Author Topic: Advice - Choice of 2 EE internships  (Read 1573 times)

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Offline ryan123Topic starter

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  • Posts: 10
  • Country: au
Advice - Choice of 2 EE internships
« on: October 31, 2019, 05:37:47 pm »
Hi all,

I have a question regarding career paths and EE industry if anyone provide me some much needed advice.

I am about to finish 3rd year electrical engineering & computer science degree in Australia. I interviewed for and am fortunate enough to received offers from both for employment as a paid internship:
1. Government EE role -intelligent road systems & infrastructure
    - Paid 3 month internship, paid university tuition fees, paid living wage during semester.
    - Locked into 3 year graduate program after course completion + work during final 2 years of uni = 5yrs minimum.
    -  Project management/delivery
    - Can leave, but have to return $$

2. Large rail solutions company- Electronics design
    - Paid Internship for 3 months
    - Design of systems using stm32 micro controllers
    - Work on rail monitoring/measurement systems
    - 'foot in the door' at large company

I am at a crossroads and need to decide which sector to go into. Do I choose the rail company, where I work on electronic design, which is my favorite part of Uni and as hobby, then still have an opportunity to apply for graduate programs next year. Or do i choose the government job, which offers good perks, working on large projects in a corporate environment, but will be locked in for the next five years.

My concerns are career progression and job security long term.
If you were in my shoes, what would be the factors for your decision and which would you choose?

Thank you for bearing through my indecisiveness.
 

Offline Frillo

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  • Country: dk
Re: Advice - Choice of 2 EE internships
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2019, 10:26:22 am »
Hi ryan123,

I am an electronics engineer myself. I graduated last year, and had a signed contract for my current job before I completed my last exam.

During my time at uni, I thought I wanted to pursue a career as a digital hardware (i.e. FPGA HDL) designer, and I was an intern at a large company in my country for 5 months, working on a FPGA project. This style of working didn't suit me at all. I never really got to see an actual electronics circuit, and the work was just sitting at the desk all day. This made me realize, that this path was not for me, and that what you actually do during those 8 hours a day (most of your time really), is much more important than job titles, compensation and career opportunities.

So my advise is this: Focus on what you enjoy to actually do. You will be doing it for 8 hours a day, so if you find it boring, your work week will be soul crushing. And realise that what you think sounds great now, is maybe not so fantastic after a few months.

Personally I'd disregard compensation and career opportunities, and take the electronics design internship because that is what I like doing. If you like doing project management you should take the other one, but you might never touch a PCB at work, and there will be very little carry over from having experience with one to the other.

Screw job security, you're too young to worry about that (unless you have a bunch of kids and grueling debt).

 


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