4 answers
Kiana
Student
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
1
Question
Asked
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As a master's student in biomedical engineering, I want to know the best areas to begin my career and develop my skills. I am curious about which concentration areas are recommended by professionals, particularly for recent graduates who want to focus on biomedical product engineering. Is it possible to find a job without work experience, and which skills should I improve to increase my chances of getting hired??
As a master's student in biomedical engineering, I want to know the best areas to begin my career and develop my skills. I am curious about which concentration areas are recommended by professionals, particularly for recent graduates who want to focus on biomedical product engineering. Is it possible to find a job without work experience, and which skills should I improve to increase my chances of getting hired?
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4 answers
Robert Epstein
General Manager
56
Answers
Naples, Florida
Updated
Robert’s Answer
I know how you feel. When I started out, it was a challenge to pick a particular area to concentrate. What worked for me was: Try them one at a time in the coming years and see if it feels fulfilling. You can ALWAYS pick another field to pursue.
Here’s how I characterize the 3 major areas:
1. Invent or design devices – To come up with something new requires a love for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Are you a naturally creative person? Do you like artistic things? Are you an early purchaser of the latest cutting edge technology (or do you wait till it’s on the market for a while)?
2. Improve or update them for greater usability – Do you almost automatically think of better ways to improve things in your daily life? Do you ask yourself questions like, “That’s a great TV remote controller, but I wonder how I could adapt it so that my grandmother could use it from her hospital bed?”
3. Be part of the after-sales client repair/service team – Fixing high tech devices requires a mind-set for quickly diagnosing a problem and efficiently troubleshooting it. This can be done both in a factory setting or with direct customer interaction at their site. Have you enjoyed fixing things where you live? Do you think you’d like face-to-face interactions with medical personnel?
Let me now suggest some additional classes or skills that may give you an edge in getting hired. (I’m sure there are more, but this is my best initial response)
For area number 1:
Anatomy & Physiology (the basics)
Robotics (the wave of the future in manufacturing, and in the user’s workplace)
Market Research techniques (how to determine what the user really wants)
Statistics and Probabilities (determine the likelihood that a design feature will be successful)
Artificial Intelligence (especially knowing its inherent limitations and assumptions)
Industrial Design (how to create user-friendly designs)
For area number 2:
Anatomy & Physiology
Market Research techniques
Industrial Design
For area number 3:
Anatomy & Physiology
Communication Skills Training
Again, for truly successful engineers, I feel it’s important that they have HANDS-ON technical hobbies or activities in their daily life.
By the way, have you considered becoming a key player in a hospital’s Biomedical Engineering department? It uses all your technical skills, including equipment selection and repair, plus working directly with doctors and medical professionals.
Kiana, I think you’re ahead of game with your Master’s degree and the your insightful desire to seek answers from those already in the field. Keep up the great work!
Here’s how I characterize the 3 major areas:
1. Invent or design devices – To come up with something new requires a love for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Are you a naturally creative person? Do you like artistic things? Are you an early purchaser of the latest cutting edge technology (or do you wait till it’s on the market for a while)?
2. Improve or update them for greater usability – Do you almost automatically think of better ways to improve things in your daily life? Do you ask yourself questions like, “That’s a great TV remote controller, but I wonder how I could adapt it so that my grandmother could use it from her hospital bed?”
3. Be part of the after-sales client repair/service team – Fixing high tech devices requires a mind-set for quickly diagnosing a problem and efficiently troubleshooting it. This can be done both in a factory setting or with direct customer interaction at their site. Have you enjoyed fixing things where you live? Do you think you’d like face-to-face interactions with medical personnel?
Let me now suggest some additional classes or skills that may give you an edge in getting hired. (I’m sure there are more, but this is my best initial response)
For area number 1:
Anatomy & Physiology (the basics)
Robotics (the wave of the future in manufacturing, and in the user’s workplace)
Market Research techniques (how to determine what the user really wants)
Statistics and Probabilities (determine the likelihood that a design feature will be successful)
Artificial Intelligence (especially knowing its inherent limitations and assumptions)
Industrial Design (how to create user-friendly designs)
For area number 2:
Anatomy & Physiology
Market Research techniques
Industrial Design
For area number 3:
Anatomy & Physiology
Communication Skills Training
Again, for truly successful engineers, I feel it’s important that they have HANDS-ON technical hobbies or activities in their daily life.
By the way, have you considered becoming a key player in a hospital’s Biomedical Engineering department? It uses all your technical skills, including equipment selection and repair, plus working directly with doctors and medical professionals.
