Searching for a workplace that offers a convenient location, training
and educational opportunities, and competitive salaries and benefit
packages, experienced minority engineers and talented university students
strive to balance their careers and home life, according to responses
in this year’s “Annual Readership Survey.” Agreeing
that career fairs and the Internet provide them their best job leads,
respondents also concur that they often work at home and have felt some
discrimination while on the job.
In this year’s survey we asked our readers, who are community
college and four-year university students and professional minority
engineers working in both the private and public sectors, their gender,
age, annual salary, geographic location, and employment status. We also
highlight the respondents’ field of study, technical discipline,
most beneficial career resources, and benefits that attract them to
a specific employer. And, we spotlight their opinions about working
at home, being a member of a politically active group, family-friendly
benefits, and when they have seen discrimination on the job.
As in each of our annual surveys, Minority Engineer tabulates its “Top
50 Private-Sector Employers” and “Top 20 Government Agencies”
for which readers would most likely to work, or that they believe are
progressive in the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of minority engineers.
Demographics
In its final tally, Minority Engineer respondents were comprised of
55.5% of professional minority engineers while college students made
up 44.5% of the total. Of those who responded, 40.9% were aged 36-50
years; 36.4%, aged 18-25 years; 13.6%, aged 26-35 years; and 9.1%, aged
50 years and over.
Of the individuals responding, 57.1% were male and 42.9% were female.
Working professionals who have earned bachelor’s degrees comprised
the majority of individuals completed the questionnaires, however, we
also generated responses from minority engineers who have gone on to
earn higher-level degrees, such as master’s degrees in an engineering
specialty, master’s of business administration (MBA) degrees,
and doctorates.
When requested to cite their minority status, 30.8% checked African
American; 26.9%, Hispanic; 23.7% Native American; and 19.2% Asian American.
Amassed from respondents from all over the country, questionnaires included
a 30.4% rate from the Southeast; 27.7% from the Southwest; 26.8% from
the Northeast; 17.4% from the West; and 4.4% from the Midwest.
For those working professionals, now practicing in the offices and in
the fields, most commented that they annually earned between $50,001-$60,000.
A large number also declared that their annual salary range was $20,000-$30,000
and some $70,001 and up.
Respondents specialize in a wide range of technical disciplines, both
in the classroom and in the boardroom. These disciplines included electrical,
civil, computer management, mechanical, chemical, software, environmental,
industrial, aerospace, and education administration.
In order to maintain their technical and networking credentials, readers
participate and take leadership roles in the following associations
and organizations: Society of Mechanical Engineers (SME), National Society
of Black Engineers (NSBE), Tau Beta Pi, American Indian Science and
Engineering Society (AISES), Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American
Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), National Society of Hispanic
MBAs (NSHMBA), and MENSA.
Career-Search Tools
We asked readers to note their top recruitment resources that have been
most helpful to them in their job search. Here are the conclusions:
1. Career fairs and seminars 34.5%
2. Computer databases/Internet 27.6%
3. Co-ops and internships programs 24.5%
4/5. Associations and societies 24.1%
4/5. College placement office 24.1%
6. Newspapers/Magazines 21.7%
7. Friends and relatives 20.7%
8. Company interviewers 13.8%
9. Visits to companies 6.9%
10. Headhunters 3.4%
(Total adds up to more than 100% due to multiple responses)
In addition, we requested that our readers cite the top three qualities
that most influence their choice of company. Here’s what they
said:
1. Job location 37.1%
2. Salary 33.3%
3. Training and educational opportunities 29.7%
4. Benefits package 25.9%
5. Promotion potential 22.2%
6/7. Job description 18.5%
6/7. Company reputation 18.5%
8. Company’s commitment to diversity 11.1%
9. Product or service of company 7.4%
Your Opinions Count
Does your employer offer family-friendly benefits? Just slightly over
one-half of our respondents (53.8%) noted yes —that these perks
included childcare, elder care, health insurance, flextime, and an employee
assistance program (EAP). A sizable (46.2%) of our respondents said
that their employer does not offer these perks.
A large majority of our readers (77.8%), work at home on a regular basis
with 22.2% noting that they do not have to use private time for job
responsibilities.
On the political front, a whopping 90.4% of our readers declared that
they did not belong to an advocacy group or had no affiliation with
such an organization, while 8.6% noted that they were active in an advocacy
association.
When asked if they had been treated differently than their co-workers
or fellow students because of their minority status, two-thirds (66.6%)
stated yes, and one-third (33.4%) said no. In addition, working professionals
were asked whether they had coped with discrimination on the job. The
responses were 61.2% yes, and 38.8% no.
Please advise us if you want Minority Engineer magazine to expand our
survey to additional information by contacting us at Minority Engineer
magazine, 445 Broad Hollow Road, Suite 425, Melville, NY 11747, or e-mail
the editor at jschneider@eop.com.
