Tom McKitty

Career Development
Mr. Droz
Pd1 B,D,F

Career Exploration Project

Career #1: Mechanical Engineer

Part A

1. What education is needed for this career?

You need to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering from a school accredited by the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. You also need to pass the
Fundamentals of Engineering examination. You also have to complete at least four
years of engineering experience. A professional engineer license is required.

2. What training is needed for this career?

You have to complete at least four years of engineering experience. A professional
engineer license is required.

3. What are the working conditions? What are some of the hazards or
disadvantages (i.e. health risks, moving to other locations for advancement,
temporary or seasonal employment, etc.) of the job?
Mechanical engineers generally work in offices. They may occasionally visit worksites
where a problem or piece of equipment needs their personal attention. Mechanical
engineers work mostly in engineering services, research and development, and
manufacturing.

4. What are the responsibilities on the job?

Mechanical engineers design other machines inside buildings, such as elevators and
escalators. They also design material-handling systems, such as conveyor systems and
automated transfer stations. The rest are employed in general-purpose machinery
manufacturing, automotive parts manufacturing, and testing laboratories.

5. What are some related occupations?

Architectural and engineering managers, drafters, materials engineer, mathematicians,
mechanical engineering technicians, natural science managers, nuclear
engineer,petroleum engineers, physicists and astronomers, sales engineer.

6. Are most of the workers in this field male or female? (Would this make a
difference to you in choosing this occupation? Why or why not?)
Women are less likely than men to be employed in mechanical engineering (8% to 17%)
and electrical engineering (12% to 18%). This does not matter to me, I do not care if
you're male or female as long as you do a good job.

7. What is the average starting salary?

According to the BLS, mechanical engineers earned a median salary of $83,590 in
2015. The best-paid earned about $128,430, while the lowest-paid earned less than
$53,640. Industries that pay well include oil and gas extraction as well as information

8. What is the average ten-year salary?

The median annual Mechanical Engineer III salary is $94,420, as of February 22, 2017,
with a range usually between $86,726-$103,270, however this can vary widely
depending on a variety of factors.

9. Can one join a union? How? Explain.

No, engineers may not join a union. For engineers to get organized into a union, you
would be diminishing the status, class level, and respect of engineering (at least in the
historical sociological views).

10. What do three people in the career say about their jobs?
Saurabh Yadav, Mechanical Engineer
Written 27 May 2015
Mechanical Engineering is totally based on common sense and practical thinking. You
need to think and develop your common sense towards machines and then everything
will be easy.

Aiva Elizabeth Teskey, Mechanical Engineering Undergrad

Written Dec 5, 2014
From cell phones, to cars, to computers, to your shoes, mechanical engineers will
ALWAYS be needed to analyze, create, and develop better things to make life more
wonderful.

Ethan Jennerich, BS and MS in Engineering and licensed PE

Written Dec 28
Mechanical engineering will always be a field where you can find a job. The Mechanical
Engineer is often viewed as the jack of all trades kind of engineer. After finishing my
mechanical engineering degree I was hired by Boeing to do electrical design. I have
also designed composites, simple mechanical structures, flight deck controls, electrical
wire harnesses, etc.
The degree gets you in the door, and a Mechanical Engineering degree opens many
different doors.

Part B

1. What is job title being advertised?

Mechanical Engineer
2. What is the company name?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
3. Where are they located?
Washington DC
4. What are their requirements for hiring?
Successful completion of a standard professional curriculum in an accredited college or
university leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in an appropriate field of
engineering (not engineering technology), physical science, life science or mathematics
is required. The degree must include or be supplemented by coursework appropriate to
the AST specialty for which application is made; refer to the section, "Appropriate Fields
of Study," under each AST specialty. (In some cases a graduate degree in an
appropriate field or unconditional acceptance as a candidate for an advanced degree in
an appropriate field by an accredited institution may be submitted. For applicants
qualifying on the basis of graduate education and/or experience, any of the
undergraduate majors shown below is acceptable if the required graduate study and/or
professional experience is closely related to this type of work and provides the
knowledges, skills and abilities required in the position being filled.)
5. What education is needed and training?
Successful completion of a standard professional curriculum in an accredited college or
university leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in an appropriate field of
engineering (not engineering technology), physical science, life science or mathematics
is required.
6. How does one advance?
Your salary is based upon established government-wide standards and adjusted for
longevity, cost of living, and locality costs.
7. What are some of the benefits that are listed (sick days, vacation,
family leave, maternity, sick and education policies?
You earn 13 days paid annual leave during your first 3 years of Federal service; 20 days
of annual leave per year up to your 15th year of service; and 26 days of annual leave
per year after your 15th year of service. You may also carry over up to 30 days of
unused annual leave each year. As a Federal employee, you will receive 10 paid
Federal holidays per year. You earn 4 hours of sick leave for each two week pay period.
You may accrue sick leave indefinitely throughout your career. You may also be
advanced up to 240 hours of sick leave in cases of serious illness. You may use up to
104 hours of your sick leave each year to care for sick family members.
8. What is the starting salary?
$54,245
Career #2: Video Game Designer

Part A

1. What education is needed for this career?

A bachelor's degree in a related field. Aspiring video game designers should consider
taking graphic design classes, including animation, along with computer science
classes, including computer programming.

2. What training is needed for this career?

While some employers require a bachelor's degree in video game design or computer
science, a high school diploma is the minimum requirement. You may need to have
experience working in computer science, programming, or art.

