Engineer For 5 Years - Trying To Build A Solid Knowledge Base

[totoro]

I'm a C&G qualified electrician but i've been doing almost exclusively alarms work for the last 5 years but with no formal training in the field.  I've installed and maintained fire panels from various manufacturers, my intruder experience is mostly with Menvier, Galaxy and more recently Texecom. 

 

A 'senior' position has become available at a rival firm, i don't think i'll be applying, however the thought of doing so has made me realise something - i feel like i know nothing!

 

I think maybe what i am looking for is some way of convincing myself and potential future employers that i do indeed know what i'm doing.

 

What's the most widely recognised qualification in this field, does such a thing even exist?  I feel like that might be a dumb question but i know very little about this side of the business.

 

Thanks in advance guys.
 

 

 

 

[james.wilson]

Imo manufacturer training, usually done by the employer not sure if you can get it on your own. I'm sure you can if you go to them

[Wyatthaplo]

I had similar start to my career. Started as a sparks then moved into the alarm side for a company that only did alarms (within the security industry anyway)

 

I think the biggest thing IMHO would be to show confidence when talking about your work. Don't pretend like you know everything. You won't. But be confident in what you do know. I have only installed about 10 different panels in the last 15 years but have worked on dozens and I honestly think that because I know the terminology and the 'language' of the industry, things like FSL, EOL, ATS ratings, etc etc. (again not everything but feel like I know enough) that you could put me in front of any intruder panel with a manual and I would be able to get it up and running. Its just about knowing where the menus are for what you allready know you need to program.

 

Of course anyone can blag it as such in an interview but to be honest I think the manufacturers training only goes so far anyway. Experience (again only in my opinion) counts for way more. 

 

I would say have a good think about the last year and the installs you have done. Are you happy with how they have been done? Have you had any callbacks on them that you can put down to your work? I would say if you are proud and confident in the work you have done over say the last year then thats a pretty good indicator to yourself of your abilities. 

[al-yeti]

I can blag

[whistle]

I can blag

Haha we know that...

[totoro]

I can blag

 

I can usually do this with customers but i'm not sure how i'd manage in an interview situation.

 

Can any of you think of any 'essential reading' for an alarms engineer?  Something that's more general and not product specific.  What are the things we should really know?  I mean things like regs, system grading etc.

[Nova-Security]

loads of Btecs & city & guilds  http://www.tavcom.com/training-courses/intruder-alarms/

[Joe Doherty]

Gerard Honey Intruder Alarms was like our holy bible in college

I can usually do this with customers but i'm not sure how i'd manage in an interview situation.

Can any of you think of any 'essential reading' for an alarms engineer? Something that's more general and not product specific. What are the things we should really know? I mean things like regs, system grading etc.

[datadiffusion]

It's getting pretty long in the tooth now though, I don't think it's been updated in a long time, even the one I bought was still talking about tone carrier signalling!

[Joe Doherty]

Agreed they still build C&G framework on it but just throw the European Regs in for good measure. You want to see some of the hand outs from 2013 soundpac sounder made it in there lol we did have a proper old school teacher though, ive never heard of GPO untill that day he used to teach guys from AFA,White Group, ADT cant remember the rest shame i cant post pics via mobile

It's getting pretty long in the tooth now though, I don't think it's been updated in a long time, even the one I bought was still talking about tone carrier signalling!

Edited February 26, 2016 by Joe Doherty