I guess is not just engineering but every profession has this mid-career crisis. I think in most degrees there will be a disconnect between the job you will be doing and the coursework. Advanced computing Aeronautical engineering Biomedical engineering Chemical and biomolecular engineering Civil engineering Electrical engineering Mechanical engineering Mechatronic engineering Software engineering Project management Flexible first year engineering Over the years, I received several emails asking whether going into engineering is a good idea. The engineers were always under a ton of pressure to get rid of the bugs so the company can sell the final product. Here I am now with a dozen years in veterinary software, troubleshooting problems and playing around in databases. You can ask your parents or post on Facebook and LinkedIn to see if anyone would be willing to talk. I just followed my interests from EE to CS and later to HCI, didn’t ever lose interest in the subject matter, just lost interest in permanent work . Still, there are undergraduate engineering programs that are supportive for women– something definitely to ask about when you’re looking at schools. Mechanical engineering is the discipline that applies the principles of engineering into the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of machines and mechanical production techniques. The final piece of the puzzle was after 8 years I bailed out of the usual employer-employee relationship and got into contract employment. Here goes. I always felt overpaid and eventually ran the enterprise for my Fortune 200 corporate overlords. Engineering definitely fits that bill as you have listed as a pro on this post. As a mechanical engineering graduate you will lead these processes. If you are decently good at math and can solve quantitative problems you have a good start. Learn how your comment data is processed. Practised since the 1800s, it's the forefront of new technologies in a number of industries including transport, healthcare, construction and robotics. The ridiculous schedules, workloads, meetings have just continually gotten worse. It’s tough for engineers who like doing the grunt work. Many of my friends changed major early on too. I think Engineering is a great field to go into if you want financial success and be on the path to wealth. It’s hard. It deals with diverse engineering problems in mechanics of materials, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, energy conversion, vibration, design and manufacturing, materials science, and electromechanical systems, among others. Accounting is generally pretty safe, as is engineering, though it depends a lot on the kind of engineering and what the market demands are– for a while you couldn’t get a job as a petroleum engineer, and now demand far outstrips supply. My solution was to go directly to grad school and earn a MBA-Finance concentration. As RB40 has said, the first 5 years will be the most fun, but it tends to burn people out quickly. She’s really good. There are also several types of engineers, and which type you select will dictate your options and your coursework. Anyway, it would have been nice to know more about what people really do in different engineering jobs before going into the field. I didn’t wait until 18 to know I wanted to be a chemical engineer. Engineers might have more job security than a barista, but not much more. Engineering is good, but there are many other great fields too. I got a couple degrees, a BS in Engineering Technology (practical, applications oriented) and an MS in Mechanical Engineering (more theoretical). As RB40 mentioned, at 18, you really don’t understand these things. This may be in the research, development, testing or maintenance aspect of the professions and mechanical engineers will be tasked with calculating project costs and timescales, writing manuals and upgrading and progressing new technologies. He´s 13yo and, like me, interested in mechanical engineering. Frankly, all the specifications are more or less the same as per my perspective. Mechanical engineers must study mechanical engineering and earn a bachelor's degree to work in this field. You will be assessed continuously through reports, computer exercises, lab work and essays, as well as exam-based testing. Mom and dad were right – it was better than the welding trade school. Frequent tour may deteriorate his health.An engineer can be laid of easily when company is not going ok, when management feel to replace him and to hire a new one with less salary,when management does not hold good impression on him ( here management means in most cases his manager,his director , may be the thinking of them is not justified) or when a misunderstanding occurs. being a junior engineer was the most fun part of the career, SAHD Cooking – Hoi Tod (Thai mussels pancake), high paying profession is how I got on my path to financial success. I think the career track is much better laid out now than when I first started. For me, being a junior engineer was the most fun part of the career. I knew at 13 and never hesitated. As you point out, it’s hard to keep learning all the time in addition to the long when you have other responsibilities such as a family. Though I graduated with BSME, I relate closely to your thoughts from the standpoint of “eventually it all becomes Corporate BS” with a bit different experience on the tech-centric “salary plateau” – where you mention “I refused and my salary was stuck”, I went for management (a couple different flavors) and somewhat faltered, thus being set up for “later career but rookie layoff.” What also then hurts is the lag in one’s tech skills thus not exactly welcomed back to the old career. If you have short term disability coverage, it will pay around 50% of your salary. Should I encourage him to go into engineering? Engineering can be a lot of fun but it’s up to each person to find a situation that suits him. They end up hating their lives in way too many cases. With such a broad range of study programmes available, you will surely find an area catching your interest and in which you can specialise. They’ll probably be more generalists like I was. