Additional Information
Employers prefer at least a two-year associate's degree in a field such
as engineering technology from a technical institute or community college.
Join an electronics or science club at school, if you have the opportunity.
If not, try dipping into the subject at home. You can check out electronics
magazines from the library, try building hi-fi kits and learn how to operate
amateur radio sets.
"Being able to communicate well both in writing and oral presentations
is important," says technologist Tom Brown. "Loving computers is also pretty
important, since we enjoy both using them and taking them apart."
Programs of study in electronics technology usually include courses in
math, physics, electronic circuits, network theory, radio and TV systems.
Other courses are control systems, semiconductor circuits, pulse and digital
methods, computer hardware, programming and general studies in the humanities.
Most programs of study take two to three years to complete.
"When you first graduate, some students may have some difficulty finding
a job," says technologist Sean Craig. "Don't give up. It takes a lot of perseverance
and tenacity. Don't get frustrated if your first 20 resumes only get you rejection
letters and your first 10 interviews get you even less."
Because it can be difficult to land a first job without experience, don't
rule out going to a placement agency for help, says Craig. "They may take
a percentage of your wages, but it could be well worth it for the experience
you gain and the added entry on your resume."
Even after completing a program, an electronics technologist should never
stop seeking more knowledge. "Keep current," advises electronic technologist
Bruce Bonneau. "Never stop trying to learn new things."