Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Electrical and electronic engineers are expected to make a quick and useful contribution in work. It's not enough to rely on your technical expertise; employers will expect you to demonstrate a range of practical skills. You therefore need to think seriously about what you have to offer and how you might fill any gaps you identify.

Over the course of your degree you develop a wide mix of subject-specific and technical skills, you should consider these skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

Working as an Electronic Engineering Technician

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Prospects

Electrical and electronic engineers are in demand with employers within the UK and overseas. In 2010, just under 60% of electrical and electronic engineering graduates had found work after completing their degree. Just over a quarter of these started work as engineering professionals while 19% entered a related field as IT professionals. Other popular areas included commercial, industrial and public sector management.

Electrical and electronic engineering covers a broad area and its graduates have a great deal of flexibility when it comes to a choice of careers. The electronic element of engineering is required in a huge range of modern processes, including:

• aerospace and automotive engineering;
• information technology;
• medical imaging and monitoring;
• communications;
• manufacturing.

Employers regard graduates as very employable on the basis of their ability to learn quickly and apply their skills. Any work experience that you have will allow you to develop appropriate skills and increase your confidence.

Where are the jobs?

Electronic and electrical engineers are employed in many industries with the main areas being in electronics, IT, manufacturing, power, transport, construction and building services. Opportunities are also found in telecommunications, research and development and petro-chemicals.

Whilst the UK no longer leads in manufacturing, many global electronics organisations maintain research and development facilities within the UK and Europe. Engineers normally based in the UK can be posted overseas to work on projects, and willingness to travel is therefore important.

Posts will usually give you the opportunity to work towards incorporated or chartered engineer status, provided you have an accredited degree. Registration with the professional institute will improve your career development possibilities. Career management is an ongoing process throughout your working life.

For an insight into employment areas investigate:

• Engineering;
• Manufacturing;
• Energy and utilities.

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Broadcast engineer (operational)
• Control and instrumentation engineer
• Electronics engineer
• Process engineer

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Quality manager
• Sales executive
• Chartered management accountant
• Management consultant
• Systems developer

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk