Career Options For An Engineering Graduate

In India, we are well aware that 6 out of every 10 wants to become an engineer. But not all know what to do with this engineering mania. In this competitive world, much before a kid is enrolled to school; s/he is made an engineering aspirant. Ironical but truth!.There are many career options for engineers, we are very versatile people. It depends on what you want to do.

In India you are not judged by what you have studied but what you do after you complete your education. The society is more concerned about the job and salary you get after education and not the intellectual property you have earned.

• Jobs @ Core companies:

You can search for job as an engineer in your field. Go to their respective websites, search for CAREERS option, speak to HR persons or mail them your resume. If luck favours you, you might get a call for attending their interviews.

For value addition, you can do course related to engineering which can help you to grow in an organization.

• Jobs @ Government Services:

You can also apply for government Jobs through UPSC exams, PSU entrance exams etc –

1. UPSC: If you are technically strong, You can apply for IES (Indian Engineering Services), CIVIL SERVICES and other UPSC driven exams.
2. PSU: You can apply for PSU’s. Nowadays they are mainly dependent on GATE score. So, prepare hard for GATE. Give your best shot.
3. State Government Jobs: Administrative services, Technical services etc
4. Banking : You are even eligible for Bank Jobs in India. (Bank PO’s)

Some Government departments like Department of Atomic energy etc conduct their own exams for recruitment. Follow their advertisements.

ALSO READ: MS Programme Admission: Research Add Value To GRE Score

• MS/ME/ M.Tech: 

You need to give GRE entrance for MS. Most of the students prefer US for doing MS. But it is important to get good score in GRE to get reputed Institute. With GRE score, one need strong academics record and extra curricular to secure admission in niche college . You would get research job option after doing MS in USA.

If you do Maters from IITs, NIT, BITS-Pilani and other top reputed college, you can surely expect good placement. After Masters, most students prefer to work in as professor. After ME/ M.Tech – you can go for research and teaching field and further go for Phd.

• MBA:

Currently, most IITian and engineering students preferring MBA to get managerial role in an organisation with expectation of high salary. Engineers, who have career in their domain, work their way up to corporate ladder and become managers or executives and manage other engineers.

• Entrepreneurship:

Engineers can go into business and entrepreneurship, starting up their own company.  Engineers are well suited for this as they understand the processes and technology that are required. If you think, you developed enough expertise in your technical field, you can start business in that field.

• Consultancy:

Consultancy is also a viable career choice, engineering consultancy, industrial consultancy and even management consultancy are all good jobs for engineers.

• Defence:

Armed forces (Army/Navy/Air force/coast guard). Armed Forces, especially the Navy. It is a very fulfilling career choice.

READ ALSO: How To Prepare for GATE: Mechanical Engineering

Other Opportunities Are:

Engineering , itself is career option. There are some “alternative career options” to engineering, I take it that you don’t want to be an engineer. Here are some options and couple of real life examples:-

Engineers can also go into finance, in particular for venture capitalists, since an understanding of the technology and IP of a venture is important for assessing its viability as an investment.

If you are in Bangalore and listen to FM 93.5 the Radio Jockey Nishant who comes from 5 PM to 9 PM is an engineer.

Also, I just remembered: Kriti Sanon one of the lead actress in the movie Dilwale is an engineer in Electronics and Communication.

There are many top wildlife photographers, Journalists, lawyers, IAS, Politicians etc which are Engineers. There are engineers who have successfully gained admission to medical and dental school after an engineering-only curriculum.Sales is also one of the great career option, where Engineers are leading.

The crux of the matter is that you can choose any career you want post engineering and there’s no limitation. All you need is passion. 🙂

Good luck with whatever path you choose to take!

(Will elaborate more options in my next article. Please let me know, if I missed some options)