What should college students know about careers in engineering?
I am preparing a series of talks to high-school and college students about becoming an engineer. What sorts of things do you think will help them think about this career choice and whether it is right for them?
Answers (12)
I think a key factor in whether or not engineering would be a career choice for someone really starts with how an individual looks at the world around them. If upon seeing something, they take it as it is, then most likely they're better suited for another field. On the other hand, if they see something and start wondering how it was made, or how it works, or how they could make it better, then they could be a "natural" engineer. John Ratzenberger (Cliff of Cheers) has recognized the serious shortage of future engineering talent and has started a foundation - The Nuts and Bolds Foundation - to promote engineering to kids at all early age through hands-on experience, or tinkering. What a great idea! There are other programs as well, like FIRST and BattleBots IQ that provide kids with hands-on programs to captivate their interest in engineering.
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Jessica M
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The point of science and engineering is to learn how to think in a certain way. In particular, the concept of having a hypothesis and testing it -- staying objective while learning -- is a critical component of being an engineer.
It's good training for other fields, but on the other hand, the received wisdom from other disciplines is a good perspective for engineering, too.
James M
Technology Support Representative, Sr. at Orange County Public Schools
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Search the net for examples of engineering student projects. Many civil engineering programs participate in concrete canoe races. Thre are also annual robotics competitions. When I was in college our civil engineering students were tasked with the job of building a device that could lift a 25lb bucket 25 feet into the air. The only allowable metal was screws and nails, and there was a maximum buget of $25.
Other examples of what engineers do is very useful. The first job my nephew had after engineering school was watching paint dry.My sons first engineering job was writing install packages for Intel. One of my first engineering jobs was to determine the consequnces if a particular part failed in a nuclear plant.
They should be encouraged to take all the advanced math and science courses they can while in high school. Engineering is one of the most difficult majors there is. It is becoming more common to complete the degree in 5 years rather then 4. It is actually even more common to flunk out. My freshman class started with 265 students. There were only 71 of us left entering our senior year.
Anand R
Senior Manufacturing Engineer and MBA student at the Kellogg School of Managment
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Being an engineer in today's world of rapidly changing and penetrating technology is fantastic. Engineering opens the doors to endless fields of opportunity, whether it's research, design, manufacturing, logistics, technical marketing, or even business development.
Some of the the greatest business leaders were either formal or informal engineers: Jack Welch, Bill Gates, John Dasburg (CEO of Northwest airlines), and Mike Eskew (CEO of UPS) to name a few. With that said, on to answering your question, here are some things to think about to find out if engineering is right for them.
1. Are you a curious person? Do you enjoy finding out how things work and why they are put together the why they are?
2. Engineers are all about change and improvement. You not only have to have a curiosity for something but a desire to make it better by educated trial and error.
3. Flexibility is another personality trait that I think good engineers have to have. An engineer can be working on technical projects that run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, all the way up to choosing whether to use a 1/4" bolt versus 3/8" bolt each costing less than a $1, however that bolt could be holding something in place that affects that safety of an co-worker or even customer.
4. The great thing about engineering is that you can move up or down or side ways, it just depends on what you want to do. Engineers can stay technical in a certain area and become experts or they can go on to become managers of other engineers or even businesses. So career mobility for engineers is a definite plus.
5. Also, the world we live in is becoming more and more technically advanced. To stay on the cutting edge and to help our country compete, technological innovation is the key and engineers drive that innovation. Whether it is bio-medical science, electronics, aerospace, or energy independence, engineers will be driving change in all those fields.
A great resource that demonstrates the social and economic value of engineers is "The World is Flat" by Thomas Freedman. I'm reading that book and it's great.
Hope this helps.
For computer science specifically (which I choose to consider "engineering" here), run one or two of the great "Computer Science Unplugged" problems, suitably adjusted for the level of students you're addressing. Those who have fun with these problems probaby want to be engineers, whether they know it or not. BTW, many of the problems work for kids in elementary school as well, maybe you can add one or two of those to your series of talks?
