any electrical engineers out there?

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

You can always look for at being a military officer. They pay is not so bad compared to what you would be making on the outside and it has good job security. A brand new 0-1 starts at around $45k reguardless of job, and speciality field likes medicine, law, religion ect... usually start out with higher ranks and much higher pay. It's what I'm shootin for, but then again I like the military //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[DSMW 10+ year member]

i dont know if I so much dont like the military, I just dont want to have to go fight anywhere. not saying thats all they do, I just dont want to be stuck in that situation.

 

[dr_peeb 10+ year member]

I am interested in pursueing this major and would like some input. What kind of jobs are out there for electrical engineers, and what is a starting salary? what kind of schooling did you have to go through?
thanks for any answers that can be offered.

I've been working as an "engineer" at a professional engineering firm, doing the work of one even though I'm not one, working directly under a PE, for 24 years.

My take on engineering is, even though I work for a very well established firm with many contacts/ clients ... As in everything else, some times will be very good ('05-'09 for us) and some times will be very hard (I actually offered to forego paychecks a couple times between about '02-'05). In fact, also like most everything else, there's almost always either too much work or not enough. Rarely just right.

And I'm sure you can take all this to the -enth degree when you're just starting out. It's gonna be hard. Very hard. But in the long run will most likely be worth it.

In this business, my long-term view of the past is that what you're really doing is treading water the best you can until a break of some kind comes along so you can get some breathing room (savings!). You can't possibly know ahead of time where it will come from or what will be involved. When it comes along you'll probably have to work your @ss off for some period of time, but will be paid very well for it.

This will sound like a cliche, but I really think it's the engineers that have a good attitude, never say no, and are willing to work after hours and long hours as needed, that have the best chance. It's the complainers and those that dont want to actually work that struggle.

Another thing, the PE I work under is completely 100% engrossed in our work. He constantly stays current on every issue in the industry. I know for a fact he reads anything and everything he can engineering-related after hours, at home in the evening. It's really a lifestyle; Do you want to have a real good chance to actually be a succesful engineer, or kinda just hope giving it a half-@ssed try will work out somehow.

 

[DSMW 10+ year member]

i am one who seriously loves challenges, thats why I wanted medical school at first, but electrical things intrigue me. I have had endless compliments in life about my motivation and my hard work ethic.I dont want it to consume my life and I dont want my life to be just about my career, but I would like to think that I try my hardest at what I do, and like to stay up to speed.

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

I am also one to see a challenge a a measure of self-actualization. Currently I am mechanical engineering but started my first two years of college as biomedical science aka pre-med. I wholeheartedly agree with the comment that you success in a career is 100% dependent on your attitude and love for that line of work. Of course their are engineers who don't do very well but most of those are the ones who just made it through college to get the job but never really found it intriguing. I am not even sure mechanical engineering is what I want to do but college is a great place to find out what you really like to do and provides opportunities that others wouldn't. My father and grandfather are shinning examples of this and both were very successful but only because it wasn't the money they were after. They both found a career that they loved and thrived because of their passion not their greed. I know buddahbuddy is a freshmen in electrical engineering at Clemson you may want to talk to him about it although I'm sure his classes so far have been core classes and unrelated to electrical engineering. One of my brother's friends just graduated with EE and is making around 50 starting. I have two cousins one who is civil and the other who is industrial; they also make above 50 after 2 years. Two of my other cousins are Nurse Anesthetists and they make closer to 80 with no med-school only PA school.

 

[GearGuy2001 10+ year member]

I got my Electronics Engineering Technology Degree, basically the 2 year form of BS EE. Due to the shitty local economy (even shittier then the rest of you guys, look up rockford, il) I cant find a job.

Going into school I made 11.50 driving a fork lift at Lowes Distro, now I work FT IT for a School District until October 9th making $8/hr

Isnt life great, oh yeah cant find any jobs in Chicago either.

 

[DSMW 10+ year member]

i actually live in dekalb, IL. im just trying to find something i enjoy, can make money at, and can be happy in life, and cant seem to find anything.

 

[dr_peeb 10+ year member]

I got my Electronics Engineering Technology Degree, basically the 2 year form of BS EE. Due to the shitty local economy (even shittier then the rest of you guys, look up rockford, il) I cant find a job.
Going into school I made 11.50 driving a fork lift at Lowes Distro, now I work FT IT for a School District until October 9th making $8/hr

Isnt life great, oh yeah cant find any jobs in Chicago either.

Sounds like you're gonna have to put car audio on hold till things improve. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[DSMW 10+ year member]

a 2 year form is going to be alot harder to find a job with compared to a bachelors or masters, as I plan to get (If I am thinking of the right thing, Im thinking you just got a certificate?). I want to go for 5-6 years and get everything I need done out of the way.

 

[GearGuy2001 10+ year member]

Sounds like you're gonna have to put car audio on hold till things improve. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

Check out my sig, everything is doing ok on that end for now. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif but yeah it sucks, I kinda want to do an exploder

 

[Plutoman 10+ year member]

There's tons of jobs if you know where to look.

I'm in my freshman year of an EE degree, but am looking at internships at the Garmin headquarters, and there's numerous government buildings that hire EE's en masse, along with other companies like Honeywell and things. I have connections through my fraternity, but my point being there's a lot of jobs - connect through professors and things to find them. Don't leave school with a degree and no connections... College is the best place to make them through teachers and things.

 

[dr_peeb 10+ year member]

I'm coming from the "starting your own firm" side rather than you working for someone else.

If you can get your engineering degree and then your PE, that's a huge step as PE's can charge clients $200/ hour, more in some places/ fields. Of course that money will be used to cover lots of bills, especially in the beginning. You'll need to live frugally while patiently awaiting a break, as I mentioned.

 

[DSMW 10+ year member]

what is the PE? If you dont mind me asking? sorry if I sound dumb.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Professional Engineer, it's a certification really...

nG

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

What school do you want to attend?

nG