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If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?
12

If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

(OP)
I've been thinking about this recently.  Not because I am unhappy with engineering, but because so many other things also sound so interesting to me.

I'd like to hear from the rest of you.  If you had to pick another career, what would you choose?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

If I weren't an engineer, I'd be a frustrated engineer earning lots of money doing something dull and antisocial.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Glass artist

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

You mean another career that actually earns a living?

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

DJ.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Lawyer -- love to argue
Doctor -- not that different that reverse engineering
Drummer -- in my dreams winky smile

TTFN



RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Unemployed

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Architect

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

rock star

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

lackey

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Forest Ranger

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

High school football coach.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I always wanted to be an engineer from my earliest days. And everything that I have experienced and what I see happening in the world of technology confirms that my choice of the Mechanical discipline was the right one. I do not and never have wished to be anything else.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Hunting guide or stay at home Dad.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

2
Viking.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?


The stats say that U students who drop out of engineering but continue are most likely to graduate as economists.

Probably correct - the job is still the mathematical analysis of problems/situations.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I thought I was going to be a raft guide and ski bum forever.  Then I got tired of being broke.  I chose engineering as an alternate career.  But I think being a doctor would be much more interesting.  (not to mention the people you would work with are bound to be more interesting than an office full of engineers)

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Entrepreneur, I'm too selfish to work for someone else.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

2
Commercial pilot was my first dream.
Then a cop. Didn't make it.
Fell into engineering.
If I could start over, I would be a surgeon.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks Pro 06/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I contemplate law here & there.  May yet do it.

I already decided not to be a professional musician or professsional linguist.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Professional musician or professional linguist.

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Orthopedic surgeon, firefighter, or flying lead for the Blue Angels

--------------------
How much do YOU owe?
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
--------------------

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

A high school aptitude test said I should be a tree surgeon.  Now I'm thinking more along the lines of kept husband.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I almost chose to pursue a PhD in history to work as a college professor.  Liberal arts undergrad degrees are not the path to financial stability.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

After my first semester I decided that engineering wasn't for me.  So I started testing for the local PD and Fire departments.  I had my EMT cert, was a rescue diver and was in great physical shape (still am wink).  I went through eight months of testing to finally realize that for every open position their was 500+ applicants.  I even knew the Sac County Fire Chief but that didn't help me.  I got an offer for a non paid stop at the PD academy with no employment afterwards.  That next semester I reenrolled in engineering and never looked back.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I'd be a starving musician.

Or maybe a politician.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Beggar,
One of my college classmates/teammates is the new lead for the Blue Angels, great work if you can get it.  He's presently commanding a squadron of F-18s out of Atsugi, Japan, Kittyhawk
Regards,
RLS

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?


HAPPY

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Heavy Equipment Operator (tower crane or a CAT D10 bull dozer) -
You leave at the end of each day with no carry-over worries about meetings, reports, etc. At the end of each job you have proof that you actually did something constructive.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Very cool, sailor.

Talk about the best of the best of the best...

--------------------
How much do YOU owe?
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
--------------------

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

hmm.. since i'm not actually an engineer i'm not sure if i qualify for this thread but i'll bite.  if i could go back to school now i'd probably do architecture, or culinary arts..hey, maybe i'll go back to school to do that since engineering seems to be out of the question now..

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

metengr - that's a good one.  I chose that in 9th grade but never followed through.  Although, when I was in the Air Force I did get the opportunity to operate a frontend loader and a 60K-loader slinging 463L pallets off of C130s.  Their is something about being behind the controls of a large piece of equipment....power, control, & prestige.  Kind of like my current job....the power of moving a mouse around a 8"x8" PAD of neoprene wink

http://wrongcrowd.com/article.php?story=20050131105404637

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Archaeologist
Naval Architect

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Military, if that didn't work out, mechanic.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Lumberjack...

