Software Vs Electrical & Computer Systems Vs Mechatronics Engineering @ Monash Uni

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  mskeggs on 17/10/2016 - 09:39

  +2

  Forget job prospects, ease or difficulty or anything else and pick the subjects you like and are interested in. Forcing yourself to do something you don't like for a possible pay off in years to come is very hard. Getting good results from a subject you are interested in is much easier.

  • 

    ItsMeAgro on 17/10/2016 - 10:18

    This for sure. At uni I was just as concerned as you, OP, about what's difficult or will make me employable.

    But years later that all seems so silly. The subjects I was most interested in learning about where the "easiest" and ended up making me the most money in my career, because I was "good at" them (which in the end, really just means more interested in them than most people).

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  ItsMeAgro on 17/10/2016 - 10:18

  +1

  With these choices, there's no wrong answer for employability.

  But software is my field. It's not hard to find a role that's fun, flexible, pays well, etc. It will continue to grow, too, we've barely scratched the surface of how software will change our lives.

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  niner on 17/10/2016 - 12:29

  +2

  Do Software engineering. It's fun and there are so many frigging jobs.

  I've just hired over 10 software engineers. Most of them did computer science/software engineering.
  If you do electrical engineering, choose power/telecommunications as your major. You learn more useful skills for the workforce. Analog circuit design is on the decline in Australia.

  • 

    SaveTheManuals on 17/10/2016 - 18:10

    I'm in Melbourne, do you know much about the market for software here? Also, what are some examples of what they do at your company?

    • 

      niner on 17/10/2016 - 22:01

      +1

      It's not my company. It's a healthcare company. The software engineers are being used to setup the software for a new medical device being put on the market in Australia. I can't really discuss what they're going to be doing, but it's your standard front end and back end stuff. Building infrastructure and making sure software is compatible with new devices. A lot of quality assurance work. Less design engineering and more working with a pre-existing product. They'll also be working with hospitals to provide real-time access for doctors. A significant amount of work with the website and its data storage systems.

      We're owned by a big US multinational.

      I'm not a software engineer, so I wouldn't be able to give you a thorough run down of their activities. I just work in management. I am a different type of engineer, though.

      • 

        SaveTheManuals on 17/10/2016 - 22:22

        Thanks

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  trustnoone on 17/10/2016 - 12:33

  +1

  In the end its all a name to be honest, I didn't go to monash but assuming its anything like my uni, you'll probably find all 3 degrees you have up there cross A LOT. You can pick electrical eng and do like a bunch of software subjects, same is true picking mechatronics, though not so much software picking up too much electrical (though there is still a fair bit that overlap especially in micro-controllers).

  All of those jobs will never disappear in the future, only increase as population gets bigger (I believe software more so but so is the amount of people taking the degree), though some jobs are currently more popular then others. Also I did electrical engineering (and mechanical) along with doing software subjects and didn't find it too difficult so I wouldn't think too much into that side to be honest. Its not really the difficulty but more the "do you enjoy the math" or not lol.

  My take on the current jobs are:
  Electrical Engineering: Power systems (like power plants, water and other utilities) are fairly popular, and hardware networking for IT as well in telecommunications. Embedded and microcontrollers (electronics design not so much in Aus)

  Software: Coding, software networking (NOC, Telstra, Optus, etc), or ICT help seem to be most popular in AUS with coding mostly in web design or android/hybrid. I don't see very much program development or gaming (though Vic has a better gaming support).

  Mechatronics: has the problem that you're a bit spread out, so you learn some of mechanical and some of electrical (and software) but when it comes to an interview you know a bit of each, not a lot of 1 particular thing, this can make it difficult if they are hiring for 1 particular reason.
  Its advantage is that it is very hybrid though, you look for jobs that they need someone to do multiple things and mecahtronics will likely fit the bill along with basically being able to apply for almost any job. It's just harder to get a job in say "software design" if your a mechatronics engineer in competition with someone who is purely a software engineer.

  ---

  To be honest I love all three, if it was me I'd personally go to software and especially if I had a scholarship already in the industry sets you up real well. But you'd definitely have to love coding to choose it, or you'll hate it the rest of your life.

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  beaver2233 on 17/10/2016 - 23:15

  If you are able to get a scholarship and paid placement throughout uni that will help significantly with both your understanding and future employability. I graduated at the end of July (electrical engineering), unfortunately haven't landed a job, but I'm sure something will pop up. In terms of difficulty I believe there won't be all the much difference between them all, you just have to spend the time to learn the content. Time management is key.