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How do I get Started in an Electronics Engineering Career?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

An electronics engineering career will put you on the cutting edge of new technology, and even have you developing new technologies for the future. To get into this field, you will most likely need to earn a degree from an accredited college or university, and you will need to obtain the knowledge necessary to become successful in an electronics engineering career. Before taking any concrete steps to begin working toward your electronics engineering career, you should first decide if this is definitely the field you want to enter, as an education can be costly and time consuming. Try to job shadow an electronics engineer, or seek advice and counsel from an electronics engineering company.

An education that will prepare you for an electronics engineering career will likely include a significant amount of math and science work. The best candidates for acceptance into a degree program will have taken a fair amount of such courses in high school or in college, and his or her grades will be good or exemplary. Physics in particular is an important field of study to cover, so if you have never taken such courses, it may be a good idea to take a community college course to get up to speed. While you are taking classes, it may be a wise decision to seek out a current electronics engineer to ask him or her specific questions about the job, ways to get prepared for it, and any other useful information that may help you get into that field of work.

Man with hands on his hips
Man with hands on his hips

Obtaining a degree is the first and biggest step toward an electronics engineering career, but other important steps should take place before, during, and after your education. Researching current topics within the field and becoming knowledgeable not just of the issues facing the field today, but also of the major companies who play a role in development and advancement within the field will make you a more well rounded candidate for a job once your degree program is finished. The more you know about the field, the more attractive you will look to potential employers. Research the types of professional certifications you will need, and work toward obtaining them. Find out what specific companies are looking for, and tailor your resume and experience toward those things.

If you are interested in a particular sub-field of electronics engineering, tailor your electronics engineering career goals and educational goals toward that specific sub-field. This will again make you a more attractive candidate for a job within that specific sub-field. Be sure to have a back-up plan, however, should that field not yield any job results for you. You can always begin working in another field and keep your eyes open for a position in the field you are more interested in.

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