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I would be an explosives demolition technician. If I cant build it, I might as well take it apart, besides, it would fill my Pyro tendancies quite nicely.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I would probably still be in the military.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Bored

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

F1 driver

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Navy fighter pilot

Cyril Guichard
Mechanical Engineer Consultant
France

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

smile

In reality, I probably would have gone into some computer related field had I not stuck with engineering.  I actually started in computer science in college and then got sick of it and decided to try something new.  I tried engineering and liked it so I stuck with it.  It has treated me well so I certainly have no right to complain.

If I wanted to try and do something a little more adventurous though, I would really like to be able to be a recording/audio engineer and someday open up my own recording studio but that's more of a dream than a reality.

In my extreme dreams, I would like to be a musician, but that's definitely out of the picture since I'm not good enough at music to make a living off of it.

smile

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Ethnomusicologist.  Not gonna happen now, but in the "shoulda woulda" category.  (I think I might have survived the PhD process in that field better than I did as a a linguist; the fieldwork might have kept me sane, as it did in engineering.)

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Multi-Billionaire.

That way, I can spend my time doing what every comes to mind and tickles my fancy.

Getting there is the tough part I guess, eh?

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Tough question - never really considered it since engineering is not so much what I do as what I am.

If I had to work for money: stock analyst or spec ops sniper

If I had money working for me: treasure hunter (summer) mad scientist (winter)

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Explosives Demolition
Heavy Equipment
Construction

If you can't build it, break it.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Landscape Architect

I actually do landscape design on the side seasonally. I got a diploma from distance learning.

It's one of those professions that has little preparation in HS. That's why there is a demand for professional assistance in horticulture/landscape design. I use my engineering background to tackle drainage problems, the most prevalent challenge. Form following function generally brings good results. One year I had a string of jobs from MD's. The word got around. It helped put four kids thru college. On another occasion, I did a nice job for a subdivision developer; that brought a number of jobs.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Philosopher, fishing guide, gynecologist, dictator of a third world country or various combinations of the above.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Head brewmaster, preferably at my own brewery.
I will have to stick to 5 gal batches of homebrew for now!!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

BJC--that reminds me:
The owner of a steel erection firm somewhere in the US (those of you who know him will know exactly who I'm talking about) has on his business card, among other words, the following:

Wars Fought
Revolutions Started
Assassinations Plotted
Governments Run
Uprisings Quelled
Stud Service
Tigers Tamed
Bars Emptied
Computers Verified
Orgies Organized

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

He travels internationally with that business card?  Customs officials never had a sense of humour with that stuff even prior to 7/11.

LewTam Inc.
Petrophysicist, Leading Hand, Natural Horseman, Prickle Farmer, Crack Shot, Venerable Yogi.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Perhaps he should sum it all up with the umbrella term of: Neanderthal Man

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

HgTX
If he hasn't had that card for at least 30 years he's not the first one to have it.
The one I still may have somewhere also had Manure, Strawberries, and some other things and said "Not Pizza" as a line item.  I have seen lots of variations.
He wasn't a VP of anything, he was a card carrying memere of the UA (pipefitter).

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

If I weren't a engineer, I'd be a engineering manager.tongue

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-05)

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I always wanted to be a cartoon character, so I took the plausible alternative (no pun intended).

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

People-mechanic, aka surgeon.

Or, maybe an architect, but I'm not very artistic (and neither are most architects from the looks of most buildings).

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Residential architect or artist.  When I was in grade school I knew exactly what I wanted to be, a dictionary illustrator.  I never knew how they could draw so well and so small.  Ah, to be 8 again.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Prostitute - I'd actually get paid up-front, in full...(so I'm told)...

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

taylorg;
Would you work with a hat and glasses?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

We are all prostitutes in one form or another.
laughtears

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-05)

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

metengr - I might have to charge extra for that...

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Years ago - a fighter pilot.
Today - staying at home, playing with the grand kids and working on cars for fun.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Chef/Run a restaurant

Orch. musician - was once on my way, don't know if I can bring it back after 30 years.

Recording Engineer - doing high school bands, orchestras, etc.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Chocolate Confectionaire.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?


Forensic Pathologist, Medical Art Technician or Sex Therapist

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Self-employed outdoor pursuit instructor.

