The public's view of our profession in the US
The public's view of our profession in the US
(OP)
Recently I've read a lot about how the engineering profession is not viewed by the public like it used to be. The authors of these articles speak about how we have lost ground to other professions such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc, in the eye of the public. These authors (for example NCEE representatives) go on to blame the educational system stating the traditional 4 year undergraduate engineering degree is not what it used to be. They state today's degree is a watered down version of what was taught 30 or 40 years ago and that Universities need to add a couple more years of course work to the requirements of obtaining an engineering degree.
I think that is nonsense. I've believe our problem with how we are perceived by the public is how we conduct ourselves at work.
First of all start with the current dress code at most companies across the US today. An engineer used to wear a tie to work. The dress code these days seems to be dress casual. I frequently observe co-workers wearing t-shirts, blue jeans (worn out)and sneakers. Most don't even bother to iron their shirts anymore even if they do wear one with a collar. I also see co-workers who will go a week or so without shaving and others who rarely keep a neat and trim haircut. What kind of impression does this give to those who come in contact with us who are not engineers? I know in my factory most production asssociates can't distinsh a technician from an engineer and I suspect this is one of the reasons why.
Second of all I think some (not all) engineers have become complacent in their jobs. This again gives the wrong impression to those who we work with that aren't engineers. These associates often form a negative view about the skills of engineers and then pass their views about engineers onto family member, friends, etc.
Third engineers today are just considered staff to upper management. My father who has worked on the manufacturing line for nearly 35 years speaks of the days when engineers were considered part of management and were referred to as management. Now days we are just called staff. Our job has no prestige. Today we have salaried associates with no degrees or some sort of Bachelor of Arts degree higher up on the corporate ladder than all the engineers in the company.
Just my two cents on this topic. What is your opinion(s)?
I think that is nonsense. I've believe our problem with how we are perceived by the public is how we conduct ourselves at work.
First of all start with the current dress code at most companies across the US today. An engineer used to wear a tie to work. The dress code these days seems to be dress casual. I frequently observe co-workers wearing t-shirts, blue jeans (worn out)and sneakers. Most don't even bother to iron their shirts anymore even if they do wear one with a collar. I also see co-workers who will go a week or so without shaving and others who rarely keep a neat and trim haircut. What kind of impression does this give to those who come in contact with us who are not engineers? I know in my factory most production asssociates can't distinsh a technician from an engineer and I suspect this is one of the reasons why.
Second of all I think some (not all) engineers have become complacent in their jobs. This again gives the wrong impression to those who we work with that aren't engineers. These associates often form a negative view about the skills of engineers and then pass their views about engineers onto family member, friends, etc.
Third engineers today are just considered staff to upper management. My father who has worked on the manufacturing line for nearly 35 years speaks of the days when engineers were considered part of management and were referred to as management. Now days we are just called staff. Our job has no prestige. Today we have salaried associates with no degrees or some sort of Bachelor of Arts degree higher up on the corporate ladder than all the engineers in the company.
Just my two cents on this topic. What is your opinion(s)?





RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
1. The dress code has changed because people have changed. I see no reason to wear a tie or any other semi-formal attire to work. If you will be in touch with the public or a client on a particular day, then yes dress up. I believe most engineers practice this type of dressing so not many clients/public see the engineer running around with worn out levis, tennis shoes, and a t-shirt (exactly what I have on now).
2. I would agree to a degree that engineers have become complacent but I would add that everyone has become a bit more complacent (all careers) due to the corporate environment which we are suppossed to be so loyal too. With all the corporate corruption, illegal activities, and the way employees are treated now is way different than 20 years ago and it reflects in the employees attitudes.
3. This one is addressed in the above.
I believe the biggest reasons go with your number three above; corporate view of engineers, engineers being replaced with pseudo-engineers (as defined in another thread), and the new view of engineers by the public (you know everyone is an engineer, the garbage man, the boiler technician, etc).
