Electrical Engineering Concentration

[sportguy98]

Fellow electrical engineers, I need some advice/opinions.

Not sure which specialization I should go into… Which is one is the best paid? more jobs available? etc.

My 4 choices are:

1- Electronics/VLSI Option
2- Power and Renewable Energy Option
3- Telecommunications Option
4- Avionics and Control Option

Mostly hesitating between #1 and #2.

Thanks for the input

 

[Wildsoldier PE]

I think that you shall think better more on what you like other whats makes more money...if you make a lot of money doing what you dont like you are going to live a miserable life...In my case I have a bs in electrical engineering with a minor in electronics....but when i found my first real job was based on Power...so my experience is with power. Working in the construction side(consulting enginneer) is not that bad but its a lot of work. However i guess being an Intel processor engineer makes better pay but not everyone fits on that.

 

[sportguy98]

I think that you shall think better more on what you like other whats makes more money...if you make a lot of money doing what you dont like you are going to live a miserable life...In my case I have a bs in electrical engineering with a minor in electronics....but when i found my first real job was based on Power...so my experience is with power. Working in the construction side(consulting enginneer) is not that bad but its a lot of work. However i guess being an Intel processor engineer makes better pay but not everyone fits on that.

I agree entirely... However, both #1 and #2 seem very interesting to me, that's why I'm wondering which one would be advantageous.

 

[Wildsoldier PE]

I don't know were you live or if you want to relocate. The decision goes with those 2 factors. I don't know how the market is in your area. To me Power is easier than electronics. As I said my experience is not in electronics but power. For me creating a circuit board with all those components (transistors, diodes, IC's, etc.) seems too me too complex. However creating a pcb that actually works and i can say wow i created the motherboard for the xbox (as an example) could be a great achievement.

The area of power is lot less complex than that..but depends on how big the project is. If the project is big it can become a little annoying. Working as a consulting engineer you basically will encounter job as designing the electrical portion of the next lets say for example Walmart, Sams club or a Factory if your work for a company that design industrial job. You will design all the illumination of the building including emergency egress lighting, lay-out all the receptacles, panels, transformers, telephone and data, lighting controls etc. also you may need to coordinate with the utility company as well as other trades like mechanical engineer since mechanical HVAC systems requires power.

If you work on the utility side I don't know what to tell you since i don't have too much experience on the utility side.

 

[sportguy98]

I don't know were you live or if you want to relocate. The decision goes with those 2 factors. I don't know how the market is in your area. To me Power is easier than electronics. As I said my experience is not in electronics but power. For me creating a circuit board with all those components (transistors, diodes, IC's, etc.) seems too me too complex. However creating a pcb that actually works and i can say wow i created the motherboard for the xbox (as an example) could be a great achievement.

The area of power is lot less complex than that..but depends on how big the project is. If the project is big it can become a little annoying. Working as a consulting engineer you basically will encounter job as designing the electrical portion of the next lets say for example Walmart, Sams club or a Factory if your work for a company that design industrial job. You will design all the illumination of the building including emergency egress lighting, lay-out all the receptacles, panels, transformers, telephone and data, lighting controls etc. also you may need to coordinate with the utility company as well as other trades like mechanical engineer since mechanical HVAC systems requires power.

If you work on the utility side I don't know what to tell you since i don't have too much experience on the utility side.

Thanks for the informative reply. Definitely answered a lot of my questions

I live in Montreal, but I would have no problem with relocating (preferably somewhere warm).