In Bangladesh, most engineering universities are still theory based and lack technical sufficiency to give students the proper training needed to tackle the real world. For this, engineering students and graduates need to learn for themselves and gain practical knowledge. While there are many competitions that allow students to engage with real-world cases and begin building their career potentially seeping into entrepreneurship, it’s not always an option for everyone. These competitions tend to be highly competitive and not everyone can make it all the way through. So, the majority of students have to find other alternatives to progress their education and to seek out career alternatives. Many consider a graduate degree. While Bangladesh has options for that, you might want to consider looking into programs abroad which offer more specialized branches of what you might be interested in.
For those engineering graduates entertaining a graduate degree abroad, here are a few tips:
Embrace the new and dare to fail
This also applies to you during your undergraduate; take opportunities that don’t guarantee success, sign up for the business competition, take your hand at entrepreneurship. After you graduate, you might think the risks you should take ought to be more calculated.
Regardless, take those risks if you see it as something that would help your self-growth, re-focus your career, and give you more hands-on experience in your field.
For one, embrace the opportunity to be overseas and explore yourself. Studying abroad can be a unique and rewarding experience that might offer you a bountiful opportunity to grow academically and personally. But to experience this growth you have to step out of your comfort zone. Such endeavors may include opting for summer study abroad opportunities, student exchange programs, or higher studies.
Planning and Preparing for higher studies
The field of STEM is valuable in almost every country. As such, opting to study engineering abroad can open multiple doors for new experiences, better learning opportunities, and for a better career. However, the process of making this happen is tedious and requires hard work. Preplanning and thoughtfulness are crucial for reaching desired destinations.
Most engineering universities abroad offer students a limited amount of credits per semester. This tends to vary from country to country, and even university to university.
To get a thorough idea of your options, it is best to talk to a student advisor. Early advising according to needs and interest can help a student to a set purposeful degree.
Depending on the country and course, every aspiring student must go through one or multiple international examinations to justify their eligibility for admission in a foreign university. These examinations can be divided in two categories:
- Academic eligibility related tests : , ACT ( American College Testing) , GRE ( Graduate Record Examination)
- Language Fluency Related Tests: IELTS ( International English Language Testing System) , TOEFL ( Test Of English as a Foreign Language)
Because of the limited number of seats in technology related subjects, renowned universities around the globe demand decent scores in these tests. Higher scores in these exams alongside undergrad thesis and projects, increases the overall chances of getting into a good program.
Bangladesh is still in the early stage of technological advancement and most of our graduates are not as tech savvy yet. But during candidate selection, top engineering schools prioritize students with better technical understandings. Like how expert a student is in certain softwares, how innovative or tech based their solution is when approaching a problem etc. Additionally, it is always wise to consult current students and alumni of the universities you are aiming for to get a better understanding of what awaits you. Moreover, it is recommended to develop a personal portfolio and a website as doing so enhances one’s overall impression on the university admissions’ committee.
While you are at it, be sure to look out for internships and job opportunities offered by the university. Some universities offer internships on certain programmes. This serves as a good opportunity to add workplace and practical experience while studying. But as an engineer it might prove difficult to land internships because of a busy course load while studying abroad.
Whatever happens, keep going !
When studying abroad, the journey is not only academic. External factors like the new environment, classrooms, culture, social life and such can impact your progress especially when it comes to engineering, you might find it harder to make time for yourself due to the heavy workload. We all have our rainy days and it is crucial to keep in mind that you have many options to keep yourself engaged in activities which would add to your resume and also give you a well needed break.
Sessional and practical courses remain the highlights in every foreign engineering university in contrast to their Bangladeshi counterparts in most cases.
Being not so familiar with rigorous and engaging practical courses a big percentage of Bangladeshi students often find themselves overwhelmed with their academics.
In a foreign university, you will find many peers hailing from different parts of the world striving to make a fruitful career in engineering. For Bangladeshi students, it can be easy to feel out of the race, leading to self-doubt and imposter syndrome. However, in these situations it is important to keep in mind that the melting pot of cultures and perspectives can only add to one’s own growth, academically, professionally and personally.
Remember the goals you initiated to achieve before moving into a foreign land. Thinking about the positive outcomes you can achieve by getting the degree you are studying and how it will help enhance your CV or even might land you on your dream engineering job one day.
On the flip side, there are many students who are looking to change careers. This decision might seem daunting as it might feel like you would have to start from rock bottom. Here are some basic guidelines to get your started:
Find out what interests you:
While choosing a career, It’s always recommended to choose something that aligns with one’s passion and personality. With a defined list of interests and skills, one can begin to research what fields align with professional goals. Research the following components of potential new careers:
- Average salary
- Work environment
- Typical schedule
- Responsibilities
- Opportunities for advancement
After research it’s time to narrow down career options based on research and lifestyle, including:
- Pay requirements
- Scheduling obligations
- Location
Incorporate your education and skills if possible
If you have an engineering degree already, you most likely possess many skills needed in today’s tech-driven world. A combination of different abilities and skills diversifies your skill-set. This comes in handy when you are looking to change fields as you already have something to offer and start with.
Internship and job application :
There are many internships and jobs which require the skills of engineering but in another field. To gain a better understanding of your options, branch out instead of limiting yourself to only engineering internships. This will further increase your networking and provide you with more information.
General advice for undergraduates pursuing engineering :
- Focus on skills like cooperation, negotiation, presentation etc. alongside grades.
- Learn personal finance.
- Network with people from various professional backgrounds.
- Opt for voluntary work .
- Internships. Lots and lots of internships.
- Proper use of social media (e.g. LinkedIn) to showcase accomplishments and skills. Who knows, you might meet your future employers!
- Keeping all academic and other documents organized.
These are some broad guidelines that every young professional, regardless of educational level, can follow. The transition from student to active member of society is never simple, thus obtaining professional advice when necessary is strongly recommended.