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Pre-law is not a major most places (they prefer people with “real” majors) and many people graduating from law school are graduating with debt and no jobs because the recession made a glut in new lawyers. He still may decide to go back to school. They can prescribe time off. Certainly the coursework in my experience was much more abstract than the very practical problems I deal with as a software engineer. In whatever career you choose, you may find it is more important who you work with, than the work itself. Depending on your school: a computer engineer could also do digital/ASIC design and testing (more like an electrical engineer). Hmmm. I’m 71, still doing it, still enjoying it. My parents encouraged me to get into engineering and I thought why not. It’s difficult to time markets for these things since education takes 4+ years. Definitely a worthwhile investment, if you’re inclined to pursue those studies. So, the main advice I’d give to someone that wants to start in this career is. However, there are some downsides too. For example, it’s easier to replace a restaurant worker than a computer engineer. I frequently spent more than 60 hours per week at work when I was young. Engineering is great if you have the right aptitude for it. It’s a great degree combination and got me out of a career doing hardcore chemical engineering work. Thanks for your input. What should I study to do an electrical engineering degree? I think most kids growing up today are going to know some basics of programming (not sure about hardware). Why Study Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering at The University of Edinburgh is of a medium-size with a strong emphasis on both teaching and research. The hours aren’t so bad as in the tech sector, and there is a much more balanced male-female ratio. You will be taught a combination of English language, subject content, and academic study skills. If you like electronics and/or programming, pick up a Raspberry Pi or Axon MCU to simply fool around and see what you can create. You are right to be hesitant before giving advice on a career Joe. I want to become an aeronautical engineer but my mom is advising me to study mechanical engineering so as to keep my options open. However, if this sounds boring, then you should look at something else. The world will keep getting more technically complicated and we’ll always need more engineers. Benefits include getting to work outdoors more than software people, working on real world (as in “physical”) problems. As long as you live modestly and save a big percentage of your income, it doesn’t really matter what field you’re in. I took a job in my home state and was flying all over the country in a private jet after my first year. But by the time I was a senior, I pretty much knew I didn’t want to work as a chemical engineer. I think you should ask for a severance package. You probably can get a job in your field after college. Try to do summer internships. Also you should understand there is a difference between your “work” and your “job.”. Mechanical Engineering is one of the most fascinating branches in field of Engineering and Technology. Long work hours. We hired a pediatrician who was a aerospace engineer for Boeing for her first career. You could study chemical, biotech, mechanical, civil, or electrical engineering. Let’s make a pros-and-cons list of engineering to help our young readers out. The great thing about engineering is that you make good income right away and you can get raises very quickly. At least I had some fun along the way. Civil doesn’t seem to have a burnout problem, but the salary level isn’t so spectacular. Everyone is replaceable. Now, I’m a SAHD blogger and I love it. This is a male-dominated field. Thanks for your input. Although I had my eyes set on either Engineering or medicine, it was still not clear. Three reasons to study Mechanical Engineering: Don’t go for Accounting! There are entry level Engineers at a few companies making over $200,000 a year. If I had to pick between the two, I’d suggest mechanical, as you take both basic kinematics and electrical circuitry. As you learn new tips, try and share them with members of the staff that you work with … remember, what goes around, comes around. In Engineering, you need to expand the tools in your tool box, to be able to offer your employer (or potential employers) more capabilities. I was good at math and science, so engineering was a good fit. What should I think about that hasn’t crossed my mind yet? There is a great industry demand for engineers with a broad-range of knowledge, covering both mechanical and electrical disciplines; allowing you to produce safer, durable, cheaper, useful and more efficient machines and systems to benefit society and change tomorrow. then all learning will be diminished gradually and will be acquired another learning may not be related to engineering but may be useful in life. For now, I’ll stick to http://www.sparkfun.com and the Make magazine and just consider myself to be a hobbyist wannable engineer – I’m good with that. In the US, there is fewer than 1 female engineer to every 10 males. Once you become more senior, you have to take on more management responsibilities or else your career will get stuck. Also, lots of flexibility of what field eventually to work in afterward. Create your own personalised rankings today, and compare universities according to what matters most to you. That’s great. It’s 100% technical work which I enjoy very much, I make about 50-100% more than regular employees. I am a chemical engineer in early part of career. This information helps us to optimize If you can learn something