So... After talking with some of the people at the engineering fair I decided that I wanted to go into Biomedical Engineering for my second year. One of the factors that influenced my decision was hearing that this field was rapidly growing in job demand and that finding a job would not be as difficult as some other jobs.

However, until recently I had been doing some research of my own and I am hearing from numerous people that finding a job in this field is actually really difficult, in that there are very few jobs available. If that is the case then I may have to rethink my career path. My question is does anyone (preferably people in biomedical engineering), have any idea of exactly what the job demand is like for this field? There's just so many mixed messages.

PS. I did not decide to go into this field just because of the job demand it was more influenced by interest, but in the end I am here for a career.

Its pretty hard to predict the job market in 4-5 years, but I would have to say that most things eng related (this is just from experience with people I know, and no acual sources) are a pretty solid choice in terms of careers.

Wrong. You're hear to learn the theory and concepts that apply to a field that you are most interested in, and to learn more about yourself in that time. By the end of first year, when I decided on Civil, I would've said: "I'm going to go into a structural engineering firm, and that's where I'll end up working forever". Boy has that changed. I'm open to a lot of unique possibilities now, mostly related to Civil Engineering.

I hear this "job opportunities" word thrown around too much this year from first year engineers. Get realistic: If you want a job in the engineering field of interest which you just focussed on for 4 or 5 years, then you'll go out and find yourself one of those jobs, or else you'll MAKE something for yourself... That is: If you actually take something out of your time here.

Edit: Phillip is totally right. They don't just make up too many useless engineering streams... If science is being applied to engineer stuff in your time as an undergraduate engineering student, then science is being applied in the real world in the same/similar ways.

you could always switch out of biomed if you change your mind. There is only one course difference in second year. Biomed really starts in third year.

As for jobs. Most employers seem to care more about job experiences or personal projects more than actual courses. They know an Elec+Biomed student shared most of the same courses as elec, even in the biomed only courses (in 4th year) which have a lot of elec stuff in them (like filter design).

There are job opportunities in the Biomedical Engineering field, especially if you are willing to travel. It is already an established industry in the United States and Europe, and is just starting to take off here.

I would definitely enter Biomedical Engineering, even if there is a limited number of jobs, simply because there are many pathways still open to you... with an undergrad in Biomedical Engineering, you can work in any electrical engineering position, apply to medical school, etc.

Overall, it is definitely not a waste of time that will leave you career-less. If anything, it better prepares you for a job, regardless of field, due to the rigour and demanding nature of the program.

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If you are interested in seeing some jobs that are open to Biomedical Engineers, feel free to come to the BEAMS Industry Night, being held This Wednesday at 7pm in Celebration Hall (basement of KTH). You are welcome to come regardless of program / year. There will be speakers from various biomedical companies / industries from the local area talking about careers in the field
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i feel like people have the wrong idea of the "biomedical" engineering.. most people who want to get into it dont realize its a specialization of electrical engineering.. circuits, so many circuits!

The nice thing about engineering is that once you get the B. Eng degree you can end up in virtually any field even though your specialization may be in Electrical and Biomedical. As mentioned above it will include a lot of circuits, programming related to the medical field.

You can always decide to pursue a research career or change your department.

Realistically, I think a lot of people graduating from Biomed Eng will end up working as ECEs. You would really need a higher level degree to work as a biomed eng designing biomedical equipment.

Originally Posted by jewfro9000

i feel like people have the wrong idea of the "biomedical" engineering.. most people who want to get into it dont realize its a specialization of electrical engineering.. circuits, so many circuits!

too

many

circuits!

(and math, signals, and more circuits!)

As someone mentioned before a lot of the chance of you getting hired is based on experience, less so on the classes you take. a lot can also happen in 4 years in the job market, so just because the demand is high now does not mean it will be once you are done.

choose the engineering you like, and the rest will work out

You don't really know what you want to do, but majority of ECE will likely go into some sort of programming job, from what I've seen.