Engineering Job & Career Types – Requirements

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An engineering degree is a unique fusion of science, mathematics, and technology, leading to a host of stimulating career options. Candidates entering this industry find not only a healthy hiring demand, but potential salaries on the high end of the scale. Find out why an engineering degree is the choice of so many.

Engineering Jobs & Careers

Developing new products, conducting rigorous tests on high-tech materials, analyzing research data for answers to some of society’s greatest technological challenges–these are just some of the thrilling duties that engineering degree holders perform on a daily basis. Cutting across industries and working on-location across the globe, engineers are responsible for the strategy behind the way we live. As technology continues to diversify, the engineering industry only promises enhanced personal and professional reward.

Engineering is an inherently multidisciplinary career field that allows its professionals the ability to specialize according to their interests and talents. Just a few of the engineering categories recognized by Federal Government’s Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system include:

• Aerospace Engineer
• Agricultural Engineer
• Biomedical Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Civil Engineer
• Computer Hardware Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Electronics Engineer
• Environmental Engineer
• Health and Safety Engineer
• Industrial Engineer
• Marine Engineer
• Materials Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Mining and Geological Engineer
• Naval Architect
• Nuclear Engineer
• Petroleum Engineer
• Polymers Engineer
• Systems Engineer

Engineer Career Profile: Training and Certification

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the engineering industry should be one of the more stable professions in the coming decade, with respect to employment outlook. Overall engineering employment is projected to increase by 11 percent from 2006 to 2016. That’s about as fast as the national average for all occupations over the same period. As with most multidisciplinary professions, the actual hiring outlook in the engineering industry varies widely by specialty. For example, the biomedical engineer segment expects a 21 percent increase in employment over the statistical period, and civil engineers will enjoy a healthy 18 percent increase.

Sweeping changes in engineering technology and research processes will have a definite effect on hiring. A few of the industry trends that should maximize the employability of engineering degree graduates include:

• The demand for business to find faster and cleaner methods of production
• The introduction of new technologies in design and manufacturing strategies
• The desire to increase productivity while reducing carbon footprints
• A renewed interest in optimizing business-to-business and business-to-consumer relationships
• The need for intuitive spaces for working, living, and playing

Which Engineering Degree Is Right for You?

Breaking into the field typically requires a four-year bachelor’s engineering degree. Potential candidates may elect to major in one of the primary engineering fields–such as civil, electrical, mechanical or electronics engineering. After graduation, professionals then migrate to a specialty that is an offshoot of the primary degree. This flexibility works well for both professional and employer. Professionals can test the waters of various engineering specialties without a full commitment. Employers can attract promising candidates with experience and utilize their talents in new technologies.

With respect to certification and licensure, all 50 states require credentials conferred by an established licensing body, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). After completing of an engineering degree program, passing a state examination, and gaining four years of work experience, candidates are considered professional engineers (PEs). Continuing education requirements are needed for relicensure, keeping engineers on the cutting edge of their field. These requirements are typically met through attendance of industry conferences or completing a higher level engineering degree.

Start working towards your future in this diverse and demanding field today.

Kelly Richardson
Kelly C. Richardson, MEd is a freelance writer, marcom consultant and digital entrepreneur. He’s written content for Fortune 500s Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and Wells Fargo. Find out more about him at kellyrichardsoncopywriting.com.

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