Hello everyone,
I recently graduated with a degree in electronic engineering and have been learning PCB design for a year. Initially, I studied analog and digital electronics. After that, I reviewed and built power supplies, converters, radios, and microphones.
However, I am currently stuck. When I apply for PCB design jobs, I see that they often require 3-4 years of experience in this field.
What can I do to further develop myself, undertake bigger projects, and reach a level where I can find a job? I would appreciate any advice you can give. Please make sure your suggestions are based on experience and realistic.
Thank you!

 

Are you sure you want a job that just consists of pcb design? I've done a lot of pcb design in my career, but that is because it has never been seen by anyone I have worked for as being separate from electronics design.

 

Ask yourself where you want to see yourself five and ten years from now. Do you have some passion for PCB design? Few people do, but there certainly are some and they tend to be well-paid and in high demand. But that's because their passion leads that into do very demanding PCB design tasks, which almost always involves a high degree of specialization coupled with a deep understanding of both the theory and the practice of circuits in that specialty. If that describes you, the start trying to decide what kind of PCB design you want to do and start studying the circuits and the theory behind them, seeking out as much information about how PCB layout affects those kinds of circuits and how to design for them. At the same time, start identifying employers that design those kinds of circuits and boards and start talking to them to get their advice on how to break into their world. In many cases, it will will be to get an entry level job as an electronics engineer, probably with little or no expectation that you will be involved in board design. That's fine. You have your foot in the door, and in many companies, big and small, making lateral moves is a lot easier than getting hired into them. You are in a position to identify people and positions that are a move in the direction you want to go and to then start talking to them and asking them if you can help them out or what you can do to position yourself to move into their area. Go out of your way to impress them.