I don't believe things have went to much down hill (although they have some). I do see many cases of lack of knowledge about what engineers do but there are still many people who know what engineers are and what it takes to become one. I recently had a lady tell me that engineers were her babies and she just loved engineers because of all the hard work that most do. No she was not flirting with me (I dont think - hehe).
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
The dumming down of America is going at an exponential rate. It use to take 10,000 chimps with typewriters centuries to write Shakespear. Now it takes 3 or 4 with word processors a week to write a TV script.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Some of the people at my job dress like complete slobs (and they are disgusting).
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
In a UK newspaper there was a poll several years to find out who was the best known engineer to its readers. The result - a car mechanic in a TV soap. He even beat "Scotty" from Star Trek!
In the world of the media, particularly TV, the only time I ever hear the right terminolgy is in Formula 1: "The race engineer directing his skilled team technicians...".
I was a prosecution witness in a court case recently where one of the defence's main tactics was to point out that the alleged victims (including me) were all well-paid well-educated professional people, unlike the poor defendent. When the defence lawyer asked for my profession, I looked him in the eye and said "Engineer". His face dropped.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
First of all what engineers? Civil, electrical, computer, mechanical, bio, chemical, automotive? All of us? I don't really think you can generalize to all types of engineers.
Second, people don't dress like that where I work. We don't wear ties, but we arn't slobs, and the engineers I work with dress just like the business people and the lawyers etc. I have worked as a consultant and I never came across an organization that dressed as you described. So I guess that proves you are wrong. (Please people stop making a case based on a narrow observation. Where you work is not the world!)
No one complacent in our organization, we're too busy...
In our organization engineers are where the next managers come from. So I don't get your point about staff.
Finally, I suppose that for most of the public, their impression of engineers comes from TV. So what do you expect? I am also a bit PO'd about the portrait TV paints of fathers, but that is the current fad. Fathers are stupid, engineers are geeks. In the Houston area if you say you are an engineer people automatically think of NASA, so I guess we have here at least one geographical area where engineers are well thought of by the public. Also if you are on jury duty and put engineer on your forms, it almost always gets you out because lawyers want jurors to make their decision on emotion, not facts and analysis.
But most of the doom and gloom types on this board will point out that engineering as a profession is going down the toilet, we should enjoy our jobs while we can because all engineering is soon to be done by people in India, and that engineers in the US will be paid minimum wage, if they can find a job at all. So what difference does it make?
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Maybe we need a reality TV show involving Army Engineers, or SeeBees, or something along those lines.
Being able to perform pontoon bridge construction, obstacle breaching, airstrip building, or water line laying under shelling and direct fire would add a dimension to the engineering arts not oft' seen!
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I will allow that television certainly influences public perception of all jobs, even all types of people. It does depend on what is being watched. I, of course, lean heavily towards the Discovery channel(s) and miss the glory days of Junkyard Wars. Of course, even those people are not quite "true" engineers.
I think in the US there is somewhat of a double standard between pride for the working man who gets his hands dirty and respect for the power of the suits in their cushy offices. Engineers are somewhere in between, and I am happy with that.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
If you are so fed up with posts like this then why do you even bother to reply to them. The post was never meant to be anything more than an off topic friendly discussion. It was an opinion of perception in my area and I asked everyone's opinion for their area. I do value your response even if a little harsh.
Ask yourself this question. If you asked anyone in your company other than the engineers what they thought about the engineers in your company I bet most would respond negatively.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
The only movie that I can remember which has a pseudo structural engineer plays a major role is Arlington Avenue.
In the media, if they even talk about structural engineers, usually some sort of failure took place just prior.
I suppose if I don't hear about my profession in the news, all of us are doing our jobs right...
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Ciao.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
you missed the out on the pun!
...an ironworker will STEEL the show :)
this probably points out why there aren't any sit-coms based on engineers...
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Until they know, they won't care about us.
We're the hidden profession- we're only noticed when we screw up. The public has little direct interaction with us, though what we do underpins their very existence. As Kipling said, we're the Sons of Martha- making the world safe for the dreamers and thinkers.
