KAUNSELING KERJAYA SM SAINS MIRI LET ENGINEERING BE YOUR ULTIMATE CHOICE! By: Muhtar bin Hj. Suhaili C & A Engineer, Smart Fields, Sarawak Shell Berhad April 15, 2007

Contents Why Study Engineering? Career Opportunities How to Qualify? What Type of Degree? After Graduation A Rewarding Future Conclusion

Why Study Engineering? Definition of Engineering: “Creating something useful from other things using science and mathematics” or “Turning ideas into reality”. Engineers belong to the greatest profession in the world, responsible for almost everything that makes life worth living - from leisure activities to medical treatment, mobile communications to modern transport systems. Demand for good engineers is high, practically every country in the world. Unemployment amongst engineers is lower than for almost any other profession.

Career Opportunities Engineering degrees can lead to a vast number of career opportunities, with graduates in demand in almost every sector of the economy. Careers in engineering: Control and Automation, Instruments, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Marine, Wells, Chemical, Polymer, Computer, Software, Systems, Information, Materials, Manufacturing etc. Specialisations range from Automation to Power Generation and from Communications to Manufacturing.

Career Opportunities (Cont.) Within each of these fields, there are opportunities in research, design, development and tests, as well as management, production, marketing and sales. A degree can also provide a passport into the world of education. Professional engineers also stand a better chance of becoming a chief executive than any other professional, outnumbering accountants by three to one!

How to Qualify? At school, students should take a broad range of subjects covering both art and sciences by passing excellently in SPM and then Matriculation, Pre-U or STPM. Mathematics and Physics are usually essential, and English is very important. It is common for all students to take the same subjects in the first year of a degree, before going on to specialise in the later year (s). However, specialising in one area whilst at University does not prevent working in another field of the profession at a later date.

What Type of Degree? There is a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses available in Malaysian Universities and Colleges including IPTA and IPTS. It also available worldwide. IIUM: 1. Automotive, 2. Aerospace, 3. Biotechnology, 4. Communications, 5. Computer and Information, 6. Manufacturing, 7. Materials, 8. Mechatronics. Others: Software, Civil, Chemical, Polymer, Petroleum etc. However, in the end, the choice of which course to take must be a personal one, depending on the aims, circumstances and preferences of the individual student.

After Graduation A degree is only the beginning of the formation of a professional engineer. During your study period, you are required to embark on industrial trainings in order to acquire a broad understanding of engineering activities and enables graduates to develop experience of a wide range of engineering jobs in the industry. In order to qualify as a professional engineer, graduates need to be a member of professional engineering institution (in Malaysia: Board of Engineers (BEM) and Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM)), and later attending interviews and passing exams. 25% to 40% of engineering graduates do not become engineers.

A Rewarding Future There is little doubt that the world of engineering - and all that it encompasses - offers exciting opportunities. Graduates Engineer’s Basic Salary in Malaysia: ranging between RM2,000 – RM3,500. The industrial and economic success of every nation is rooted firmly in its manufacturing and engineering based, and the skills and ingenuity of its professional engineers. For anyone looking for a rewarding future with a wide variety of employment prospects, there has never been a more exciting time than to embark on a career in engineering.

Be Engineers: You will never regret! Conclusions Engineering: The best choice!

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