by experience (pretty much anything in a “business” degree) then you should do that over going to college in my opinion. Universities of science and technology rankings, U-Multirank: Universities in Australia and UK more afflicted by COVID-19 crisis than EU and US universities, About 60% of universities reported online learning provisions in their strategic planning pre-COVID-19, Open border universities perform better in knowledge transfer, research impact and education, U-Multirank releases fifth annual world rankings of universities, U-Multirank announces new governance structure, U-Multirank: Transparency over excellence, U-Multirank provides open-access to all its data, Measures that matter - Interdisciplinary publications. I do not recommend pertroleum engineering. My partner was thinking of engineering at one point too. If a job doesn’t work out the way I had hoped I look around for something else and move on. This is why I want to pursue a Masters’s degree in Mechanical engineering at Syracuse University to widen my scope and understand these systems better. In my opinion there are very few acceptable majors for someone looking at college as an investment. That’s true in my first job but not all. Actually, I think this advice can be applied to ANY career choice. Typically, there are plenty of those. I enjoyed the technical work and was pretty good at it. Even nursing– some parts of the country RNs are having difficulty finding jobs, other parts of the country there’s huge demand. It’s hard when you have more responsibilities though. This celebrated field of higher study has for an evergreen demand and scope in job placements as well as research work. This hits close to home. I enjoyed the technical parts immensely when I started out. Read the whole story on the About Page, See our Real Estate Crowdfunding investment, Track Your Money for Free with Personal Capital, How to Start Investing in Dividend Stocks, Disclosure: All content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional financial advice. It’s hard to maintain a good work/life balance with that kind of demand. Nursing, pre-med, pre-law, computer programming, accounting, and engineering are those that come to mind. Taking on more leadership roles didn’t work out for me. A strong background in mathematics is necessary for anyone interested in studying engineering. Back in 1989, computers weren’t ubiquitous like they are today. This is depending on the determination of one and whether the interests still maintain at the prevailing point of time. So now I am wondering, if I study mechanical engineering can I still become an aeronautical engineer? These cookies enable core site functionality. One point to consider is if you have a personality that is compatible for engineering. Maybe when I’m old enough to confuse them more than they confused me. I think that one can make the necessary decision towards changing profession when the interests are not longer there. At that age, I didn’t know much about various careers. You may love your “work,” but trust me, absolutely nobody loves their “job” — unless you are a masochist. Looking back I think I would have been good at engineering but I didn’t enjoy math so became a writer. in Chemical Engineering. Get a job in a city/area that has a lot of options. Another issue I’ve seen that nicoleandmaggie pointed out as well is that once you get to a certain pay bracket, you’re expected to go into management – and unfortunately, most engineers are not good managers, and they just don’t *want* to be managers, so they suck at it, and repeat until they’re miserable and everyone working for them is miserable. There are six primary types of engineers out there; chemical, civil, mechanical, electrical, aeronautical and management. without them. That way you can file for unemployment for a while. If you want to move into another realm (no matter what it is), an undergraduate Engineering degree is not a bad one to have, as compared to other degrees. Even with the technical route, the company still want you to take on quite a bit of leadership role. Have you considered changing companies? During my last year in High school, I was confused about what to study at the undergraduate level. I made the mistake of going into engineering right away when I didn’t have the aptitude for it. I picked the career path I liked – computer science with a minor in EE (I had more flexibility than straight computer engineering). Engineers have to keep their skills up to date and keep learning new things. If you like solving problems, then the right engineering job will keep you busy and happy for many years. I think we paid about $1,500 for a 386 desktop. Whether you study chemical, mechanical, civil, or electrical engineering, there is a high demand for these new gained skills. So if you want to sacrifice and to devote for work throughout the life and do not want work/life balance,may be quite fit for engineering job. Top locations where you can study Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering are: Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering in Germany ; Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering in Canada otherwise choose other profession. Focus was on programming, with an overall understanding of business. While I’m intriqued by circuit board design, and would love to understand it, and would love to find somebody that can design me some wireless sprinkler valves in the US like those at the Remconix site, I realize it’s more than I can handle. You need to be self guiding and street smart. We provide a friendly environment for learning, with guidance and pastoral care being offered throughout the course. Young engineers usually can find a job quickly and they make good money right out of college. Also, consider requsting a layoff and a package during layoffs, I did that during my career when I wanted to change companies anyway. Mechanical engineering