Chapter 2 Career Opportunities in Electronics 25 Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs own and operate their own businesses. Th ese small businesses make up 99% of businesses and provide 48% of the jobs in the United States. Entrepreneurships usually start with an idea for fi lling a hole in the marketplace where a new product or service is needed. Th en a business plan is made. Th is plan outlines goals for the business, along with a timetable for meeting those goals. Th is plan is vital if the business is to succeed. In addition to a sound business plan, a successful entrepreneur possesses certain skills. Th e entrepreneur has knowledge of a certain industry, service, or product. Th is knowledge allows the owner to make smart business decisions about what is being sold. For instance, an appliance service technician needs knowledge of the appliance being serviced. If this is not the case, the business will fail. Th e successful entrepreneur also has sound management skills. Th ese skills allow the owner to manage money, time, and employees. Th ese skills allow the business owner to control the business and move it in the right direction. Entrepreneurship opportunities are vast in the electronics industry. With the growth in consumer electronics products, similar growth has occurred in servicing these products. Support of the offi ce products industry also allows for many business opportunities. Servicing of home appliances continues to be a steady business in the electronics industry. Consulting is yet another growing business in the electronics industry. Consultants work for clients on projects. Th e specifi c job they do depends on what work is needed. Consultants are often asked to analyze, fi x, or improve a certain aspect of a client’s business. Th e consultant is paid by the client. When the job is completed, the consultant is free to move on to a new job and client. 2.2.3 Career Information Sources An excellent reference on careers in many industries is the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Th is book is published by the Department of Labor and Bureau of Statistics. Most public and secondary school libraries have copies of this book. Th e book can also be viewed online. Another reference on careers is the Advance CTE website. It provides detailed career pathways to help students choose the right course of study for their careers. School guidance counselors are another outstanding source of career information. Th ey can help you fi nd information on particular careers, two- and four-year colleges that off er programs in areas that you are interested in, and training programs through trade schools and the military services. Guidance counselors are well informed and always ready to help when asked. 2.2.4 Education Th e educational requirements for jobs in the electronics industry vary, Figure 2-8. However, a minimum of a high school education is a solid foundation on which to build. Basic math and reading skills are a must in order to succeed in the fi eld of electronics. Some high school graduates enter industry directly and receive specialized education in the training programs off ered by large companies. Many of these workers do not stop at this point, however. Th ey continue to study and read to keep abreast of all the changes and new technologies that develop in this industry. Siemens Figure 2-7. This research engineer is testing a device that her team designed. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.