5 answers
5 answers
Updated
Ann’s Answer
I agree with the others. Choosing a high paying career simply because of the high pay is setting yourself up for potentially being very unhappy in that career. I would suggest you first evaluate what you enjoy doing. What are you most interested in right now? What subjects or hobbies do you seek out most? What skills do you have now that you always use? Those questions will be a good starting point in researching careers.
You also need a good understanding of what the work environment and job duties would be for various careers is so you can eliminate the ones you know you would not tolerate every day.
There are many high paying jobs, take some time to find one that you believe would be most enjoyable and keep you interested and engaged for years.
Talk with a career counselor
Take some aptitude tests
Make a list of hobbies you enjoy that might transfer to a career
Make a list of situations and tasks you know you would not enjoy or tolerate for long periods every day, and ones you think you would enjoy
You also need a good understanding of what the work environment and job duties would be for various careers is so you can eliminate the ones you know you would not tolerate every day.
There are many high paying jobs, take some time to find one that you believe would be most enjoyable and keep you interested and engaged for years.
Ann recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Raghuram’s Answer
Engineering needs a different mindset, not that how much an average Engineer is making. How you look at any situation / challenge and how you will approach to solve it makes you an engineer or not. Choose career based on your skills and attitude would be my suggestion.
Updated
Frances’s Answer
Yong, I also agree with others. Here is my story... I was persuaded by my father (a mechanical engineer) to go to school for engineering. As I completed university courses for engineering, I found that I did not want to get stuck in a cubicle in an office talking with geeks all day; only focusing on engineering problems. So I changed my course of study to business management. I loved working with people. I was very successful when I graduated school. I worked in sales and a buying office for a large retailer - See comment above ... "do what you love". While working as a retail buyer, I kept getting asked about technical systems and asked about how to come up with solutions for network issues. This was because I was good at it and had an aptitude for all things technical - See comment above "something you can learn or have skills at". I loved coming up with technical solutions at that job. So fast forward 8 years... the retailer I worked for went into bankruptcy. I took a temporary job and they placed me at AT&T in the cyber-security group. AT&T hired me permanently and then I moved to network engineering based on my work experience and success. It was very different than what I thought engineering would be from when I was in college. I worked with many different people from all over the world solving problems. I am able to work with people from many different backgrounds which I love, but I also exercise my brain technically every day. I am an engineer and it took me some time to reach the six figures. Those salaries which are being quoted to you can be reached after 5 or more years if you have the degree and relevant work experience. Sometimes you must do very mundane work and prove your aptitude and competence to your boss. It is good to have a vision and a goal that will get you through the mundane times. Good luck in your quest!
Talk to a career counselor to determine your passions
Determine if engineering is for you and you have that aptitude
Look to see which companies are hiring and if career prospects in that field are valid
Once you obtain a degree in engineering (Most companies hire peopleswith Masters degrees in Engineering, FYI)
Work really, really hard... impress others, be genuine and honest
Frances recommends the following next steps:
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Judy’s Answer
I agree with Raghuram. You should pick a career based on two things. 1. Something you love to do. 2. And something you have or can learn the skills for. While it is a good idea to consider what a job will yield in monetary value it could be more important to see what kind of joy it will yield while you are doing it. Remember you will spend a good part of you life doing your job. If you pick something just for the money, you could be well off and miserable at the same time. “Do something you love so you never have to work a day in your life!”
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Habib’s Answer
I believe your approach to this whole issue has to do with the financial benefits which is obvious, not the passion for the career path. You should learn to do what you love and love what you do. If you love to do engineering, then do it. You might regret if you go down that path for the wrong reasons.