.
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