You have landed the coveted seat as a Mechanical Engineering student. Congratulations! What is your next goal? What career options after Mechanical Engineering are you considering? You will be happy to know that mechanical engineers have a much wider career field to choose from than many other engineering disciplines.

Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Field:

The best part of engineering, any discipline of engineering, is to be able to engineer things. As a mechanical engineer, you would become familiar with fundamental aspects of many other disciplines. Mechanical Engineering is a seminal discipline of engineering from which many other branches (automobile engineering, aerospace engineering, etc.) have developed.

Mechanical Engineering formally emerged as a discipline in the 18th century during the Industrial Revolution. However, for all intents and purposes, Leonardo DaVinci would have been a mechanical engineer if he was living today. In fact, the origin of Mechanical Engineering can be traced to the invention of simple machines such as wheels, levers, wedges, or ramps.

But where are the Mechanical Engineers today? What is in store for them in the future?

Simple. Everything as far as the eye can see. Career options for Mechanical Engineers range from joint design in a robot prototype to fluid dynamics measurement in the human body. Mechanical Engineers play a critical part in the development of any machine that we see around us.

SRM University-AP’s multidisciplinary courses widen the scope of Mechanical Engineering careers. The option to pick minors from a variety of fields gives mechanical engineers the scope to enhance and diversify their domain knowledge.

Responsibilities of Mechanical Engineers in their Jobs:

Mechanical Engineers are typically involved in the creation of the mechanical aspects of the design. They can work on theoretical aspects such as research or conceptualisation or more functional aspects such as design and design development.

In any workspace, the role of the mechanical engineers revolves around the following:

• Identification of the problem and researching on how it can be resolved mechanically.
• Designing a solution theoretically as well as virtually.
• Creating a prototype and testing the prototype stability over various parameters.
• Overseeing the manufacturing process and providing guidelines on maintenance.

Popular Industries and Sectors for Career Options in Mechanical Engineering:

• Manufacturing

Mechanical Engineers can always find good career opportunities in the manufacturing sector. The intuitive manner in which they approach a complication often comes in handy not only in engineering roles but also in management roles. Mechanical engineers are good at mapping out the structure and identifying the root of issues, making them valuable assets for any manufacturing company.

• Armed Forces and Defence

The Defence sector needs to strive for higher efficiency. There are few sectors as lucrative and competitive as the armed force ones. Mechanical Engineers play a vital role in this area, from competitor assessment to model development. Constant up-gradation and quick solutions are defining features of any person looking for a job in this sector.

• Aerospace Industries

Working for the aerospace industry is the dream of many engineers. The opportunities for mechanical engineers in this sector are plenty. As our aerospace technologies develop to accommodate our exploration aspirations, the need for mechanical engineers rises to design the best models possible.

• Automobile Industries

Faster than light. Though the automobile industry is yet to achieve this dream, it has remained their vision. Mechanical engineers are the most in-demand people in this sector to turn this dream into reality and make it safer while doing so. So, if you love cars and making them talk to the wind, you might want to look into this sector for job opportunities.

• Construction

The construction sector heavily relies on inputs from Civil engineers. However, mechanical engineers would find that they play a vital role in this industry as well. As the terrains for construction differ, the demand for the insight and consultation of mechanical engineers to create fail-safe designs heightens.

• Energy Services

Energy generation and storage are heavily reliant on mechanical engineers to design and implement technology with green sources and less loss. The research and development scopes and the design prospects in this sector are fertile and constantly in demand of greater and greater efficiency.

• Biomedical

Most of the human body systems need to be read by tools designed by Mechanical engineers. Not just that, these engineers are the ones who devise the methods to make these tools minimally invasive as well. The biomedical sector recognises the need for mechanical engineers to improvise their systems and economise their tools.

• Robotics and Automation

Perhaps the most awesome-to-the-ears field, the field of robotics and automation, needs mechanical engineers to design the most flexible and durable apparatus. Mechanical engineers face extraordinary problems and requirements in this field and strive to provide equally jaw-dropping solutions to it.

Job Positions after Mechanical Engineering

• Mining Engineer
• Water Engineer
• Aerospace Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Automotive Engineer
• Maintenance Engineer
• CAD Technician
• Nuclear Engineer
• Control and Instrumentation Engineer

Tips for Mechanical Engineers to Improve Career Prospects

• Technological Proficiency

Stay up to date with the latest software platforms. It is crucial in this day and age to learn how to navigate the digital space even when most of your work might be on-site. Moreover, this would also show that you are a person who is always prepared to adapt to the new and more convenient technology.

• Experience

Having hands-on experience is crucial in any industry to facilitate hiring decisions. However, it is even more critical if you are a mechanical engineer. Do not wait till your graduation. It is advisable for most engineers to look for experience through internships. A good internship can make your CV stand out among your peers.

• Higher Education

Do not stop at a graduate degree if you wish to climb up career ladders. It would help if you levelled up. Get higher education. Show that you are willing to make an effort on yourself to do your job better.

