Most BTech students have yet to learn what should be pursued after completing their degree. Even though the job market for core engineering fields in India seems saturated, the necessity of reviving the number of skilled professionals and investing in core engineering fields has indeed been recognized by the technological society in recent times. New technological advancements in power, electronics, robotics, aerospace, biomedical instrumentation, and many more are truly remarkable and have opened a new world of possibilities for core engineering graduates. If one still feels that they lack opportunities, it may be attributed to the lack of awareness of the plethora of options awaiting one after graduation.

Before planning the roadmap for post-graduation, one must ensure the following things during their BTech. To adapt to the immense technological advancements, one must keep tabs on newly published literature and interact with mentors during their BTech years. Furthermore, one must ensure high academic performance irrespective of their future aspirations as the knowledge gained in each core subject proves decisive in the future. Creating an academia-industry interface is of paramount importance during one’s BTech years. This can be done by working on projects with real-world applications with peers and using resources like NPTEL courses to learn more specialized skills. Also, students must make good use of the alum network of their universities and get to know first-hand tips to be successful in the corporate world. Internships play an important role by providing the necessary application-based skills that one can only learn while applying theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. Also, many top companies hold work experience through internships in high regard during their recruitment process.

After one ensures that the above criteria are fulfilled, the key to finding one’s dream career after completing BTech lies in the awareness of opportunities and futuristic technological trends. The two main routes taken by BTech graduates include the following:

1. Job – A BTech degree in core engineering fields generally makes one job ready upon completion. Careers in core engineering include various domains, from aerospace, geoscience, military utilities, robotics, automobiles, power, energy, etc. Various electricity boards, large-scale industries, hydroelectricity power plants, and manufacturing plants need expert engineers to carry out multiple roles in their organizations. Roles like design engineers, electrical engineers, telecommunication engineers, manufacturing engineers, etc., have been in heavy demand in recent years. Furthermore, jobs can be subdivided into:

• Government Sector jobs/PSUs – There are a variety of government-run organizations offering diverse roles to BTech graduates in core domains. Organizations like ONGC, Indian oil corporation, DRDO, ISRO, HAL, BSNL, and many more offer management trainee/design trainee/assistant engineer roles to fresh BTech graduates. The recruitment process of ISRO consists of a written exam followed by an interview. On the hand, DRDO recruitment mandates qualifying for the GATE exam, which is followed by a descriptive written test and an interview. Additionally, the UPSC conducts the Engineering services exam each year, and all BTech graduates are eligible to appear. The exam allows candidates to secure class-1 (Group A entry) officer jobs in numerous government sectors. Along with these government jobs traditionally, Indian society holds PSUs in high regard, and they remain a great career opportunity due to their job security and employee benefits. The PSUs can be categorized into Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna central public sector enterprises. These categories have 11, 13, and 74 companies within them, respectively.
• Private Sector jobs: The opportunities in the private sector, especially in fields like power, the automobile industry, electronics, oil and gas, etc., have skyrocketed in recent years. Space research has been the latest entry to this roster with the privatization of the space industry. Indian companies like Reliance Power, Adani Transmission, Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, and Tata Steel and foreign companies like Samsung, Hyundai, SpaceX, Tesla, Siemens Heavy industry, ABB, etc., have been the leading recruiters offering great packages to BTech graduates. The recruitment process of these companies encompasses a wide range of aptitude tests, technical tests, interviews, etc.

 

2. Higher Studies, Research & Employment-Oriented Courses – If one wishes to enhance their skills further or is interested in a career in research and academia, then higher studies are the way to go. Firstly, what is the purpose of pursuing higher studies? Since the BTech program possesses more of a general curriculum, a master’s program can help one gain expertise and specialized knowledge in their domains of interest. Also, a master’s degree provides a BTech graduate with the opportunity for diversification into various areas of expertise. For example, suppose a mechanical engineering student develops an interest in aeronautical engineering, which is different from their BTech domain. In that case, a PG program can help boost their skills and give them exposure relevant to the specialization. Moreover, a PG offers one an opportunity to specialize in one of the sub-domains of one’s BTech domain. For example, a mechanical engineer can pursue a PG in Mechatronics. BTech graduates take three major programs/routes for their higher studies:

