Electrical engineering is concerned with generating and supplying power, whilst electronic engineering is about designing and making machines that use that power.

Electrical engineers work mainly in power stations and generating plants and electronic engineers work in a wide range of industries that use electricity or make products that use electricity.

Wherever people are using electricity, you'll find electrical and electronic engineers behind the scenes:

• designing wind generators
• controlling satellites
• automating factories
• getting the microwave to cook at the right temperature

What qualifications have you got? Seriously, there are opportunities for all kinds of people in electrical and electronic engineering. There are openings for:

Modern apprentices who want to earn while they learn, rather than doing A levels. You'll need good GCSEs for this option and it could lead to a good job or university, depending on how you want to play your career.

Graduates, are people who have studied for a degree at university - usually in electrical/electronic engineering or a related subject. You'll probably need science and maths A levels or an advanced GNVQ to get in, but nowadays there are alternative entry qualifications

Electricians - they're always late (and they fix dodgy wiring for you).

People who like to put knives into toasters

Anyone who enjoyed maths, design and technology and science (especially the bits where you played with wires and batteries) at school.

Cashpoint machines - without them you'd spend the rest of your life queuing in the bank. And Saturday nights wouldn't be quite the same.

Power stations and electric lights - saved us from the romance of candlelight, every single night.

Satellites - truly awful television channels (but the chance to switch over to another one).

Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE)

British Computer Society (BCS)