As a software engineer for Enterasys Networks in Andover, Mass., Kevin Hancock, 23, searches for defects in firmware (the brains behind most technical devices) and works with developers and other engineers to improve products. He also spends several hours each week learning about advances in technology and sharing new developments with co-workers.
Software engineering wasn’t where Kevin got his start. Wanting a different experience than the typical college could provide, Kevin, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, enrolled at Norwich University (www.norwich.edu), a private military school in Vermont.
There, “as a cadet at the nation’s oldest private military college, you learn to train and lead other cadets. Classes are only the start of your responsibilities,” he says. Your other responsibilities include showing up at 5 a.m. for physical training a few mornings a week, following a regimented lifestyle and taking advantage of the many leadership positions offered. They also tackle skills such as repelling, outdoor survival and life-saving techniques.
After graduating from Norwich with an electrical engineering degree, Kevin decided to enter the corporate, not military, arena. (Because Norwich is a private military college, no military service is required for graduates unless they received a military scholarship to attend.) So he did what any other graduate looking for work would do: He got a job…as a waiter. Kevin picked Joe’s American Bar & Grill in Woburn, Mass., on purpose—it was a hot spot for business lunches. And for Kevin, it proved to be a great way to meet potential employers. Kevin got six interviews just from serving the right people!
Other jobs in software engineering could include quality control, software coding and design and Web page construction. For electrical engineers, Kevin says, “the list (of jobs) is endless.” Electrical engineers can design circuit boards, power distribution systems for commercial buildings, work in telecommunications, software programming, engineering management, networking and electronics, among other jobs. I
n college, prepare to study advanced calculus, circuit analysis, physics and general problem solving. “Perhaps the most important trait to tell you engineering might be the right path if you are a problem solver,” Kevin says. “An engineering background can help you to develop a skill set to tackle anything. I also wanted something where there would be a true challenge. After you get out in the real world, you still have to learn a lot. That’s why I like my job.”
