Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
(OP)
I've only had 6 months of experience and my role is more technical sales/marketing than actual engineering. Right now I'm holding onto my job (as everyone else in today's economy) and performing well, but I can't imagine doing this for the next 20 years
Anyway I'd like to get input from you guys with more experience. My little cousin is considering engineering. Like all of us he has a knack for numbers and seems to have the capabilities/motivation to get through an undergrad curriculum. Still he's not sure about the engineering as a career
So my question is this:
Would you recommend this career to him, or anyone else for that matter? I sense a general negativity on this board, and not sure if that's because it's the actual career or simply the nature of the posters.
Also some perspective is nice. I'm curious to see if responses vary according to, let's say, from the power industry to semiconductor industry. Which industry do you work in? How much is your pay? What's your title? How many years have you been working
Anyway I'd like to get input from you guys with more experience. My little cousin is considering engineering. Like all of us he has a knack for numbers and seems to have the capabilities/motivation to get through an undergrad curriculum. Still he's not sure about the engineering as a career
So my question is this:
Would you recommend this career to him, or anyone else for that matter? I sense a general negativity on this board, and not sure if that's because it's the actual career or simply the nature of the posters.
Also some perspective is nice. I'm curious to see if responses vary according to, let's say, from the power industry to semiconductor industry. Which industry do you work in? How much is your pay? What's your title? How many years have you been working





RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
If someone wants to get into engineering because "that's where the bucks are" (I've actually heard this before), they are waisting time and money.
I don't know your little cousin, he may or may not be good in this field. I suggest he talk to a college counselor.
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
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ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
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RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
However, (as you are discovering) engineering in real life is different than engineering in college. I wouldn't encourage anyone to do engineering in real life for the money, however, the money does pay the bills.
For you, give it a few years. College life is a lot different (i.e., more fun) than real life, and it will take time to slow down and get used to the pace of life. You'll do fine but it takes time.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
In Canada, a recent study by Engineers Canada
http://w
has shown that 2/3 of people with undergrad degrees in engineering work outside the engineering profession. That hardly sounds like a gig in high demand...
Engineering as a stepping-stone education to some other career? Do you want to join that throng of 2/3 s of engineering grads? Don't waste your time. There are easier routes to similar outcomes- which might teach you something more relevant to what you ultimately do for a living.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
- The cameraderie born out of hard work in difficult conditions is priceless.
- Remuneration ain't bad by any means.
- Job security is better than average.
- Long days and lost weekends takes a heavy toll on home life
- Being on call ties your social life in knots
- There's a real sense of being part of something
- Big companies bring big company politics
Would I recommend it? Yeah, there are definitely more good aspects than bad. If you can relate to the Dilbert animation 'The Knack' then you'll probably love it.
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Fanman72: In addition to the statements of the fellows posters, I would suggest to you to give a glance in the Forum "Where is Engineering Going In The Next 5 Years". Over here, you can find a lot of answers/opinions regarding with your inquiry.
As examples: thread730-153465: Future growth prospects in engineering?, thread730-229821: The future of entry level jobs and U.S. engineers, thread730-179357: National Engineer's Week.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Sure - many of us don't actually do engineering work but the skill set we learned is valuable in almost any field....
We know numbers and logical thinking. A few can even write a decent sentence. The tools we have learned are invaluable!!
I am back into engineering as a manager but have been a "cubicle" (read Dilbert) engineer, VP of finance, sales engineer, sales manager, computer programmer, etc., etc.
IF he is interested - tell him to go for it - he will figure out his future when that time comes... and it may not be engineering.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
As far as your cousin, if he has the aptitude, encourage him. Engineering is a great field and most of my colleagues would do nothing else. Don't let your first 6 months at your first job convince you and him that engineering is a bad career choice. It sounds like it's your job that stinks.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Basically, I would recommend engineering degree to everyone. However, I wouldn't recommend an engineering job to everyone.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Additionally, math is a necessary, but not sufficient condition. He needs to have the desire knack to solve specific types of problems, otherwise, he's just wasting his time.
Nonetheless, if he has the aptitude, then engineering can be a good place to be.
TTFN
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RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
I would, as a generality, recommend engineering as a career.
However, do remember that Engineering is like any other profession in terms of its rewards - a mix of what *you* make of it, what your attitude is and luck (who you work with, the opportunities that are thrown up).
I'm not an engineer by education (physics, very mathematical physics with a good dose of work-it-out-for-yourself experimentation and computing), but (so far) I've managed to mostly enjoy myself and have adequate (not great) remuneration, in a career encompassing military comms and civilian systems engineering.
