Trends in Engineering
Despite the current recession's negative impact on employment and job growth across the U.S., opportunities in the field of engineering continue to open up. Recent social developments are causing businesses to incorporate employing solar energy, alternative fuel and nuclear energy into their practices. As a result, the demand for engineers is increasing, but today's competitive market means employers still get the pick of the litter. It is those job seekers with the sharpest skills and greatest drive to succeed who will have the greatest chance of landing the most lucrative opportunities with the best employers.
The "Green Movement' and the search for alternative energy fuel a demand for engineers
When a large-magnitude earthquake struck central Illinois on April 18, 2008, the magnificent highrises for which Chicago is renowned survived largely unscathed, thanks to the superior engineering upon which the city's infrastructure is built. Last spring's earthquake, however, was just one of several natural disasters that have occurred with increasing frequency in recent years, and today, other cities and countries around the world are following Chicago's example and investing in building stronger infrastructures to minimize the impact of future events.
But the current trend toward developing stronger buildings, highways, water systems and the like is only one of several recent developments that is fueling the recent growth in the field of engineering. Even now, at a time when national unemployment rates are staggering, and overall employment growth has slowed considerably, engineering is seeing continual growth - in terms of both job seekers and available career opportunities, says Dr. John Jarrell, a licensed professional engineer in mechanical engineering.
Jarrell cites the search for alternate energy sources, the large social interest in green materials and technologies, and the growing field of biotechnology as factors contributing to the growth of jobs in the engineering industry. The long-term projects to find or develop the resources, technologies and systems these movements demand call for the skills and expertise of professionals across several engineering disciplines. While jobs in the engineering field are experiencing growth overall, the areas that will see the most growth over the next decade are environmental, biomedical, industrial and civil engineering.
The worldwide search for alternate energy sources is the area with the most potential for short- and long-term growth. And a large social interest in "green" materials and technologies to create these resources is not only increasing demand for engineers, but fueling the collaboration of several engineering disciplines. One such manifestation is the emergence of biotechnology, which utilizes knowledge across biology, engineering and medicine to create new medical devices and techniques or upgrade existing ones.
What this means for employers
The increase in opportunities in the engineering industry coincides with an increase in licensed engineers. After hitting a peak in the 1980s, the number of students pursuing engineering degrees slowly began declining. In recent years, however, interest in the field has begun to climb again, and Jarrell estimates that on average, 70,000 bachelor's degrees in engineering are now awarded each year.
According to Jarrell, these graduates want to work for employers who can offer them growth opportunities as well as good pay. For all types of employers who need to hire new grads in any engineering field, the money must certainly be there. Entry-level salaries for new engineers are typically on the higher end of the scale, and new grads expect as much, but they're also looking at more than paycheck size. Today's young engineers want an environment that provides structure, while also giving them room to innovate. It is those employers who offer their employees both room to grow and the freedom to be innovative who will not only attract but retain the strongest candidates.
One of the best ways for engineers to jump-start their careers is to take advantage of internship opportunities. Likewise, companies aiming to recruit high-performing engineers should be proactive in offering internship opportunities to potential employees, says Jarrell. In the university setting, there is very little opportunity for hands-on learning, and soon-to-be graduates are eager to get in the field to learn and develop their skills. Internship programs are a good way for future employees to train, develop the usable skills they need and prepare for the long hours this work often requires. Most of the projects these engineering firms are undergoing require long-term planning, so employers would have it in their best interest to take on young engineers and train them for long-term career growth. Interns then often make the transition later to loyal, hard-working employees.
Employers may also consider expanding the scope of their employee search beyond just local and regional candidates. New engineering grads will find that the jobs which require their specific skills aren't necessarily close to where they live now and the smartest ones will illustrate their desire and willingness to relocate for new opportunities.
Even with the increase in new engineers, in today's economic climate, it's a buyer's market for those firms lucky enough to be hiring right now. Despite the position they're in, however, employers still need to be strategic in their approaches to recruiting. The engineers who exhibit the greatest range of skills, creativity, work ethic and drive will be among the most desirable candidates as employers pursue their next group of innovative, high performers.
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