What's the Future of Engineers?
What's the Future of Engineers?
(OP)
I heard in the news recently that some engineers have started working as plumbers and technicians and pay is good in that profession. I just wonder in this changing world what's the future of Engineers. I myself graduated with an Honours degree in Electrical and Electrical Engineering but moved on to work in Mechanical Environment using my Programming and Data Management Skills.
I wonder what are the other options available for me especially and for other engineers in General.
I wonder what are the other options available for me especially and for other engineers in General.





RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
You are correct in stating that the pay for engineers is the same as for trade labor skills. You are just a better educated slave. The only way to make the big money is to be working for yourself.
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
I am a mechanical design engineer because that is what I want to be. I have been and I could be many other things (machinist, programmer, teacher, manager, PLUMBER). This is true for just about all engineers. It's impossible to be a competent engineer without having the talent that would allow one to do many other things.
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
They claim it saved them a lot of time and that this was the future of engineering (i.e. 2D drawings and shop drawings would be a thing of the past).
My concern here is similar to the posts above: what is the future of engineering as software develops into a cyber package of information that others have total access to.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not living in the past...just concerned as to how a project is developed, communicated, and built while maintaining the quality of design that an engineer brings to the job. Liability is also a concern here. Right now, in the U.S., state engineering laws are quite specific about sealing plans for construction and leaving the control of the content of the plans in the engineer's hands. With a 3D model "out there" where others can use it...and abuse it...what will happen to that control of content?
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
If you went into engineering for the money, you need a time machine.
The money profession is entertainment. Then banking and finance.
Those professions will make you a lot of money and you can work for someone else (security of a big company). If you want to make a lot of money by working for yourself, go into marketing and sell, sell, sell!
I'm sticking with engineering because a) I love it (well, it's what I am pretty good at, at least), b) I only make $10k/year more than a bus driver, but my job is a lot more fun, and c) I haven't finished my great American SF novel. Once (c) kicks in, I'll be the next Michael Crichton (I'd prefer to be the next L. Sprague de Camp, but MC is the road to riches).
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
To do this I don't undervalue my work, I don't compete for work on fee basis at all. I don't haggle over fees, if a client wants to I suggest they go elsewhere as I am not interested. Can I aford to do this? Yes because I make a point of delivering each project on time and with the client fully informaed as to where it is at. I will admit that some times projects are not completed to the original date but if the client is informed then it is generally not a problem.
I often take the time out when talking to people to explain that my job is a professionally trained job and that I am not just a monkey doing a trained (on the factory floor so to speak) job. I can think independently and look for real alternatives to problems and then check via theory that it will work. I am not putting down fabricators, machinists, etc as many of them are excellent at their jobs and can quite often think a problem through to a solution for their specific area of expertice. What I can do as an engineer is look at the whole project and find a whole solution (well I like to think I can).
So where does engineering lose its value? In our own atitudes, we don't have too many legal restrictions placed on the industries we work in, we don't push ourselves as being a life saving industry.
I don't think highly of the entertainment industry as it filled with passing phases, engineering quite often lasts forever. I have high regard for the medical profession, as they work with very little "exact" knowledge and are expected to be perfect at their jobs all of the time. Banking and finance are to me over paid vultures who feed of other peoples money. Solicitors have helped create the current legal nightmare called PI Insurance through their own vulture attitude of sue, sue, sue.
Why do plumbers and other trades make so much? because they are faced with large demands for their services with so few in the trade. Supply/Demand as a small ratio = large $ in any profession.
Sorry rambling again. Time to get back to work and earn a few $$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Regards
sc
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
Who cares?!
If you don't like your job, screw it! Move on. We all worked hard enough to be the best at what we do, that we deserve that kind of freedom. As long as you aren't cutting your own throat down the road, go do what you want to do, and work where you want to work.
There are a million possibilities to bury yourself in a huge company, ie. become a number. The other extreme is to start your own business. This final option is probably the most controversial decision that I have ever made. But, every time I get stressed about company $$, I simply reming myself that at least I don't work for someone. Either way, it is all about the $$.
You can either chase it, or let it find you, doesn't matter, just make sure you are having a good time, right?
-K-
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
COOL!! Someone else who can actually mention the name L. Sprague de Camp!! My favorite author, sadly you are correct in that Crichton has him beat in the monetary department.
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?
A digression... I got L. Sprague de Camp's autograph several years ago (I wrote him a letter asking why he allowed the film "Kull the Conquerer" to be so bad... - his response was that I shouldn't worry since he was credited after the second assistant to the hairdresser...). I am tremendously blessed to have conversed with him before he passed. BTW, he was an engineer by training... ...and he wrote several excellent engineering books, like "The Ancient Engineers."
Crighton's only a medical doctor (a 6'-10" MD, at that, too!), so his books, well, they're written like a doctor would write 'em.
I say the future of engineers is to take over the planet!
RE: What's the Future of Engineers?