As to dress code: the quickest way to discredit yourself in my business is to show up in a suit and tie. Nobody will take you seriously because you're afraid to get your hands dirty- you sit behind a computer screen or push a pencil all day! We dress practically and we look like our customers. In my opinion, and in the expressed opinion of many of my customers, too many self-important consultants running around in suits and ties, generating drawings and specs on paper with basically zero accountability to the client beyond generating new drawings and specs if their original design doesn't work out- these people are much more responsible for a decrease in our profession's esteem than any change in dress code.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I would modify that "to show up dressed inappropriately". A suit and tie might be right for some events and in some environments, and altogether wrong in others. Dress properly for the occasion.
Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Molten metal my opinion is same as yours.
Too strong a comment! I do not know how the PEs will react.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
1) I believe the quality of the qualifications has decreased since the advent of higher education fees. Prior to this when higher education was totally funded by the Government universities had strict admission quotas and were more than willing to fail every student should they not come up to par. These days I am seeing that quotas are increasing and the performance bar is decreasing as more "bums on seats" equals to greater revenues within the universities plus there are incentives offered by government per student etc etc. Universities are now a business enterprise for undergraduate studies rather than learning facilities.
2) There is now a new breed of engineer (again not all), one that is on contract rates within large consultancies who creates documentation and designs without ever taking responsibility and when problems arise, leaves and goes on contract salary at another large firm needing resources. This type of engineer is not only inept but I personally believe this is in breach of ones ethical responsibility as a professional engineer. This in turn creates a negative perception for the majority of competent and hard working engineers
3) Ego - Those that for some reason need themselves to be perceived as above other professions (as well as those in there own).
Personally I love what I do. Not for others or for society recognition, but because I get a kick out of it which is enough for me. There is nothing comparable to feeling of solving a problem that almost brings one to the brink of violent apoplexy in the process.
I personally don't view medical doctors in any higher regard than I do a shop salesman as the salesman could be exceptional at his job while the doctor could pardon my language be a complete ass in his profession. One's external perception is derived by one's competencies and one's interactions within their occupational fraternity, be them good or bad.
To try and put it as succinctly as I can, if a town called Somewhere Over the Hill, in the country of NoName has a lower opinion of Engineers then so be it, why?? Because I honestly couldn't care less; I am happy, I have money to to provide for my family. At the end of the day we go to work to earn money so we can live outside of work, if you have this you are lucky, if you enjoy it while your at it then you are blessed.
Enjoy your life, those you have as friends and loved ones, they have the opinions that count. Does it really matter what society thinks about a job someone else does.
This post is in no way intended as a slight on any posting here, more it is a reminder to me that society seems more driven by materialistic ambition and personal gratification, than on quality.
I work for myself and my loved ones, not for any other reason. Most people wouldn't even think to rate the professions unless given a survey they aren't really interested in responding to anyway.
Just my 2 cents. I'm off my soap box now.
K.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Regarding dress: Today I'll be wearing shorts and a tee shirt. Some days it's khakis, loafers, and a button-up long-sleeve. Occasionally it's the khaki thing with a tie thrown in. It's never a suit unless I'm interviewing.
As someone said above, dress appropriately.
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Bring back the HP-15
www.hp15c.org
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RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I don't want or need a pat on the back for being an engineer. As others have said: it pays the bills and I enjoy it, probably more than many people enjoy other jobs. In that respect I consider myself lucky.
It would just be neat if I could answer the casual: "So what do you do?" questions with a simple, short and clear answer. As it is, my answer normally starts with: "I work for a company that designs and develops....", like I'm trying to show off rather than simply answer the question.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Joe Public at the next social engagement can be your next job contact or reference, but if Joe Public does not know what you do because engineering has become so obscure, you may have missed an opportunity to advance your self. Opportunities do not come often, but if I can up the percentage of chance by educating the public of our profession I would.
It’s not only the issue of causal conversation with people, but the other social endeavors you are trying to achieve. I have seen may of times within social fraternities to community service groups when people want to head up a project and in the back ground you can hear “well what does s/he do for a living?” and may sway how people will help you. It is the ugly truth, but unavoidable.