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Neil M
VP, Business Development at Imara Corporation
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Number one thing needed for today's youth is an education on the variety of engineering careers and work opportunities. Most kids do not know what different disciplines of engineering do. We take it for granted that a 17 year old high school kid know the difference between a Test Engineer, Mechanical Engineer and a Material Science Engineer. When I went through high school, it was as simple as - if you are good at math you should consider engineering. Reality is that I did not know what they do on a daily basis. There is such a huge variety of work styles in engineering and there are great opportunities to pursue personal interests. Whether it is a computer science entrepreneur, a building and construction project manager, or a person working on consumer electronics or fuel cells. The variety is endless yet the average kid thinks of engineering as a deck job for geeks. They are simply not taught about the careers.
Second main point is that kids whom excel in math and pursue engineering degrees are not necessarily going to be paid more than business majors - especially true at top universities. I led my high school in math scores on the SAT/ACT and pursued engineering yet that did not translate into top paying opportunities after college. I guess I assumed that since the top minds went into engineering that they also commanded the best salaries. That was not the case as it turned out. If its money you are after get an undergrad in business and an MBA at a top school.
Martyn D
Publishing Director of MCAD and AEC Magazines/ Writing and Editing Consultant
Engineering suffers from years of bad PR. Add that to the mindset that most kids think they are going to be a famous rapper/ sports star/ model... and you have a very tough pitch Joel!!! As kids look to university degrees. Engineering is one of the tough ones. Most will want to do Business Studies or something. Again with today's media businessmen are stars too, just look at reality TV. Where are the engineering stars? Well, I think you actually don't have to look too far - those orange county chopper people would be a good place to start. All kids have ipods, how about talking about Jonathan Ive and Apple products, one of the best industrial designers alive. What kid's imagination can't be sparked by Burt Rutan and 'SpaceShipOne'. Dean Kaman's Segway and is technologies to help the disabled. Perhaps talk about the problems the planet faces and how we need engineering solutions, and fast - William McDonough has interesting views. I think he has a pen that's made out of plantfood and inside it is a seed - when the pen runs out, you stick it in the ground and get a tree.
http://www.flipside.org.uk/ (engineering mag for teenagers)
http://www.mcdonough.com/
good luck Joel.
martyn
It's just like any other career choice. There's interesting stuff and there's routine stuff. To be successful, you need to be comfortable doing the routine stuff.
It depends on what gets your blood flowing. Although I am an industry analyst now (for engineering software), I originally became an engineer because I loved science, dreamed about futuristic devices, and still love puzzles and problem solving. Even looking at complex circuitry or structures that seemed to defy the imagination get my blood flowing.
That "feeling of excitement" when you discuss science or mind-blowing applications of science must be there to have a rewarding career as an engineer.
If those things do not excite individuals, they should not become engineers. Appealing to there sense of "social responsbility" may get a short term positive response, but they are more likely to drop out when the going gets tough. ...ande, it usually does get tough.
Jamie D
Managing software engineering, programs, and products by lean/agile means; collaboration, facilitation, public speaking
Science and engineering are life-long careers that are ever changing. They're not for everyone. But for those who are a good match, it can be a great thrill and the opportunity to be part of great things.
Such a career provides a pathway to be an enduring shaper of the future, and to earn the credentials to participate with others who shape the world. People who will be happy, productive scientists and engineers already know it in their hearts -- their imaginations are drawn to how things work, to how things can be changed for the better. They embrace novelty; they are curious about fundamentals and first principles.
In the years I taught at both Michigan State and Carnegie Mellon, I had three simple questions I'd ask younger students -- (1) "ever see something that you'd like to make work better?"; (2) "would you like to learn how to bring that about?"; and (3) "do you like math?" Three affirmatives opened the door to a dialog about car dashboards, trash compactors, computer games, ... you name it. Conversations would overrun office hours. If there was equivocation in any of the answers I attempted to illuminate other realms of engagement for their interests.
Plus, remind them of the wealth of Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Larry Ellison, Bill Gates -- there's something to be said for developing technical prowess.
Robin C
CAD/BIM Manager & Retail Design ~ The Warehouse Ltd
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Hi Joel, Is there a better answer than this? (see link below)
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Michael L
Engineering Consultant, Effective Professional Solutions LLC
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I think that students should know about main fields which are included in Engineering - physics, math, chemistry, computer applications and engineering management, product cost modeling. If they will know in-depth all these fields, it will help them to grow in engineering and creatively develop innovative and competitive products. If they will lack knowledge of previously listed fields, they will never come up with really good product. These days and in the future only the ones who will learn science and math will be able to stay ahead of the game in engineering.
