Engineering is a field that is always growing and changing. Going into this discipline starts from a young age where groups such as the Technology Student Association begin to "foster personal growth, leadership, and opportunities" by "applying and integrating concepts through co-curricular activities, competitions, and related programs [4]. " Schools developed the S.T.E.M. program to have more students go into fields that will develop our future. In the work environment portion of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, job opportunities are typically from military or third party companies with focuses in aviation, computers, transportation, or manufacturing [7]. Engineers generally work in offices with a steady, full time job [7]. I think being able to work directly with the military will create a stronger impact knowing the development of products is being used for war, training, and toward protecting our country. For my summer internship, I worked with a third party company that did contracting for the military, and I received first hand experience working with different diagrams and computer programs needed for their military contracts. Many times, engineering demands attention to detail and following diagrams to discover way to make projects more efficient [8]. Engineers not only have to design products, they also have to be able to converse with their customers for projects, budgeting, requirements, and compiling the proper data [5]. Engineers cannot function without having a connection with sales and businesses. With an engineering background, I will have more opportunities to communicate effectively with customers and ensure the best product is produced based on the qualifications and desires [2].
Sitting in on the presentation of electrical engineering done by Bri Groden, I realized that was a better fit for my personality. Electrical engineering is such a broad generalization for being able to work with computers, technology, people, and being a leading innovator for the future of technology [2]. There were opportunities to work with an engineering degree while going into other disciplines such as sales, production, human resources, consulting, that the opportunities are endless with an electrical engineering degree [2]. The degree itself allows me to know what is going on and communicate with other engineers even if I also have a passion for the business side of engineering. A career in electrical engineering will allow me to explore the business side of engineering while being a part of the developments in math, science, and technology. Knowing my strengths and passions lie there, I can have the opportunity to work with people, do what I love, and still be financially stable with the career in electrical engineering. Electrical engineering is comprised of design engineers, project engineers, test engineers, and so forth that all apply physics, computers, math, communication, and technology to everyday lives to maximize efficiency of products [9]. Engineers also need to be critical thinkers with good communication skills. They are problem solvers with a visual focus of knowing what the intended outcome should be. They are also masters of leadership, time management, and coping with stress [6]. These qualities are not learned but grown within a person with more experience, creating a more valuable worker. Engineers value the effects of achievement and understand the accomplishments gained through hard work [5].
This page makes reference to: [1] B. Ewing. Omnyx Representative. University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering First- Year Career Conference. 9.24.2016 [2] B. Groden. Eaton Representative. University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering First-Year Career Conference. 9.24.2016 [3] S. Carson. Keynote Talk. University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering First-Year Career Conference. 9.24.2016 [4] "Learning to Lead in a Technical World." Technology Student Association. 2011. Accessed 9.29.2016. http://www.tsaweb.org/Our-Story [5] "Summary Report for Electrical Engineers." ONET OnLine. 2016. Accessed 9.28.2016. http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2071.00 [6] "What Electrical and Electronics Engineers Do." Occupational Outlook Handbook. 12.17.2015 Accessed 9.29.2016. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm#tab-2 [7] "Work Environment." Occupational Outlook Handbook. 12.17.2015. Accessed 9.29.2016. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm#tab-3 [8] "Electrical Engineers Video." CareerOneStop by U.S. Department of Labor. 2016. Accessed 9.30.2016. http://www.careeronestop.org/videos/careeronestop-videos.aspx?videocode=17207100 [9] "How to Become and Electrical or Electronics Engineer." Occupational Outlook Handbook. 12.17.2015. Accessed 9.29.2016. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm#tab-4 [10] "Job Outlook." Occupational Outlook Handbook. 12.17.2015. Accessed 9.29.2016. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm#tab-6 [11] "Long Term Occupational Projections." Projection Central by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2016. Accessed 9.30.2016. http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm [12] "Pay." Occupational Outlook Handbook. 12.17.2015. Accessed 9.29.2016. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm#tab-5