Career Life Connections

Career Research Project

 PLANNING YOUR CAREER
Answer the following for EACH of the three careers.

CAREER ONE
Name: Zandrex Cambronero

Career Name: Computer Engineering (SFU)

1.) Education required and or recommendations:

- Require a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, electrical or electronics
engineering, engineering physics or computer science.
- A master’s or doctoral degree in a related engineering discipline may be
required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is
required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a
Professional Engineer (P.Eng).

2.) Suggested Post- Secondary Institutions:

UBC, SFU, UVIC

3.) Cost of training in Canadian $ (full program cost for all years):

2,881$ (5 courses), 1,909$ (4 courses) 6,699$ per year Tuition

26,796$ Tuition (cost for all years)

(books and dorms are not included.)

4.) Salary range:
- The average Computer Engineer salary in Canada is $77,025 per year or $39.50
per hour. Entry level positions start at $69,365 per year while most experienced
workers make up to $130,943 per year.

5.) Job description:

2
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project
 - Responsible for researching, designing, developing and testing computer
hardware and equipment, including chips, analog sensors, circuit boards,
keyboards, modems, routers and printers

6.) Number or people employed in this occupation (indicate whether the number refers to
BC or Canada) over 70000 (Canada)

7.) Employment prospects:

- Engineers who have a higher-level degree and knowledge or experience with computer
software will have the best job prospects. Job applicants with a computer engineering
degree from an ABET-accredited program will have better chances of landing a job.

8.) Related Jobs (list at least 3):

● Software Engineer
● Computer Programming
● Software Developers

9.) Skills or characteristics required:

Mathematics, Communication, Software Engineering, Hardware Experience,

Programming Languages, Patience, Management. Problem Solving

10.) Disadvantages of occupation:

Slower-than-average job growth field (expected 7% between 2012 and 2022)*

Continuing education may be required to stay current on technology*

May work weekends and evenings to meet deadlines**

Sitting for long periods of time can lead to back pain

11.) Describe how your values, skills and interests relate to this career option:
- Interested in computers

3
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project
 - Good at math
- Problem solver

12.) What courses and grades are needed to enter this occupation?
(SFU) high school requirements

English 12 or English First Peoples 12 (min 70%) or Français langue premiere 12

Pre-Calculus 12 (min 75%)

Chemistry 12 (min 75%)

Physics 12 (min 75%)

Calculus 121 (min 70%)

13.) Working conditions:

- The majority of computer engineers do their work in research laboratories,

designing and testing new kinds of computers. Some engineers work for the
federal government, others work for research and development firms, or
computer systems design firms. Over 90% of hardware work in highly populated
urban areas.

14.) Typical hours of work:

- These workers typically work 40 hours per week, however, solving some
problems or working to deadlines may require working extra hours.

4
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project
 15.) Describe what has influenced your choice of this occupation:
- Interested in Computers
- Aunt’s computer shop
- Indemand Job
- Good Salary

16.) What are the future trends of this occupation:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations will continue to bring scientific
breakthroughs, in part, thanks to the vast amounts of data that new technologies have
been collecting and is now available.

17.) Go to Work BC Website (http://www.workbc.ca/) and Education Planner

(https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/) list 2 points of information you felt were important
and were not covered.

1. Overall cost including books, supplies etc. for the program

2. Admissions are very competitive for some institutions

CAREER TWO
Name: Zandrex Cambronero

Career Name: Mechanical Engineering (BCIT)

18.) Education required and or recommendations:

Mechanical engineers must earn a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at

minimum, and may pursue graduate degrees in the field. Some places require
mechanical engineers to earn licensure, which calls for education, supervised work
experience, and several examinations.

(Degree Level: Bachelor's degree /Licensing: Professional Engineer license required)

19.) Suggested Post-Secondary Institutions:

- BCIT
- SFU
- UBC

5
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project
 20.) Cost of training in Canadian $ (full program cost for all years):

(BCIT)

Term Tuition = 2,861

1st/2nd year = 6,599.42

2 Years =13,198.84

21.) Salary range:

- The national average salary for a Mechanical Engineer is $76,109 in Canada.
With a low of 51k and high of 107k

22.) Job description:

- Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines.
Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, build, and test mechanical and
thermal devices, including tools, engines, and machines.

23.) Number or people employed in this occupation

- There are over 37,000 mechanical engineers working in Canada.

24.) Employment prospects:

- Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2018 to
2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job prospects may be
best for those who stay abreast of the most recent advances in technology.

