re: Engineering Technology Job Prospects

quote:

---

That is very good news for the technology grads. However, it proves the point of my thread. If they are willing to hire EE technology people, why dont they "specifically" ask for Electrical Engineering "Technology". Most postings only say BS in whatever Engineering. In case you are misunderstanding me, a Technology degree is NOT an engineering degree. It is sponsored by the same organization ABET, but it has different requirements and less rigor (which denotes the $ difference).

---

I am very familiar with what a technology degree is, I have worked with many people that have them. While it is of less rigor than a regular engineering degree I would not necessarily regard it as a fall back for people that can not handle a regular engineering program. It typically attracts a different type of person, one that would be more at home doing a lot of hands on work with systems, and instrumentation with minimal administrative/office work.

The larger corporations such as GE will actually specify a technology degree for particular positions where experience as shown that technology grads seem to work well. Here is a typical listing, they specify BSEE, or BSEET

LINK

Usually these positions require extensive training taking 3-5 years in the position to build a basic competency, that makes getting the right person for the job and avoiding turnover critical. A lot of the people I worked with had been in their job for 15-20 years and seemed to enjoy it. Financially, those that had that kind of time in were making around a $100K. Most of the engineers I worked with expected to be in some type of management position after 3-5 years as an engineer.
In the 50s, 60s, 70s, there many jobs available as "technicians" and they were typically filled with people that were techs in the military or had attended some type of technical school. Over time the military technical training became very specialized resulting in those people lacking fundamentals that would transfer to the civilian market, and technical schools were slow to adapt their programs to changes in technology. Universities saw the opportunity to provide up to date technology education and started offering 2year associate degrees. As industry started hiring these graduates they recommended additional courses that they felt would make the graduates more productive. It reached the point that to meet the needs of industry a 4 year program was needed and the B.S.E.T. was born. ABET was not very supportive e of the programs at first, but eventually changed their stance and started accrediting the programs.

Engineering tech jobs from what I know are jobs that assist the PE. They can't stamp plans and normally don't manage. Dotd has Eng tech jobs but they can be anything. It's just a title for general tech sided field.

quote:

---

Technology Degrees = plant operator.

---

100% dead on. Coming post that.

quote:

---

But just out of curiosity, what are you referring to

---

You being annoying as frick.