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19785 Views 13 Replies Latest reply: Oct 31, 2011 8:03 AM by TinFoil RSS
Christina N Novice
Christina N
Currently Being Moderated

Oct 5, 2011 7:33 AM

Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

With the rising number of unemployed electrical engineers worldwide, would you recommend your child to pursue an EE degree?

Tags: ee, job, loss, for, engineers, degrees
  • Novice
    jpurnell
    2 posts since
    Oct 5, 2011
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 5, 2011 9:38 AM (in response to Christina N)
    Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

    I'm not sure where all the unemployed EEs are, but there are plenty of jobs in my area.  An EE does not have to limit you to just electronics; I'm in the medical device field.  Jobs will always be available, the economy is affecting everyone right now.

     

    

    

  • Novice
    jdcpi
    1 posts since
    Oct 6, 2011
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 6, 2011 2:57 PM (in response to Christina N)
    Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

    I suspect their are just as many unemployed anything elses as their are EE's. Like jpurnell, I know there are vacancies here in my own office, the trick is to find EEs that actually know something about electronics, just just black box theory. I expect, for example, that an applicant will know and understand Ohms Law in any of its several guises, and will know how to drive a simple IGBT circuit without resorting to a complex driver chip. If somebody can hit those milestones then he will be doing better than 8 out of 10 of the most recent applicants I have interviewed.

  • Novice
    soundview00
    1 posts since
    Oct 9, 2011
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 9, 2011 10:23 PM (in response to Christina N)
    Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

    As a EE student, I would recommend that your kid learns controls. With the increase in automation systems, control engineers are on the rise. Currently, I am a 'Instrumentation Technician' working with PLC's, industrial components, and programming. To find out more about what a control(s) person does, I suggest that you do some googling. Remember, automation, robotics, and programming is the wave of the future. Just my two cents.

  • M.Emara Novice
    M.Emara
    31 posts since
    Sep 14, 2011
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 10, 2011 3:58 AM (in response to Christina N)
    Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

    I will be happy if one of my children became an engineer because I will be able to guide him and give him all my experience. But that will depend on him if he is interested and if he is qualified to be an engineer.

     

    About the second part of the problem, EE engineers have many work opportunities. There are many fields they can work on but only for who is qualified enough.

    • Christina N Novice
      Christina N
      72 posts since
      Sep 7, 2011
      Currently Being Moderated
      Oct 11, 2011 10:18 AM (in response to M.Emara)
      Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

      How can an EE graduate be qualified as an engineer if no-one hires them to begin with.  Most of them just take whatever they can get.

       

      This is an interesting article from an engineer title "Should you hold out for a perfect job?"

      http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Should_you_hold_out_for_a_perfect_job-article-faao_job_jul2011-html.aspx

      • MetMan Apprentice
        MetMan
        86 posts since
        Oct 24, 2011
        Currently Being Moderated
        Oct 24, 2011 11:00 AM (in response to Christina N)
        Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

        Christina N wrote:

         

        How can an EE graduate be qualified as an engineer if no-one hires them to begin with.  Most of them just take whatever they can get.


         

        The best piece of advice I'd give to any current student would be to participate in Cooperative Work Experience and Internship programs while in school to get that entry level experience.

         

        Nearly all of the new graduates I know that have been successful in finding a job quickly after graduation have done so.  That 6 months or 1yr on the job makes a big difference on a resume, and quite often they were offered a job by a company they interned with.

         

         

        Christina N wrote:

         

         

        This is an interesting article from an engineer title "Should you hold out for a perfect job?"

         

        An unofficial survey among Engineers I know was unanimous:  There are no perfect jobs! 

         

        Take the best job you can find now, keep your eyes and ears open for other opportunities, but at least get yourself out and off the couch.  Keep learning and growing as an engineer, and at least have some kind of job to pay the bills.

        • Christina N Novice
          Christina N
          72 posts since
          Sep 7, 2011
          Currently Being Moderated
          Oct 25, 2011 8:40 AM (in response to MetMan)
          Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

          Both your comments make sense. Thanks. So would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

          • MetMan Apprentice
            MetMan
            86 posts since
            Oct 24, 2011
            Currently Being Moderated
            Oct 25, 2011 10:17 AM (in response to Christina N)
            Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

            I would definitely encourage my own kid to become an EE!  Even in the small town of 30,000 i live in, there have been a decent number of jobs available.  I've actually had 3 different companies try to recruit me in the past 6 months because there aren't enough EE's to fill demand.  I'm sure it does depend somewhat on where you live.

             

            I do have 10years experience, and there have definitely been more opportunities the more experience i get under my belt.  It was hard starting out fresh from school, but it is in most fields isn't it?  I took a tech job to start out just to get my hands dirty and pay the bills, then took an engineering job when one came up.  When we're recent graduates we just have to be able to swallow our pride and expectations and get out there and work our way up.

             

            My brother has a general 2year degree and has had a much rougher time finding a good job... I'd definitely reccomend EE and other technical or medical fields over general or most BA studies.

    • Christina N Novice
      Christina N
      72 posts since
      Sep 7, 2011
      Currently Being Moderated
      Oct 25, 2011 8:45 AM (in response to textpistol)
      Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

      Looking good for Engineering & Tech services according to the TechAmerica Foundation report. But I still wouldn't recommend anyone in becoming an EE.

      • Novice
        jpurnell
        2 posts since
        Oct 5, 2011
        Currently Being Moderated
        Oct 25, 2011 9:06 AM (in response to Christina N)
        Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

        I would recommend anyone to go into Engineering or any technical degree before I would recommend Arts or Entertainment.  There will always be Engineering jobs because we will always rely on new technology in this country.  I think engineering availability also depends on your geography.

         

        I don't think a person should limit themselves to just electronics.  I'm not! Colleges and Universities are adaptable to the changing world.  I’m taking my EE with a Biomed option. Try to combine an EE with Computer Science, Mechanical, or Manufacturing options. 

        • Novice
          TinFoil
          13 posts since
          Jul 25, 2011
          Currently Being Moderated
          Oct 31, 2011 8:03 AM (in response to jpurnell)
          Would you encourage your kid to become an EE?

          Yes I would recommend a kid becoming an EE.  The problem with high unemployment and low prestigue in the engineering fields makes me think some days that I have wasted 4 years.  There has been a big push to lower engineering wages over the last 20 years and it has had a devistiating impact in the EE field.  The good news is the free market will eventually correct this problem.  It will be profitable when your kid gets his degree. 

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