Attitude is important - I've been in a number of jobs that don't look particularly enthralling but, IME, there's usually some positive aspects to pick up and focus on. I've been to places which half the people there moan about and half have fun - it's entirely up to the individual whether they want to spend a couple of years being miserable or getting what they can out of it (I can't believe some of the places or things people will complain about!).
Even though the referenced Canadian report mentions 2/3 of engineers don't do engineering, there is still a chronic shortage of engineers in many disciplines most of which aren't actually as bad as they're made out to be (safety is a particular UK example). So there's plenty of opportunity out there.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
(FYI: I'm in machine design)
As for your position and future in engineering, it depends a lot on yourself and the company you work for. I definately wasn't doing the same thing at work with 6-12 months of experience as I am now, and I'm only at 3.5 years of experience. When I first started, I was given some drafting, non-critical designs, modifications and revisions, etc. Basically, the type of things that didn't require any real thought or technical ability. As I gained experience, I was able to get more to the "meat and potatoes" and now I am a project engineer and shove my "fluff" off on the drafters in the office. (No offense to drafters - many of them with more experience still know more than I do). The point is, if you liked engineering in school, stick with it. It will just take some time to gain/earn the responsibility for the in-depth and technical aspects. Then you will actually use the skills and information you gained during education. Make sure to keep up on it and read interesting engineering articles, etc so you are ready when it comes around!
As for your cousin, it's hard to say. I certainly wouldn't discourage him. The best I think you can do is try to let him know more about the field of engineering. Also, Ctopher recommended talking to a college counsler. I strongly second this. I wouldn't bother with the high school counslers (maybe his are better than the ones I had though), except maybe to point you to somebody else to answer questions. The high school counslers seem to mean well, but how could you expect them to have a grasp of all the possible job/college options available and be knowledgable what every position does. Tell him to talk to college counslers or department heads for programs he might be interested in. It can be a drag for a young person to sit around with "the suits" and discuss all the boring details, but it's worth it. It certainly is a big decision!
-- MechEng2005
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Good news is that it is boomtime in the heavy electrical industries, mainly due to the couple of decades of underinvestment and non-recruitment which preceded the boom. I think the good times will probably continue until I retire: there's just too much to do in order to fix our crumbling utility infrastructure and too few people to do it for it to be any other way.
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
You are correct about getting battered around if you do not know what you want. I have had 4 jobs in 4 years and have just about driven myself crazy. I have come to the conclusion that I am a horrible engineer. I am always trying to change the world when it is not my place.
Fanman72
From my limited experience being an outgoing person as an engineer is not received well. It is seen as showing off. In my current position I have shut my mouth and no one hates me but I can't stand myself. If your cousin is an outgoing person, engineer is probably not the best place for him. I am very unhappy. I wish I could change careers but my wife will not let me. At this point I could care less about the money I would like my sanity back. As long as I can remember I always wanted to be an engineer. Now that I am it was the second worst decision of my life (I was a paratrooper in the military and that was the first; Why did I jump out of a perfectly good airplane?) If your cousin is not sure he would like to do engineering I believe that their are plenty of things about engineering that will frustrate him.
I currently work for the oil and gas industry. I have been working for 4 years as an engineer. I have also worked for a defense contractor and for an aviation furniture supplier. I am currently a mechanical design engineer. I also read somewhere where mechanical engineers are the least happy of all engineering disciplines. If anyone has a link to that study I would really appreciate it.
Signed,
The engineer at the edge of the cliff thinking the jump will not hurt that bad.
SW 2007 SP 5.0
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
I'd worry more about wanting to be an engineer (or at least having an interested in things that are engineered) than just 'being good at mathmatics & physics so it seems the obvious choice'.
In my opinion too many people study engineering at Uni/College just because they're good at maths & physics not because they have any interest in engineering or even things that are engineered. I believe at least part of the blame for this falls with guidanc counsellors, teachers etc.
I studied aerspace systems engineering simplistically because I wanted to design aircraft and had an interesting in aviation & defense. My math & physics were above average but not stellar and I struggled.
I find that often it's the folks that fell into it because of being good at maths & physics that whine moan & complain most once they get their engineering career.
Those with more of an interest in engineering, or at least the things being engineered, will still complain about aspects they don't like (at least I do) but don't reconsider whether engineering is for them.
I think engineering/engineering education would be better off without as many of the 'good at math and science so best study engineering but no interest in it' crowd and leave room for a few more people passionate about it but maybe not quite as academically gifted. (I'm not saying no one from that crowd should take engineering, I'm sure many of them end up having decent careers & contributing etc but just not as many.)
