Where is the most promising place to work for those in the electrical field?

Thread Content

Where are the most promising career opportunities for electrical engineering students? This problem is very common. In fact, almost every electrical engineering student encounters this issue, and even after starting work they continue to worry about it. In fact, when we return home and see the domestic power distribution systems as well as the power distribution equipment in residential areas, we should be able to understand that the electrical engineering field is essentially a versatile discipline that is needed by any organization. However, to truly achieve one’s ideals varies from person to person and from situation to situation. Those who graduate in electrical engineering naturally think of seeking employment at power grids, power supply companies, substations, and similar institutions; the following explanations do not cover these organizations. Generally, if the organization is not in the electrical equipment manufacturing industry, electrical personnel are necessarily secondary. It’s not necessarily bad to be a supporting role; for example, in the petrochemical industry, it’s great to work as an electrical engineer as well. Many electrical professionals I know work in various fields such as subways, airports, and different types of enterprises (pharmaceuticals, sewage treatment, paper manufacturing, port machinery, automobile manufacturing, etc.), as well as in film and television centers and sports and cultural centers; it seems that they are all doing well. Changhui Instruments, yunrun.com.cn. I used to work at an old state-owned enterprise with nearly 50,000 employees; it was a good place to work, and I was also in the design and R&D department there. Every day, there are numerous tasks related to automatic control that need to be handled; it’s busy, but also enjoyable. But since this company was not focused on electrical engineering, the process engineers naturally held a higher status than us; all the good opportunities went to them. Over time, we felt dissatisfied and eventually left the company to work at ABB. ABB is a world-renowned electrical engineering company. Here, as an electrical engineer and designer, one is certainly more successful than in the large state-owned enterprises of before; one’s opinions and actions are taken seriously, and it’s possible to take on responsibilities independently. The conclusion is: it’s best to find a job at an electrical equipment manufacturing company, as that will lead to better prospects for future development. Let’s talk about specialized knowledge: Electrical engineering students study circuit analysis, analog and digital electronics, power electronics, as well as topics such as motors, electrical appliances, automatic control, power supply and distribution, industrial electromagnetic fields, and relay protection. They also take courses in college physics, advanced mathematics, and complex functions. For everyone's future employment, any of these courses will be useful. Moreover, the knowledge acquired in school is simply not enough; over 90% of the knowledge comes from self-study during future work. For example, if we want to implement power monitoring for the distribution equipment in a certain facility, we need knowledge of such distribution equipment, as well as skills in PLC data acquisition and programming. We also need to know how to acquire data from external sensors; this involves knowledge of analog and digital electronics, relay protection and distribution network control technologies, as well as data exchange techniques. We also need to carry out measurement and control on continuously varying controlled objects, in coordination with DCS and FCS. To this end, we need to have knowledge of automatic control, as well as various remote control and telemetry technologies. Of course, there is also knowledge of programming for computer databases and monitoring software. In the workplace, various drawing and design software are very important; they represent the basic skills we need for design work. It is necessary to understand, learn, and apply them in conjunction with **standards and technical specifications**. Additionally, MATLAB simulations are also used extensively. Although these professional knowledge and skills are covered on campus, the depth of coverage is limited, and their integrated application is even more limited; one can only learn them on their own in the future. However, to delve deeply into this knowledge, it is necessary to establish a basic knowledge framework, which relies on our learning in school. The knowledge in schools is relatively idealized and theoretical. But this knowledge is very important; it forms the foundation for self-study in the future and provides the essential knowledge needed to enter the workplace. It is evident that it is very important to master the various knowledge areas assigned by the school. That’s all for now. The path is one that one must forge for oneself; the opinions and views of others are merely for reference! Author: Patrick Zhang, a senior electrical engineer at ABB and a renowned expert in the field of electricity with over 180,000 followers on Zhihu. His contributions can be found in hundreds of projects, including Beijing Subway, Terminal T3 at Capital Airport, the permanent ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam, Shanghai’s maglev train, and the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant! Books such as \"Principles of Low-Voltage Switchgear and Their Control Techniques (3rd Edition)\” and \"Lao Pa’s Lectures on Low-Voltage Electrical Equipment Technology\" have been published. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The main employment prospects for those with a degree in electrical engineering are, generally speaking, various power plants, power supply agencies, grid control centers, as well as large and medium-sized enterprises. Graduates in this field work in areas such as power design, construction, commissioning, production, operation, management, market development, technological research and development, and technical training. Additionally, one can also work in electrical technology roles in other industries. Electricity companies at all levels 1. The two major power grids: **Grid and China Southern Power Grid. 2. The two major power construction groups: China Power Construction and China Energy Engineering Group. 3. The five major power generation groups: China Huaneng, China Datang Corporation, China Huadian Corporation, China Guodian, and **SPIC. 4. Others: provincial-level power companies, city-level power supply companies, and power supply bureaus. 5. Other power generation companies: Power generation companies with great potential, such as Ertan, Three Gorges, Wuling, and large-scale power plants ； Nuclear power, such as CGN and CNNC ； Wind and solar power are power plants with high investment costs and high technical complexity. Power design institutes and power research institutes are realms reserved for the \"elites\" with postgraduate degrees or higher. Electrical engineering students in design firms and research institutes generally work on designing power plants, substations, and power lines, as well as on on-site commissioning, testing, preparing data reports, and conducting research. The work is relatively easy, but some positions require frequent business trips. Salaries vary depending on the position and age, with an annual income range of roughly 30,000 to 150,000. Top 20 Electric Power Design Institutes in the Country: 1. Beijing Guodian North China Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd. 2. **Electric Power Company Northwest Electric Power Design Institute 3. **Electric Power Company Southwest Electric Power Design Institute 4. Zhejiang Electric Power Design Institute 5. Jiangsu Electric Power Design Institute 6. **Electric Power Company Central South Electric Power Design Institute 7. **Electric Power Company East China Electric Power Design Institute 8. Guangdong Electric Power Design and Research Institute 9. **Electric Power Company Northeast Electric Power Design Institute 10. Shandong Electric Power Engineering Consulting Institute 11. Guangxi Electric Power Industry Survey and Design Institute 12. Hebei Electric Power Survey and Design Institute 13. Henan Electric Power Survey and Design Institute 14. Shanxi Electric Power Survey and Design Institute 15. Fujian Electric Power Survey and Design Institute 16. Hunan Electric Power Survey and Design Institute 17. Inner Mongolia Electric Power Survey and Design Institute 17. Yunnan Electric Power Design Institute 18. Sichuan Electric Power Design and Consulting Co., Ltd. 20. Jiangxi Electric Power Design Institute