Kiana, I think you’re ahead of game with your Master’s degree and the your insightful desire to seek answers from those already in the field. Keep up the great work!
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Kiana
Best of luck!!
Robert Epstein
FANTASTIC advice, Robert! This is an awesome question for you. Glad you saw it. Great to see you active on CareerVillage!
yoonji KIM, Admin
Robert Epstein
General Manager
56
Answers
Naples, Florida
Updated
Robert’s Answer
Yes, I started my career without direct work experience. Here’s how:
When our company hired biomedical engineering grads, they looked for folks with hobbies having hands-on skills and experience, in addition to academic performance. They gave preference to those who built or repaired their own devices. Even things like designing or repairing a complex audio/video system or automotive/robotics/computer projects, gives you an edge. Given comparable grade-point averages, I’ve hired product engineers who built their own radio transmitter or fixed their own car over someone who just studied books.
Medical product engineering is a broad field. Decide if you prefer to:
invent or design devices
improve or update them for greater usability
be part of the after-sales client repair/service team
Depending on which of these three you prefer, I can recommend specific skills or classes that would help improve your hiring chances. Remember, you can always switch areas over time.
When our company hired biomedical engineering grads, they looked for folks with hobbies having hands-on skills and experience, in addition to academic performance. They gave preference to those who built or repaired their own devices. Even things like designing or repairing a complex audio/video system or automotive/robotics/computer projects, gives you an edge. Given comparable grade-point averages, I’ve hired product engineers who built their own radio transmitter or fixed their own car over someone who just studied books.
Medical product engineering is a broad field. Decide if you prefer to:
invent or design devices
improve or update them for greater usability
be part of the after-sales client repair/service team
Depending on which of these three you prefer, I can recommend specific skills or classes that would help improve your hiring chances. Remember, you can always switch areas over time.
Thanks for the help.
Kiana
Thank you so much for this helpful response. Can you please recommend the skills or classes that would help me improve my hiring chances?
Kiana
Hi Kiana,
There are many skills I’d be happy to suggest. Please let me know which one of the 3 areas I mentioned appeals to you most at this time. Then I can give you specific skills & classes.
Robert Epstein
There's no need for a quick answer. Maybe think about it for a day or 2, if you wish.
Robert Epstein
If possible all these 3 areas.
Kiana
Gina Saad
Biomedical engineer
2
Answers
Beirut, Beirut Governorate, Lebanon
Updated
Gina’s Answer
In my opinion, the best start is to work some years as sales and application specialist with a company who sell medical devices, this work could learn you too much about the market, the field of biomedical because you will be in contact with customers such as hospitals, labs, universities, doctors and nurses and with time you will get many skills, as communication skills, listening skills, problems solving skills which one of the most important skills in this domain, time management skills, reporting skills, customer services skills and much more. as soon as you enter the market you will move from job to another easily and as sales it is not very difficult to find job sometimes, they request fresh graduated engineers. good luck.
Thank you, Gina for the advice.
Kiana
Hasan Mostaghimi
Chief Operating Officer
16
Answers
Sacramento, California
Updated
Hasan’s Answer
One of the best areas to begin your career in biomedical engineering is medical device design and development. This area of biomedical engineering focuses on the design, manufacture, testing, and marketing of medical devices and products. This includes everything from pacemakers to intraocular lenses, and provides the opportunity to work closely with many different types of medical professionals and engineers.
To increase your chances of getting hired, it is important to develop your technical skills, such as software engineering, product design and development, and manufacturing. Additionally, having experience with regulatory compliance and medical device standards can also be beneficial. Having a strong understanding of the medical industry, and the ability to work collaboratively with both medical and engineering professionals, is also an important skill.
It is possible to find a job without work experience, but having some prior experience and a strong portfolio of work can give you an advantage when applying for biomedical engineering positions. Additionally, networking and building relationships with professionals in the field can open up opportunities and provide helpful advice.
To increase your chances of getting hired, it is important to develop your technical skills, such as software engineering, product design and development, and manufacturing. Additionally, having experience with regulatory compliance and medical device standards can also be beneficial. Having a strong understanding of the medical industry, and the ability to work collaboratively with both medical and engineering professionals, is also an important skill.
It is possible to find a job without work experience, but having some prior experience and a strong portfolio of work can give you an advantage when applying for biomedical engineering positions. Additionally, networking and building relationships with professionals in the field can open up opportunities and provide helpful advice.
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Kiana