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What is the nature of electromagnetic waves? I've been an engineer for over eight years, and I've never really thought about it. I can't ask the engineers around me to give a clear answer. I only know that on a spectrum analyzer, it looks like a petal-like peak. The thicker the signal, the better, and ideally, it should be a straight line. If the lower body gets too thick, it's not a good sign. The boss might ask why the phase noise isn't up to standard. On an oscilloscope, it looks like an open eye—bigger is better. If you're tired or have dark circles under your eyes, the manager will notice, and the engineer may have to rush to find the problem.
I remember Maxwell’s equations from college. I didn’t understand them then, and now I’ve forgotten them. Even if I think about them, it doesn’t matter. I just blame Maxwell for creating the theory of electromagnetic waves, which has caused me so much trouble. Finally, I have to use resistors and inductors. After experimenting, I realize this is the life of an engineer.
I've experienced the scenes I described above. I believe many other engineers face similar situations. Late at night, debugging without success, feeling frustrated and exhausted on the bus. I suddenly wondered if the problems were due to interference from alien signals, so I wrote a sci-fi novel called *Intelligent Electromagnetic Wave*. It was written in the pain of a radio engineer suffering from multiple failures, but I accidentally uncovered a huge conspiracy hidden deep in the Internet. A silk engineer then took on the mission of saving the planet.
Closer to home, this article mainly discusses the career path of engineers. The electromagnetic engineers mentioned earlier are just one example; RF engineers, high-speed digital engineers, intelligent hardware engineers, and module engineers all share similar challenges. They are all engineers. Let me start by recalling my early days after university.
It's undeniable that Chinese university education is out of touch with practical needs. Many students who become engineers don’t realize what they’re getting into at first. Their understanding of engineering comes from media or reports—either heroic stories or tragic ones of depression and suicide. These aren’t the full picture. On the other hand, university teaching materials lag behind industry practices, focusing more on theory than hands-on experience. Old lab equipment also fails to match current industry standards. As a result, students enter the workforce confused and uncertain, becoming engineers without truly understanding the role.
On the first day of work, HR smiles and tells new graduates that there are two development paths: management and technical. Both are independent, and senior technical experts can earn the same salary as a president. New engineers, thinking they lack social skills, decide to be honest and hardworking. They believe that through effort, they might eventually reach the same level as top executives, even if not exactly, they’ll get half the salary. So they make a life-changing decision and start working hard.
But soon, they discover that the skills taught in college don’t match real-world engineering. Some engineers secretly look for shortcuts. Those who relied on diligence and self-restraint during college find their efforts useless, worth only a few hundred dollars. This is the harsh reality of the profession.
In the first few months or even a couple of years, engineers are usually happy. Although rent is expensive and living space is small, they finally earn their own money. Overtime means no girlfriend, but it's worth it for now. However, after two or three years, complaints begin. Salaries seem low, and engineers frequently switch jobs. After jumping between companies, they realize that no matter where they go, the situation is similar. Whether in state-owned enterprises, foreign firms, or private companies, they still don’t get what they want. They complain about overtime, and it doesn’t matter if it's only a year or two after graduation.
The saying goes, "No one goes to hell unless they have to." Now, they realize their bodies aren't as strong as when they graduated, and they have to start a family. Soon, they'll be older and need to support their children. Some complain about company unfairness, and after three years, a few are called in for a talk. The general message is that their technical skills are insufficient and their attitude isn't right. Company evaluations are placed there, and they have to decide whether to deduct bonuses or persuade them to leave. At this point, they wake up from a dream, unsure how to grow within the company. Even their job security becomes a concern.
Engineers and students continue to endure for seven or eight years, working hard for their families. When they reach their mid-30s, they feel stuck, with little progress. The dream of earning half a president's salary remains unfulfilled. Overtime continues, and when they consider changing jobs, they lose the courage. They think it over and over, hiding in corners, sometimes drinking too much. Capitalists see the pain points of engineers and begin to pay less. If people are lazy, they sacrifice them in the name of cost-cutting. The idea of lazy workers not being paid disappears.
These complaints are common among many engineers. Of course, after seven or eight years of struggle, a few engineers manage to rise through talent, vision, and hard work. They achieve what they want without relying on social connections. But the question is: how many are actually successful? In the absence of a communist system, most engineers are likely to feel lost. In the primary stage of socialism, individual growth and freedom are limited by various realities.
Firstly, most Chinese companies today follow imitation. Most engineers work in industrial production or technical maintenance, not mastering high-tech. While some foreign companies have core technologies, these positions are not in China. Therefore, engineers don't have irreplaceable skills, making them easily replaceable. A younger person can take their place at a lower cost. This situation should gradually change, especially in fields like AI, 5G, and quantum communication, where China is now on par with global giants. Companies like Alibaba and Huawei offer high-paying roles, but such opportunities are still rare and take time to emerge.
Additionally, while engineers complain, entrepreneurs also complain about high costs. This is because China's market economy is imperfect, and enterprise competitiveness is weak. Foreign companies dominate the market, forcing local businesses to cut labor costs and extend working hours. This situation will change with reforms led by the Party Central Committee. It's good in the long run, and the 19th National Congress report gave us confidence. But for engineers, gaining a sense of fulfillment is still difficult in the short term.
With so many obstacles that are hard to overcome quickly, what should engineers do? I'm not sure, but based on my own experiences, I’ve summarized three pieces of advice:
First, stay committed to your industry. Don’t change jobs easily. Only through perseverance will you gain expertise and reach a certain level.
Second, don’t focus solely on technology. Develop interpersonal skills. Be respectful but not overly flattering. Communicate clearly with leaders and colleagues to avoid conflicts.
Third, take care of your health. Cultivate hobbies and maintain physical fitness. Health is the foundation of everything.
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