3. What are the working conditions? What are some of the hazards or
disadvantages (i.e. health risks, moving to other locations for advancement,
temporary or seasonal employment, etc.) of the job?
Unpredictable work hours, traditional office environments, with individual work stations
and a central conference area, wrist and hand ailments might occur from typing all the
time.

4. What are the responsibilities on the job?

Creating storylines and character biographies, conducting design reviews, designing
role-play mechanics, creating prototypes for staff and management, documenting game
design process.

5. What are some related occupations?

Video game journalist, game tester

6. Are most of the workers in this field male or female? (Would this make a
difference to you in choosing this occupation? Why or why not?)
There are more men than Women in video game designing, this does not affect my
decision.

7. What is the average starting salary?

Salaries typically start from $45,320 and go up to $129,700.
 8. What is the average ten-year salary?
Video Game Designers earn a median salary of $85,240 per year.

9. Can one join a union? How? Explain.

No you cannot. It is not a very dangerous work environment and you make enough
money, if you do get hurt you can take care of yourself.

10. Are there any professional associations that are necessary to be a member
of this profession?
Bachelor's degrees: While the type of degree can vary, a four-year degree is necessary
for an entry level position designing videogames, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A college curriculum meant to meet video game designer requirements usually blends
computer and game design theory with contemporary programming languages. As you
choose an undergraduate or graduate degree program that will meet video game
designer education requirements, there are several approaches you can take. You can
pursue a degree in computer programming, computer science, art and design, or visual
communications with an emphasis in video game design.
You can also take the more lucrative computer programming route, by learning C and
C++, as well as at least one assembly language. Other courses you'll want to take
during a computer programming degree include:

Part B

1. What is job title being advertised?

Video game designer
2. What is the company name?
Nintendo
3. Where are they located?
Kyoto,Japan
4. What are their requirements for hiring?
Along with good communication skills, a computer or video game designer needs to be
able to think logically and have artistic ability. Part of the job involves writing short
stories, including scripts, and sketching them out on a storyboard. These initial ideas will
be discussed and updated as the design process continues.
5. What education is needed and training?
A college degree or certificate in game design or creative writing will help you get hired
as a video game designer. Skills to look for in a video game designer education
program include game theory, storytelling & storyboarding, game planning and strategy,
creative content writing, brainstorming & creative thinking, and game design project
management.
6. How does one advance?
You apply for another job
 7. What are some of the benefits that are listed (sick days, vacation,
family leave, maternity, sick and education policies?
Great health/dental/vision benefits package, just below Microsoft's. Pension plan is
solid, as is 401(k). Vacation time is standard to area. Stock options would be nice. Perks
include onsite gym, reimbursement for other gyms/ classes/ athletic gear, sports fields,
healthy food options in the cafeteria - there's been a big push for employee health which
is great. Employee store has a pretty good discount and you can check out old games /
consoles / business books too.
8. What is the starting salary?
A designer makes $33-36$ hourly

Career #3: Wildlife Biologist

Part A

1. What education is needed for this career?

Biologists must have a 4-year undergraduate degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in
Biology, for entry-level research positions. A few classes you may take are microbiology,
anthropology, biochemistry and molecular biology.
2. What training is needed for this career?
A few classes you may take are microbiology, anthropology, biochemistry and molecular
biology.
3. What are the working conditions? What are some of the hazards or
disadvantages (i.e. health risks, moving to other locations for
advancement, temporary or seasonal employment, etc.) of the job?
Fieldwork can require zoologists and wildlife biologists to travel to remote locations
anywhere in the world. They work in offices, laboratories, and outdoors. Depending on
their job and interests, they may spend considerable time in the field gathering data and
studying animals in their natural habitats
4. What are the responsibilities on the job?
Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on
animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for
industry. Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.
5. What are some related occupations?
Higher education lecturer, Microbiologist, Nature conservation officer, Pharmacologist,
Physician associate, Research scientist (life sciences), Research scientist (medical),
Secondary school teacher.
6. Are most of the workers in this field male or female? (Would this
make a difference to you in choosing this occupation? Why or why not?)
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields are traditionally
heavily dominated by males, biology is one exception. No this does not change my
opinion.
 7. What is the average starting salary?
$41,230
8. What is the average ten-year salary?
$127,120
9. Can one join a union? How? Explain.
Union Universitys biology department will begin offering a one-year Master of Science
in Biology degree in the fall of 2017, transitioning from the current graduate certificate in
pre-professional biology.
10. Are there any professional associations that are necessary to be a
member of this profession?
Professors and lecturers teach introductory and advanced biology courses. They may
also mentor students with projects and direct research programs. Many biology faculty
at colleges and universities engage in their own research and serve as reviewers or
editors for scientific journal publications, members of working groups and advisory
boards, and as part of research collaborations with scientists from other institutions.

Part B

1. What is job title being advertised?

Biologist
2. What is the company name?
Exelon
3. Where are they located?
Kennett square, PA
4. What are the responsibilities on the job?
Serve as technical resource supporting the manager in the management of
environmental programs/projects. Manage environmental projects as assigned
5. What education is needed and training?
Minimum 0 - 3 years experience with environmental projects and/or related
environmental experience.
Preferred:
- Graduate degree or graduate work in engineering, science or business is preferred.
- Experience in the nuclear utility industry.
6. How does one advance?
Apply for it.
7. What are some of the benefits that are listed (sick days, vacation,
family leave, maternity, sick and education policies?
None were stated.
8. What is the starting salary?
$55,814.