Young people replacing old workers in Electrical Engineering? 10

[giasis]

I live in Canada, and I am currently in Engineering Physics major with Electircal Engineering option. These days, I am trying to find a specific area of field for my career after graduation. I am trying to stay in Canada if possible.

One of my questions is, since the technology changes so fast especially in computer and electrical engineering field, is there a tendency that old people(+45) who are working in electrical engienering tend to be replaced with young people who just learned new technology and are more flexible to learn new stuff, eariler than the people in mechanical engineering? For me, it kind of makes sense since the knowledge the old people got at school would be obsolete as time goes by. And also, as people get old, it might be harder for them to keep up with the new technologies than young people.

But then, I also think, since the old people have seen the history of changing technology at work, they may have more insight about what they are doing and those can be a benefit over the young people?? I want to hear from Electrical engineers that if this kind of early shift to the young worker really happens in certain field of electical engineering job. And what kind of area in electical engineering is more prone to have that kind of shifting.


I appreciate all your replies in advance.

 

[Comcokid]

Experience and knowledge of the basics is the key.

Since my previous post, A 61 year old co-worker with years of switch-mode power supply experience has just been hired to work in a start-up company with good increase in pay. His degree is from a former eastern-bloc country and he never had access to a personal computer until comming to the US in 1999. He is a whiz at the math - not only the theoritical math but the practical math. He may have started years ago with triacs and SCRs, but has translated his experience into a world of MOSFETs and IGBTs. It's interesting to see him at the bench examine a waveform and then go at it with pencil and paper making numerical estimations faster than you can punch the numbers into a calculator - that is experience. Now with 10 years in the US, he can also make the spice models do what he wants.

 

[cranky108]

With the NERC and FREC regulations, we will quickly get to a point where an engineer won't have to think to apply power system devices. It will be cookie cutter.

And unfortunitly, it will likely be wrong.

The problem isen't the intent, it is the belieaf that one soultion can be applied to any suituation.

The result is a problem that is worse than the problem that was intended to be fixed.

I expect that software would do no better than the above stated regulations.

The real results will be simular to what has happened to the guys who figgured rates for life insurance.
The ones that are left, now make much more money, and are harder to find. But yes there are fewer of them.

But for now, we in power are few, and hard to find.

 

[powerjunx]

@Thetick:i agree " Motivation".

In electrical workplace or any other organization pertaining to practitioners as an employees; As describe by M.A Eggert in his concise book "the motivation..", called two factors theory relating to motivation of professionals. 45+ or below that were able to hold their grounds in a certain company were classified as "satisfier" they were extremely motivated, focused,likes challenges and dynamic.whereas other called Hygiene factors where these individuals very accustomed to company Pay,job Security, status, working condition - leading to join with labor parties, or even challenge the company's interest, etc.

No wonder, the Hygiene factor individuals usually paid out and were replaced with newcomers-a younger generation professionals. Whatever technology advancement arrives in the Electrical field, the professional as a person's motivation per se will be counted.


"..the more, the merrier" Genghis Khan

 

[controlsdude]

electrical eng get burned out more because we are continuously cleaning up mechanicals nonsense, so electrical tend to burn out sooner than mechanical bozos.

I guess how many times can you program your way out of a mechanical nightmare before u say quitsses?

 

[MikeHalloran]

Uh, no.
The mechanical nightmares are made by electrical engineers, who feel fully qualified to do mechanical work because they understand the math. ... of the gross approximations that are math models of mechanical stuff. ... but they don't know about the limits of validity of the models.

... all of which provides more work for me, so it's not a problem.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[cranky108]

Must we dive into petty bickering?

The truth be known, the mechinicals are required to support our wires, bus, and conduit. And when they fail, the electrical goes boom.

But in the real world we use a civil engineer to do our mechinical design. At least he understands how much dirt affects what we call ground.

 

[cabraham]

I think the biggest problem is that there is no long term plan. Engrs in their last 5 yrs. before retirement should be working with under 50 aged engrs to groom them. When one retires, another w/ 15 or more years left should pick up the mentor role.

But today's corporations are so "this quarter bottom line" driven, things like looking 5 yrs. ahead, grooming replacements for retiring engrs, is not considered. There is no plan beyond this quarter.

It's tough for older & younger engrs. Younger engrs need mentors. When I started in the latter part of the 70's, I was mentored by older EEs. This doesn't seem to be happening these days. I'm 55, & I did provide some level of mentoring in recent yrs.

But I was "temporarily" furloughed at age 54, & I am "on the recall list". They just don't know when it will happen. Meanwhile I am completing my Ph.D. Who knows where I'll go should I get the doctorate within the year at age 56. Hopefully my years of effort will pay off. I believe it will.

To young engrs: get as much formal education as you can. Grad credits can transfer. If you end up losing a job & moving, the courses you took are not in vain. Education & advanced degrees are needed to compete globally. Our engr counterparts in Asia are studying like crazy. We must do likewise.

Claude

 

[cranky108]

Whats even harder is my boss has announced his retirement, and then have not announced anyone for him to mintor for his job. Being the principal in the group, I am concerned they will look to me to fill that position.
Quite frankly there are some politics that make me to not want the position. And besides that there are some people that might want that position that will make me want to make a move.

How a company can not train people, and foster toxic politics is beyond me. But having just changed jobs a few years ago, I need to wait only a couple of years to make another move.

Not that I recomend moveing every few years, but it seems the people hired to manage engineers is also a problems in many companies.

The shame will be that I like the community here.

 

[marks1080]

Sometimes I am proud to call myself an engineer...

... other times I come across threads like this one.

 

[cranky108]

If you don't like it, then make a comment to improve it.