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Strong Science and Math Background
Most
engineers are well
trained in basic mathematics and
science subjects, and can be
helpful to you in developing lesson
plans or contributing to a
curriculum at the K-12 level. They
can provide insight into
applications of the principles
taught in K-12 math and science,
which can help students understand
the need to learn the subject
matter. You may already have several
examples of applied math and
science, but a partner engineer can
help expand your list and
possibly provide demonstrations, or
examples through the use of
props, photos, or videos.
Experience in Most Industries
Engineers
work in all professions,
serving a variety of roles. A
partner engineer may
come from any industry to assist you
in your educational goals.
While you might expect to find an
electrical engineer involved in
the development of the international
space station, you could just
as easily find an electrical
engineer working as a consultant to
a law firm.
Because
the experiences of an
engineer are varied, even those with
the same training and
degree may apply their engineering
skills in different
ways. For example, a chemical
engineer may be working in a
traditional role in a manufacturing
facility, or may serve as a
consultant to a venture capital
company considering whether they
should invest in a new start up
business. Because engineers work in
just about every business in some
capacity, their work experiences
are also varied.
Primary Job Functions for Engineers
The
IEEE 1997 Salary Survey
asked respondents to classify
themselves by primary
job junction. Design and development
engineering, the most common
choice, was selected by 23.3
percent. Technical management is the
next most common specialty, named by
18.9 percent. 9.9 percent of
the members were in programming and
systems software development;
9.7 percent were consultants. 5.1
percent were educators, teachers,
or trainers; 4.9 percent were in
general management, and 4.3
percent provided engineering
support. Other primary areas of
technical competence included basic
research, marketing and sales,
operations/construction, quality
control, manufacturing/production,
and administration.
Broad Management Responsibilities
A
recent IEEE Career Path
Survey provides a glimpse into the
varied roles of
engineers in terms of management.
The types of responsibility
reported by respondents include:
Engineering w/o supervisory
responsibility 29%
Project management 21%
Departmental management 16%
Corporate, division or plant
management 9%
Engineering staff support 8%
Other 9%
Career Paths
Visit
the IEEE
Pre-College Career
Preparation site for
more information on career
paths open to those with
electrical, electronics, or computer
engineering degrees.
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