Career Track: Becoming An Engineer
Becoming an engineer can be a tough task for many. It's not just about mathematics and science. You have to think of creativity and design, making complicated things work smoothly, and having the ability to manage people who may not understand what you are doing. Engineers often make their way into construction firms or manufacturing plants, where they can use their skills to create more efficient buildings, machines, or even whole cities!
There is no real set path on how to become an engineer because it's such a broad field that includes so many different roles. People break down engineers into three groups: Electrical/Electronics Engineers; Civil Engineers (Earthwork); Chemical Engineers (Material Science). Each of these roles require different degrees, so your path may vary depending on the type of engineering you want to pursue.
Most elementary and high school students start by taking math and science classes to be part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program. They are then able to take more math and science classes in middle school. As they mature into their high school careers they can choose to specialize in one subject, like chemistry or physics. Or they can choose to have a stronger background in math and science, maybe even taking a few years off from college before getting their bachelor's degree.
Students at this point should be thinking about what type of engineer they want to become. They will have to make the decision of whether to go into a degree program or get a two-year degree at a junior college. Students who want to become an engineer should also start networking and forming relationships with people who know someone in their field of choice.
As students get older and enter into college, they need to decide what subject they want to take. They may need to take math classes, science classes, and classes on specific types of engineering; for example, an engineering student that specializes in electrical engineering would need basic programming classes.
After college, there are so many career opportunities for engineers. They can work at a construction firm, oil and gas company, or even become an entrepreneur and start their own business! There are many different types of engineering careers that involve design; civil, structural, mechanical, and of course electrical/electronics. This means the type of engineering career may vary when each engineer graduates.
The job prospects for engineers is always good because they have a strong background in math and science and because they can easily work with people on projects they find exciting. We also have to give them credit for knowing how to think outside the box—many careers may look similar but still require different skillsets to be successful.
Engineers may or may not have to travel for their jobs; however, it depends on the type of engineering field each engineer chooses. Engineers can work in many different locations around the world and are sometimes required to relocate.
While engineers always have good job prospects, we must also recognize there needs to be room for growth and innovation. The profession of engineers is ever-changing and growing to accommodate new technologies.
Engineering is known to be the coolest job ever. It can be hard to decide what you want to do but when you graduate, there will always be jobs to go after!
Becoming an engineer can be a tough task for many. It's not just about mathematics and science. You have to think of creativity and design, making complicated things work smoothly, and having the ability to manage people who may not understand what you are doing. Engineers often make their way into construction firms or manufacturing plants, where they can use their skills to create more efficient buildings, machines, or even whole cities!
There is no real set path on how to become an engineer because it's such a broad field that includes so many different roles. People break down engineers into three groups: Electrical/Electronics Engineers; Civil Engineers (Earthwork); Chemical Engineers (Material Science). Each of these roles require different degrees, so your path may vary depending on the type of engineering you want to pursue.
Most elementary and high school students start by taking math and science classes to be part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program. They are then able to take more math and science classes in middle school. As they mature into their high school careers they can choose to specialize in one subject, like chemistry or physics. Or they can choose to have a stronger background in math and science, maybe even taking a few years off from college before getting their bachelor's degree.
Students at this point should be thinking about what type of engineer they want to become. They will have to make the decision of whether to go into a degree program or get a two-year degree at a junior college. Students who want to become an engineer should also start networking and forming relationships with people who know someone in their field of choice.
As students get older and enter into college, they need to decide what subject they want to take. They may need to take math classes, science classes, and classes on specific types of engineering; for example, an engineering student that specializes in electrical engineering would need basic programming classes.
After college, there are so many career opportunities for engineers. They can work at a construction firm, oil and gas company, or even become an entrepreneur and start their own business! There are many different types of engineering careers that involve design; civil, structural, mechanical, and of course electrical/electronics. This means the type of engineering career may vary when each engineer graduates.
The job prospects for engineers is always good because they have a strong background in math and science and because they can easily work with people on projects they find exciting. We also have to give them credit for knowing how to think outside the box—many careers may look similar but still require different skillsets to be successful.
Engineers may or may not have to travel for their jobs; however, it depends on the type of engineering field each engineer chooses. Engineers can work in many different locations around the world and are sometimes required to relocate.
While engineers always have good job prospects, we must also recognize there needs to be room for growth and innovation. The profession of engineers is ever-changing and growing to accommodate new technologies.
Engineering is known to be the coolest job ever. It can be hard to decide what you want to do but when you graduate, there will always be jobs to go after!
By: Elisabeth N. Peltier, Student Ambassador | HV-1107, Dept. of Chemical & Biological Engineering | Northeastern University
The career opportunities for an engineer are always good and there is much room for growth. They can work at a construction firm, oil and gas company, or even become an entrepreneur and start their own business! Being an engineer requires math, science and creativity. Students may have to change the type of engineering field they want to pursue based on the different options offered at their college or university.
Conclusion
A career in engineering does not have to be a difficult one. Keep an open mind about your options and focus on gaining the skills required to succeed in today's technology-driven world. The challenging part is making the decision of what type of engineer you want to become, whether a medical engineer at a hospital, a commercial pilot at an airline, or even an engineer working on the intergalactic space shuttle which may one day carry us to other planets!
The Career Expectations
As I stated before, there are always opportunities for engineers. They can be found in construction firms and manufacturing plants as materials are designed and fabricated, or they work behind the scenes at banks where they make automated systems that manage transactions.