6 answers
Trystan
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
1
Question
Asked
567 views
What are some things I need to do to prepare to possibly going into the carrier field of Engineering?
I'm planning on likely doing a job that gives me time off but is in the engineering career field. I specifically want to have time to snowboard and have the money to be able to do that. #engineering #engineer
Login to comment
6 answers
Erica O'Neil
Medical Device Process Development Engineer
5
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Erica’s Answer
As an engineer I will add from my experience.
Something I have often said to people considering engineering is that I think it is one of the best degrees/careers you can choose to make decent money right out of college, not require a graduate degree to continue to advance in your career, and you can achieve work-life balance.
I work 8-5. Typically with salaried positions (as opposed to hourly), and at a workplace that has a healthy culture, as long as you get your work done no one is keeping track of your hours and you have flexibility. This is even more true in the COVID era. You are in charge of your time and your work. So sometimes I stop working/leave before 5 to run an errand. Or come in a little later when I bike into work. Sometimes I’ve worked remotely on a Friday from California or a cabin. I do get 4 weeks of vacation to travel, camp, hike, ski, etc. I have gone on 2-3 week long international trips before, and my company even offers a 3 month sabbatical after 7 years.
I have loved being an engineer- I think it is a great overall package for work-life balance.
Something I have often said to people considering engineering is that I think it is one of the best degrees/careers you can choose to make decent money right out of college, not require a graduate degree to continue to advance in your career, and you can achieve work-life balance.
I work 8-5. Typically with salaried positions (as opposed to hourly), and at a workplace that has a healthy culture, as long as you get your work done no one is keeping track of your hours and you have flexibility. This is even more true in the COVID era. You are in charge of your time and your work. So sometimes I stop working/leave before 5 to run an errand. Or come in a little later when I bike into work. Sometimes I’ve worked remotely on a Friday from California or a cabin. I do get 4 weeks of vacation to travel, camp, hike, ski, etc. I have gone on 2-3 week long international trips before, and my company even offers a 3 month sabbatical after 7 years.
I have loved being an engineer- I think it is a great overall package for work-life balance.
Joseph Neilson
Radiation Detection Physicist
219
Answers
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
It's difficult to give precise recommendations for you without a better idea of where you're up to with your studies and what particular parts of engineering interest you, but I'll try to give a few pointers in general terms.
There's two main routes into engineering jobs I'm aware of. Firstly, for more hands-on engineering roles as a school leaver, there's internships and apprenticeships. Secondly, there's the college/university graduate route, which opens more doors to desk-based engineering. For both, the steps at school will be fairly similar - for either, you should be focusing on your mathematics, physics, and other STEM subjects, and doing as well as you can. It's also best if you can dedicate some of your own time outside of school to reading what you can about the subject and learning some related skills by yourself, perhaps workshop skills (particular for the more hands-on route) or coding/programming (particularly for the academic route). Also try to research the different disciplines of engineering and find out which you like the sound of and which you understand most easily.
In terms of your snowboarding, many engineering careers tend to be relatively normal 9-5 type jobs, so you'll likely have weekends free for activities, and you'll also tend to have a decent (but rarely exceptional) vacation time package, which most engineering firms tend to be pretty flexible with, so (within reason) you'll typically be able to use whenever is convenient to you, rather than what best suits the company; so you could probably get a few decent longer snowboarding trips a year too.
There's two main routes into engineering jobs I'm aware of. Firstly, for more hands-on engineering roles as a school leaver, there's internships and apprenticeships. Secondly, there's the college/university graduate route, which opens more doors to desk-based engineering. For both, the steps at school will be fairly similar - for either, you should be focusing on your mathematics, physics, and other STEM subjects, and doing as well as you can. It's also best if you can dedicate some of your own time outside of school to reading what you can about the subject and learning some related skills by yourself, perhaps workshop skills (particular for the more hands-on route) or coding/programming (particularly for the academic route). Also try to research the different disciplines of engineering and find out which you like the sound of and which you understand most easily.
