Electrical engineers have a major role to play in fields as diverse as generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power to designing communication systems. Electrical engineers also design, develop and test electrical machinery and electric appliances, instrumentation systems and power applications and audio-video communication systems.

The work of an electrical engineer ranges from the design and development of more efficient electrical machinery, power systems, to the development of communication systems

Work

Electrical engineers can specialise in a chosen field.

A circuit designer's work is mainly to design electronic circuits that could be used in cars, stereos, computers and many other products.

A communications specialist designs and improves communication equipment and systems such as telephone networks, radio, television etc. They also do other exciting stuff like developing new satellites to make communication easier.

A power engineer works on the design and operation of utility plants and power networks. They work on developing alternative methods of energy generation that would be cost viable and environmentally friendly.

A robotics or control specialist develops automatic controls for machines, appliances, and manufacturing processes.

Attributes

Good analytical and numerical skills, scientific temper and practical bent of mind are important qualities for electrical engineers.

Job opportunities

Electrical engineers work in almost all types of industries, large or small scale. Here are a few areas of employment:

* Government Sector, including the railways, municipal corporations and telecommunications departments
* Public Sector organisations
* Private companies
* Defence services
* Research organisations and laboratories
* As technical experts on engineering projects
* An engineer can set up private consultancy/ industrial units

The government sector offers various options such as electricity boards and the armed forces. In the private sector electrical engineers find employment in private utility companies and companies manufacturing electrical appliances and instruments.

The demand for electrical engineers continues to grow due to the rapid changes in the field of communication systems and automation industry.

The qualities you require in order to be successful in this career are practicality, ability to get along with people, work under pressure, and perseverance. The field involves working with tools and drawing sketches of complex things and operations and conceptualising forms and structures. You also need to have a high level of practicality, skill, accuracy, understanding power and be at ease with numbers.

Entry

The qualification required to become an electrical engineer is a bachelor's degree BE/BTech or ME/MTech degree in electrical engineering.

Eligibility

The basic eligibility criteria for a BE/BTech is 10+2 or its equivalent examination, with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Selection to degree courses is on the basis of merit or marks secured in the final exams of 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics or through various entrance exams. Engineering courses are available at two levels. Degree and postgraduate degree courses are offered by various engineering colleges and Institutes of Technology (IITs), whereas diploma courses are offered by polytechnics. The course content for electrical engineering includes electrical networking, electronic devices and components, electronics and communication, distribution systems, electromagnetic theory and power electronics.

The BE/BTech courses are for the duration of four years and the diploma courses are of 2-3 years' duration.

Educational institutions

Here are few of the premier engineering colleges in India:

Indian Institute of Technology (New Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, and Chennai )

Regional Engineering Colleges (Warangal, Andhra Pradesh; Silchar, Assam; Jamshedpur, Bihar; Surat, Gujarat ; Kurkshetra, Haryana; Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir; Surathkal, Karnataka; Calicut, Kerala; Visvesvaraya REC, Nagpur, Maharashtra; Rourkela, Orissa ; Jaipur, Rajasthan; Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu ; Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh; Durgapur, West Bengal ; Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh ; Jalandhar, Punjab.)

Birla Institute of Technology (BITS) - (Pilani and Ranchi)

Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi

University of Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttar Pradesh

Jadavpur University, Kolkata