As to the outgoing thing, twoddle. Yes many engineers tend to be a bit introverted/socially awkward, however that doesn't mean more socialy astute folks are prejuciced against. If anything these types are more likely to get into leadership & management roles etc.
Bester, having worked with a lot of ex servicemen, I have to say they tend to have a sense of self confidence somewhat higher than your average 'civilian all the way' engineer, to a level that borders on seeming arrogant. I came to realize that it was just how ex servicemen tend to be and in most cases deal with it, maybe your colleagues haven't worked this out.
KENAT,
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RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
I do like your comment on the academics Kenat. I tried an undergrad ME program and hated it. Hell I could only muster a C+ in calculus 1 back then. Now almost 10 years later I'm taking the core ME classes to start a MSME degree, and I'll have an A in calculus 1. This is after 10 years of industrial design and manufacturing experience.
It really takes a lot of maturity to take it all in and really get it. So don't be detered in the begining of your journey. Enjoy it. Almost nowhere else can you learn something new and exciting every day like you can in engineering. I couldn't see any other career being half as fulfilling as what I do now.
James Spisich
Design Engineer, CSWP
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Employers want to hire engineers to do just about everything. As everyone said above an engineering degree will is good preparation for just about everything.
There are a lot of ways to look at life. This is the way I look at it and I have been happy so far.
Work is how you finance your life. It is how I feed my family, put a roof over their heads, and get to do fun things with them (and my friends) All that stuff comes first, then comes do I like what I do.
I started off not liking what I did, but I had the other stuff. Then I started looking around for something I did like.
For those of us that are not independently wealthy we have to look at college as job training. An engineering degree will increase your chances of getting a job.
Example from my life:
I was an average student in Mechanical Engineering I had 4 job offers before I graduated college.
My brother was a straight A student in English. He had to wait tables for a year and a half before he found a professional job. (Investment Banking)
To summarize an engineering degree is always worth getting even if you don't want to do it for a career and if you aren't happy look around there are lots of types of engineering jobs, from the business end all the way to design/technical. Just find what you like
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
You could do much worse: lawyer, car salesman, politician, etc. Go bio-med-eng; it is health and well being related unlike some defense industry pursuits. The market for health care related work is growing. Aero really had bad ups and downs.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Well they lost several years of engineering experience...we know where they probably are now.
I know one of them that can't find 'anything' related to engineering, even with a degree. Why? It showed his heart and mind wasn't in the engineering filed in the first place.
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
With that said, people need to realize that an actual engineering job is not for everyone. I made the mistake of listening to everyone else to much. I would have rather ended up in a state park as a forest ranger, perhaps even a guidance councilor because I like to help people.
In summary, the degree is amazing and life changing, the job is only so-so. (at least in my perspective)
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
I admire your enthusiasm but I don't think this desirable or realistic. The fact is that engineering degree courses are already cluttered up with people who don't get it, or can't hack the maths ( I went from being 99%ile at my high school to maybe 50%ile in Maths during my degree). Now, I've argued before that the maths is too advanced in an engineering degree, but that is a separate issue.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
>> I think engineering/engineering education would be better off without as many of the 'good at math and science so best study engineering but no interest in it' crowd and leave room for a few more people passionate about it but maybe not quite as academically gifted. (I'm not saying no one from that crowd should take engineering, I'm sure many of them end up having decent careers & contributing etc but just not as many.)
Interesting. My first perception, straight out of University, was that the maths and physics types were generally more enthusiastic and complained less than pure engineers.
== Bester, having worked with a lot of ex servicemen, I have to say they tend to have a sense of self confidence somewhat higher than your average 'civilian all the way' engineer, to a level that borders on seeming arrogant. I came to realize that it was just how ex servicemen tend to be and in most cases deal with it, maybe your colleagues haven't worked this out.
I'd support that view. I had some difficulty getting used to being what I thought a civilian ought to behave like and what they could be asked to do and ended up pussy-footing around things my nature would rather have fixed bayonets on. However, I underwent an epiphany a bit ago when I got really hacked off with the way a project, out of my control, wasn't happening, put my metaphorical uniform back, put my nose into the C2 loop, and have felt much happier since - civilians do jump if addressed in the right (ie, positive) way
== As to the outgoing thing, twoddle. Yes many engineers tend to be a bit introverted/socially awkward, however that doesn't mean more socialy astute folks are prejuciced against. If anything these types are more likely to get into leadership & management roles etc.
