Other Becoming an Engineer: Considerations and Personal Experiences

[Felchi]

I'm a bit curious myself so here are some of my own questions.

What kind of job security would I be able to expect as an engineer?

As an engineer, what, really would I do? Am I just a glorified mechanic?

Is university or college better for engineering?

 

[pongo38]

Felchi: Your post #961 says quite a lot about you. In brief, no job is secure, but the higher your education and training, the more likely you will be able to work internationally, and thus open more doors. The world of engineering is so vast that there is scope for anyone to find their niche eventually, perhaps not initially when diversity of training is a good idea. Engineers do just about everything. I have met engineers who have acted as nurses, accountants, chemists etc etc in remote sites because of necessity. You just cannot tell in advance what kinds of demands may be made of you. I think that, depending on where you live, you need to get in touch with a local branch of an engineering institution, and go to speak with some real engineers at one of their meetings, and ask them these questions. In most cases, you will be welcomed, and enlightenment will follow. Only then can you judge whether university or college is appropriate.

 

[lazypast]

Hi, I am an engineer in the oil & gas industry - offshore. I am wondering if anyone can offer any advice on learning a 2nd language suited to o&g/offshore engineering (my first is English). I'd imagine Norwegian would open some doors. Thanks

 

[KClose1983]

Any opinions on UCF (University of Central Florida) as a school for engineering?

 

[EBENEZR]

Hi, I am an engineer in the oil & gas industry - offshore. I am wondering if anyone can offer any advice on learning a 2nd language suited to o&g/offshore engineering (my first is English). I'd imagine Norwegian would open some doors. Thanks

Although I am not in the field of engineering, nor have experience with it, I think I can help with this. If you're wanting to open doors to progression, your best bet is search for employment openings for positions above yours on the internet and see what they would require and/or like. The best bet to find out what employers would like is find out what sort of people are being asked for.

 

[Who Am I]

Do I sound like Engineer material? I'm 16, and still play with Legos... I love building! And am always building something. From rock castles when I was 7, to tree forts when I was 11. To computers, lego buildings and designing lego Spaceships now. I'm a very creative person... from art, to legos, to even writing stories... I'm also into Astronomy and space... I also have always been interested in how things work. I’m a big Gamer. I like games like Homeworld & Homeworld2, Halo & Halo2... In school, Biology is my Best subject, but not my favorite... that’s history... Math used to be my favorite, but I slowly fell behind with the smartest of my grade and never picked back up on it. so, do I sound like a future Engineer?

Lol I can't speak as an engineer, but I'm thinking of switching and the posts I'm reading are making me feel a bit more like I really should make the switch and that it will fit me.

I just wanted to say, I'm 20, don't have my Legos anymore, but I still build them in my minds eye. And not the block ones: Technics. lol.

 

[Felchi]

Felchi: Engineers do just about everything. I have met engineers who have acted as nurses, accountants, chemists etc etc in remote sites because of necessity. You just cannot tell in advance what kinds of demands may be made of you.

Then what is an engineer's job description? If engineers do just about everything, how am I supposed to know whether being an engineer is right for me?

 

[pongo38]

Briefly, engineers make things out of stuff.

 

[Felchi]

So something like an inventor?

 

[EBENEZR]

So something like an inventor?

I don't think most engineering is new things so not inventing, though in the case of new products or new designs or refinement, new work will be patented so some inventing will be done. But there would be a lot of problem solving.

 

[Felchi]

Is engineering in danger of becoming a globally outsourced job, with engineers from developing countries willing to work for little pay taking over the field?

 

[CherryTrooper]

Is engineering in danger of becoming a globally outsourced job, with engineers from developing countries willing to work for little pay taking over the field?

Doubt it. Engineering is specialized and requires higher education. It's one field where "Good enough" is not good enough.

 

[Felchi]

I'm not condemning developing countries but with the advent of global outsourcing, manufacturing has all but died where I live and our "temporary worker" program has led to foreign workers taking over many sectors save the ones requiring interactions with the public.

It's just frustrating you know? We all have to eat.

 

[Metta]

Hello there fellows! I've joined today and the purpose of my joining is very relevant to this thread. I want to become an Engineer. Glad I didn't ask the question.

I've just browsed the boards briefly and I must say this place is very resourceful. Thanks to the creators.

 

[aspergers]

Hi all (interesting variation on a chat room) My aim is to become a Hardware Engineer for Microsoft.