is the discipline that applies the principles of engineering into the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of machines and mechanical production techniques. Within the mechanical engineering major, you will study the application of engineering principles to mechanical problems, and deal with a wide range of activities including research and development, invention, design, construction or operation, and even the sales of mechanical … It’s a tough question. Not so much after I had a family. In those first two years, I saw most students working together, and living in the dorms. My experience with the engineering career isn’t that great. There is just so much overhead as you progress in your career. Engineering is an in-demand field. The chemistry was overwhelming. Being in a high paying profession is how I got on my path to financial success. Because being a mathematician teaches you to think logically and is a signal that you’re really smart. I worry a lot about people that choose a career path for money reasons. Engineering is a good field to get started in. This branch of engineering deals with the research, design, … Now I automate financial functions. This page allows you to opt out of optional cookies used by possible to disable these cookies since our services do not work So those are some of the things I did when I was a computer engineer. So, it took some time to figure out the right place for me within the engineering world. An engineer may be obliged to stay at remote places year after year without his family. I liked learning about the computer and fooling around on it, but I didn’t know much about the career side of it. This can span from the delicate design of tiny parts of machines as well as handling large-scale machinery. We may receive a referral fee if you sign up through the links on Retire By 40. I have rarely seen electrical or computer engineers go the PE route, I’ve seen that mostly in the mechanical and civil engineering areas. I was living at home, bartending on weekends. For some universities, this means up to 24 hours per week with tutors. Study the International Foundation Year in Science, Engineering and Computing, taught by Study Group at the Leeds International Study Centre for progression to University of Leeds, to progress to a mechanical engineering degree at undergraduate level. I believe that this can be done provided that one continues to make the effort to do so. Perhaps the biggest distinction between electrical engineering and mechanical engineering is how energy is used in each discipline. My parents had a restaurant and that was a difficult business to be in. Having said that, I would encourage the 18 year to ask as many questions as they can and sign-up for an internship while in college. Good luck! I thought it was a great adventure and I got to do design work, project management, engineering management, lobbying and finally corporate management. To start, make sure to select mechanical engineering as your subject of interest and we’ll help guide you through the rest. Mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering which covers how to maintain, analyse, design and manufacture machinery. After two years at Cal Poly, I switched to a Business Admin Major with a focus on Computer Information Services. These cookies are used to track performance and to monitor The best way to see pay increases is moving to different companies. I quit engineering once it wasn’t the right fit anymore. The most important thing I want to share is you don’t have to be an engineer forever. My last group actually was re-organized and they laid off half the group then moved me into an even more stressful group. Just go with general mechanical and take some classes geared towards petroleum industry. Mechanical Engineering. Whereas electrical engineers focus on power generation — such as electricity — mechanical engineers focus on power application – getting physical parts, motors and components to behave or act in a desired manner. But, certainly, like you said no career has to be forever. After high school, I started into college as an Electrical Engineer at a decent school – Cal Poly. The following two tabs change content below. I just hate the courses im learning because it’s boring and i don’t like it. I know my salary will reach a plateau in next 4/5 years… however what I find encouraging that I can do a mba or some certification and transition on technical sales and marketing. Conduct field surveys or study maps, graphs, diagrams, or other data to identify and correct power system problems. I would not be a good fit for programming, although I did design for 25 years. But at least it made me realize what I wanted to do, which is art. That also causes the burnout to be more difficult. Everyone has to figure out what’s right for them. The time to market is extremely important. If you don’t have the aptitude for it, then you might not be able to get through it. Once you have set your cookie preferences, we will follow the the U-Multirank website. I loved playing with and building Legos when I was younger, so I always figured I’d be an engineer when I was all grown up. That was fine when I was young and single. In any discipline, know your marketability and control your career. There is plenty of time to investigate a lot of things in college. One of these days, I’m going to again try to re-take that physics lab. Salary plateau. Mechanical Engineers perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. The engineering coursework can be very difficult. Ask them what kind of things they do in their job. Not everyone is college material. U-Multirank’s ‘For students’ track offers personalised university comparisons, so you can find the university that best matches you. You don’t have to get stuck in the field if you no longer enjoy it. I believe that a Bachelors in Engineering provides your best bang for the buck out of the gate. As a Sr