NEDA Education Foundation

Industry Careers

We're Looking For You

Electronic component distributors and manufacturers offer challenging career opportunities for college graduates. This global industry is actively seeking to recruit new talent from the recent graduate pool. There are a number of job functions well suited to college graduates with degrees in Industrial Distribution, Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering, and Business.

A 2005 survey conducted by EE Evaluation Engineering found that the median salary of 718 electronics exempt employees was $75,000. The electronics industry is comprised predominantly of highly educated employees – undergraduate degrees and higher with manufacturers hiring specialized degree candidates (engineering, the sciences, business specialties, etc.) and distributors hiring more varied degrees.

Typically, entry positions are trainees or junior managers in industrial sales, product inventory management, marketing and operations. The industry offers competitive compensation packages and advancement opportunities. The opportunities in electronic distribution highlighted in this career guide are not all-inclusive. Among the additional career opportunities you may also find jobs in the following functional areas:

  • Accounting – Accounts payable, Accounts receivable, etc.
  • Finance – Financial analyst, Investor relations

  • Trade Compliance – Import/Export Specialist

  • Strategic Accounts – National Accounts Manager, Strategic Accounts Manager

  • Supply Chain Management – SCM Specialist, SCM Program Manager

Account/Sales Representative

  • Sell products and services
  • Communicate the firm's value proposition to customers
  • Create market awareness and demand for products and services
  • Based on the 2006 NEDA Compensation Study, (using 2005 data) and depending on company size, mean salaries range from $43,000 - $55,000

Technical Account/Sales Representative

  • Provide technical support to customers in order to sell products and services.
  • Participate in and/or conduct technical training for customers
  • Identify and qualify design opportunities and assist in design registration and design win documentation
  • Based on the 2006 NEDA Compensation Study, (using 2005 data) and depending on company size, mean salaries range from $30,000 - $50,000

Inside Sales Representative

  • Provide proactive support to customers within assigned account list through in-bound and out-bound support activities.
  • Support the customer and outside sales force
  • Sales prospecting and lead follow through
  • Based on the 2006 NEDA Compensation Study, (using 2005 data) mean salary is in the $35,000 range

Operations Specialist/Manager

  • Responsible for performing and/or directing the activities of distribution center associates in processing customer orders to meet objectives including warehouse safety, quality, and productivity
  • Depending on company size, salary ranges should fall between $38,000 and $63,000 per year

Product Manager

  • Responsible for promoting and supporting either the supplier(s) product line or specific product family(ies)

  • Work with the supplier(s), sales force, and management to develop, implement, and execute the joint supplier/product business plan

  • Based on the 2006 NEDA Compensation Study, (using 2005 data) mean salary ranges from $45,000 to $53,000

 

 

 


































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