2 answers
2 answers
Updated
Glenn’s Answer
A career as a Mechanical Engineer can last for your entire working life, if that is what you choose to do. I have worked with many ME's who choose to stay as a Mechanical Engineer until they choose to retire. Some move to other career paths, such as project management, engineering management, purchasing, and technical sales support. This is a choice for you to make as an individual.
During your first job after you graduate, you can start choosing the direction you wish to pursue. The easy answer is to stay on the original path and use it as a stepping stone to advance in that role. You can also choose to move into a different role. Start in manufacturing and move to product development for example.
But once you start with an engineering degree, there are a lot of options to choose from.
During your first job after you graduate, you can start choosing the direction you wish to pursue. The easy answer is to stay on the original path and use it as a stepping stone to advance in that role. You can also choose to move into a different role. Start in manufacturing and move to product development for example.
But once you start with an engineering degree, there are a lot of options to choose from.
Updated
Steven’s Answer
Hey Karen! I am a Chemical Engineer, and have worked in a variety of different industries since I was first able to get a job at age 16. I started in food, moved to retail, logistics, and eventually made my way into technology. I have gained a lot of experience in each different role, and while I would not consider any one of those real "Careers" in my life, they did have a significant impact on my personal and professional development.
The definition of a career, according to Google and Oxford, is an occupation taken up for a significant period of somebody's life which allows for progress over time. This means to each person, this could be a different meaning. Most jobs have room for advancement up the ranks, and some companies allow for faster advancement than others. In almost any company you work for, you will see people around you that have turned this job into a life long career.
I would say, with an engineering degree, your world is open to a variety of different industry and career paths. It could be in research, manufacturing, quality control, or consulting- in all of these different paths, some people have spent lots of time and energy gaining experience, moving up the ranks, and cultivating their career. It could be beneficial to try to network with some of these people, so that you could gain a better understanding of what is needed to make this a career for yourself.
Hope this helps answer your question about how long a mechanical engineer career could last?
The definition of a career, according to Google and Oxford, is an occupation taken up for a significant period of somebody's life which allows for progress over time. This means to each person, this could be a different meaning. Most jobs have room for advancement up the ranks, and some companies allow for faster advancement than others. In almost any company you work for, you will see people around you that have turned this job into a life long career.
I would say, with an engineering degree, your world is open to a variety of different industry and career paths. It could be in research, manufacturing, quality control, or consulting- in all of these different paths, some people have spent lots of time and energy gaining experience, moving up the ranks, and cultivating their career. It could be beneficial to try to network with some of these people, so that you could gain a better understanding of what is needed to make this a career for yourself.
Hope this helps answer your question about how long a mechanical engineer career could last?