[SBE] defining broadcast engineering education

[Reynolds, Paul (CXR-San Antonio)]

I've been in Radio Engineering for about 40+ years.  I have no degree.  My experience has been that as a "Chief Engineer" a degree met nothing.  The best thing going was SBE certification and I can't say that ever got me an additional nickel of pay.  My training is of course from USAF in 1960 for over a year.  Tubes, back then.  I had to go back to tech school to learn transistors in about 1962.  I went to Dallas FCC office in early 70's and took Elements 1,2,3 & 4 I think it was all in the same day...from an RT permit when I was flying (Single & Multi-engine, Commercial and Instrument Rated) to an FCC First Class in one day.  It was a little exhausting.  I have been most fortunate in working for many understanding GM's and probably one of the best who treated me very well.  I also had one of the worst for 14 years who HATED ENGINEERS.  He was never on my Christmas card list either.  But I lived through him.  What a façade he could put on.  He had received a 'mailer' from SBE to GM's about engineer certifications.  He just thought that was the best thing in the world.  At that time, I politely informed him I had been SBE Senior Certified since about 1978 or 80 and I am thinking I had already had my CPBE at that time.  He shut up and I never heard about that subject again.  Nor any merit raise either. We added an LMA FM and I got nothing extra.  We bought it later as well as an AM FM combo and I got nothing extra.  My point being, I never let college stand in the way of my education.  I have taken many certifications in many areas of my needs and enjoyment and broadened my knowledge...most of it all self taught.
That same GM NEVER sent me to a high school career day, only the popular morning guy/couple.  The broadcast industry has shot them selves in the foot by such GM's.  No incentive to attract any younger generation.  I am going to retire in a year or two and it will be very expensive to them for a grease pencil so I can show them which crank to turn.

Paul K. Reynolds, C.E.
 paul.reynolds at coxradio.com
 

-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Carter
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:13 PM
To: sbe at sbe.org
Subject: Re: [SBE] defining broadcast engineering education

That's exactly what I encountered and what finally drove me back into
school.   I've got military and vocational/technical school training,
but it didn't seem to matter.

Seven years ago, I could get a job pretty much anywhere making $40K
but that was the ceiling.  I wasn't being considered for anything else
because I couldn't get past HR, and my experience meant nothing when
nobody was seeing my resume/application.

So, I lost it and enrolled in college at an ABET-accredited
engineering technology school.  With my experience level, I can apply
for and take the PE exam (I can get signed off by other PEs) so I will
probably do that while the math is still reasonably fresh in my head.

The question after that is "now what?" and which direction to go with
it.  It's sort of like that thing they do on TV to illustrate the lack
of a real plan:

1. Go to school.
2. ????
3. Profit.

Jeff

---- Original message ----

>Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:46:01 EDT

>From: A9xw at cs.com

>Subject: Re: [SBE] defining broadcast engineering education

>To: sbe at sbe.org

>I went back for a BS in business management. In today's HR driven

>environment, not having a degree means your resume is not read. When I got in

>broadcasting in the 60's, all managers wanted was your FCC license

and some idea you knew

>your way around equipment. I have my DeVry certificate from 1966 which was

>plenty good then and part of it was FCC 1st phone prep (with radar

endorsement).

>I think the SBE has done a good job of replacing that with the certification

>schedule. But when you walk in with 40 years experience  you likely got to

>walk in for the interview because you have a degree in something.

Being a HSG or

>GED means nothing in the work world because the quality of HD grads is so

>low, many are functionally illiterate but got their "certificate of

attendance"

>for being there 6 years.

>

>Henry

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