Job opportunities after Btech Electrical Engineering

What to do after a BTech in electrical engineering?

If you grew up fascinated by Nikolas Tesla and Thomas Edison and draw up blueprints of energy-saving toasters and talking TVs for fun, a bachelors in electrical engineering may be the right career choice for you. But clichés aside, did you know electrical engineers work in almost every industry you can think of, from GPS technologies to the army to robotics to filmmaking? Basically, any industry which uses electricity-powered devices and technology relies on electrical engineers. What’s more, electric engineering (EE) is one of the traditional branches of engineering, which is endlessly adaptable to fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Given the incredibly diverse types of electrical engineering careers, a BTech/ BE in this field can be extremely rewarding. But before we look at potential job opportunities in the electrical engineering field, let’s ask some basic, but important, questions:

What does an electrical engineer do?

An electrical engineer designs, creates, tests, and maintains electrical equipment. This equipment can range from simple circuits in automobiles to electric prosthetic limbs to parts of spaceships and satellites!

What is the difference between electrical and electronic engineering?

Simply put, electrical engineering deals with broader production and supply of electric power, while electronic engineering focusses on smaller circuits, such as used in devices like computers. Most well-designed BTech courses in electrical engineering, such as those offered by universities like the IITs and SRM University-AP, include electronic engineering as well. Regardless of nomenclature, electric and electronic engineering disciplines have a great scope.

So, what are my career choices after a BTech in Electrical engineering?

Your career path after finishing your BTech depends on whether you stick to your core discipline, which is engineering and design or should decide to branch out into non-core fields, like management. If you’re planning a career in engineering, you can opt for advanced, postgraduate study, or join the workforce immediately.

What are my options for further study?

• MTech: A two-year postgraduate degree offered by most IITs, NITs and other reputed institutions an India, the MTech offers you a specialization in your core and associated disciplines. With a BTech in electrical engineering, you can go in for an MTech in power system engineering, nanotechnology, robotics, and computer engineering, and more. The MTech entrance requires you to take the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). After an MTech, you can teach at a reputed institution, join a research facility, or work in the public and private sector. Depending on your graduating institute and recruiting firm, your starting salary can range from Rs 30,000 per month to upwards of Rs 1 lakh a month.
• MS: Another option is to pursue advanced studies overseas in the form of an MS (Master of Science) degree. Roughly the equivalent of an MTech, the MS requires you to take the GRE and TOEFL exams. MS courses in many US universities are often funded, so look out for universities that offer scholarships. Some IITs, such as IIT Chennai, also offer an MS course, which is the gateway to a PhD. Salaries after MS will vary on the country you work in. If you work in the US, you can expect a starting monthly salary from $8,000 to $11,000.
• PhD: Universities in the US often offer an integrated MS-PhD program, while Indian and UK universities also offer admissions to a direct PhD program. To qualify for the direct PhD program, you will typically need an MTech. During and after a PhD, you can work as a researcher and an engineering professor. Salary ranges are too wide to discuss here, but if you start out as an assistant professor at a regional or private engineering college, you can expect a monthly salary of Rs 40,000 to Rs 80,000.
• MBA: Now if you are planning a non-core career, a postgraduate diploma programme in management or an MBA from a reputable business school or institution, such as the IIMs or XLRI Jamshedpur is always a great choice. You’ll be required to pass the CAT (combined aptitude test) or various other entrance exams to gain admission into an MBA programme. Following an MBA you can work as an analyst, executive, or manager with Indian and multinational corporations. If you’re graduating from a prestigious institute, you can expect a starting monthly salary in the range of Rs 50,000 to upwards of Rs 1 lakh.

And what are the job opportunities for electrical engineering freshers?

Given the demand for electrical engineers, joining the workforce right after your BTech is a good idea. Work experience will also help you figure out what you love doing in real-world circumstances. Further, many PhD and MBA courses like inducting candidates with some work experience under their belt. Here are six career options you can explore right after your BTech in EE:

1. PSU JOBS: Electrical engineers are always in high demand in public-sector undertakings, such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited). To apply for a PSU job, you need to take the GATE. PSU jobs offer lots of perks and a monthly starting salary in the range of Rs. 24,900 to Rs. 50,500.
2. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT JOBS: Ever since the 6th and 7th Pay Commission revisions have rolled in, engineering salaries with the government sector pay better than ever. Through the GATE, you can apply for an electrical engineering job at government bodies, such as the Railways and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Starting salaries for assistant engineers range from Rs 20,00 to Rs 50,000, depending on your GATE score.
3. JOBS WITH THE ARMED FORCES: Whether it be the Navy or the Air Force, the Indian Armed Forces need electrical engineers to create and maintain complex electrical systems and equipment. After your BTech, you can take the NDA or CDS recruitment exams to join the defence forces. Apart from numerous perks, the monthly salary ranges for the lieutenant rank at which most engineers join the army is upwards of Rs 50,000 (basic pay).
4. Electronics engineer: Design and tinker with transformers, capacitors, diodes and more in Indian and multinational corporations dealing with consumer electronics, telecommunications, and tech solutions, such as Bosch, Samsung, Airtel, Cisco Systems, and Intel. Starting monthly salaries for electronics engineers range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 80,000.
5. Automobile engineer: Automotive firms such as Tata, Maruti Suzuki, Volvo are always on the lookout for electrical engineers who can create and tests systems such as air-conditioning, lighting, seat-safety, and more. Monthly starting salaries range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 70,000.
6. Medical engineer: An interesting application of electrical engineering, medical engineering creates and tests prosthetic limbs, surgical tools based on nanotechnology and robotics, and advanced medical equipment. Healthcare firms, manufacturing firms and hospitals like Ranbaxy, Siemens, and the Apollo Group in India hire medical engineers. The starting monthly salary for this job ranges from Rs 25,000 to Rs 70,000.

Apart from the careers listed here, you can also find jobs as an aerospace engineer, a microchip engineer, and a naval engineer for the merchant navy after your BTech! A BTech degree in electrical engineering can thus spark off a great career for you.