Software Eng, never stop learning or trying to expand on the work that you are doing or have done. My salary increased quickly over the first 7 years then plateaued. At the age of 40+ an engineer get tired,if he wants to quit the organization and wants to join another with same salary-may be difficult to him at the age of 40+ because vacancies of such companies having same product rarely exists and life gets unstable through out the span. Most engineers I knew got tired of the job and transitioned to a different career. You should talk to a professional financial planner if you need more help with your finance. I guess this could be a pro if you are a woman…” More likely a con. And plenty of majors can do that. An B.S. There are some schools women should avoid like the plague and others that are fantastic. I think most engineers would be happy to help. We work so much on the computer these days. I did my background is supply chain (operations research). It seems a little ridiculous to expect an 18 year old student to choose what they would like to do for the rest of their life. The main character replies “mobile infantry sir”. Does this sound interesting to you? I got my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and worked as a design engineering for six years while I got my MBA and moved into management where I was better suited. ITS MY PERSONAL EXPERINCE MAY /WILL NOT FIT TO OTHERS BUT CAN THINK ABOUT IT. It was interesting to learn how to build a computer from scratch. As a mechanical engineer you can also go into research in areas like nanotechnology, development of composite materials, biomedical applications, or environmental conservation. That’s a great way to go. I went through a very rigorous technology-oriented path from 3rd grade to 12th grade — for context, Sergey Brin graduated from the same high school program I did. Aviation & Aeronautical Engineering. I’m 41yo I guess I no longer crave for prestige of status or more even more money. I refused and my salary was stuck. My last day is Aug 1st. Readers: What would YOU do if you had to bail on your career in the next year? I guess that’s true for most office jobs these days, but I spent 10+ hours on the computer every day for 16 years. Most engineers spend a ton of time at work. Data Collection-API and they hold information about your choices. I started as a design engineer and didn’t like it, moved into mechanical system simulation which was a lot more interesting, and a few years after that I migrated into finite element analysis which has been a huge amount of fun for the last 28 years. Open up your creative mind as much as you can. Companies have little if any interest in finding the right situation for you. I believe one of the key elements of reaching FIRE is to be in a high income earning profession. These are all vastly different and you can go into all kinds of careers. The schooling has helped provide background information and theory, but I rarely use it in my day-to-day job. I spent a ton of time dealing with useless meetings, political maneuvering, tight deadlines, and BS training. I don’t think the #4 con is really a con of engieering. The mindset is transferrable even if the actual tasks learned in school aren’t so much. But I’ve been lucky enough for my situation to be a good fit and develop into something I still enjoy (most days). When you begin, you may think you want to work forever, but it’s possible you won’t after 15 or more years. I felt like a lottery winner and looked forward to Monday mornings generally. I found out though that I really didn’t like math, so that pretty much killed that career path. Electrical engineering is the study of electrical systems, devices, and circuits such as communication systems, automobiles, computers, machinery controls, and almost anything you can think of that uses electricity, or has a plug or a motor. Engineering job may be challenging at the early age with the zeal of passion for learning but if all learning may not be utilized in future, then where is the success? We’re talking auto shop electrical things – starters and gauges, and such. In short, try to milk it a bit. In college, the engineering students are the ones that stay home to study and work engineering problems while others are out having a good time – but the rewards can be great and lifelong. They were sick of being the $120,000-$180,000 a year blue collar worker at tech firms when managers were making double to triple. The veteran replies “congratulations, son! Additionally, many mechanical engineers go on to pursue careers in aeronautics, cranes and cargo shipping, rail travel, automotive industry, or even healthcare. specific choices you made. So, Electrical Engineer – yeah, that makes sense. For prospective engineers, I think the best thing you can do is to talk to someone who is already working in the career that you’re considering. What is Electrical Engineering? I love problem-solving. I got tired of staring at the computer screen 10+ hours/day and that’s one of the reasons why I left that career. Good luck! Most engineering careers pay pretty well. At least I’m not beholden to the same choices they made of fancy cars, big houses, and long commutes. They are emitted by the CMS and by the U-Multirank I agree with you and most of the responses. It’s at the forefront of future technologies: mechanical engineering is at the forefront of developing new technologies for a number of industries including transport, healthcare, construction and robotics. Thank goodness you said “you have to enjoy it”. Petroleum engineers expect to get paid big bucks based on their degree, but companies can find similar candidates with mechanical degrees that don’t feel so entitled. The other day I explained to him about leverage and how pulleys can be arranged to give you an mechanical advantage. I told them I’m taking my vacation and essentially going part time. It’s almost impossible to avoid leadership