Where do Computer Engineers Work?
Before taking up Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering, you have been deciding where should you pursue your career. In this case, we will be giving you two (2) choices to choose from. And it’s up to you where you want to be.
Many Computer Engineering students are still baffled about where they should work. In finding a good career, there are many aspects to consider. First is the availability of the job, where it is located, does it give you a competitive salary, who’s the boss, and many more.
In this article, we will be showing you the differences between working in the Government, and in the Private Industry. Basically, neither of the three (2) are good. But, as far as the career and job are considered, there is one that will excel.
To give you a perspective, many Professional Computer Engineers are working abroad and in the academe. Few are working in the Government.
Computer Engineering in the Government Sector
What makes working in the Government good, they say, are the benefits. Yes! working in the government sector gives you benefits, A LOT.
However, there are things to review before you are qualified to have these benefits.
You won’t have benefits such as 13th-month pay, 14th-month pay, clothing allowance, PERA, and other bonuses if you are not a PERMANENT EMPLOYEE. You will start your work as a Contractual employee.
“I thought Pres. Duterte has abolished ENDO or Contractual Status of employees.” The reality is, NO. There still remain a contractual status of employees even in the government.
Applying for work in the government is hard. If you do not know someone or somebody, you’re totally lost.
Basically, if you are a fresh graduate and no experience at all, your salary might be ₱8,000 to ₱10,000 as your starting compensation.
If you are working at the national level, there might be a higher offer from ₱12,000 to ₱15,000. You are lucky if you can get paid on time. Sometimes, if you are a contractual employee, your salary is 1-2 weeks late. The worst is if it takes you more than a month to receive it. Meaning, you will have to work without a salary for the first month of your job.
You won’t be able to practice your profession at first. What you will do is a clerical job. Mostly MS Office suite is your companion.
But eventually, there are times that they are requiring to work on a highly technical job that only you, a Computer Engineer can handle. That would be your entrance for job permanency.
If you have a “PADRINO”, then you will be a contractual after 6 months only. Then you will get promoted to a permanent employee. Sometimes, you will get promoted to permanent status only, but no salary increase.
Do We recommend you to work in the Government?
Hell NO, and partly Yes!
You won’t be able to practice your career. Are you willing to work as a clerk after designing a network? You don’t deserve to.
But if you really want to, here’s my 2 cents.
Take up, teaching units, pass the LET exams, and work under the DepEd. Work in the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), just complete their training for 6 months or more.
Do not work for the Local Government Unit, work for National Agencies like mentioned above.
Computer Engineering in the Private Sector.
Working in the Private Sector also gives you benefit, but not that compared to the government employees.
Sometimes, you won’t be able to receive bonuses at the end of the year, and every 5th month of the year. That’s a big reason why some are not into the private sector.
Career wise, you will be doing what a Computer Engineer should perform.
You are into network administration, system administration, networks analysis, computer programming, robotics, neural engine, artificial intelligence, and many more.
Unlike in the government sector, you will really execute your computer engineering skills.
But, with regards with job security, it’s the other way around. If you are working in a good standing technology company, then you should be confident that you won’t get fired if the company’s financial stability collapses.
Compared to the government sector’s entry-level salary, you will be having a higher compensation. Check our latest Computer Engineers Salary for 2021 for more information.
Also, some companies do not deduct PhilHealth, SSS, and other deductions automatically from your salary. If that’s the case, you should start saving and do it for your own benefit.
Additionally, if you work in the private sector, you will have the mastery of specific skills. It’s a good indication that you can really excel in that area. If one time you would like a promotion, then that can be added to your resume.
Furthermore, If you work in the private sector, having a great amount of salary, you can start building your own company.
Aside from that, you can also be hired as a consultant of a certain company which can boost your professional profile.
Do We recommend you to work in the Private Sector?
Hell YES and partly No.
Career wise, Yes, since you will perform and execute what you really technically learn from your education.
Starting salary is also competitive. According to our research, a fresh grad computer engineer should have at least ₱ 20,000.00 inclusive of deductions.
However, when we talk about the security of tenure and benefits, it could fall behind from the government sector.
But, when we say Private sector, you can work outside the Philippines and earn a lot more. We have Professional Computer Engineers who work in Singapore whose salary is worth a ₱200,000.00 a month. You just have to find which company is capable of doing so.
Verdict
Where do Computer Engineers should work? For me, you should work in the Private Sector outside the Philippines. It is a basic decision. Especially if you want to practice our profession, do not want to study, or undergo physical training.
However, If you want to work in the Government, and have a wide range of benefits, I advise you to work for the National Government such as, DepEd, DILG, DICT, BFP, PNP, AFP, that requires technical knowledge which only a computer engineer has.
After reading this, where do computer engineers should really work? Comment down below.
I learned a lot about the government and private sectors in the Philippines. I also think this will inspire computer engineers to find their own careers.
Work where ever they are needed is my opinion. In whatever country needed as well.
I deeply understand your points above, especially when we have many talented and skilled workers in the Philippines that are undervalued. Yes, it is wise to work outside the Philippines to earn more money to compensate for our work.
But hope you can also recommend making a continuous effort to help other talents and skilled workers back in the Philippines to share what you learned overseas. Without passing that knowledge to another, there is no continued growth.
I never would have thought about where you would work if you became a computer engineer. I guess it all really depends on your preferences.
I feel like being in the government is safe. Although, you are right securing a job under the government can be hard.
I think a lot of people are going to find this article VERY VERY useful. Well done!
See, in my country Government is always considered better but if you ask me I would also prefer private sector for computer engineers as the while working too they get to learn and the pay is good!
Wow! What a great resource of websites! Very useful.