• The MTech program is a two-year program with two semesters each year. It is a technical master’s program offered in all Indian institutes. MTech can be further subdivided into the traditional MTech program and the MTech (Research) program offered by many IITs and NITs across India. The former is more course-oriented, whereas the latter is more research-oriented. One’s BTech CGPA and many other factors are considered for admission. Prestigious institutes, like IITs and NITs, provide admissions based on GATE scores. However, the MTech (research) program demands an additional interview round for admissions. Students are provided scholarships as monthly stipends based on their GATE scores by the MHRD, but it requires one to work 8-10 hours/week in teaching or research roles at their university. MTech program, in general, unlike BTech, provides more specialized skills in their respective domains. The MTech (research) program gives a competitive edge to students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. degree and hope for a career in research and academia. These programs can be opted for directly after one’s BTech graduation. Another route that students take is an MS degree abroad. The MS, like the MTech degree, offers a technical master’s program. An MS abroad allows BTech graduates to network with brilliant minds and gain exposure to high-tech infrastructure from the best institutes worldwide. Top destinations for core engineering BTech graduates include the USA, Germany, France, and many others. Germany is mainly known for its mechanical engineering courses, and specific universities in the USA are specialized in domains like petroleum engineering, electronics, robotics, etc. To secure admission to top universities abroad, one must obtain a high GRE score (depending on the university). Many universities in the US, UK, and Australia also require Indian students to provide IELTS/TOEFL scores which are English proficiency tests. Apart from these standardized tests, the universities evaluate applicants based on their overall profile and require one to send their resume, SOP, LOR, etc. After PG, getting into a great PhD program in India or abroad is imperative for students interested in pursuing a career in research and academia. Many universities even offer integrated MS and PhD programs to boost students’ interest in research. These programs are generally four years long, with a one-year master’s program and then a three-year PhD program from the second to fourth year.
• The MBA is a go-to program for students keen on switching from the engineering domain and pursuing managerial roles in companies. One follows an MBA if one feels stuck in technical positions and wishes to combine technical and managerial skills to climb up the corporate ladder. Also, graduates interested in building their unique products are ideal candidates for an MBA. This program, like the others, is also a two-year program that can be pursued in India and abroad. In India, the IIMs are considered the most prestigious institutes for an MBA; the IIMs admit candidates based on CAT. Also, the National Institute of Industrial Engineering proposed to be renamed IIM Mumbai is another world-class pioneer providing specialized MBA relevant to engineers and associated fields of application. The program is a deep dive into all aspects of management and business. Elite schools worldwide, like Harvard Business School, the University of Chicago, and many more, offer a variety of MBA programs. To pursue an MBA in these universities, students need to secure a good enough score on GMAT exams and provide SOPs, LORs, etc.
• A demerit of opting for a PG program is the financial cost and the time invested into the program by a student. Sometimes such a vast commitment is impossible for a student due to various factors. However, many more options exist for obtaining specialized knowledge and boosting one’s profile. There are plenty of employment-oriented courses like PG diploma courses, e.g., PG diploma in Quality engineering management, PG diploma in tool design, etc., and other skill development courses. IGNOU and similar open universities offer many such courses, which help level up your skills and get the best job possible. Students can also pursue NQSF-aligned courses like courses in embedded systems, design, manufacturing, etc., offered by NIELIT Aurangabad. All these courses can be done with a job or while looking to be placed in a company. The advantage of such courses is that they allow one to pursue specializations in specific domains for job-oriented outcomes.

In a nutshell, paving the way for one’s future career path involves intense research into all the available opportunities. Also, keeping tabs on all the new trends, like artificial intelligence, automation, etc., in the market is necessary to keep oneself updated and job ready. Furthermore, using the endless educational content available online will make a world of difference to one’s future aspirations and boost one’s profile.

 

Dr. B Rajanarayan Prusty
Associate Professor,
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
Alliance College of Engineering and Design