Gadget gurus

From healthcare to space research, from TV sets to iPods... electronics engineers can handle anything. They seek solutions to practical problems by making gadgets that make life simpler.

The lowdown
From healthcare to space research, from TV sets to iPods... electronics engineers can handle anything. They seek solutions to practical problems by inventing or working on gadgets that make life simpler, or more entertaining. They are the ones responsible for the transformation of bulky cell-phones and TV sets to ultra slim phones and LED sets boasting of features such as 3D and surround sound

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Clock Work
10am: Check the day’s assignments
11am: Delegate work and discuss it with colleagues
12pm: Meetings and feedback sessions
1.30pm: Lunch
2 to 3pm: Visit manufacturing plant, check product and test results
4 to 8pm: Check competitor’s products, find the gaps and look for ways to better it
9pm: Leave for home

The payoff
On gaining a BTech or similar degree from a good institution, you can expect to earn anything between Rs4 lakh to Rs6 lakh a year. As you work your way up in the organisation and learn implementation, architectural and design-level skills, you could make about Rs10 lakh a year. At the managerial level, you can earn anything between Rs15 lakh to Rs20 lakh a year. People at the top rung can rake in upwards of Rs60 lakh a year

Skills/TRAITS
. Good analytical and reasoning skills
. A creative and innovative mind
. A flexible outlook
. Thorough understanding of circuits and drawings, etc
. Strong foothold in the fundamentals of electronics engineering
. Ability to learn on the job
. Ability to continue educating oneself right through one’s career
. Ability to design, construct, main- tain and sustain products, servic- es, and information systems
. Good problem-solving skills

Getting there
Take up physics, chemistry and maths in Class 12 and then sit for the joint engineering entrance tests to bag a seat in any engineering institution. After completing a bachelor’s, you can opt to either work or study further. Those wanting to study further can go for an MTech or ME degree and then apply for a PhD programme