EE Vs EC Placements
This question has long
needed addressing. Every student passionate about electrodynamics after 10+2 is
seen pondering over EC or EE. Their similar name does little to help, but
wayward and sometimes downright incorrect advice sends students down the wrong
path.
To be fair, both
branches can be classed as one of the most difficult engineering streams. Great
variety and ominous depth in each of the streams make them a tough cookie to
crack. Placements are usually similar. Like CS and IT, EC and EE attract a
similar tribe of companies.
Even IT companies have
started considering EC and EE engineers for positions. This clearly establishes
the wide horizon of companies EC and EE graduates can attract. Not only core
jobs in the electrical and electronics sectors, but IT and algorithm based
positions are being filled these days by EE and EC graduates.
This trend does not seem
to be abating for the time being. With the prospect of attracting more than two
core fields by taking one stream, EC and EE are slowly closing the gap between
CS and IT. Due to lack of industrial knowledge amongst CS engineers at the
present moment, many tech companies are turning to EC and EE engineers.
Though they have to be
trained at first, the general belief in the industry trusts EC and EE engineers
to be versatile and aware enough to take more than two or three fields into
their stride.
But amongst the two,
which comes out better? Does EE outperform EC or is it the other way round?
Unlike CS and IT, EC and
EE do not have a fundamental difference. The only difference is the level at
which electrodynamics is being considered.
EC is looking at current
at a microscopic level. This means looking at the flow of current through
different materials and circuits and designing of certain devices based upon
the flow. Subjects such as VLSI design, Embedded Systems, Solid state physics,
Communication Systems and Microprocessors are exclusive for EC. This means EC
is technically a core electronics branch. Large scale transmission and power
losses are not under the purview of EC course structure.
EE is conversely dealing
with current on a macroscopic level. The study of electrical devices and their
consumption of power based upon the type of current flowing are dealt in EE.
Subjects covered in this course include Single and Polyphase current, DC
motors, Transformers, Induction motors, Synchronous motors and Power systems
fall under EE’s umbrella.
There are other branches
such as Instrumentation and Control engineering dealing with other aspects of
this field. While they are different in their own right, EC and EE are simply
broader and more versatile.
The mistake many
students make during admission is choosing these streams without any research
or foresight. This can be very dangerous. In fields as engrossing and involved
as EC and EE, students cannot afford to take half measures. Since this is a
relatively new field for students compared to mechanical or civil which are
introduced to some extent in schools, being half hearted in college studies can
have devastating consequences.
Choose EE or EC only if
you’re 100% ready to face the music from day one. None of the two streams is a
cakewalk by any means.
Coming two comparisons
between the two course structures, it is clear that EC is a more theoretical
course in relation to EE. Due to its intricate nature, many colleges in India
simply cannot afford to install real-time instruments in EC labs. On the other
hand, EE involves more lab work. Dealing with big machines used for power is
transmission is merely one of the many lab credits students can get in this
field.
EC v EE- Industrial
Difference
EE is a branch of exclusivity with only top colleges offering the
course. EC however is common across India
While many industries
accept both EC and EE engineers, there are a few areas where both streams
diverge into mutual exclusivity. Here is a comparison between EE and EC core industries
EC engineers are hired
for posts in communication and telecom industry. Companies such as TATA
Teleservices, Airtel, Vodafone and other telecom giants hire EC engineers as
part of the Telecommunications department. Core companies manufacturing
laptops, phones, processors, GPUs etc always prefer EC engineers due to their
bare metal knowledge of circuit boards and appliance management.
In the modern era,
practically with a remote or display has the work of an EC engineer written all
over it. Due to the meticulous nature of this industry, EC engineers are
practically always in demand. With new kinds of phones, laptops, computers
peripherals and accessories being launched and manufactured by the passing
minute, times have never been kinder for EC graduates.
EE engineers prompt a
different kind of core industry. Due to a lack of electrical power penetration
in India, the scope and current climate for EE engineers is very exciting.
Companies handling electricity boards tasked with installation, maintenance and
operation of power grids in cities and towns recruit EE engineers.
These companies include
TATA Power, NTPC, Reliance Power, Essar Energy, Welspun Energy etc. However,
government funded organizations usually do not consider EE graduates. DRDO, JTO
and ISRO have separate exams for each stream. EE doesn’t make the cut in the
exams itself, so applicants have to register for the EC paper.