Wildlife cameraman.

Plumber. The trade needs some honest members.

----------------------------------
  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

A lawyer, if I wouldn't go mental during law school.

I wanted to be a vet, but I love animals too much.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Be careful what you hope and pray for. I heard stories of very unhappy gynecologists.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

porn star

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Easy for me:

"I always wanted to be an alchemist or blacksmith, but jobs for those professions are few and far between, so I settled on Metallurgist."- me one night in the bar a month or two ago.


Realistically I wanted this job since I was in the third grade, I've never known any different. But I do run a small live audio/performance production company. (Crew of 5-7 and Gear.) That wouldnt be too bad.

Or a professional driver, truck/chauffer/cabbie. (I do this now to make beer $$ on the weekends.)

(Hmmm... am I the only one who has hobbies that pay? or that does all of the things that I really ever wanted to?)


Nick
I love materials science!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I liked Engineering, but I didn't know I wanted to be a Metallurgist until I walked into a lab as an 18-year old. Twenty-eight years later I still am one.

My dream job was to be a sportscaster - maybe some of you remember the radio days when you could hear all kinds of games on the AM dial. I was (still) a Yankee fan but I loved listening to Jack Buck.

I did get to broadcast some minor league arena football though in Michigan - a friend of mine invited me up to the booth to comment on the 3rd quarter of the game. A thrill that I will never forget.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

My Current Positions:
1) Mech Engineer/Drafter
2) Part-time semi-pro Jazz drummer

Previous positions:
1) Sydney Taxi Driver
2) Semi-pro Lead Guitarist (melodic punk)
3) Semi-pro Bass Player (noisy folk-rock)
4) Technical writer
5) Bus driver for Rock Bands (highly recommended)
6) Telephone market researcher
7) Pizza deliverer
8) Cleaner
9) Long-term unemployed

Careers are meant to be fun. Follow the entertainment.

Alan64

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

A psychologist.....to figure out why we(engineers) are the way we are!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

What every young boy wanted when I was young: to be a steam locomotive driver - only problem is I'm over 40 years too late and they're long gone from everyday use. Still, I can drive and maintain then at weekends on preserved railways.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

teacher

Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Answer # 1) I'd probably be more successful with the ladies...
 
Answer # 2) Composing music with a room full of guitars, keyboards, midi interfaces and computers

tg

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Ninja.

Enough said.

(Please note, I'm not a proper engineer, although I play one at work on regular basis.  I was a combat engineer for eight years, but I hardly think that that sort of thing counts for much...)

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

A pathologist, 'cuz I'm pathological and certifiable!  ;-D

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Broke.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

After reading all this, one wonders why everyone makes such a fuss about the engineering jobs moving to Asia. It could be a blessing in disguise. We'd finally get a life blllttt

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I'd be a preacher..

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I resent people who want to be musicians or something artistic. Anyone can strum a few chords on their spare time. But whoever heard of a part-time vet...? sad winky smile

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Ahoy Daveviking !!!  I would also be a viking, as were my ancestors.  Care to split up europe peaceably or should we just have a go at it and decide the territories when we meet up?!?  Hah!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

You can have Europe. It's Vinnland I want.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

If I weren't an engineer I'd just be a nerd with no excuse.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Civil Engineer. smile

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

(OP)
Wow, a lot of very interesting replies.  I had no idea so many engineers harbored dreams of being musicians.

My answers would have to be:

1) Pyschiatrist
2) Photojournalist
3) President ;)

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

(OP)
Whoops, just noticed I spelled psychiatrist wrong.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

In November I'm leaving to become an physical therapy tech in the US Navy.  Eventually to med school for Orthopedics.

Mike

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I'll be applying to Circus School this fall...

