[JL] The smart grid is a very broad industry, with opportunities for student with both technical and business backgrounds.  On the technical side, it is important for young engineers to understand more about the nature of the electric grid.  The more they understand what “makes the grid tick”, the better prepared they will be to invent the new technologies needed to make the grid smarter and more efficient.  Likewise for students interested in the business side of the smart grid, the more they understand about the market structure and economics of the smart grid, the better prepared they will be to construct business cases, devise product plans, and explain the benefits to regulators , consumers, and utilities.

[JL] Echelon uses a variety of methods to attract new talent – we are active in LinkedIn, working closely with recruiters, and tapping our employees for referrals.

[JL] One great advantage that the smart grid has as an industry is that we have a generation of young people entering the workforce that is conscious of energy as a precious resource to be carefully managed.  Even simple things like being taught from early childhood to turn the lights off when they leave a room has made the idea of conserving energy almost an instinctive behavior.  The next generation of workers also have a growing concern around the impact of energy consumption of the environment.  The smart grid industry can tap into these trends by making available education and other materials that reinforce the idea that energy is an important resource to manage for both economic and environmental reasons and show how the smart grid is an area where young students can have a positive impact and a rewarding career.

[JL] We believe it will remain the same.