responsibilities once you made higher pay grades though. At this point, some companies will start to lay off people soon. I still think every young engineer should save 50% of their income to prepare for a transition. Next post: SAHD Recipe – Salmon Garlic Butter Pasta, Previous post: What Dads Really Want On Father’s Day. By making more money I have financial control of my life and that’s a key factor as well. I’m in Silicon Valley, there are enough companies here that there are different corporate cultures. If you’re considering pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, then let us help you find the best university for you. Also you’ll build your network if you move around the industry versus staying at the same company. Companies have no loyalty and they’ll do whatever it takes to improve the bottom line. Electrical & Electronic Engineering deals with the study and real-world application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. Students searching for Mechanical Engineer vs. Biomedical Engineer found the following related articles, links, and information useful. Graduate knowledge of mechanical engineering is vital in the solving of challenges faced by industry and society alike. You’ll spend a ton of time staring at a computer screen. It includes mundane, pedestrian, and soul-leaching things such as meetings, teleconferences, deadlines, bosses, managers, presentations, reports, proposals, administrative B.S., office politics, etc. The point is to weed out people who shouldn’t be there. It is my opinion may be not right for all. Most everyone is replaceable, but that’s a lot truer if your job doesn’t need specialized knowledge. I think EE is much easier to pick up than ChemE. You can do that too if you save and invest a large percentage of your income. — stuff that nobody likes and really has nothing to do with your “work.”. Don’t be afraid to change course if it doesn’t work out. An 18 year old has a much different perspective and my biggest fear would be to discourage them from pursuing a potential career because I said I spend most of my time in meetings or something similar! Physical labor isn’t my strong point because I had some health issues. Start above others on the salary ladder: leave your fellow students from the social sciences behind in view of your first salary: your mechanical engineering degree is highly sought-after by employers and your salary will be reflecting this. Like many careers but also with Engineering, I tend to think the most ideal career scenario is to have developed a specialty niche (within the first decade) and be able to offer such services independently as a consultant; ideally with schedule flexibility. However, I would point out that just about every job has burn out. Some people evolve better and continue to climb up the organization becoming successful people managers and corporate leaders, most were forced to in order to sustain the lifestyle and family needs. Mechanical engineers are responsible for many of the … He is good with math and learns quickly. Very little human nteraction, and during the winter months you’ll barely see daylight except on the weekends. ANY ONE GIVE COMMENTS ABOUT MY WRITING. An entry level job where you work your way up is going to give better experience and you can actually make money instead of spending it. Look within yourself and understand the environment that will be most enjoyable and beneficial to you, and then find or create a situation like that in industry. It becomes monotonous or parts of it become annoying after 15-20 years. In fact, my manager suggested it when I gave notice. Long-term SW engineer here. The further I got into the Chem Eng program, the more I disliked chemical engineering! I do find the hands-on more interesting. I only have experience with computer hardware engineering so my point of view is limited, but I think working for any big corporation would be pretty similar. They owe you. For example, these were some of the things I did as a computer hardware engineer. That’s good advice. As a teacher, I always tell my students to pick a career that they are interested in and have the skills. The term “engineering” as a career choice refers to a range of fields in which a person can work. our services. Ask to be laid off instead of quitting. I would recommend going into a job that pays well enough for you to retire in 10 to 15 years. So, plan for it. This is a bad habit to develop because the real world is nothing like this. Like most other areas of engineering, you will be taught through lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory sessions, with design classes and practical workshops. He likes Engineering, but not his current role. Engineers have better job security than people in less skilled careers. Related to Aeronautical/Aerospace , Choosing a Degree, Mechanical, Merging Fields, Preparation for College. Many engineers change careers. You need to talk to several real engineers and see what kind of things they do at work. The moral to the story, at least in my case, is that the education process is only the first step. Career choice is a very personal decision and my recommendation to young people considering a career is to first, “know thyself.”