Industry 4.0, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is rapidly expanding the influence of new-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence, data science, and the Internet of Things. These developments have also had a big impact on engineering education, making it much more diverse. Consequently, engineering students of the present day have numerous professions to choose from.
However, most students who clear the engineering entrance exams are not careful when choosing a branch. In fact, several factors have to be considered while selecting an engineering branch, including job opportunities and the aptitude of the students. But aptitude does not mean only an interest in a particular matter. For instance, a youngster who is interested in new models of cars should never choose automobile engineering or mechanical engineering based on this liking because these branches do not teach about new vehicles.
Another factor to be considered is the rank needed to obtain admission to an institution. A fair idea about this matter could be obtained by downloading the last-rank details of the previous year’s admissions.
Institution’s standards
Apart from the branch, the academic standard of the institution and the facilities there are crucial. These factors could be ascertained by the following methods:
• Check whether the college is included in rankings such as NIRF.
• Check the NAAC and NBA accreditations.
• Read reviews about the institution on social media, such as Google and Reddit.
• Trace the students and alumni on LinkedIn and other social media and seek their opinion on the institution. Verify whether the college has a good placement record.
Preparations during the course
Living in an age where rapid change is witnessed in the technology sector, engineering students should plan for their future at least 10 years in advance, said experts in the field. Students who are interested in higher studies should prepare the necessary plans while pursuing the degree course in engineering itself, said the experts. They should not decide to pursue MTech only because they failed to get a job after the degree course.
MTech has two streams-- job-oriented and research-based. Students should choose one among them according to their aptitude. However, as placement options are limited for MTech compared to BTech, students have to exercise much care while selecting the institution to pursue post-graduation.
Students wishing to go into research have to make an attempt to publish papers on their studies during BTech. They should also attend seminars and conferences during the course. Meanwhile, students aspiring to travel abroad for higher studies have to start preparing for exams such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations).
Internships and placement
In the present day, campus placement is the safest way to secure a job. Here are some tips to succeed in this effort-
• Engaging in mini-projects that stand out and carrying out final-year projects of substance will enable a student to excel in interviews during campus selection.
• Clear all backlog papers before the placement season. Companies normally do not allow students who have a large backlog of papers to participate in an interview.
• Acquire and strengthen soft skills such as English competency, leadership qualities, and organisational skills.
• If your goal is a job after the engineering course, try for an internship in a leading company, which helps in getting familiarised with the latest technologies and gaining work experience. Moreover, students can get acquainted with professionals in the sector. In fact, a large number of students receive placements based on their performance during their internship.