If you are currently thinking about degree to pursue in college, one of the most important questions that you should ask yourself first is "What do I really want to end up doing for the rest of my life?"
College is meant to prepare you for your future and whatever educational path you decide to take will dictate your career path for the rest of your life. If you have always been more inclined to the field of engineering, you need to find out first the different types of engineering courses so that you know which one will suit you best. Here are some different types of engineering degrees and what they can do for you:
Civil Engineering
Have you always been fascinated about highways, bridges, sewage systems and tunnels among others? You might want to consider having a civil engineering career. This type of engineer stays out in the field, in the roads, and highways to construct these structures. They are engaged in every aspect of construction and that includes cost estimation, safety review, following federal regulations and taking care of environmental issues. If you are concerned about urban planning then this is the perfect course for you to take in college.
Mechanical Engineering
If you have always had the talent to fix things then you should harness your skill by taking a Mechanical Engineering course. Becoming a mechanical engineer would mean that you will end up in a career that lets you produce and design machines and engines. Most mechanical engineers have successful careers in the automotive industry. They design cars, planes and other modes of transportation.
Architectural Engineering
Have you always wondered how tall buildings and skyscrapers were made? Have you always dreamed of changing the skyline of the city you live in by building your own structure? You just might be interested in becoming an architectural engineer. This particular aspect of engineering involves the design and conceptualization of residences, buildings, skyscrapers, bridges and just about any structure.
Your responsibility as an architectural engineer is to ensure that the structure is architecturally sound and that it meets both environmental requirements and aesthetic qualities. It will take you at most four years of undergraduate studies as well graduate studies to complete the educational requirements for this type of engineering.
Chemical Engineering
If you have always enjoyed experimenting during your high school years and mixing chemicals has always fascinated you, you can consider enrolling in a chemical engineering course for college. These engineers will end up having careers in large food and beverage plants, government agencies, agricultural industries, pharmaceutical companies, as well as companies that manufacture pesticides and fertilizers.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineers specialize in developing equipment that provide electricity. Many engineers of this type end up working in power companies and telecommunication companies. They work with power transmission systems, radar systems, electric motors and many other electrical equipment. Their responsibility is to develop and maintain electrical systems and to ensure that they are completely safe for use, they are sustainable and that they are practical especially when it comes to protecting the environment.
Computer Engineering
Advancements in technology have provided jobs and career opportunities for people who have degrees in computer engineering. The world is now relying more and more on computers, which is why jobs related to computers are very in-demand nowadays. As a computer engineer you will be responsible for designing software and hardware and in implementing these systems for use in homes, offices, schools and across different industries.
Having a degree in any type of engineering will ensure that you have a bright and exciting career ahead of you. You will have many opportunities to apply your skills and knowledge in different industries. More importantly, being an engineer will also provide you with excellent financial rewards as well as personal growth and fulfillment.
Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes the different engineering careers available and aims to encourage further study with a civil engineering degree online.
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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