Besides energy
companies, many appliance based companies like LG, Onida, Bajaj and others hire
EE engineers. In comparison with EC, EE engineers have an easier path to
placement due to a general lack of quality professionals in this sector.
Besides, with the growing demand for lossless of power transmission in the
country, EE is a very safe stream in terms of placements.
As mentioned above,
there is plenty of scope for both EE and EC engineers to exist in a dynamic
jobs market. 15 years ago, the case would have been different.
Before the IT
revolution, EC engineers were not in demand in the country. Mobile phones were
scarcely seen and people were generally unaware about the true power of
computers. Chip design and semiconductor experts were not gathering enough
industrial acknowledgment in a stagnant electronics sector.
The advent of IT and
growth of India changed everything.
In the last 20 years,
India has put a mobile phone into the hand of every person, people have tried
and tested computers and moved on to laptops, smart phones have become a
necessity and innovation has been rewarded across all forums. India has moved far
and fast.
This revolution has been
made possible by the constant application and skill of EC engineers. From
broadcasting radio signals to designing rocket equipment for ISRO, EC engineers have spread their wings and made their
presence felt everywhere.
At the same time, the
potential for EE engineers has always been there but there hasn’t been a burst
of brilliance on the fore. Power utility still remains an issue. In an area
with power outage, one can still make a phone call. So which sector has done
better?
This is not to say
that EE engineers don’t get placed. In fact placements have
been climbing every year, but the dearth of true application is apparent.
This also has something
to do with the IT sector.
Due to the meteoric
growth of IT companies, cities such as Bangalore and Hyderabad have become
massive software hubs in India. Companies such as Infosys, Wipro, TCS, HCL etc
changed the landscape of India’s jobs market by mass recruitment drives. In the
scramble to join the hype surrounding these companies, many EE engineers choose
IT over core companies.
EC engineers joined in
on the bubble too, but massive growth in their own core sector meant not many
deflected to the IT sector. This has caused vacancies in EE core sectors where
many students are still needed.
This has left the two
core sectors lop-sided. While EC’s core sector has gone on to reach great
heights, EE has struggled.
In terms of
remuneration, it is difficult to compare two branches.
Many factors come into
play while recruitment. An EC or EE engineer from IIT or another top engineering college will command a
very high salary which would e disproportionate to the industry standard.
Nevertheless, the average salaries for both branches are tabulated below
|
Industry
Branch
|
Core Sector of
respective branch
|
IT
|
|
EE Engineer
|
5.5LPA
|
3.12 LPA
|
|
EC Engineer
|
6.7 LPA
|
3.21 LPA
|
While not many
variations are apparent in the IT sector, the key distinctions lie in the core sector of both
fields. EC races ahead in the core sector due to the dynamic nature of modern
accessories and electronic appliances these days.
EE however lags due to
the sheer number of engineers needed in the sector. While EC doesn’t need
massive recruitment drives to fill up numbers, EE needs massive workforce in
power supply companies such as NTPC, BHEL etc.
Picking a winner here is
difficult. While current numbers puts EC ahead, the sheer level of opportunity
in EE makes it an exciting prospect as well.
Growth of job in IT
sector is purely circumstantial and performance based. Coming to core jobs, EC
jobs have a high yet tangible ceiling as the sector has already seen massive
growth. This means although the sector is still poised to grow much more, there
is bound to be a fatigue point somewhere in the future.
EE’s core sector is an
entirely different case though. Due to government oversight over power
transmission, the field stagnates over time. However, with privatisation of
power imminent, the scene could change drastically over the next few years.
With a lot of potential and still a long way to go, EE could be one of the most
coveted streams of engineering in India in a few years’ time.
EC has shown over the
years’ its propensity to defy trends and innovate every year to create further
openings and areas of potential. From television companies to telecom
industries and further on towards higher applications like satellite
monitoring, EC engineers are needed everywhere.
EE on the other hand has
been victim of IT headhunting. Similar trends have befallen mechanical and
civil core industries as well, but the difference is the huge potential EE
still has as a core sector. Consumer appliances have always been evolving,
power utility presents a massive opportunity and hardware companies abroad are
slowly turning to India as a manufacturing hub.
Looking at both fields
at the moment, potential seems endless and the ceiling is very high. If a
choice had to be made, EC is the safer bet due to a better track record over
the past few years.
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