 

[Chronos]

Engineers learn to solve problems on their feet with minimal resources or support - which explains why we get sent out on field assignments with alarming regularity. A good engineer is part scientist, part inventor and part technician. Job prospects for engineers are still very good, despite the current economic climate.

 

[aspergers]

I thought so, Hardware Engineer's for Microsoft earn something like a six figure salary don't they ?

 

[Felchi]

I hear Google is an amazing workplace for Engineers dealing with computer science

 

[H2Bro]

Hi, I am an engineer in the oil & gas industry - offshore. I am wondering if anyone can offer any advice on learning a 2nd language suited to o&g/offshore engineering (my first is English). I'd imagine Norwegian would open some doors. Thanks

I spent the last year living in Norway studying physics. I met a lot of folks there who had ties to the oil and gas industry, let me just tell you -

Learning Norwegian is a great asset to break into that job market. And its worth it to break in - salaries usually start around 200k USD (or about 1 million kroner) and only get higher.

Something to keep in mind is that the oil and gas industry in Norway is very very international compared to the rest of their society. Additionally, they have a severe shortage of qualified engineers for just about every position available. This means they are more than willing to take on engineers with some experience even if they don't speak norwegian, not a big problem as a lot of your coworkers (not to mention every norwegian citizen) speaks fluent english, often better than a lot of north americans I meet.

If you spent even a few months learning basic norwegian and used that in your communication with major oil and gas firms (statoil, aker solutions, etc) they will hire you in a heart beat. Honestly. Take a look at some of the major job boards for norway (www.nav.no, www.finn.no) and you'll see its shooting fish in a barrel for oil and gas engineers to find employment.

One word of warning though - they will rarely hire people who are abroad. Its likely you'll have to actually be in norway to get interviewed and hired, which means getting a 1 year skilled worker visa which allows you to look for jobs and transfer to a worker visa once hired. The reason for this process is that it is extremely difficult (i.e. next to impossible) for employees to be fired once hired in Norway, so they are very selective about it.

good luck, but you won't need it :)

 

[Dowland]

From reading the first pages of this thread I kinda got the impression that engineering studies is mostly for those who have some sort of passion in knowing how things works technically. Is that the case? I'm probably majoring in engineering, starting next semester, and in my entire life I've almost never taken an interest in how things in my environment "works". I applied for engineering because I love mathematics and really enjoy physics and problem solving, and I want to use that to study something fun and get a fun (and hopefully well paid) job. Do any of you guys have any experience with people like me?

I appreciate all comments and apologize in beforehand for any language errors (I'm a european).

 

[Malgrif]

From reading the first pages of this thread I kinda got the impression that engineering studies is mostly for those who have some sort of passion in knowing how things works technically. Is that the case? I'm probably majoring in engineering, starting next semester, and in my entire life I've almost never taken an interest in how things in my environment "works". I applied for engineering because I love mathematics and really enjoy physics and problem solving, and I want to use that to study something fun and get a fun (and hopefully well paid) job. Do any of you guys have any experience with people like me?

I appreciate all comments and apologize in beforehand for any language errors (I'm a european).

Engineering is great fun. However, it's not like physics or mathematics where most times problems are extremely abstract and idealized and there's always a "right" answer. Engineering is an approximate science, meaning that there is no right answer. Engineering requires mathematics and physics as basic tools in the analysis of systems. Let me tell you, systems are extremely complex. This leads to the situation where a lot of software dependence is required to analyze systems and understand how they are working. If you don't enjoy slow meticulous thinking, where most times a solution won't just come in a moment of clarity (like mathematics and physics), and back of envelope calculations, you may find engineering studies to be tedious and boring.

The first few semester of your engineering degree may involve a lot of physics and math and seem like a great fit for you. However your upper years will involve less mathematics and more system analysis. To enjoy engineering you must have or develop an interest in how the world around you works.

I enjoy engineering because it gives me the ability to see how other people are solving real life issues through the use of technology, and hopefully through analysis of their methods, come up with a method myself to improve society as a whole.

 

[featherheart]

well i created a topic for my prob but no reply came so i m askng my question here...
i am doing bach. tech (2nd sem) in electronics and communication engineering from Indian Institute of information technology, allahabad.

but i am very much interested in physics, especially in quantum mechanics.
so i would just like to know what are my chances of pursuing higher studies in physics like MS from India only?
and what its future

 

[pongo38]

From reading the first pages of this thread I kinda got the impression that engineering studies is mostly for those who have some sort of passion in knowing how things works technically. Is that the case? I'm probably majoring in engineering, starting next semester, and in my entire life I've almost never taken an interest in how things in my environment "works". I applied for engineering because I love mathematics and really enjoy physics and problem solving, and I want to use that to study something fun and get a fun (and hopefully well paid) job. Do any of you guys have any experience with people like me?

