ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

What is this job like?

A global positioning system that can pinpoint a car's location. Giant generators that can power entire cities. A new design for an airplane's electrical system. Electrical and electronics engineers work on high-tech projects like these.

Electrical engineers design new and better electronics. They also test equipment and solve problems. A project starts by deciding what the new electronics will do. Then, the engineer designs the circuits and other parts of the electronics. Engineers might draw their designs using a computer.

Later, the engineers test their designs and make them better. Many projects don't work at first. The engineers have to figure out why and then fix them.

Electrical engineers work on many kinds of products. They might work on cars, robots, cell phone systems, the lighting and wiring in buildings, and radar and navigation systems, for example.

Engineers work in offices, labs, or industrial plants. Many work a normal 40-hour week. At times, they work longer to meet deadlines.

How do you get ready?

You need a college degree in engineering for almost all engineering jobs.

Getting into engineering school takes good grades in math and science. Students also need courses in English, social studies, and computers.

Engineers should be creative, curious, logical, and detail-oriented. They should also be able to work as part of a team.

How much does this job pay?

The middle half of electrical engineers earned between $60,640 and $94,050 in 2006. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $49,120. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $115,240.

The middle half of electronics engineers earned between $64,440 and $99,630. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $52,050. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $119,900.

How many jobs are there?

There were about 291,000 electrical and electronics engineers in 2006. Many worked for companies that make medical machines, communications equipment, or electronics.

What about the future?

Electrical engineers should have good job prospects. Jobs for electrical engineers are expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through 2016. There will be a need for more electronic devices like giant electric power generators and wireless phone transmitters.

Are there other jobs like this?

• Aerospace engineers
• Civil engineers
• Computer hardware engineers
• Industrial engineers
• Mechanical engineers

Where can you find more information? More BLS information about electrical and electronics engineers can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The Handbook also shows where to find out even more about this job.

COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

WHAT IS THIS JOB LIKE?

When people have computer trouble, they ask these workers for help. Computer support specialists help people use computers. When something goes wrong, support specialists figure out why. Then, they try to fix it.

Many support specialists answer questions over the phone or by e-mail. Others also help people face-to-face. To answer a problem over the phone, the specialist takes the person through the necessary steps to fix the problem using their own computer. Computer support specialists also install printers, software, and other computer tools. Then, they teach people how to use them. Sometimes, they write instruction books. Some specialists check computer systems every day to make sure they are working well. To be good at these jobs, workers need to be good listeners and good at solving problems. Computer specialists may work for the company that makes the computer software or for the place that uses certain computer software, such as a school. They may assist other employees at the company or the customers of that company. They also may be asked by the maker of the software for feedback on good or bad things about the product, since they work with it daily. Most computer specialists work in offices or computer labs. They spend a long time sitting in front of computers. This can strain their back, wrists, and eyes. Computer specialists normally work a 40-hour work week, but that can include being "on call" by phone when they are not on their shift. Some specialists work at night or on weekends.

HOW DO YOU GET READY?

There are many ways to become a computer support specialist. Having a degree might make it easier to get jobs. Some people earn an associate degree. Some employers prefer to hire people who earn a bachelor's degree.

Passing a certification test is another way to prepare for jobs. Computer companies and associations offer these tests. Experience working with computers is also important. Workers need to learn new computer skills throughout their careers. If you are interested in this job, you can start getting ready now by learning about computers in school, in the library, or on your own. Studying math is also important because it helps people learn to solve problems. Learning to read and speak well is useful, too.

HOW MUCH DOES THIS JOB PAY?

In 2006, the middle half of these workers earned between $32,110 and $53,640. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $25,290. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $68,540.

HOW MANY JOBS ARE THERE?

In 2006, there were about 552,000 computer support specialists. They worked in businesses, schools, government, and many other places.

WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

More of these workers will be needed because the number of computers and their level of complexity are rising. Workers will also be needed to teach people how to use new tools and programs. In fact, support specialist jobs are expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations between 2006 and 2016.

Computer support specialists who have a strong background in computers and are up to date with the latest skills will have the best chance of getting a job.

ARE THERE OTHER JOBS LIKE THIS?

• Computer programmers
• Computer scientists
• Computer software engineers
• Database administrators
• Systems analysts

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE INFORMATION? More BLS information about computer support specialists and systems administrators can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The Handbook also shows where to find out even more about this job.

IT'S YOUR TURN: WHAT TO ASK AN INTERVIEWER

The interviewer asks you, "Do you have any questions for me?"

You say ... "Yes!"

This is the easiest interview question out there. Always say yes.

Asking questions shows that you're interested in the job. It also gives you a chance to show how knowledgeable you are about the position and the industry. Most important, it lets you highlight why you're the perfect candidate. You have to choose your questions carefully, though, depending on who's doing the interviewing. An excellent question for a recruiter might be inappropriate for an executive. And you don't want to ask your potential boss something that's best suited for a future coworker.

Also, there are certain questions you should never ask early in the interview process -- no matter whom you're meeting. Don't ask about salary, vacation, 401(k) or anything else that might make you seem more interested in the compensation than the company.

This article shares questions appropriate for every type of interviewer.

The Recruiter: The 'Big Picture' Person

It's the recruiter's job to identify strong candidates and guide them through the hiring process. Think of the recruiter as the "big picture" person. They can give you an overview of the company and the department as a whole. (Save very specific questions about the job for the hiring manager.) The recruiter is also the best person to answer questions about the hiring process.

Some questions to ask the recruiter:

• How would you describe the company culture?
• What type of employees tend to excel at this company?
• Can you tell me more about the interview process?

The Hiring Manager: Your Future Boss

The hiring manager will likely supervise you if you get the job.

They're the most knowledgeable people about the position and its requirements. You should direct specific questions about the job, its responsibilities and its challenges to them. You may also want to ask what kind of candidate they're seeking.

Some questions to ask the hiring manager:

• What are the most important skills for the job?
• How would you describe your ideal candidate?
• What's a common career path at the company for someone in this role?

The Executive: The Industry Expert

Senior managers and executives are likely to be most knowledgeable about the latest happenings in their industry. If you'll be working closely with an executive, you can ask them some specifics about the job. But you should focus most of your questions on the future of the company and the industry. This is your chance to show off your industry knowledge!

Some questions to ask a senior manager or executive:

• How do you think this industry will change in the next five years?
• What do you think gives this company an edge over its competitors?
• What's the company's biggest challenge? How is it planning to meet that challenge?

The Coworker: The Straight-Talker

Some interviews will also include a meeting with a potential coworker -- the interviewer most likely to "tell it how it is." A potential colleague may be most candid about the job, its challenges and the work environment. However, don't expect inside information --and certainly don't ask for it.

Some questions to ask a potential coworker:

• What's a typical day like in the department?
• How would you describe the work environment at the company?
• What's the most enjoyable part of your job? What's the most challenging part?

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