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Artist/Sculptor

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

CIA, clandestine ops.  That or corporate law, mergers & acquisitions.  After the MBA is over (< 2 years), I'll still easily be young enough to consider both.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Mattress tester

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Eye surgeon...although I liked the ethnomusicology suggestion.  I actually know someone with a PhD in it.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I know a bunch of them.  I am insanely jealous.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Race Car Driver, Pilot

DLauEng

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

F-18 Pilot

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Forest Ranger, but you gotta be < age 35 [too late for me]
maybe president then?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

So why did all of you want to become an engineer rather than a forest ranger, pilot, mattress quality inspector, preacher, president?? Or is it just that we see the light at a relatively late stage in our lives?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

epoisses,

in my case, no... The question was "If you had to pick another career, what would you choose?". So I'd either choose my childhood dream and be a vet, or I'd choose something inetersting and dynamic as criminal law - unless I'd end up in a looneyhouse during schooling! winky smile

BUT... If I had to pick ANY career, I'd have still chosen engineering! I love every bit of it... Though, you might be right, in about 15 - 20 years, I may have had my "fill" and will want to move on to something different. It's not "seeing the light", if it DOES happen, it means it would have happened with anything!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

The guy that rides in the caboose.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

epoisses,

What I want to to, I'm not so good at.

What I do to make money, I happent to be good at.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Entrepreneurial Philosopher

If that doesn't pay the bills, then definitely a Bobcat pilot.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I started my college carrer intending to become a theatre scenery designer/rigger/pyrotechnician but life got in the way and after a brief hiatus I went back to school to be a drafter. I'm not quite an engineer yet, but I do spend a fair amount of my day pretending to be one.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Bartender

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

eric1037-- been there done that, kinda lame after a while.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Eric/Nick
I always enjoyed the entertainment industry, I used to bounce at a night club, the work was always 'entertaining', I met plenty of girls, got free booze and got to meet the occasional rock star....I also managed to scare the pants off that ugly singer guy from Sum 41 :)...he deserved more than a scare though.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Now bare with me on this one.

I'd like to be a Piano Player in a Bordello.

Every one of you would say "Really!".

But tell someone you are an Engineer and they roll their eyes and look for someone else to carry on the conversation with. (OK, maybe I'm too pickey)
Guess I should learn to play the Piano.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

my wife's grandmother used to run a bordello...does that count as experience?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

i'd like to be a big shot movie director!!! or engineering manager...it's all the same!!!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I'd be in the Marines or Air Force, probably as an engineer or demolitions expert.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

ziggi,

REALLY !!!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

yup,
That schmuck from Sum 41 deserved a good beating though, the wuss locked himself in his tour bus, the rest of the band were pretty cool though, they thought it was funny :) .

As for post #2, it was a cabaret/bordello, apparently my wife picked up her grandmother's theatrical gene.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

A sleazy used car salesman at Towbin Dogdge (aka King of cars). Ha, ha!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

If I don't get the job as a mattress tester, I want to drive the zamboni at a small town hockey rink.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Swimsuit Model Photographer... exotic islands...mmmm

Could work

--Off all the things i've lost , i miss my mind the most--

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

If I had all the money - I'd be a fighter pilot!

If not O would opt for Money market trading

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

President of the United States of America.

Dubya makes it look so eeeeeasy! How hard can it be? rofl

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Lifeguard - it was the best job that I ever had! You get paid to sit in the sun, tan, and enjoy the scenery. And since you're required to work out every day to keep yourself in shape, you feel good. tongue

Maui

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Explosives Demolition
Heavy Equipment
Construction

If you can't build it, break it

Now that is either initial susess or total failure.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Mythbuster team member.

Those guys have so much fun, in spite of the fact that their luck saves their fannies more than their knowledge/research/caution do.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I wouldn't wish for Tori's luck. I still laugh every time I remember him breaking the swing.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

" ..If you had to pick another career, what would you choose?.."

Perhaps, a FAITH HEALER.

This opposes to PATRICK, "If you can't build it, break it"

if you break it, i'll mend it.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Please don’t disillusion me – engineering is my dream job. Only been doing it for 9 months full time and where else can I work 35hrs / week get 5 weeks holiday a year for a decent wage and still have a life. I should know already in my mere 24 years I’ve been:

Car Servicer.
Wedding waitress.
Restaurant waitress.
Bugerking cashier.
Macdonalds cashier.
Asda Cashier
Children’s Party entertainer – fire juggler
Bartender.
Worked on numerous production lines packing baby wipes / aeroplane meals and checking cadbury walnut whips for walnuts.
Betting shop cashier.

