Choosing the right engineering branch is crucial from many aspects starting from jobs availability, personal interests, and future goals.
Before choosing a branch, decide what do you want to do after graduation.
After graduation there are three options:
- Jobs after graduation
- Startup (entrepreneurship)
- Higher studies
Here we will discuss the opportunities of each option.
Jobs after graduation
If you want to work in a company right after your graduation, let’s analyze the growth of various industry verticals
- Software industry: Software is becoming part of our everyday life, starting from booking a cab to shopping online. The software industry is projected to grow more than 22% from 2020 to 2030. Demand for software engineers, data scientists is soaring high.
- Semiconductor industry: Nowadays everyone has a mobile phone and related electronics gadgets. The semiconductor industry is projected to grow more than 15% over the years. Demand for IC designers, R&D engineers is soaring high.
- Automotive industry: Projected job growth in the automotive sector is 4% over the years.
- Infrastructure industry: Projected job growth in this sector is 8% over the years.
Considering this analysis it is very clear that the software industry is growing faster than any other industry and every day new jobs are created.
In terms of salary, the software industry pays more than any other industry.
Software Industry
If you are interested to pursue a career in the software industry and have good problem-solving skills, you can choose any one of the following branches:
- Computer science and engineering
- Electronics and communication
- Mathematics and computing
- Electrical engineering
Most companies generally allow candidates from all the above branches to sit in placement for software-related jobs.
Your problem skills are what will be judged. You will be allowed to solve problems using your favorite programming language.
Semiconductor Industry
If you are interested to pursue a career in the semiconductor industry and curious about how chips are made, you can choose any one of the following branches:
- Electronics and communication
- Electrical engineering
The number of jobs available for B.Tech graduates is very low in this sector.
Automotive/infrastructure Industry
if you are interested to pursue a career in the automotive/infrastructure industry, you can choose any one of the following branches:
- Mechanical engineering
- Civil engineering
- Chemical engineering
But note that the salary offered in these industries is very low in comparison to software and semiconductor industries.
What happens with other branches?
The number of companies offering core jobs (branch-related) is very low. Graduates from other branches also end up preparing for software industry jobs and govt jobs.
Govt jobs
Govt jobs are available for the following branches:
- Mechanical engineering
- Civil engineering
- Electronics and communication engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Chemical engineering
But note that number of jobs available is very limited and vary state-wise.
Startup (Entrepreneurship)
If you want to change the world and revolutionize a business sector, a startup is a way. You can start your startup even before graduating.
But keep in mind that starting a business right after graduation is not easy and involves many risks. Another risk is that if you fail and want to work in a company after a few years, you will still be considered as a fresher and you have to start over.
Before starting a startup evaluate your opportunities and threats properly.
Based on your startup idea you can choose a related branch. Nowadays 99.9% of startups are in the software domain, so a natural choice would be CSE.
Higher studies
After graduation, if you want to go for MS/Ph.D. abroad, you can choose any branch as per your passion and interests.
In this case also if you are looking for jobs after MS, you have to follow the same guidelines we have discussed here.
In the case of Ph.D. you have multiple options, either go for jobs in the industries or academia.
Above all you should also do a a SWOT Analysis to know your strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats.