Career Research

Humaam Said
Mr. Droz
Career Development
March 9th, 2020

Career I: Product Manager

❏ Career Exploration Research Questions

(Choose 10 - copy and paste here)
1. What education is needed for this career?
To become a product manager, a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field.
Since the job requires working with others and analyzing growth, product
managers will obtain a degree in communications, marketing, economics, public
relations, statistics, advertising, and/or management.
2. What training is needed for this career?
APMP/ APM PQ, or a practitioner qualification, may be needed to set yourself
from others. Product Managers must demonstrate an understanding of how
elements interact and how their project fits into their strategic and commercial
environments. Along with this, a PMPC, or Project Management Professional
Certification, may be needed. The Project Management Insititute gives these to
professionals who meet certain education. A degree in Product Management will
be necessary. In order to be hired, your resume must stand out from others.
3. Who are the largest employers for this career /field?
The largest employers in this career are tech companies and banks. Companies
such as Google, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, Intuit, and others are
top employers in the career.
4. What is the long-term outlook for this career? Will they increase, decrease,
stay the same, be eliminated?
With automation and AI becoming ever more present in our economy, Product
Managers may be phased out of our economy. AI will be able to better analyze
data and give instructions to complete products.
5. What is the average starting salary?
Seniority dictates the salary of a product manager. Associate product managers are
typically new to companies. They make an average of $58,000 – $117,000. Most
companies will require a college degree and anywhere from zero to two years of
previous work experience. Since this is an entry-level role, larger companies have
even started recruiting out of colleges and universities to fill their associate product
manager positions.
6. What are the working conditions? What are some of the hazards or
disadvantages of the job?
Product managers often work well over forty-hour weeks, including evenings and
weekends. The job is stressful as you are constantly managing your team’s
production and trying to meet deadlines. Product managers work with the
executives of the company to communicate when deadlines will be hit and supply
information to their team. Sometimes, product managers will travel overseas if
their team works from another country.
7. What are the responsibilities on the job?
The responsibilities of the job are planning and organizing product schedules,
assessing problems within a product, overseeing the product creation processes,
and working with buyers, marketers, and other sales staff. All steps taken in a
product’s development are overseen by a product manager.
8. Are there any professional associations or unions that are necessary or
suggested to be a member of this profession?
Product managers associations such as the Association of Product Management
and Product Marketing and Product Development and Management Association
are international groups that help product managers. It’s suggested to join these, as
you can work and gain experience from other product managers.
9. In which areas of the country could/would one live?
One would expect to live in a city environment where tech companies typically
settle In the US, this includes Seattle, Colorado, Boston, NYC, San Fransico,
Philidelphia, Austin, and Los Angeles.
10.Where can one find work in this field?
One can find work in this field in any country. Places such as Silicon Valley where
tech companies are located house many jobs for product managers. However,
places such as Colorado, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and other cities are growing as
tech companies settle.
 ❏ Potential Employer research Questions
( Choose 5 -copy and paste here)
1. What is the title of the job being advertised?
Ring is offering a position as a “Devices Product Manager.” In the position, you
work with global teams on firmware development, device development, packaging,
customer education, and key software features.
2. What is the company name?
Ring Inc.is a door security company owned by Amazon. Ring produces smart
doorbells that send video and audio to homeowners. Along with this, they produce
motion sensors for homes.
3. Where are they located?
Ring Inc. is located in Santa Monica, CA. The job is full time and requires working
with a development team. The job offer is for their branch in Malvern, PA.
4. What are their requirements for hiring?
Ring requires many qualifications for hiring. Some of these include: “5+ years of
relevant work experience in product management”, “3+ years of relevant
experience in consumer hardware products and/or services”, “ 3+ years of
experience leading projects with multiple stakeholders to deliver customer-facing
products or services in a product management or similar role.” Along with these
base requirements, Ring looks for “ 2+ years of relevant experience in residential
or commercial security products”and “Technical proficiency, demonstrated
through technical degree or equivalent work experience” among others.
5. What is the starting salary?
The starting salary is anywhere from $67,000-$120,000 a year.

Career 2: Mechanical Engineer

❏ Career Exploration Research Questions

(Choose 10 - copy and paste here)
1. What education is needed for this career?
A career in mechanical engineering requires at least a bachelor's degree (4 years).
Along with this, a master’s or doctorate in mechanical engineering could be used.
Mechanical engineers are expected to have some familiarity in electrical, civil, and
chemical engineering.
2. What training is needed for this career?
Experience is needed when becoming mechanical engineering. Mechanical
engineers are expected to know the most up-to-date software tools including those
in computational design and simulation or 3D printing. Co-ops for mechanical
engineers are common. Colleges offer co-ops in order for their students to gain
real-world experience with their academic study.
3. Who are the largest employers for this career /field?
Automobile manufacturers, utility companies, and government agencies are
common employers for mechanical engineers. Mechanical engineers at NASA, for
example, have skills that overlap with aerospace engineers. Tech companies such
as Google, Apple, and NVIDIA need mechanical engineers to design their state-of-
the-art products.
4. What is the long-term outlook for this career? Will the need increase,
decrease, stay the same, be eliminated?
In an age of advancements in technology, jobs in mechanical engineering are
projected to increase by 5% from 2014-2024. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has
projected mechanical engineers’ employment rate will go up by 9% by 2026.
5. What is the average starting salary?
The average starting salary for mechanical engineers is $70,507 ($27.48 an hour).
Along with this, mechanical engineers may get bonuses for their work depending
on their employer. Also, a signing bonus is common among larger companies for
their mechanical engineers.
6. What are the working conditions? What are some of the hazards or
disadvantages 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. Hazards might occur when working with
flammable products or electrical products.
7. What are the responsibilities on the job?
The responsibilities of the engineer may include defining problems, conducting
and narrowing research, analyzing criteria, finding and analyzing solutions, and
making decisions. Large amounts of research are needed along with tests in order
to create a successful product.
8. Are there any professional associations or unions that are necessary or
suggested to be a member of this profession?
There are a few associations connected to mechanical engineers. For example, the
International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP) is a body dedicated for
production engineering. Large companies typically have unions. For example, the
Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) have
workers in Boeing.
9. In which areas of the country could/would one live?
Depending on their specialization, mechanical engineers could work in many
states. Areas such as California are top hirers in mechanical engineers due to
Silicon Valley and their company’s advancements in technology. Petroleum
engineers are being hired in California, Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana. California
and Arizona are home to a number of companies hiring engineers for solar-
powered technologies and products.
10.Where can one find work in this field?
One can find work in this field in government agencies and tech companies.
Government agencies need mechanical engineers for creating new technology.
Tech companies such as Google look for young and aspiring mechanical engineers
to create advancements in technology.
❏ Potential Employer research Questions
( Choose 5 -copy and paste here)
1. What is the title of the job being advertised?
The title is a “Mechanical Engineer” position at Mazetti. Mazetti is a global
provider of MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering) engineering
design and technology consulting. The job requires the mechanical engineer to
oversee the technical work of other mechanical engineers and designers,
independently prepare complete project mechanical drawings and specifications,
coordinate work within the Mazzetti team and with other disciplines, and
independently manage the contract administration activities associated with
construction phase services.
2. What is the company name?
The companies’ name is Mazzetti. Mazzetti is a global provider of MEP
(mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering) engineering design and
technology consulting.
3. Where are they located?
Mazetti headquarters are located in Sacramento, CA,
4. What are their requirements for hiring?
Their requirements for hiring are “Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
and 5+ years of experience in building HVAC and Plumbing systems design (or
equivalent combination of education and experience)”, “Licensed Professional
Mechanical Engineer (or ability to obtain in 6 months)”, and “Possess the level of
experience, knowledge, and discernment needed to develop and document
appropriate system designs for a variety of projects.” They prefer previous
experience.
5. What is the starting salary?
The starting salary is $85,000-$115,000 a year.