For the Mechanical Engineers, when you tell them that you are a ME and then ask you where is your garage, I usually say “well it’s on the side of my house, why?”.
Go Mechanical Engineering
Tobalcane
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I don't bother to attempt to impress anyone anymore because it ends up being a moving target and I'm tired of trying to keep up. If people aren't impressed by who I am as a person, then either something is wrong with me or them. From my experiences, its them that have something wrong.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Why do you think dress code matters? The public doesn't commonly walk into an engineering environment. Do you think people would notice that all engineers are dressed up and then change their opinion of engineers? Get real.
This thread is fairly silly.
The engineers that do come to site wearing suits or even ties are the ones that everyone laughs at.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
As for describing what I do at work. I tell people that I boss other people around all day, it's not something I'm ashamed of and it's not something I flaunt. I enjoy getting others to do the work and I enjoy the fact that if need be I can join in on what they're doing and add some variety to my job. I feel that engineers in general are some of the most intelligent and grounded people I know. My two best friends are lawyers and doctors, both hate their peers, the lawyers are predominantly whiners and liars and the doctors are whiners and wussies. Every engineer I know who has gone on to management is a cunning and sly bastard and I hope they never change, sets a good example for the rest of us. Unfortunately our profession is also full of the timid engineers who are willing to accept anything without question and this causes problems for the rest of us who feel pride in our profession and who are not afraid of a confruntation.
Well enough of my rambling, I have to go tell someone to do something.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I think the bad perception of engineers in the U.S. is due to trends in this country. The first is money. There was a time when engineering salaries were not bad compared to other professions, lawyers and the like. No more. Unfortunately, this leads to a lack of respect in a society that worships the almighty dollar.
The second trend is quite scary -- the revival of creationism. Technical people live on facts -- two and two always equals four, if you can see light from a star four billion light years away, the star must be at least four billion years old. But the creationists believe the universe is 10,000 years old, and that anyone arguing otherwise is anti-God.
How serious is it? Several states (Kansas comes to mind) have tried to force the teaching of evolution out of their school systems. Bills are pending in two other states (Ohio is one) which would make it possible for a student to sue a college professor if the professor were to teach evolution.
The third problem is the media. Name a single engineer in a recurring role on a sitcom. I can't. Then consider how engineers and scientists are depicted on television in the drama roles (such as CSI). They're all shown as nerds, with not much of a social life (or homicidal maniacs if they're the bad guys).
By the way, on the dress issue, I worked for a few years on a large fusion research project back in the early 80's. The project had technicians, scientists, engineers, and, of course, the occassional management representative. The technicians wore company coveralls. You could always tell the engineers -- they wore sport coats and ties. The managers were normally seen in three-piece suits. The scientists -- well, T-shirts, cut-offs and sandles were pretty common....
Jim Treglio
Molecular Metallurgy, Inc.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I do agree that people should see the quality of the person and not be judged by the job you have. These people are usually your friends and family, but when you start going to general social networking engagements (golfing outings, tennis round robins, seminars, lectures,…etc) where you can make new contacts, one of the things that you get judged by is what job you have. Information and contacts is key to a successful career and life in general. It is pretty tough to be in a situation where I tell them that I am a ME and the first thought that comes to their mind is that I am a garage mechanic trying to sound important. At that point, I have to educate them of what I do, and then like turning on a light bulb, WOW comes out of there mouths. At that instance, I just went from a lower standing to a higher standing. Once you have established this standing with strangers, you can cultivate a contact relationship with that person.
Go Mechanical Engineering
Tobalcane
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Thanks
SC
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
"Joey" - Joey's nephew is an aerospace engineer, smart, too.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I think I've seen Joey a few times, and if I remember correctly the nephew's a nerd. Why? Because Hollywood writers just believe that anyone with brains has to be a nerd, especially if they can do any math. For reference, I have three sons. One's a lawyer, one's an economist, and one's a chemist. Guess which one is the athelete and frat boy married to a beautiful gal? You guessed it -- the chemist.
