What concerns do electronics engineering students have about finding careers in the industry after graduation?

I took a decidely different approach by first becoming an electronics technician.  By starting at the very bottom, I got to see what engineers did and how the circuits were put together.  This experience enabled me to move toward Computer Engineering, where I could specialize in the Hardware/software interface level.  I had seen that few people in the engineering field could navigate both disciplines with the same level of capability.  Having this background and having progressed from just building circuits to designing, building and programming systems made my after graduation decisions very simple.  My current company knew my capabilities and readily paid me a competitive salary because I was a "no" risk hire.

They had also paid for 2/3 of my college expenses while I went for my BS degree.  Yes it took me seven years to go from my AS in electronics to my BS in Computer Engineering, but I had a solid job all the time and it was much easier for me to convince people of my value long before I graduated.

With my solid background, I had little difficulty in changing companies as by then I was well known in the engineering community and most companies in the area had someone on their staff who had worked with me and advised their bosses that I was a good hire.

So based upon my experience, I would suggest that you try to get into a company at a low level, either doing summer help or parttime entry level work.  Once you are in, there are a lot of opportunities for you to exploit as you progress towards your degree.

DAB

I took a decidely different approach by first becoming an electronics technician.  By starting at the very bottom, I got to see what engineers did and how the circuits were put together.  This experience enabled me to move toward Computer Engineering, where I could specialize in the Hardware/software interface level.  I had seen that few people in the engineering field could navigate both disciplines with the same level of capability.  Having this background and having progressed from just building circuits to designing, building and programming systems made my after graduation decisions very simple.  My current company knew my capabilities and readily paid me a competitive salary because I was a "no" risk hire.

They had also paid for 2/3 of my college expenses while I went for my BS degree.  Yes it took me seven years to go from my AS in electronics to my BS in Computer Engineering, but I had a solid job all the time and it was much easier for me to convince people of my value long before I graduated.

With my solid background, I had little difficulty in changing companies as by then I was well known in the engineering community and most companies in the area had someone on their staff who had worked with me and advised their bosses that I was a good hire.

So based upon my experience, I would suggest that you try to get into a company at a low level, either doing summer help or parttime entry level work.  Once you are in, there are a lot of opportunities for you to exploit as you progress towards your degree.

DAB