25.) Related Jobs (list at least 3):

● Electrical Engineer
● Mechanist
● Architecture

26.) Skills or characteristics required:

6
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project
 - Problem Solving
- Creativity
- Clear communication abilities
- Mathematics

27.) Disadvantages of occupation:

- Competitive atmosphere
- Extreme pressure
- Workload and hours
- Coursework can be quite difficult

28.) Describe how your values, skills and interests relate to this career option:
- likes math
- likes building
- creative
-
29.) What courses and grades are needed to enter this occupation? ‘

English: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the
following:

a.) English 12 (67%) or

b.) 3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (67%) from a
recognized institution
c.) Physics 11 (73%)
d.) Chemistry 11 (67%)

Math: one of the following:

e.) Principles of Mathematics 12 (73%) or

f.) Pre-Calculus 12 (73%)

30.) Working conditions:

7
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project
 - Almost always work indoors.
- Are sometimes exposed to hazardous equipment. They may wear safety attire,
such as masks and hard hats, to protect themselves.
- May on occasion be exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and
uncomfortable.
- Work near others. They often share the same office space with other engineers.

31.) Typical hours of work:

- Generally work a set schedule.
- Work 40 hours per week.
- Often work longer hours to meet project deadlines.

32.) Describe what has influenced your choice of this occupation:

- My dad has influenced me to go into this profession
- I’ve always liked repairing things
- Creative mind

33.) What are the future trends of this occupation:

- Mechanical engineers over the next two decades will be called upon to develop
technologies that foster a cleaner, healthier, safer and sustainable global environment.

34.) Go to Work BC Website (http://www.workbc.ca/) or Education Planner

(https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/) and list 2 points of information you felt were
important and were not covered.

1. How to get into a specific branch of mechanical engineering.

2. How many branches of mechanical engineering there are.

TRADES CAREER

8
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project
Name: Zandrex Cambronero

Career Name: Welding

35.) Education required and or recommendations:

- High school diploma or equivalent at minimum; some employers may prefer
postsecondary education or an apprenticeship.

36.) Suggested Post-Secondary Institutions:

- BCIT, Selkirk, Camosun, KPU

37.) Cost of training in Canadian $ (full program cost for all years):
- Welding training programs cost $5,000-$15,000 at community colleges or
technical schools. Programs may last two years and typically culminate in a
certificate of completion.

38.) Salary range:

- The average Welder salary in Canada is $40,433 per year or $20.73 per hour.
Entry level positions start at $30,373 per year while most experienced workers
make up to $68,735 per year.

39.) Job description:

- Welding is the application of heat to permanently join metal parts to repair and
fabricate metal structures, machinery and equipment. Welding positions are
classified depending on the training and types of welding machines that a welder
can use.

40.) Number or people employed in this occupation (indicate whether the number
refers to BC or Canada) 90,000 (Canada)

41.) Employment prospects:

- Employment of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected to grow 3 percent
from 2018 to 2028, slower than the average for all occupations. The nation’s aging
infrastructure will require the expertise of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers to help

9
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project
 rebuild bridges, highways, and buildings.

42.) Related Jobs (list at least 3):

● Plumber
● Jeweler
● Carpenter

43.) Skills or characteristics required:

- Physical Endurance
- Depth Perception
- Close Vision
- Hand-eye Coordination
- Lifting Considerable Weight
- Manual Dexterity
- Steady Hands
- Working in Adverse Conditions

44.) Disadvantages of occupation:

- bad work environment
- welding injuries
- physically demanding

45.) Describe how your values, skills and interests relate to this career option:
- Good hand-eye coordination
- physically fit
- have experience in welding
- enjoy welding
- creative

46.) What courses and grades are needed to enter this occupation?

(BCIT Highschool requirements)

English: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the
following:

a.) English 12 (50%) or

b.) Communications 12 (67%) or
10
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project
 c.) 3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (50%) from a
recognized institution or
d.) BCIT English Trades Entry Assessment (for applicants who have two years of
education in an English-speaking country only)

Math: one of the following:

e.) Any Math 10 or

f.) BCIT Math Trades Entry Assessment

47.) Working conditions:

- Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers may work outdoors, often in inclement
weather, or indoors, sometimes in a confined area. They may work on a scaffold,
high off the ground, and they occasionally must lift heavy objects and work in
awkward positions. Most work full time and overtime is common.

48.) Typical hours of work:

- Most welders and related machine operators work 40 hours per week in
factories and machine shops and on construction sites.
49.) Describe what has influenced your choice of this occupation:
- I’ve been to a welding program
- Enjoy welding
- Creative
- Fun

50.) What are the future trends of this occupation:

- Lack of qualified welders is to continue
- Investment in welding safety on the rise
- Rapid growth in robotic welding

51.) Go to ITA http://www.itabc.ca/ or the Discover Skills BC Website

http://discoverskillsbc.ca/ and list 2 points of information you felt were important and
were not covered.

1. Benefits and Disadvantages

2. Machines that are related to this profession

11
Career Life Connections - Career Research Project