By the time students reach their third year of college they should have a good idea of the particular area of electrical engineering that they wish to pursue. Knowing the area allows students to make the upper level class elective selections productive. After graduation, students are ready to enter the work force as entry-level electrical engineers. According to Byron Stonecypher, Hardware Engineering Department Head at Wyle Laboratories, entry-level engineers should be very familiar with general computer office software as well as specialized software. Electrical engineers are required to submit many technical reports and proposals either to bid for jobs or for recommendations within a corporation.
Spreadsheet software is also a necessary tool for the entry-level engineer.
Spreadsheets are used to track man-hours, track job cost, inventory, simplify repetitive math and to express circuits mathematically. Familiarity with the World Wide Web and Internet tools such as email, message boards, and Internet conferencing are also beneficial. Often bids for engineering jobs and equipment research can be performed via the Internet. Oral communication skills are also a must for the entry-level engineer. Beyond the entry-level electrical engineers there are supervisory engineers who supervise technicians and other electrical engineers.