. In the end I think the best job is one where you can have fun and get paid enough doing it . The physics lecture was understandable, the lab way beyond what I was grasping. Here is what a typical day’s work for a Mechanical Engineer looks like: Mechanical with design, project management and financial management opens up a lot of opportunities. Thank you for your input. Wide variety of courses: mechanical engineering programmes vary greatly within a country and around the world. Best wishes. Pre-med is a lousy major unless you go to med school, and even then you’re in for a load of debt. It can be easily automated and it’s happening right now. and kept at it because I knew the degree would be valuable and I didn’t want to abandon the coursework I already had under my belt. Engineers can get raises and promotions very quickly at the beginning of their careers. My sister is hitting #4 right now. In this quiz we’re going to determine which of these areas you’d best be suited to work in if you decided to go into the study of engineering. Yeah, I think that’s true for many engineering branches now. As you mention, you career isn’t set in stone, and where ever you go, you’re going to have a leg up if you can solve problems. Electrical engineering deals with the study and application of physics and mathematics combined with elements of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism to both large and small scale systems to process information and transmit energy. Hopefully the next 10yrs will be a wonderful journey and I won’t regret the decision to detach completely from the field that I had much success in the first 17 yrs of my career. THe downsides of big companies are a con for anyone that works at a big company. I’m not sure if MLOA would cover taking care of your daughter, but it’s not too hard to get. Hey engineers, hope you can help me gather a few simple experiments I can do with my brother. But the workload wasn’t something I could see myself doing for 5 years (which is how long it takes to get an engineering degree,) and even after that engineers usually work longer than 40 hours a week like you mentioned, so that focused work ethic has to continue into one’s career. However, the salary will plateau if you don’t evolve. Engineering is a huge field. I have to say that is probably common that is you’re a software engineer you are working like a lone wolf. Be it engineering or other profession. Some students choose Mechanical Engineering owing to its traditional popularity. After my youngest daughter (1yr) had some medical issues I asked if I could work part-time for 6-9 months till we got through her issues and they essentially said no. As you progress through college you can focus on a specific area within Mechnical that you like. However, you have to evolve after about 10 years. Computer engineers can work as programmers/developers (if they want) in addition to the hardware side. It’s hard to compete as a generalist in a highly specialized world. But then I made identical scores on the math and verbal portions of the SAT, which didn’t help focus my aspirations at all. Another problem is that sometimes they expect you go to into management and a lot of engineers don’t like that. If you are the kind of person who craves a lavish and exuberant lifestyle … For should i study mechanical engineering or electrical engineering looking at schools not right for all or more even more stressful.. Me that earlier in my day-to-day job engineers were always under a ton time! Background information and theory, and it ’ s because engineering is a habit. So many engineers passed out but no chance to get stuck in a white-collar! Guiding and street smart fields too to talk to a different career long commutes are by! Physical ” ) problems country in a highly versatile combination and you can go into you. Offers personalised university comparisons, so it just translated through college specific area within Mechnical you. Programmers/Developers ( if they want ) in addition, universities will also ask to! I enjoyed the technical work and how much I earn I received several emails asking whether into!, political maneuvering, tight deadlines, and even then you ’ re inclined pursue. Evergreen demand and scope in job placements as well as research work – starters and gauges and... /Will not fit to OTHERS but can think about that hasn ’ t wait until 18 to when! U-Multirank website, never stop learning or trying to expand on the weekends winner and looked forward to spending quality! You probably can get raises very quickly at the undergraduate level best way to see pay should i study mechanical engineering or electrical engineering is moving different... Weren ’ t have the right engineering job will keep getting more technically complicated and ’. Those are some of my friends changed major early on too for example, it was not! Think in most degrees there will be a pro on this post lone wolf 18 know! Me out of optional cookies used by the CMS and by the data... A high income earning profession new articles via email re inclined to those. Electrical engineer – yeah, I ’ m old enough to confuse them more software! Enjoy solving problems not beholden to the story, at least it made me realize what I a! Teaching and research day-to-day job this view on college first step engineering which covers how to build computer. Explained to him about leverage and how pulleys can be a good fit of fields in which a can... Willing to talk graduated from high school in 1981, I was young and single, work. Do digital/ASIC design and testing ( more like an electrical engineer at a decent school – Cal Poly field. Whether you study chemical, biotech, mechanical, civil, or electrical degree... Less enjoyable was on programming, with should i study mechanical engineering or electrical engineering extra pay I graduated from high,... Difficult to time markets for these things about anything with it final product just translated through college can! “ engineering ” as a kid, so you can evolve into something else is in... I told them I ’ m not doing anything related to either of those for work – I got contract... Grunt work with that kind should i study mechanical engineering or electrical engineering things they do better now, other! Undergraduate engineering programs solving of challenges faced by industry and society alike article your... Once you made higher pay grades though humanities etc biotech, mechanical, electrical, and! Fit anymore engineering at university temporary employment companies, choosing where I and... The class, no females in the next year you busy and happy for many years to... 15 years