• Additional Certifications

Having additional certifications that add value to you professionally can make you a real catch real fast. It can be surprisingly beneficial if you have a multidisciplinary education. You will be able to provide value to organisations requiring a mechanical engineer but do not belong to the traditional sectors.

• Interpersonal Skills

It is crucial to curate the soft skills and interpersonal skills needed to market yourself to the hiring manager properly. Your rigorously developed domain knowledge will be for nought if you fail to present them to the concerned people in the proper manner. Moreover, strong interpersonal skills will help you network well and connect with the right people, affecting your growth prospects exponentially.

• Management Degree

If you wish to climb the corporate ladder, then it would be advisable to obtain a management degree to go with your graduate degree. A management degree can be your gateway to coveted executive positions. Perks aside, your inputs could be the deciding factors for your organisation’s growth and stability.

SRM University-AP trains the students and prepares them, at the outset, for their dream jobs and their career expectations. The practical learning approach to education prepares the students to face several challenges in their professional domain before even entering the workforce. Each student’s needs and career goals are kept in consideration while advising them about the minors that would be helpful to them, training them with necessary skills, and even providing them with essential exposure.

Studying with SRM University-AP will help you broaden your career options after Mechanical Engineering. Find out more about the Undergraduate Programme in Mechanical Engineering offered by SRM University-AP here.

Electronics and Communications Engineering or ECE is a very popular educational choice for the prospective engineering students. ECE students can have careers in industries like consumer electronics manufacturing organization, Automotive, Telecommunication & IT industries, Health care equipment manufacturing, Mobile communication (2G, 3G, and 4G), Internet technologies, Power Electronics, and other industries like steel, petroleum, and chemical industry etc.

ECE students also have lots of opportunities in Government and private companies in the areas of design, manufacture, installation, operation, and maintenance of electronics equipment and systems. New opportunities and avenues are also opening for electronics & communication engineers due to the integration of electronics into various new industrial verticals.

The latest technologies include self-driving cars, autonomous drone logistics, robotics, automation in industries, smart energy systems etc. But getting acquainted with these industries will not be easy. They demand engineers who have more hands-on experience with the latest technologies.

Electronics students with skills in robotics, automation technologies, renewable energies, Internet of Things (IoT), mechatronics engineering concepts add more value to their average pay scale. Students pursuing electronics engineering aim to get a highly paid job, so improving their skill sets will impact their pay scale a lot.

Major technologies in which an ECE engineer can work on:

• Analog and Radio Frequency Circuits: Without these cell phones, Wi-Fi, television will cease to exist. A lot of industries are established to meet consumer demands, and, in the process, they opened a lot of job opportunities for electronics engineers.
• Communication & Signal Processing: This technology particularly finds its application in the transmission, storage, and analysis of information signals.
• Computer & Digital Systems: All the industries are able to advance technologically at a faster pace than before with the help of computers. These digital systems are everywhere from smartwatches to Mars rovers.
• Networking: With the boom on the internet, we are experiencing 3G, 4G services that help organizations and industries to easily collaborate with people. There is a lot of scope for engineers who want to work in this technology.
• Computer vision & Image processing: These technologies are helping computers in the areas like medical, surveying, photogrammetry etc. For instance, now we have medical devices that can analyse data to not only display images but identify diseases too with the help of magneto-resonance imaging technology
• Control systems & Robotics: With the advancement in technologies lately more and more industries are adopting automation and robots into their operations to improve their efficiency. And a lot more industries are expected to adopt these technologies in the coming years.
• Remote Sensing: Communication via radio waves is essential for mobile devices, radios, and all the devices that are connected to the internet. From mapping to navigation, remote sensing plays a vital role in various technologies.
• Nanotechnology: The more efficient solar cells, faster transistors, tracking chips and microscopic sensors that we see today are the products of nanotechnology. A lot of industries are adopting this technology to make their products smaller and more efficient.
• Sustainable Energy & Power systems: Now industries are investing lots of their money and time to develop more efficient solar cells, windmills, systems that can generate power from tides etc. This technology offers a wide range of job opportunities for electronics engineers.
• Energy Storage Technology: The demand for energy storage systems is likely to grow exponentially globally as the world shifts towards renewable energy sources. This shift will mandate both grid level and unit level energy storage systems that are of viable size, cost, and energy efficiency. Significant research is currently being conducted on materials, engineering, and other optimisations.

Skills that an ECE student needs to develop to improve job prospects:

If you are an ECE student, here are some of the skills and areas that you need to concentrate on to improve your job prospects:

• Computer proficiency is a must these days; try to get acquainted with some of the industrial-grade software.
• Develop your communication and interpersonal skills
• Develop more practical skills and get hands-on experience on theoretical concepts
• Get exposed to current industrial methodologies as much as possible
• Stay updated with the latest technologies by developing projects on them
• Do additional certified training programs to build your profile
• Take additional responsibilities in your college to showcase your managerial skills
• Develop your leadership and team working abilities

ECE at SRMAP:

Studying ECE at SRMAP offers students the unique opportunity to gain experiences, skills and knowledge which will set them apart from their peers.

