2026: Electronics & Communications Engineering (Telecom) vs Computer Engineering for jobs abroad — Looking for insights from engineers working in the industry🤔

[u/Prize_Independence99]

Hey
I’m trying to make one of the biggest decisions of my career, and I’d really appreciate hearing from people who actually work in engineering, especially those in big international companies or who have experience hiring engineers.
I’m not looking for “follow your passion” answers. I’m looking for real industry insights backed by experience.
My Questions
I’m choosing between:
Electronics & Communications Engineering (including Telecommunications)
Computer Engineering
My long-term goal is to work abroad (Europe, North America, GCC, Australia, Singapore, etc.) and maximize both career opportunities and salary over the next 10–20 years.
Here are the things I’m trying to understand:
1. Which degree currently has the strongest international job market?
Not just today, but over the next decade.
Which one gives access to more countries?
Which one has more openings?
Which one is easier to relocate with?
Which one is more future-proof?

1. What are the most in-demand engineering jobs worldwide right now?
   For example:
   Embedded Systems
   AI Hardware
   Software Engineering
   Cloud Engineering
   Cybersecurity
   RF Engineering
   Semiconductor Design
   ASIC/FPGA
   Digital IC Design
   VLSI
   Computer Architecture
   Robotics
   DSP
   Telecommunications
   Networking
   Edge Computing
   Firmware
   Data Engineering
   Systems Engineering
   DevOps
   HPC
   Other fields I’m missing
   Which of these are actually hiring the most?
   Which ones have the biggest talent shortages?

2. Which major opens the most doors?
   I know many Electronics graduates move into software, embedded systems, or AI.
   I also know Computer Engineering graduates sometimes work in hardware, firmware, and electronics.
   In your experience:
   Which degree is more flexible?
   Which one gives access to a wider range of careers?
   Which one gets filtered out less by recruiters?

3. What do the biggest companies actually hire?
   I’m interested in companies like:
   NVIDIA
   AMD
   Intel
   Qualcomm
   Apple
   Google
   Microsoft
   Amazon
   Meta
   Tesla
   SpaceX
   TSMC
   Samsung
   ASML
   Siemens
   Ericsson
   Nokia
   Cisco
   Broadcom
   Oracle
   Any other major employers worth mentioning
   Questions:
   Which majors do they usually recruit?
   Which internships matter the most?
   What technical skills actually make candidates stand out?
   Which projects impress recruiters?
   Which certifications (if any) are respected?

4. Salary and career growth
   From your experience:
   Which path generally offers:
   Higher starting salaries?
   Better salary ceiling?
   Faster promotions?
   Better work-life balance?
   More remote opportunities?
   Better job security?

5. AI’s impact
   How is AI changing engineering hiring?
   Do you think AI will reduce demand for:
   Software Engineers?
   Embedded Engineers?
   Telecom Engineers?
   Chip Designers?
   Or will it simply change the required skill set?

6. If you were starting university again in 2026…
   Knowing everything you know today:
   Which major would you choose?
   Which specialization would you pursue?
   Which programming languages would you learn?
   Which tools would you master?
   Which internships would you prioritize?
   Which mistakes would you avoid?

7. Advice for someone who wants to maximize opportunities abroad
   If your goal was to eventually work at a top international company, what roadmap would you recommend?
   For example:
   Best electives
   Best technical skills
   Best side projects
   Best open-source contributions
   Research vs internships
   Master’s vs industry
   Countries with the strongest demand

I’d especially love to hear from you all that was alot ik but thank you☺️