Can everyone put down your worst jobs as well to remind me why I spent 4 years at uni working full time to get the job I finally have now.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

TechyC,

Each to their own. Success is not predicated on career choice, industry, or market. Success can be had in any career, industry and market.

I know of a guy who has a high school education, started delivering pizza, and eventually, owned a couple of pizza stores (not chains, family business). How do I know him? I tutored his son.

I know a bartender that works about 35 hours a week, at an upscale club. He makes a decent wage, plus tips. Has a life, and a plan for his future. I think in about 10 years, he will probably own a bar, have a staff of about 30, and be very successful.

I know lots of engineers who work 40 hours, live paycheck to paycheck, and wonders what happens when the crude oil cycle  crashes, or we run out of oil, or electric/hydrogen cars take over. He's not sure about the future in engineering with all the off-shoring, cheap engineers in India, China and the next emerging nation, and is pondering why he got into engineering in the first place.

You are only 24. If engineering is your dream job, good on ya. If engineering doesn't seem like the job of your dreams, at 24, you still have a lot of time ahead of you to do something that you both are good at and enjoy. Keep your eyes open. Sometimes, our dreams should stay that way - a goal that hasn't been reached yet - instead of the becoming the reality of our life.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
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RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I have to agree with Ashereng,
My parents and most of my grandparents as well as their brothers and sisters all have advanced professional degrees in something, most commonly engineering and architecture, with a doctor or two in there. However the most successful person in our family was my great grandfather, he quit school in the third grade, became a shoemaker's apprentice and eventually ended up owning a huge shoe factory and quarry with over 200 people working for him. My grandmother took over for him, she had a high school education and a certificate here and there, but she was the only one of his children w/ the stones to run his businesses...they also ran booze during prohibition to make extra cash......come to think of it my wife's great grandmother had zero education and ran a brothel and also ran liquor during prohibition...what are the odds of that.

On a side note, I know of a few engineers who haven't gone into engineering.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

You asked about jobs and places we've worked:

Market stall - age 14-16: great people, great atmosphere, awful conditions, lousy pay. Loved it.

Barman (later Asst. Manager): great people, magical atmosphere, long hours. Loved it.

Production engineer: Ok people, terrible atmosphere, average hours, lousy pay. Hated it.

Production engineer: great people, good atmosphere, good hours, average pay. Enjoyed it.

Design engineer: great people, great atmosphere, great hours, good pay. Loved it.

R&D engineer: great people, great atmosphere, great hours, great pay, lousy location. Hated the place, miss the people and the work.

Electrical & control engineer: great people, good atmosphere, lousy hours, average pay (for the hours), reasonable location. I've been here over seven years and I'm still deciding if I love it or hate it!



It depends what you want in life as to what makes a great job. Your perfect job will be someone else's living hell. The things I value have changed over time. You need to move a couple of times to work out what is important to you.

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  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

In light of Ken Lay's passing and since the US Govenment no longer considers him a convicted felon.  Then

If you weren't an engineer, what would you be? - dead six feet deep

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Are they gonna harvest Ken Lay's heart and give it to Cheney? ;)
That scumbag probably faked his own death to get out of doing hard time, I guess the thought of a 300lb man named Bubba as your cellie would do that to you.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Quote:

Your perfect job will be someone else's living hell
I actually experienced something like this first hand. I started a new job four months ago, and traveled with my new boss to a steel supplier's manufacturing facility overseas. I asked to see their forging shop, and when we entered it they were grinding the scale off of an ingot about 25 feet inside of the doorway. So there was black smoke in the air and sparks flying. To the left of this was a huge hydraulic forging press. My boss refused to take more than a few steps inside the building, and didn't last 5 minutes in there before returning to the outside again. When I came out 25 minutes later, he told me that it actually looked like how he pictured hell. I told him that it felt like home to me - I had worked in that type of environment every day for the previous ten years.