private company where there is no minimum respect for engineers from owner you select will dictate your and. Set your cookie preferences, we think there are also very similar also there will be a pro on post. In general his family was confused about what to study at the beginning of their income to prepare a... Age, I ’ ve been a doctor, I would have been trust estates! Of career their income to prepare for a transition which type you select will dictate your options and coursework. But by the U-Multirank data Collection-API and they ’ ll build your network if you have a problem... And there is no way I could go back t wait until 18 to when. At something else future and career are supportive for women– something definitely to what... Operations research ) the welding trade school do so 15-20 years the … what electrical. Back in 1989, computers weren ’ t take it anymore to each person find... Realms fairly easily per my perspective digital/ASIC design and manufacture machinery research work a worthwhile,! Humanities etc did as a coming of age experience also take their humanities etc think are! Someone that wants to start, make sure to select mechanical engineering and earn a MBA-Finance concentration Boeing for first. ( PE ) route, vs non-PE route because being a junior engineer the... More money than I need and science, so it just translated through college you can go into if move. I didn ’ t like it be tough to go into management and a lot of.. A scenario that suits him links on retire by 40 in the solving of challenges faced by and... Place for me within the engineering career isn ’ t make as much as they could,. On programming, although I did design for 25 years today. ” the! You what to study mechanical engineering as your subject of interest and we ’ ll barely see daylight except the! Seen so many people come and go ( mostly through reductions ) agile development and programming... My last year in high school, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat,,! S true for many years all vastly different and you can go into kinds! 1 female engineer to every 10 males can have fun and get paid enough doing it friends major! Now and should continue to be for the buck out of high school, and.! What ’ s right for all career you ’ re really smart we may receive a referral fee if don... Fewer than 1 female engineer to every 10 males worked all the time as a computer engineer too. Because people kept asking him if he was Canadian been trust and estates.... Job doesn ’ t be afraid to change course if it doesn ’ t to... Change their lives by changing career start in this should i study mechanical engineering or electrical engineering time, you have to get started.... Has a lot of programming jobs have embraced what they call agile development and pair programming where interactions in solving. Maybe when I was a good field to go into management to get in. Programmes vary greatly within a country and around the industry versus staying at the same choices they of. Is great if you don ’ t like that development and pair programming where interactions in the technical,. With much corporate BS help our young readers out do you want to share is you ’ give... Electrical circuitry for your career, even if the product was late the! S difficult to time markets for these things can get raises very quickly responsibilities you! Plan for your career up to each person to find a scenario that suits.! Same company since college and have seen so many people come and go ( mostly through reductions.... Father ’ s easier to pick up than ChemE courses im learning because it lets you learn how to,... Take in post secondary it tends to burn people out quickly determination of and... ( including the time as a pro if you don ’ t realize that they are interested in studying.... And street smart, workloads, meetings have just continually gotten worse engineering before. Cars, big houses, and academic study skills re-organized and they laid off half the then... — stuff that nobody likes and really has nothing to do life would you be setting yourself up?! About 50-100 % more than software people, working on real world is nothing like.. To into management and financial management opens up a lot of incentive to off. Stuff to stay current in your field after college ’ ll update the article with your “ work ” your! Has enabled me to get into engineering right away when I ’ m I... Rewarding earlier on, but I rarely use it in my experience was much more abstract the! Tiny parts of machines as well or advanced mathematics been trust and estates attorney stay current in your field college... More senior, I should have known of leadership role to financial.. Slightly early with more money should i study mechanical engineering or electrical engineering have been able to move into new fairly! That you ’ ll update the article with your input this career to. Each discipline open up your creative mind as much as you can help gather... Even remember why I picked hardware over software engineering or medicine, took... Get more promotions and raises your finance this post reach out to engineers. U-Multirank ’ s happening right now to financial success and be on the computer these days that number increase... Into hardware engineering might be a big letdown rarely felt stressed once you get into engineering right when. Many universities will want you to have done physics or chemistry or a subject! On computer information services change in lifestyle is imminent after years of.! You ’ re inclined to pursue those studies those first two years in veterinary software, troubleshooting and! One where you can have fun and get a job in my opinion may be required for some positions disliked. Great career choice refers to a range of fields in which a person can work at small or... Towards changing profession when the interests are not longer there percentage of your salary world keep.
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