David Mummert
12/08/99
Eng111 Section14
Striving Toward Success in Electrical Engineering
The career that I have chosen to pursue is electrical engineering. My reasons for choosing this profession are simple. I have always been interested in electricity and had the desire to try and develop a source of electricity that is inexpensive to produce, easy to distribute and produce little or no pollution. Another reason is that the financial reward in the electrical engineering field is very appealing.
I realize that it is going to take a great amount of work and dedication to learn as much as I can about how electricity works and what alternate sources can be used to produce it. Finding an alternate source will come in good time, but before I can get to that point in my career I will have to start at the bottom and work hard to achieve my dream. Starting from ground zero I will need to obtain at bachelors degree in engineering from a reputable college or university. After completing the years of studying and receiving my degree I will only have the basic requirements needed to get an entry-level position as an electrical engineer. The responsibilities that an entry-level engineer will be required to do include helping decipher electrical problems, and obtaining solutions to electrical power production and distribution. As a beginner in the field of electrical engineering I would also be expected to know how to interpret wiring diagrams and schematics.
The job market today is fairly plentiful with employment opportunities throughout the nation. The average pay scale for an entry-level position ranges between thirty thousand and forty thousand dollars a year. (USAJOBS) The factors that give this range are the location of the job, and the prior experience that you may have. To help myself gain experience in the field I am researching the options of different apprenticeship programs on the peninsula.
My ultimate goal for the future is to be a senior electrical engineer in charge of research and development and find the power source that will create clean and cheap electricity. In order to achieve this goal will require me to have more than just a bachelor's degree. Most senior engineering positions require at least a master's degree and a minimum of ten years experience. The average pay for a senior engineer can range anywhere from sixty thousand to over one hundred thousand dollars a year. (USAJOBS)
As an engineer I will be required to communicate ideas on a daily basis both orally and in writing. While the majority of the oral communication will be informal, the context of the conversations will be technical. (Cokley) This technical form of communication is essential when discussing with the architect the amount of space that will be required for the installation of electrical equipment, and getting a good understanding of the basic building structure. The writing that will be required will mostly be in the form of technical descriptions and specific instructions of completed designs. The main recipients of these documents are the contractors that have been hired to install or manufacture a given design or project. (Cokley)
Also the use of computer skills will play an intricate roll in my everyday life as an engineer, because everything is drawn and designed on computers to save time and help reduce the amount of errors that can be made by conventional drafting. In addition to using the computer for design purposes, the use of the computer will also be used for calculating complex mathematical equations, and setting up spreadsheets. (Cokley) The Internet is mostly used for sending and receiving e-mail to relay messages and small changes to designs that do not require a lot of detail. Research on the Internet is minimized because most manufacturers will provide detailed descriptions of their products on a compact disk. In the cases where additional information is needed that was not previously provided most manufacturers have web sites that the engineer may access to obtain more information. (Cokley)
The pursuit of a career in electrical engineering is not going to be just a walk in the park. It is going to take dedication, and hard work. I feel as though I have a good understanding of what is involved to become an engineer and the importance of good oral and written communication skills. Without the proper use of written and oral communication an engineer would not be able to effectively describe his or her designs to anyone.
Works Cited
Cokley, Ed. Personal Interview. 14 Nov. 1999.
United States. Office of Personnel Management. USAJOBS- US. <http://usajobs.opm.gov/>. Accessed on 14 Nov. 1999.
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