Engineering degree useful for refrigeration?

Hi, I have a BE in Mechatronics and have been finding jobs hard to come by, and am interested in becoming a refrigeration engineer or electrician as these trades get paid pretty well and I think have some relevance to my degree.

My question is, does my engineering degree count for much in the refrigeration trade? Do many refrigeration engineers go and get engineering degrees to help there career or are they of no value?

Any insights would be great, I am new to refrigeration engineering and input would be greatly appreciated,

thanks

I'd say that it will depend on the area of RHVAC in which you want to work.

A degree can be useful for a designer engineer/developer - I'd imagine.

The beauty about the RHVAC industry is that with, or without a degree, you will find folks who can discuss technical things with you. You can learn something new every day. This is a wonderful technical community.

You may want to touch base with Mad_Fridgie - he's a wunderkid heat-pump fundi based in New Zealand. He'll wise you up in no time flat... :)

Thank you DesA for the compliment.
I must say in todays real world formal education is of great importance (which I tried to instill in to my children, who then of course dully ingnored)
I feel graduates are much better organised and are able to access resourses, in comparrision to us olds hands (good at paper and all the boring s***)
This of course does not make you a good engineer but "good at looking like a good enginner"
You have to decide where you want to be within the HVACR industry and do you want to start at the bottom and work your way up (I would reccommend this) With your quals, this should be a quick transission.
Or you could go straight into an office and BS you way through to gain experience.
looking at your nick name, sounds like you are petrol head, I would use this as the way in more than just your degree (you will not look like a premadonna)
good luck
Mad

I considered the degree option but the cost of loosing several years wages and many in the trade work their way up. With Mechatronics you could look at a Controls Engineers job with one of the big four controls companies.

Any engineering background viz Mechanical, Electrical or Chemaical are suitable.As long as you have interest in the subject you can pick up and do well for yourself.
Initially it may be difficult both in learning and quantum of pay but as you progress you will have good opportunity as HVAC&R is evergreen subject and is needed from cradle to mortuary.
I am a chemical engineer and have become HVAC&R professional for last 33 years.