Jim Treglio
Molecular Metallurgy, Inc.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I have visions of a talkshow about building bridges, revamping distillation columns, debugging accounting software... engineers, customers, suppliers and HR managers embrace each other, break out in tears, hit each other with shoes, call each other BEEEEP...
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Nice attitudes. Maybe the moron is the person that can't see that engineering wages have something to do with respect for the profession and the general image of the profession.
Please continue your I don't care what others think attitude. It sounds very professional.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Are you saying that you're more concerned with status and what others think than doing something that you find rewarding for it's own sake? To me, that does makes EddyC and Mesc1 sound more professional.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
There are a few positive steps we can take, in my view. I had all my personal cheques printed with P.Eng. (I'm from Canada) on it after my name. This clearly shows that I am a Professional Engineer. Secondly, do we use P.Eng. on personal letterheads? Thirdly, should we send out letters, even private ones to banks, credit card companies, letters to the editor, etc., we should be complete and sign our names as P.Eng. (or PE - or Chartered Engineer). And, should letters be published in papers, etc., then we should take the editors to task if they don't put the P.Eng. after our names (they would for Doctors). Perhaps, we should, like in Europe, Indonesia and other places use Ing. in front of our names instead of Mr. Wouldn't it had been great if Jimmy Carter (whatever you think of his politics) had been referred to as Ing. President Jimmy Carter instead of Mr. President? Herbert Hoover was a Mining Engineer of note - and internationally recognized. Sadly, the depression caused by Coolidge's policies gave Hoover the shaft. If you look back at many of the very large organizations/companies, years ago, there were many of them run by engineers even though they weren't practicing engineering anymore. Now, sadly, it is accountants. These may seem trivial and self-serving, but think how many people you would reach across the spectrum if all engineers would do this. After a while, people would take notice, I am sure.
There was a comment on television shows, etc. Sure, there is not "reality" show that we can easily put together except for a "Engineer-in-Training" aka "The Apprentice". But who would play the Donald Trump part? But there is a good show on National Geographic that, here in India, we have been getting, called I believe Mega-Projects. It was great - they had this huge hotel in Dubai, the Bridge linking PEI and New Brunswick in Canada and the like shown. Well, we need to get shows like this on regular tv rather than just on National Geographic or Discovery.
In the end, let's start by the little stuff we can do - and build on this. Taking credit for our achievements (use of Ing. and P.Eng./PE), visiting schools and giving talks on our profession; perhaps get a "star" rap group to do a song on Engineers!
Oh, yeah, and stop being so negative ourselves!
Okay, collegues, I now sign off here:
Ing. BigH, P.Eng.(ON)
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I agree that $ is the deciding factor in most situations, but I was somewhat put off that prestige should be a driving factor. I enjoy what I do, and prestige has nothing to do with it. Since I wasn't born rich, and I'm going to have to go to work to make $, I feel that the engineering field is one of the most rewarding (for me). Not only because of the $ involved, but because I am doing something I enjoy and find satisfying and am getting paid well to do it. My wages are drivin by the availability of my particular skill set, and my employment allows for the expansion of that skill set. It has nothing to do with how the general public perceives me or the profession, of which I couldn't care less.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
People like to be appreciated. That's normal, not something to be reviled.
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I agree with EddyC's last post that I would like to do engineering no matter the money. However to say "who cares what people think" is letting down the team as far as I'm concerned.
Raising the status of the engineering profession will benefit all engineers and I consider it a duty.
If you can't see that raising the status of our profession will benefit it and can be done, then there is no need to argue.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
As such I personnaly do not think that "not caring" of the public's perception is letting the team down, provided one maintains a professional manner and shows excellence, this is your duty. Your opinion on the publics perception after this is your own, whether you ultimately "care" or "not care" about public perception.
I promote engineering and a professional manner, have a good reputation and those outside of my field seem to always say "You must be smart, I couldn't do that" when they find out what my occupation is. Ulimately though, I still don't really care what the final perception of the public is, I work for myself, my family and my loved ones, not for societies opinion. This is my personal view, not my professional stance.
