electrical engineer

Electrical engineers have a lot of responsibilities that vary depending on their place of work and specialization. Nonetheless, some responsibilities are uniform across the board, such as:

• project planning: As an electrical engineer, you are responsible for planning all electrical projects in your company. The planning process begins with designing drafts of electrical systems on paper. During planning, you draft budgets and source all equipment and components essential to the projects. You also organize and hold meetings with investors and clients to discuss budgeting, system specifications, technical requirements, and other issues.
• project development: Electrical engineers ensure projects are completed on time and perform as expected. After drafting a plan, you need to actualize it using CAD machines and oversee its development. Once you make the prototypes, you should test their performance capabilities and make necessary improvements.
• managing and maintaining electrical systems: Apart from developing new systems, an electrical engineer is in charge of operating existing electrical systems. You are expected to conduct frequent inspections to ensure all electrical systems work according to global safety guidelines and regulations. Depending on your job description, you may conduct system maintenance and upgrades to ensure electrical systems work efficiently.
• researching and reporting: Electrical engineers are responsible for data collection on system use, performance, and client feedback. With this information, they compile and table scheduled reports before clients and employers. Electrical engineers also research and innovate new technologies in development laboratories such as biotechnology, medical, and computer labs.
• ensuring product quality: As an electrical engineer, you ensure electrical products and electronics are working as expected. You also ascertain that electrical systems perform all the functions with ease. Sometimes, you have to design electrical testing methods for manufacturers to determine equipment performance. You also conduct tests on finished products and check system capabilities.

Since electrical engineers work in various industries, they have unique work environments. In most cases, electrical engineers work indoors during project planning, design, budgeting, and when holding meetings. Production of electrical systems is also done indoors in workstations and labs.

However, there are special assignments that force electrical engineers to work outdoors. In each case, the work environment of an electrical engineer is high-risk, as it usually involves interacting with electricity. High-risk environments include factories, power generation plants, and research labs.

This profession also involves interacting with different people, including superiors, administrators, fellow employees, technicians, and clients. As expected, the working environment demands moderate to high interpersonal skills.

Depending on your industry, you may work with heavy equipment operators, electricians, electronics technicians, HVAC technicians, auto electricians, maintenance supervisors, industrial electricians, robotics engineers, manufacturing engineers, and mechanical engineers.

You are also likely to work with electronics engineers and broadcast engineers, as well as other specialists that could include project managers, project engineers, civil engineers, aerospace engineers, and program managers.

Electrical engineers have regular but often compartmentalized work schedules. For instance, you could design a project in the morning and move on to test another project or conduct maintenance in the afternoon. However, these schedules are often interrupted, especially if more than one project is underway. You can expect to work an average of 40 hours a week. You also work overtime to meet project deadlines.

In large companies, electrical engineers work in shifts to ensure a professional is always available in the workplace. Although most electrical engineers work full-time, independent electrical engineers have an even more dynamic work schedule. This is because they have to divide their time between working on projects and traveling. Both consultants and paid contractors work part-time and, sometimes, for different companies. Remote work is also possible, though it is most common for consultants.

Electrical engineering skills are crucial in almost all production and manufacturing areas. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the electrical engineering field is expected to grow 3% over the next decade. When it comes to individual growth potential for electrical engineers, skills, education, and experience levels are crucial determiners of success. Highly recommended engineers rise to managerial ranks in their industry or company. Besides, you can start your private consultancy or contracting firm or become a freelance contractor as a licensed electrical engineer.

Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:

• being paid weekly
• flexibility
• always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
• many training opportunities
• a range of jobs in your area

Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as an electrical engineer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers, thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad, too!

As an electrical engineer, you are likely to face a couple of these key challenges – continuing education and stress management. Since you are expected to be an expert analyst and problem solver, you have to consider continuous education. Moreover, it is important to learn how to manage several tasks in one go since this is a multitasking field.

There are several reasons you should consider becoming an electrical engineer. Some of these are high earning potential, outstanding opportunities, and a steady work schedule. A career in electrical engineering allows you to grow at a personal level and puts you in a good position to achieve your long-term goals.

Yes. Electrical engineering is divided into many different fields, such as:

• radio-frequency engineering
• computer engineering
• telecommunications
• power engineering
• optics and photonics
• and more

These different fields make it possible to specialize and do something you are passionate about always.

As an electrical engineer, you are expected to manage, test, develop, and design the manufacturing of electrical equipment, according to Ohio University. The electrical equipment, in this concept, refers to electric motors and navigation systems.

Electrical engineers use tools such as current and voltage probes and meters, oscilloscopes, and signal generators. While probes and meters come in handy in taking electricity measurements, oscilloscopes and signal generators help electrical engineers study electricity flow and create RF signals respectively.

Applying for an electrical engineering job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our electrical engineering jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state-of-the-art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!