Perhaps better than most people,
engineers understand the
difference between dreams
and reality. After all, they're
often presented with someone's
dream (in the form of a
design specification) and then
are asked to make it real.
Engineers face a similar challenge in their own
careers. Like everyone else, they have a picture in
their minds of how they'd like their careers to go.
Then they're confronted with what's possible and
what isn't. So, they have to "engineer" their professional
lives much the same way they engineer
the products they create.
Each year, the editors of Electronic Design turn
the engineer's analytical eye on the profession
itself by conducting our annual Reader Survey.
This special issue is based on that research, and
its intent is to give you the insight you need to
better "engineer" your career in a world of harsh
realities and finite constraints.
Looking Beyond This Year's Numbers
As we've done in the past, this year we took a
close look at how compensation (salaries, bonuses,
and benefits) varies across several parameters,
including company size and type, job functions
and titles, geographic region, engineering
experience, age, gender, and level of education.
We wanted to look at how things are changing -
and how they're staying the same - so we
included many of the questions from our previous
annual studies. But this year we also looked at
some of the "dream jobs" that drive interest in
engineering today.
We asked if you had a dream job in mind as
you were prepared to become an engineer, as
well as whether you've had the opportunity to
work in your dream job. We were also curious
about your opinions on what tomorrow's dream
jobs will be and what social issues you think engineering
can influence the most.
This year we also expanded our survey to tackle
another topic of keen interest to many engineers:
continuing education. What are some of
the ways you go about staying smart about engineering?
Does your company reimburse its engineers
for college tuition and other education
expenses? In your view, are companies doing
enough to support continuing education for engineers?
Did your schooling adequately prepare
you for the jobs you've had? And how well-prepared
for the job are today's graduates?
We investigated many other issues as well to
help you see how your own work life compares to
that of your peers. So this year we're providing
you with fresh insight about a wider range of topics
than ever, including:
- How many years you've been in your current
position - and how satisfied you are in your
present job
- How you think your compensation package
stacks up against those being offered by
other employers
- Which issues have affected your working
conditions most during the past year
- What online activities (blogs, social networking sites, etc.) you participate in
- Whether your company is investing more or
less in R&D this year - and if you believe that
investment is adequate
We'd like to thank all the Electronic Design
subscribers who participated in this year's survey.
Nearly 3000 of you, our biggest response ever,
took the time to answer our questions and share
your insights. Your participation and candor made
it possible for us to offer you this comprehensive,
informative issue on the state of the engineering
profession. We hope it provides you with a clearer
perspective on how you and your colleagues are
doing, where the profession is headed, and
what's going on in the industry as a whole.