engineering, electrical or civil

evan

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Just wondering which branch of engineering most promising for the future (not just in ireland), im figuring that electrical should be good due to the need for more power stations world wide, but also this might be better for civil engineers needed to build them, it also appears that big infrastructure spending will be needed by ireland but also britain and america. So im thinking civil maybe better, what do others think, i don't have an engineering degree but do have in maths and physics, there are courses in britain which allow me do a higher diploma in either
 
Do what ever you think that you will find more interesting and be true to yourself. When I was choosing my degree all the advice I got was to go into electrical engineering from "career guidance" as that was where all the jobs were.......but low and behold when I graduated the civls/structural end had picked up so I was lucky to get a job that I wanted and liked
 
You have to decide under which conditions you would like to work best and for which employers.
If you are good at maths and physics you will like both branches of engineering but I found not everyone who is good at maths and physics likes computer programming or has an aptitude for it even if they enjoy solving maths problems. Many older electrical engineering lecturers will tell you that when they began their course of study they did practically no programming at all but now its everywhere.
 
I have plenty of programming experience that won't be a problem although i would obviously be weak on the engineering specific areas. Im thinking electrical would be a more natural fit to the experience i already have. The only thing are the employment prospects which seem to be weak enough in ireland at least.
 
I agree that you should go for the one that you like, rather than the one you think has most propspects (very few unemployed engineers out there).

You could check if there is a course which does general Engineering for the first one or two years (UCD and Trinity do for degree studies) and then you make a choice of specialization at this stage. I found this a great way of deciding on my direction in engineering (which incidentally was Civil).
 
Hi...

I graduated with a degree in Electrical Eng in 2001. I was "advised" back in 1998 that Electrical Eng is the way to go for jobs!! (always work in an area that you are interested in, not "where the jobs are"...thats my advise). When i graduated i found it very hard to get work.

I started off in a consulting firm but got bored working in an office enviroment so left for a more "hands-on" job. I worked for a company doing validation work which also bored the pants off me!! I eventually ended up working in the electronic area (disaster for $$)
If i had a chance again, i would stay clear of electrical eng, its VERY broad....

Out of the 16 that graduated in my class, only 4 are working in the area!!!!!!

BUT, if you are interseted in Elec Eng,go for it...just be aware that it will take a few years to reach an average job...

Sorry for depressing you:p
 
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