ENGINEERING AS CAREER: Does cracking technical problems interest you? Are science and math your fields of interest? You can imagine becoming an engineer. They are basically solution finders who use their scientific and mathematical knowledge to get their work done. They work in different fields of technology. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Before you continue, see if an engineering career is right for you.
Engineers utilize their skills of scientific and numerical principles in solving technical issues. They pursue jobs in a plethora of fields, like civil, environment-related, chemical, mechanical, electrical, and petroleum technology.
Are you keen to find out how to become an engineer?
Learn more about educational requirements and how to apply for a technical degree at a university. Find out what to do after graduation and what employers are looking for when hiring for novice jobs.
To pursue a career in almost all the fields of technology, you need good mathematical and scientific skills. Make sure you take as many classes as possible in high school and do well in those subjects. Chemistry, physics, biology, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, and calculus should definitely be included in your syllabus. They will form a sound foundation for follow-up courses that you will continue in higher studies.
Along with having a sound foundation in science and math, there are some soft skills that will aid in success in this profession. For instance, you require to be great at problem-solving. This means that you must be able to identify issues and give relevant solutions. Expertise in critical evaluation allows you to think about every solution to decide which has the greatest chance of success. You must be able to perform tasks in teams and solve problems with colleagues. You must also be a good listener and a good speaker.
Average annual revenues for different technology disciplines (USA, 2018) include:
Flight and space: $ 115,200
Electric: $ 99,070
Civil: $ 86,640
Mechanical: $ 87,370
Environment: $ 87,620
Nuclear power: $ 107,600
Biomedical: $ 88,550
In 2018, 1.7 million people were employed as engineers, according to national estimates of employment and wages. A majority of those were electrical and electronic fields, followed by mechanical, civil, and industrial sectors.
Job prospects vary depending on the industry. The U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs in the architectural and engineering professions are expected to increase by 4% from 2018 to 2028.
Approximately 113,300 new employment opportunities creation is expected. Most of the expected employment growth in this group will take place in the engineering professions, as there will be demand for their services in various areas, such as infrastructure reconstruction, renewable energy, oil and gas extraction, and robotics.
To get an initial job, you need a master’s degree. Sometimes a university degree in science or mathematics is enough, especially in highly sought-after specialties. A few individuals specialize in a particular field further and then proceed to work in a related sector.
You must obtain a government license to offer your services directly to the public. If you do this, you can be called a professional engineer (PE). To be licensed, your college degree must come from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Along with your qualification and skills in mathematics and science, you also require general skills or certain personal qualities to be successful in this profession.
After gaining basic knowledge and experience, engineers can work more independently, make decisions, develop designs and solve problems.
With more experience, they can become technical specialists or supervisors on top of a staff or a team of engineers or technicians. Eventually, they may become technical managers or gain other managerial or sales positions.
To know about the features, along with the training and technological skills, employers were searching for when hiring engineers, we moved to Indeed.com again. This is what we came across:
“Efficient interaction and relation skills are needed.”
“Capability of organization of work and submit work products on time. ”
“Target-oriented, can set ais and fulfill them.”
“The capability to take authority for the activities in time and learn new ideas and concepts based on principles.”
“Organized, enthusiast and detail-driven, with the capability for adaption to changes in a fast-paced, time-based environment.”
“Be able to go through and comprehend product drawings”.
Your passion, personality trait, and professional values are a few determinants of being an engineer is right for you.