What has occurred along the way in this thread is that there has been a cross over from the original intent of SPSU97 thread:
Now there is an argument over promoting the professional image of our field while still trying to cross reference an opinion based stance.
Separate the 2, you'll probably find many arguments dissipate as a result.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
This is professional approach which knows what is useful for work and cares for the same. As for opinionated morons, let them choose their government, not my dress.
Ciao.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I like wearing polo shirts so I went with a leather pen pouch that I carry in my back pocket. In the pouch I carry a pen light, six inch metal ruler, red pen for ECOs, black pen, mechanical pencil, and those long click erasers. To get even nerdier, I carry my PDA on my hip which I have spreadsheets to do repetitive calculations in vibration and heat transfer. Also data for screws (torque and size), structural stuff (young’s modules, yield strengths,…etc), and useful formulas in a variety of engineering fields. I even have the periodic table loaded on my PDA. It also has a scientific calculator and unit converter.
Ok back to the topic…
I am not looking for prestige, but an understanding of what our profession is all about especially the classical engineering fields like Civil, Chemical, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. It is more of when I tell somebody that I am a ME that the first thing that pops in their mind is a fancy car mechanic or a train driver. That the word engineer has been abused in titles like sanitation engineer (trash pickup) to customer service engineer (people who are just customer service but has no engineering skills) and so the public has been desensitized to the word engineer. So in the publics view, anybody can be an engineer by just adding it to the end of their title.
Go Mechanical Engineering
Tobalcane
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
http://www
From the artical:
"I was shocked when I arrived in the United States from Greece in 1980 to discover how misunderstood and undervalued engineering was among Americans and how little people knew about it. In the United States the engineering profession has suffered from an image problem. People who drive trains, collect trash, and fix VCRs are all called 'engineers." But the engineers I refer to are the people who build things -- from bicycles to bridges -- and make them work. Engineering, the process that creates technology, involves identifying a problem, designing a solution, testing and improving the design, and building the technology."
Go Mechanical Engineering
Tobalcane
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
I do agree with EddyC...there is a huge lack of respect amongst peers. At least, I hope not in Eng-Tips Forums.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
By hook, crook or conversation, someone tells you what they do - and they're neighter an attorney, medical doctor, engineer, teacher, broker nor whatever - and they come off as though they completely expect you to know what it is they do.
Me: "So, Adolph, what line of work are you in?"
Adolph: "I'm a marketing director [everyone's a "director," right?] in the high-end veeblefetzer industry."
Me: "That sounds interesting. What exactly is that?"
Adolph: "Well, last year veeblefetzering, as an industry, had revenues in excess of $9 billion."
Me: "Wow! But, forgive my ignorance, what's a veeblefetzer?"
Adolph: "I'm surprised you haven't heard of it. We just had a cover story in Potzrebie Monthly. We market veberfetzering services to the motion picture editing services industry."
Me: "Oh, that makes sense. Me? I'm just a structural engineer. I mostly design waterfront structures."
Adolph: "I think I walked on one of those the other day..."
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
In order for engineers to get a better wrap, we need to disassociate ourselves from our "jobs." Quit working as an engineer and start "engineering".
Don't get so caught up in titles... A "sanitation engineer" would not be such a big deal if we recognised that "engineering" is a verb and not a noun. Then we would see that "sanitation engineers mearly clean, not engineer cleanlyness, and the discrepency would go away." The word "design" did this for artists and architects.... now they get more respect.
Lets quit being engineers and start engineering solutions. Maybe revolutionary; but true.
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
RE: The public's view of our profession in the US
The top 10 most respected professions, listed in order, were: doctor, nurse, teacher, fireman, paramedic, Army/ Navy/ RAF, scientist, ambulance driver, police officer, and care assistant.
The 10 least respected professions were: MP, estate agent, government minister, lawyer, journalist, footballer, advertising executive, car dealer, company director, and accountant.
MP being Member of Parliament.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.