In terms of your snowboarding, many engineering careers tend to be relatively normal 9-5 type jobs, so you'll likely have weekends free for activities, and you'll also tend to have a decent (but rarely exceptional) vacation time package, which most engineering firms tend to be pretty flexible with, so (within reason) you'll typically be able to use whenever is convenient to you, rather than what best suits the company; so you could probably get a few decent longer snowboarding trips a year too.
Magdalena Matusiak
Process Development Engineer
2
Answers
Łódź, Łódź Voivodeship, Poland
Updated
Magdalena’s Answer
Engineering is a very broad term. It includes many branches, so you can for example either be an engineer in the factory, taking care of products, processes, or you may enter architectural engineering jobs. First of all, you need professional knowledge from the field that you are going to work in. The base of this knowledge is math, chemistry, physics, then you have mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, material science and so on. A lot of things you will learn at your specific job position at work and will broaden the topics that are relevant. It is also important to know that you will have to solve a lot of real problems, so problem solving skills are necessary. I will also add to this working in group, as well as analytical thinking.
You asked also about having a time for leisure activities after work. Many companies offer nowadays work from home and it is not so hard to find such a job. However, as an engineer you will rather need to appear physically at work a few times a week.
You asked also about having a time for leisure activities after work. Many companies offer nowadays work from home and it is not so hard to find such a job. However, as an engineer you will rather need to appear physically at work a few times a week.
Baljinder Singh
Mechanical design engineer
11
Answers
Sparks, Nevada
Updated
Baljinder’s Answer
Follow this link: https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=internships%20in%20engineering%20for%20high%20school&l&vjk=5ef943ceab941a3e&advn=3845712227766692
It will give you the list of intern jobs with various companies in various engineering field with high school graduation.
I think may serve what you are looking for.
It will give you the list of intern jobs with various companies in various engineering field with high school graduation.
I think may serve what you are looking for.
Ing. David Francis Bartolo
Senior Manager
5
Answers
Attard, Malta
Updated
Ing. David Francis’s Answer
Good Morning,
The field of engineering is vast and constantly changing. From my experience do not stop learning and continue improve your knowledge on the subjects you work into and also other subjects that might help you in your field. Engineering field is a dynamic field, constantly changing. Also, do not be afraid to study management subjects because it will help you dealing with problems and also people who respond to you. Take care
The field of engineering is vast and constantly changing. From my experience do not stop learning and continue improve your knowledge on the subjects you work into and also other subjects that might help you in your field. Engineering field is a dynamic field, constantly changing. Also, do not be afraid to study management subjects because it will help you dealing with problems and also people who respond to you. Take care
Carlos Campos
Process Engineer
2
Answers
El Paso, Texas
Updated
Carlos’s Answer
Good morning,
To be prepared learn to be ready to expect the unexpected, it is always changing and there are multiple right answers. Never stop learning, learn to delegate and learn from people with more experience.
Take management and communication courses. Learn the financial side as well, it has great impact on engineering and how projects are to be run.
Improve your communication skills, as engineers we tend to be really good at identifying the problem and work on the potential solutions, but it is also important to be able to present the issues in clear manner to an audience that might not have the same background as you.
Learn to delegate and make people accountable. Set clear expectations from the beginning.
Hope this helps. Take care
To be prepared learn to be ready to expect the unexpected, it is always changing and there are multiple right answers. Never stop learning, learn to delegate and learn from people with more experience.
Take management and communication courses. Learn the financial side as well, it has great impact on engineering and how projects are to be run.
Improve your communication skills, as engineers we tend to be really good at identifying the problem and work on the potential solutions, but it is also important to be able to present the issues in clear manner to an audience that might not have the same background as you.
Learn to delegate and make people accountable. Set clear expectations from the beginning.
Hope this helps. Take care