• Semester Abroad Programme: For those who strive to learn cutting edge practices from reputed Universities abroad, SRMAP offers a dream-come-true opportunity to the selected students to obtain necessary skills and insights which will make them shine among their competitors.
• Centres of Excellence: The centres of excellence will nurture the potential in students by giving them a working environment and allowing them to test their mettle.
• Multidisciplinary curriculum: The curriculum at SRMAP is fluid. It draws upon traditional courses with a modern and practical outlook. However, the most prominent feature of the curriculum at SRMAP is that it transcends convention, focuses on recent trends in research and technology. and provides the students with the essential tools wot take the forefront positions in their field.
• Placements: Placements at SRMAP are extremely motivated by the individual’s needs and career aspirations. The students are given relevant advice since day one and often train to acquire skills as per their strengths and ambitions. This makes them the suitable candidate for their dream job with exciting offers in their hands.

An ideal learning environment leaves no stone unturned in raising its students into full-fledged individuals with all their skills and talents unveiled. The coming-of-age educational institutions are still in search of extended possibilities to churn out the best from their students. Catering to their academic needs only amounts to meeting just one requirement on the list. There remains an unexplored set of other items that will better equip them to grow into competent professionals. Placements, training sessions, and internships are a few among them that are currently bringing pronounced changes in the educational landscape.

Students are keenly on the lookout for institutions that offer them premium placement opportunities. Universities are vying to bring top-tier recruiters from across the globe to attract the student community. Maintaining an academic environment that offers a smooth transition from the learning journey to a professional endeavour is what makes an institution the favourite choice of students. SRM University-AP is one of the few pioneering institutions in the country that has come out with 100 per cent placement with excellent pay packages including international opportunities for its opening batch of graduates.

Placements at SRM University-AP are a constant and continuous process. From the very first year of joining to the final year of their academic life, students are flooded with a diverse array of activities to hone their professional capabilities. Besides its high-quality courses, a series of other initiatives are equally promoted to enhance the employability skills of students. The Directorate of Corporate Relations and Career Services (CR&CS) ensures a well-structured interface with industry and the corporate world to acquaint students with the job market and its working methodologies. The overarching objective is to train its students to actualize their potential enabling them to fly off to their dream careers.

Some of the core activities offered by the CR & CS Directorate include:

• Placement drives with competitive pay packages
• Domestic and International internship opportunities
• Industrial workshops and webinars
• Career counselling and personality development classes
• Intensive corporate training programmes
• Soft skill development and placement-oriented programmes
• Interactive sessions with industrial stalwarts
• Industry/laboratory/corporate visits

The primary reason for the flourishing placement scenario at SRM-AP is the paramount importance given to bridging the gap between student capabilities and the emerging industrial demands. The placement cell is putting rigorous efforts into conducting professional development programmes in close coordination with leading corporate sectors across various domains. Frequent visits to industries and exhaustive training sessions with experts will help them understand the course of action from close quarters and build a competitive edge over their peers. Taking a look at the placement statistics will show the staggering growth rate the university has been experiencing since the time of its inception.

Internships are exciting opportunities for students to acquire hands-on exposure to contemporary industrial practices and mould themselves in line with global entrepreneurial demands. Acquiring intensive training and experience in their field of interest will equip them with desired skillsets to enhance their performance capabilities. A great number of educational institutions now gives special emphasis on internship programmes to facilitate the professional advancement and career prospects of their students.

The Directorate of Corporate Relations & Career Services at SRM-AP offers its students all-encompassing internship programmes with leading MNCs across the globe. This will help them build global networks and ease their pathway to a lucrative career of their choice. SRM University- AP has successfully completed its summer internship process for the students of all three schools, namely, the School of Engineering and Sciences (SEAS), School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (SLASS), and School of Entrepreneurship and Management Studies (SEAMS). An extensive range of companies made internship offers to a total of 1259 students.

• Usually, summer internships are 6 to 8 week-programme for second year BTech, BSc, BBA, and first-year MTech and MBA students.
• It provides three credits to their academics and is embedded in the curriculum.
• Apart from the second-year students, third-year students are provided with summer internships for 6 months which will be mostly converted to PPD.

SRM University-AP is in pursuit of unexplored possibilities to nurture its students to outperform in a competitive work environment. International placement programmes and internship training have enormously aided the inclusive development of the student community. Moreover, the core focus on research innovations has also opened unseen paths for its students to aim for a career in the field of research. The noteworthy achievements of its faculty and students across various specialities have already brought laurels to the institute from far and wide. With an increasing list of accomplishments to its credit, the university has already carved a niche for itself in the academic milieu.