Just curious. I'm considering a minor in electrical engineering. I'm going to school part time right now for business (undecided on a specific major as of now), and I'm thinking of electrical engineering as a minor, being that I work for the electric company. I figure with a business degree and a minor in electrical engineering, plus my field experience, I can get just about any job I want within the company.

I'm really kinda wondering what I'm getting myself into though. Any words of wisdom or warnings? Any input is appreciated.

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-Ian
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-1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS (SOLD!)
-2006 Nissan Frontier NISMO
-2003 CBR600RR
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I've recently begun a career as a sort of engineering headhunter, Ian. I couldn't tell you much about electrical engineering other than to tell you that I come across a lot of electrical PEs in my research. It's fairly common and I'm sure there's a solid need for these guys.

What you might want to consider, however, is water/wastewater (Civil) engineering. Right now, it doesn't matter if you're on the east or west coast, there are more w/ww projects going on than there are bodies to fill them. Seasoned w/ww engineers can pretty much write their ticket anywhere in the country.

It seems that most of the PEs we run into these days are either fresh out of school (often with some kind of visa or citizenship issue) or approaching retirement. The mid-level guys are a bit harder to find. Before too long, the veterans are going to be hanging it up, so the guys just getting into the game today will find themselves in a good place in the next four to five years, I would presume.

Anyway, just thought I would mention it to you.

I graduated with BS in EE, my focus was on power systems. There is nothing special to it. I personally think any engineering degree will open doors for you after you graduate. Just because you have an EE background doesn't mean you can only apply for that type of job. After graduating, I think I had more non EE job offers. Currently, I am doing ME work for an engine company.

I personally think at entry level, having the mentality/background of any engineering is the key to starting out in the real world. So if you like to use your brain, EE is one of the way to test your ability and train you for the real world.

1995 Eclipse RS

I work for the largest Electrical utility in the country and some of the double E's comming in are pretty low paid and not hired into any type of engineering position. I got offered one through HR and the pay was a joke. For a minor, it cant hurt you, go for it. If you really want to add value to your resume in the electrical utility industry, get on a ABB OMS based project where you learn the system and its operations and get soem field supervisory experience. With those 2 you can go anywhere in the country for work.

I have both and I can walk into APS and many others with a job within weeks. Only i dont care for Arizona summers.

Like the peep said above, once you are an engineer, ALL kinds of doors will open for you. ALTHOUGH Im majoring in mechanical bacause, they are so versatile, they tend to be the contact point between all the branches. I have seen ME's getting hired as CE, EE, ChemE, and any other sub-branch you can think off. An ME could very well fill any W/WW engineer position. The main thing im focusing on righ now is experience, Ive already had a CE internship, now looking for something more in my field, either PG&E or EOL. Go for it, this country needs just abou any kind of engineers any way.

Words of wisedom/Warnings: You can say there is alot of math, physics, chemistry. Dont be scured of he math though! Like my psych professor said : Math is like any other tool, you dont have to love it, you just gotta know how to use it."

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-Ian
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-1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS (SOLD!)
-2006 Nissan Frontier NISMO
-2003 CBR600RR
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