Industrial Engineering: A Failsafe Degree?

Individuals seeking a new career path in the engineering field may contemplate earning a degree in industrial engineering, believing this industry offers failsafe job options. Are the job prospects as positive as most individuals believe them to be, especially in the present struggling workforce?

What They Do

Industrial engineers focus on the design, development, implementation, and improvement on integrated systems, taking into consideration people, information, materials, energy, and equipment. From the factory assembly lines to hospital operating rooms, industrial engineers help improve complex processes to eliminate wastefulness in a wide range of industries and production processes.

Opportunities

Industrial engineering offers individuals a wide range of career possibilities. The greater your experience and qualifications are, the more job opportunities are available to you; however, with the multitude of choices and much-needed commitment required in this field comes tough decisions that could impact your prospects. In order to increase your chances of finding a position as an industrial engineer, you need to focus on opportunities that are best suited to your strengths and skills, allowing you to be the most effective.

Industrial engineering is predicted to increase by approximately six percent between the years 2010 and 2020, which is less than the overall occupational average; however, being versatile in both the pertinent industries and work nature, industrial engineers are attractive to most employers because their work can help businesses increase efficiency through cost control. Besides playing a crucial role in providing a corporation with a competitive edge, industrial engineering offers individuals many positive prospects in this career.

Career Versatility

Industrial engineering offers a wide range of career choices. Because industrial engineers do not specialize in a specific field, as do other engineers, they can seek employment in various industries such as hospitals, major manufacturing industries, research and development corporations, and consulting and engineering services.

Industrial engineers focus on reducing a company’s internal costs, which makes them a valuable asset to even the fastest growing industries. For those contemplating industrial engineering as a career choice, individuals need to take into account that finding a job in this industry may be hindered because many employment opportunities in manufacturing industries are projected to decline or only slowly grow through over the next few years.

Exceptional Pay

Those who are seeking a position as an industrial engineer can expect to earn a decent annual salary. The median annual salary for an industrial engineer was approximately $76,100, as of May 2010. Median annual salaries for industrial engineers in the top employing industries as of May 2010 were as follows:

• Semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing - $83,620
• Navigational, electromedical, control instruments, and measuring manufacturing - $81,850
• Engineering, architectural, and related services - $80,990
• Aerospace parts and products manufacturing - $80,940
• Automobile parts manufacturing - $72,840

Promotion Opportunities

After obtaining the proper amount of experience, it is not uncommon for industrial engineers to be promoted to a managerial position. For those who are seeking a management position, industrial engineering offers an easy solution. Aspiring industrial engineers obtain similar business training and education as business students, and many times industrial engineers will minor in sales or businesses administration. Additional math, technology, and science training make industrial engineers more marketable to employers, and many will complete their educational experience by earning an MBA.

Nigel Cunningham is a writer and blogger currently penning articles for Allight Sykes, a company which supplies a range of products such as light towers, mining pumps and other equipment.

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Computer Science Majors After Graduation

Few inventions have become as ubiquitous as the computer. We have them everywhere. In our pockets, on our desks, in our book-bags, and in our classrooms. Over the last fifty years, computers have evolved from giant thundering beasts into a symbol of humanities technological advancement. But we're not slowing down. The computer is becoming increasingly necessary in the United State's economy. There isn't a business or initiative that's separate from the computer's influence.

This should come as good news for anyone major in computer sciences. There will be a need wherever there's a large set of computers or a network. As computers are still a relatively new technology, there is still a lot of room for this industry to grow and mature. It's understandable for graduates or prospective graduates to have some tepid feelings about their job prospects. Especially considering their high unemployment rate. Yet, there's no reason to fear! This developing major still will see growth and need in the coming years.  

What do Computer Science Majors do and Where are They Wanted?

Computer science majors have a number of different possible career paths to choose from. For instance, if they so desired, graduates could become computer research scientists. They can be computer systems analysts, a designer, or a database analyst. Essentially, these careers all focus around the technology behind a computer or a network.

As could be expected, computer science majors are needed where there are a lot of computers or tasks related to them. Banks, multinational corporations, and even smaller, more locally run businesses are in demand of good computer science majors. 

What can a Computer Science Major Expect in Terms of Income and Work Environment:

What these graduates experience in the workforce will obviously depend on what specific job they enter. There are different expectations for different positions. Each will carry it's own unique environment and compensation.

