Individuals who wish to study engineering need not worry about employment prospects. The demand for professionals is continuing its upward trend while the supply pool is far from saturated. There are very few engineering graduates coming into the labor force each year. Getting job offers while at school is not uncommon and the rest should not have a hard time finding openings in various companies. In fact, even at the height of the unemployment crisis in 2009, the engineering field posted a much softer 6.4% compared to the nationwide figure of 10%. Nowadays, the unemployment rate for engineers has been reduced to about 3%.
Job Opportunities for Electrical Engineers
Electrical engineering is a particularly a robust sub-field. All around the world, countries are hungry for power to support their industries. Several renewable energy resources are being explored and perfected. Factories are switching to automated processes which require complex machines. Thousands of railway lines are being built to connect cities. Construction projects are breaking ground everywhere for residential and commercial purposes. Electronic gadgets need batteries that can last longer and power bricks that are small enough to carry anywhere. These endeavors need electrical engineers who can create solutions to various issues so that things can move forward.
1. Transport Networks
Electrical engineers are in-charge of the rail electrification. They may be involved in the design of electrical and signaling systems. Some may be tasked with creating the budget, implementing the plan, and monitoring the operations. If they encounter glitches, they will fix the problem right away to minimize disruption.
2. Power Plants
Electrical engineers take the lead in ensuring that power generation targets are met. They are also engaged in the transmission and distribution of electricity to the end-users. They see to it that all loads are balanced and that the supply is always sufficient to meet the predicted requirements at all times. Aside from working in traditional power plants which use coal and gas, they might be assigned to more novel projects focusing on renewable resources. Engineers may do feasibility studies on solar paneling, wind turbines, and hydroelectric power on a given area before a project takes off.
3. Construction Sites
Every building needs its own centralized electrical system. Engineers design several components of structure including the lighting and the elevator schemes. They are also responsible for the HVAC or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. These must all conform to safety standards. Since buildings are such large projects, they will usually have to coordinate with architects, civil engineers, and technicians. In older structures, they may be called upon to inspect the electrical circuits for maintenance and repair.
4. Electronics Manufacturers
When working for electronics manufacturers, engineers may be assigned to quality control wherein they test products and check for flaws before these hit the market. More experienced ones have a chance to do research and development. Here they design the products and think of new innovations to boost performance. The key to success is rapid development and product launches as technology companies earn respect by being the first to make breakthroughs.
High school seniors who are good at numbers and know their way around science would do well in engineering school. Being comfortable with computers is also helpful as electrical engineers may have to do some programming and circuit design. Good communication skills will come into play when explaining technical concepts to non-technical personnel and managers. After getting a degree, engineers can go to work right away. A license may be taken after acquiring years of industry experience. While it isn’t necessary to get the license, having one will open more opportunities for career growth.
Author Bio: William Stevens is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to technology. In this article, he describes the demand for electrical engineers and aims to encourage further study with an NJIT Master’s Degree Electrical Engineering.