Maui

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

...Rich

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Dead

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I met Cancun and the Mayan Riviera, after I graduated as an enginner. Since then I'been contemplating moving there and work as whatever or start a small bussines (don't care if is not engineering related) just enjoy life in the caribbean with blue clear waters, cool & hot weathers, and some hurricanes per year!! yeeaHH)

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Lots of people said they wanted to be a fighter pilot.  

Why?  How do you know that you would actually enjoy being a professional pilot?  Or is it because you like the image of the fighter pilot, and the idea of flying jets?  

I was the latter, got onto pilots course, got through basic training, then scrubbed out on advanced course.  I realised that I actually didn't want that life: constant training to keep your skills up, endless emergency drills, endless cyclic stress prepping for flights, not to mention having to train for a job you are not likely to ever have to actually do.

If I had my time again I think I would have gone into cooking.  I love food, kitchens, working with my hands etc... but I could never get over the bad pay you start out on!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Gunsmith, possibly gun manufacturer.  Then again, that's kind of engineering.

www.bloomautomatic.com

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I think I'd probablly teach & sell pottery. Not that I am good at it, but I think i could be if I tried a little harder and had more encouragement from my family when I was young. I havn't done it in many years now, but at one time I loved spinning clay ang having my hands covered in mud.

And I could work from home, which would make my dogs happier.

Wes C.
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Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Professional retiree

Charlie
www.facsco.com

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Not me

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I think Reegs54 makes a good point.

Most people learn about fighter pilots from recruitment advertising, TV and movies.

If that's fair game, how about an idealized occupation from TV.

You know, maybe idiot tool salesman, hot wife, sense of humor (with constant laugh track), that somehow supports a family in a $300k home, has everything he/she needs, with the responsibilities, intellect and concerns of an immature child.

Perhaps the American Dream!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

No wait! I got it. Jedi Knight (with my own space ship).

It's a bummer when you have to rely on everyone else for a ride.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I'm already picking up extra cash bass guiding on the St. John's River in Florida.  One of these days I'll grow the stones to blow off this job and start a full time guide business.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Which part of the river?  North or south?  I definitely envy you doing that!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Mostly in the side channels and oxbows between Lake Monroe and Lake George although I'll go anywhere between Lake Harney and the north end of Lake George if asked.  If you find where State Road 44 crosses the St. John's, I'm about ten minutes from there by boat.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I used to go boating and canoeing from Lake Monroe to Blue Springs and many of the side rivers and channels, back when it was legal to swim with the manatees.  The Wekiva was my favorite.  People just don't know how beautiful Florida really is until they get on those waters!

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Took my girlfriend's grandkids to Blue Springs the Friday after Thanksgiving for manatee watching (and freeing up a gaggle of females for shopping).  If you happen to be between the ages of 3 and 8, my manatee imitation will absolutely SLAY you...

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

A much wealthier man?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Homicide Detective. It would have to be in a upsscale neighboorhood where all the intriguing,planned,"sophisticated"  murders occur.
  
 

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

1. Builder of cool stuff out of any and all materials.
2. College prof.

I did have the ulitimate job.  I left my engr mgr job to own/run an ice arena and got to do all of the activities: zamboni driving, skating, hockey playing, 1st aid, and watching figure skaters.  But I had some really bad biz partners so I had to come back after 2 years.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Today I think I would rather sell fruit from a van parked on the side of the road.

Wes C.
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No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Geologist or palenontologist or historian.

I'm an avid history reader and enjoy putting the history together with science.

Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Goldman-Sachs employee but only for five or ten years; then I could retire and live off my bonuses.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

male prostitute?

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

If I weren't an Engineer...
Geologist
Silversmith
RV Technician

Randall Shelaga C.E.T.

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

I guess the most honest answer I could give is:

Supervisor at Right Aid.

That's what I had to do for nearly a year before my current position came along.

Ken

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Sinecure

RE: If you weren't an engineer, what would you be?

Website designer

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