I have to say I haven't encountered any generic "prejudice" against extrovert engineers, either; but then again, I haven't encountered many of the 'stereotypical' introverted engineers either. My business (aerospace systems) seems to have a reasonable range of personalities from Really-Good-Guys (and Girls) to the Parents-Lived-Under-A-Rock-And-Should-Never-Have-Met types.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
I think you hit the nail on the head. I am an arrogant SOB. I am sure the military did not help but I was an arrogant SOB way before I joined the service. I have tried not to be but this is just who I am. Put me in a room with a bunch of people that think they can rule the world and I am right at home. That makes me think. What career attracts the most arrogant people? Politics, Banking, Criminal enterprises?
Back to the posters point. I thought about this and I think when it comes to engineer the best engineers that I have met have shared one trait in common, they were extremely organized. Being an organized person may be the single best trait any engineer can have. So if your cousin is an organized person I would say that is the number one thing that will not only allow them to finish engineer school but also be a very successful engineer.
SW 2007 SP 5.0
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Do you really mean "arrogant"? Arrogance is defined as *unwarranted* pride, confidence or sense of superiority.
Consider an average brand new Second Lieutenant and a Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM). Both may be quite capable of looking down their noses at "lesser" life forms. However, Arrogance (aka "stupidity" in this case) is the attitude displayed by the 2nd Lt telling the RSM how to suck eggs. The other way round is not, by definition, arrogance.
I've even known a few people who definitely think they're the bee's knees and look with disdain on those a bit slower than themselves, but are actually better than they think are!
.....
I don't know what word conveys the concept of a justified attitude of superiority. Maybe I should find out so I can get it on my appraisal this year (insert emoticon for hysterical laughter)
Stuart
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
I would start with 'Jerk' ;)
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
I still think the question to your cousin should be more "do you want to be an engineer" than "do you want to study engineering" but maybe I'm wrong.
Is your cousin interested in things that are engineered, not necessarily the kind of guy that spends his spare time taking things apart just to see how they work but at least a bit of a bent in that direction.
KENAT,
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RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
oh yea,
i'm not arrogant, i'm confident. a wise person once told me:
"my confidence + your insecurity = my arrogance."
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
I hate working with people who aren't really into what they do for a living- and I get the impression that they pretty much hate their own jobs too. I already meet too many pseudo-engineers in my professional life. If you're not passionate about it, pick something else to do for a living!
And as an engineer, I'm realistic about the NUMBERS. In Canada we educate too many and let far too many immigrate here- to the point that many of them drive taxis and curse Canada. 2/3 of our own engineering grads leave the profession- some by choice, but most not because that's what they wanted from day one. Rather, most leave because they can't get a suitable job- or because the grass really IS greener on the other side of the hill. Of the top six people in my graduating class, four of them left for the 'States- and I'm the only one who is still in their home province.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
"my confidence + your insecurity = my arrogance." I think I am going to have that quote framed and put on my desk.
Kenat,
"Is your cousin interested in things that are engineered, not necessarily the kind of guy that spends his spare time taking things apart just to see how they work but at least a bit of a bent in that direction."
That was me as a young lad. I took apart anything I could find, figured out how it worked and put it back together. Sometimes it even worked after I was done with it. That was fun. Sitting at a desk all day arguing about the line weight on a drawing and if the font is the correct type for a certain aspect is nothing like what I did as a kid. At many places engineers are not even allowed to touch the product. Therefore I think steering people that like hands on work to engineering may not be the best use of their skills. What those kids should be steered to is machine operators. In order to keep more manufacturing in the states we really need to get extremely good machine operators that are able to fulfill their tasks and keep improving what they are doing which in turn will increase efficiency and keep jobs here.
Just my "humble" opinion
SW 2007 SP 5.0
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
Even within Engineering some people are more suited for some types of role than others.
There's plenty that'd argue the finer details of drafting are best left to Designers/Drafters not Engineers.
KENAT,
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RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
You go to college to learn about the world and get an education about many thinks.
You go to engineering school because you like engineering or you want to try to make $.
Forget the big money, the finance guys and politicians get it. Do it for the enjoyment or don't do it.
Regards.
RE: Do you reccomend engineering as a career?
I went back to engineering school because I wanted to build big stuff outta steel. That worked.
Bester2--don't generalize people's lack of appreciation for your apparent (based on your own description) jackass attitude to a statement that no one but introverts can survive as an engineer.
And while sometimes being talented and right ends up being perceived as arrogance by the insecure, often it is because one is not satisfied with simply *being* talented and right but must go around making sure everyone *knows* one is talented and right. If you're doing that, and it ain't workin' for ya, then cut it out. Just be talented and right and if you're *that* talented and right, people will know it.
Hg
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