Career guidance for electrical engineering students/graduates.....'global efficiency for the betterment of society by use of electricity'

'Received mentor-ship requests from Zimbabwean students studying electrical engineering in SA,Somalia,Zimbabwe, China and compiled a brief outline. Just thought this might help more people in the same situation.This published article was a response to a mentor-ship request from a Zimbabwe student studying in South Africa'

1. My first exposure in industry was in 1982 ,when I was doing form 3 at Sakubva secondary school in Mutare,when my friend's brother organised some work at a soup manufacturing plant in Mutare. The work involved repairing wooden crates used to transport tomatoes in from Chipinge to Mutare. I saw the difference between white collar and blue collar employees. This exposure helped me to study beyond passing exams.If you are a parent reading this try by all means to expose your child to industry as soon as possible, or take them around your own workplace.You will also have less indiscipline challenges too!
2. Before doing to university I had opportunity to teach Mathematics at Chirinda secondary school in Marange. From 1, I realised that I could monetise knowledge. Parents played a big part in this.Children can't do it alone!
3. While at Uni:-

-I made sure I worked every holiday.

-I worked for a telephone company in Msasa repairing handsets.

- I worked for the city of Harare traffic signals.

- Worked for city of Harare sewerage and water workshops.

-Taught night school students Mathematics at Haig Park School in Mabelreign.

-Repaired irons/stoves

-Used to go to a refrigeration repair shop to work,for free, every Saturday. I wanted to know how to repair fridges and later on buy and sell fridges. The owner of the shop was a very kind man and will be forever grateful for that opportunity.

-Worked for ZESA

4. Post graduate

-Continued teaching night school students mathematics

-Taught mathematics at Harare Poly

-Taught private students mathematics and science weekends

-Brick making project

-Buying and selling stands.

5. In short its best to monetise your strength, my strength was in mathematics,physics and chemistry so looked for opportunities in that area.All these other pursuits were driven by the early exposure to industry whilst I was in form 3.Whilst most of these activities were non electrical it helped build a network of advisors,mentors and friends etc.

6. Most of my friends went outside the country to work.I was not shortlisted for any interviews. I wondered why? I looked at my CV, yaa .This was the big problem. I refreshed it using examples on the internet-more calls for interview after refreshing my CV. In short it might be helpful to have someone look at your CV.

7. When called for an interview STUDY the job description and write brief notes ,about half a page, for each responsibility. You can ask someone to ask you questions too.

8. Zim -Electrical Services Hub , this will be one of the 25 industry focused hubs to be launched in Zimbabwe. It will bring all stakeholders in the industry under one hub/website from manufacturers,power utilities,regulators,investors, tradespeople,contractors ,consultants and customers. After launch in Zim we will launch same services in S.A, Bots,Zambia,Nigeria ,Kenya etc and interconnect the hubs and form the Africa Electricity Services Hub. We will do the same in other continents and eventually have the Global Electricity Services Hub. This will be be the same for all industries. The project is 'global efficiency for the betterment of society'. At the moment solar panel manufacturers have no market yet there is shortage of electricity in Africa where these solar panels could be installed and help improve electricity access,bananas are rotting in Africa whilst there is shortage in Europe, some countries are producing more nurses than they can employ yet in some parts of the world there is shortage the Global Trading Services Hub will manage supply and demand of services and products at the global level.

General

• If you can have an opportunity of working for one of the power utilities that will be great because it gives you wider exposure.
• If you can have opportunity to work for an electrical contractor that will be great too especially doing big electrical projects so that you get exposed to electrical building services work.
• If you can be exposed to house installation work it will be easy to grow as an electrical contractor doing house installations.
• It is advisable to quickly do management courses so that you understand and evaluate business performance.
• Project management training is good for you,--its one thing I never did, if I had done this earlier on I might have been in a different position. Even getting a certificate is good enough.
• Being a student member of an engineering institution is helpful.
• Most countries have electrical engineers on the skilled shortage list too.
• Renewable energy, electric vehicles,new housing developments all need electrical personnel.
• Another area most electrical engineers are going into is data analystics , IT all these opportunities are waiting you.
• Since you are in S.A you can try to check what electrical products are needed in Zimbabwe and you can do buying and selling business too.
• Self employment is the new global fashion and boss Covid does not seem to make life easier on the employment front as companies and individuals scale down operations.Clean teeth is not an option either!
• All the best.