Most jobs, however, pay extremely well. The demand for graduates in this developing stem field places a high importance on their skills. A systems analyst can expect to receive around $77,000 a year. Most of these individuals work in companies that revolve around system design and other similar services. However, a large percentage of them are seen in the insurance field.

On the other hand, research scientists can expect to make over $100,000 per year. They tend to work primarily for the federal government. Many choose to work in fields relating to education, however. This includes becoming a teacher themselves or performing tasks for schools.

In both cases, the environments tend to be more structured and orderly. However, many major corporations have incredible central buildings and promote less structured approaches to problems. Such a corporate headquarters can be found with Google or Yahoo. 

Job Projections:

A good job environment and a large income isn't enough to guarantee a good job. Demand needs to be present. If there isn't, then those details are merely extraneous.

Fortunately, all of the businesses in the computer science section are almost assured to expand. As mentioned earlier, computers are becoming increasingly vital to our day to day lives. The need for computer scientists are directly proportional to the need for computers.

Computer science majors can expect to see a 22% increase in the number of jobs in their field over the next decade. That's a mind boggling figure. A fifth more computer jobs today. That's over 50% higher than the expected growth in all other fields. Times are changing and the future may appear uncertain, but growth and stability in this field is a good bet to make.

This piece was composed by Donald Nickerson, a freelancer who focuses on computer software and computer gadgetry of various sorts; those interested in computer gadgetry should view the latest ipad cases from kensington.com.

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Top 5 Business Majors in College

Business and related fields are some of the most popular college majors of all. After all, students who pursue these majors are almost guaranteed to find some kind of work upon graduation and, what’s more, they have a lot of options in terms of the type of work they do. While you can certainly get a generic business degree, it’s usually in your best interest if you have a more specific idea of what you want to do. These individuals don’t have to apply for general jobs, and they also show their employers that they have always been interested in and devoted to their particular field. Even if you’re not sure just yet which business major is right for you, take a look at this list of the top five business majors in college. One of them might just be the right choice for you!

Accounting

Have you always had a head for mathematics? Do you enjoy the “number crunching” that most other people dread? Do you like dealing with money and helping people find ways to make their dollars go further? If so, then a career in accounting might be the right fit for you. Accountants work in many different settings. Some are personal accountants, working with their clients on an individualized basis. Others set up shop and work for the general public, while some are committed to the business world as a whole or to one or more specific businesses. A career in accounting is lucrative and many people find the work to be personally rewarding as well.

Marketing

Marketing is not for everyone, but for some, it’ s an absolutely perfect fit. Those who work in the marketing world are usually dynamic and charming, creative and innovative, and have a head for sales, computing figures, budgeting money, and working with the general public. Prospective marketing majors should ask themselves? Am I naturally gifted at ‘promoting’ products and services? If I see an advertisement, do I almost instinctively create a mental list of potential improvements? If you answer these questions in the affirmative you’re well on your way toward a marketing degree. If you’ve been told that you could sell anything and if you’d like to come up with new ideas and see them put into action, consider majoring in marketing.

Business Administration

Some people are just natural born leaders, and those who are are usually quite well suited to a career in business administration. If you want to be the “big boss,” the one who pulls all the strings and who makes high-end executive decisions that have the power to affect an entire company and the people who work for it, then make business administration your major. Do be aware, however, that this is a high pressure, demanding career, but it is one that comes with a great amount of power, prestige, and usually, a pretty hefty salary.

Finance

If you’re the person who always seems to have money left over when everyone else is flat broke, and if you answer all of your friends’ financial questions with ease, then a career in finance is likely right up your alley. One of the great things about this major is that it’s so versatile in terms of what you can do with it! Finance majors often go on to become stockbrokers, investment bankers, relationship bankers, accountants, and so much more.

Global and/or International Management

Those who love to travel, who have an interest in international and foreign affairs, and who have a head for business and a love for other cultures often do well in global and/or international management positions. This job might call you to travel extensively or even to live abroad, a prospect that is thrilling for many. Plus, there’s no limit to where this job can take you. Even if you start with a lower level position, you can easily work your way up the career ladder with time and effort.


This piece was contributed by Terrence Gilman, a resident of the great city of Seattle and a freelancer with an interest in education, business and current global affairs; for those looking to further their education, be sure to view plc courses and other courses which offer training in high demand areas.

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