I appreciate all comments and apologize in beforehand for any language errors (I'm a european).

Malgrif has already given you a very good answer, but I would add that the profession of engineering is very broad and most people can find a niche that suits them, eventually. To get there you probably have to involve yourself in the study and professional practice of things that initially may not interest you, but the pursuit of which could and should engage your interest and development. I would say that if you are curious, you will make progress. Try speaking to a variety of older engineers about how their career developed and I think you will be surprised how diverse and unexpected the opportunities arose. If you don't know anyone, you can approach the local branch of an engineering institution that interests you. Best wishes for your success.

 

[Orcinus]

WA mechatronic?

I'll look over the rest of the thread when I have a bit more time than I currently do, but in the meantime:
I'm currently enrolled in my first year of a bachelor of engineering at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia and currently have told most people I'm thinking of doing a major in mechanical engineering. However, mechatronics looks awesome. But when I think mechatronic, I think robots, and I'm not so sure that there's so many robotics jobs in Western Australia. Any thoughts? Am I right to be concerned or is there plenty of work in whatever field?

I chose engineering because it suited by enjoyment of maths, physics and computing. Mechatronics fills that third element, while mechanical is less so.

 

[AlbanianBlood]

I'm a recent high school graduate who wants to study Mechanical Engineering. I'm a from a high-income family and from a country with low-industry. So in the future I'm planning to open a factory or doing any business related to Mechanical Eng, like to work on my own or something like that. The problem is about the degree, which of Mechanical Engineering degree i should take?

 

[Dundeephysics]

I'm a recent high school graduate who wants to study Mechanical Engineering. I'm a from a high-income family and from a country with low-industry. So in the future I'm planning to open a factory or doing any business related to Mechanical Eng, like to work on my own or something like that. The problem is about the degree, which of Mechanical Engineering degree i should take?

Some universities where I study in the UK offer Mechanical Engineering and Management as part of the degree, where students take some management modules. The modules normally teach students about the business framework, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME). I think if you check whether a university offers something similar, that could be a good degree for your case.

 

[cuzin]

Should I go back to be an engineer

Hi All

I have a question as I am quite confused. I have completed by undergraduate and honours in Construction Management. I then went on to complete my MSc by research in Green Building and renewable energy. These areas are my passion I know I want to be in it for the rest of my life. I also love business and would really like to run my own business in the field of green building/renewable energy. With my masters I am an expert in the fields and could certainly be a consultant etc. However I cannot go and fully design. I am very interested whether I would love designing in these fields :). What are your thoughts on going back to become an engineer for these fields vs what I have already??

 

[pongo38]

My thoughts are that you should gain some valuable commercial experience in the field, either by getting employment in a suitable firm, or by going into partnership with an engineering designer, or outsourcing this aspect so that you can see how the professionals do it. I wouldn't employ you unless you had a minimum of five years practical experience in the field. (It's the same in the construction field - contractors need people with minimum five years site experience to put tenders together). Beware of dabbling in fields you are not fully trained for. In ten years time, you may be able to cope better on your own. In any case, make sure you practice with professional indemnity cover.

 

[MinnesotaState]

I used to think computer programming was fascinating, but it bothered me too much because I didn't understand the hardware. I went from CS to EET pretty fast. Now that I have all the hardware figured out, I'm more interested in theory, so EE it is.

I just completed my generals. We'll see if EE holds through my sophomore year.

I definitely don't want to code behind a desk for the rest of my life, & I'll probably get bored of designing antenna's or IC's.

I'd rather find a niche market, grab some off the shelf components, write some firmware, & sell a product like hot cakes. Then retire to the spark fun alike website I made in college, lol

I think interfacing is the ticket to getting me off on my own.

Any self employed engineers in here?

Ty

 

[musk]

I am interested in materials engineering. The problem I have, however, with the course being offered at a local university is that the whole 2 years of graduate program has like 5 courses related to materials. They are metallic materials, non metallic materials, selection of materials, mechanics of materials and protection of materials. Every other subject is either something that has to do with management or structural engineering. What is your opinion?