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What is the best way to connect with other people in the engineering field?

I am a senior in high school looking to go into Mechanical Engineering and want to know more about peoples lives within the field. #Fall25

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Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer

To connect with people in engineering, start by reaching out to local colleges or companies, where professors and students are often open to visitors. Many colleges also have student clubs or membership organizations specifically for mechanical engineering, such as ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) student chapters, where you can meet students and professionals with similar interests.

Therefore, attending workshops, building your own projects, joining memberships and student clubs while in college, participating in competitions like robotics or Science Olympiad, and engaging on online platforms such as LinkedIn, Reddit, Discord, Slack, Eng-Tips, GrabCAD, or ResearchGate will help you connect with professionals in the field. These activities allow you to meet mentors, collaborate with peers, and gain insight into real-world engineering experiences.

Starting your own small projects, such as a simple robotics or mechanical build, can also spark conversations and showcase your skills. Summer jobs or volunteer work in machine shops, garages, or manufacturing spaces further introduce you to real professionals. Remember, building connections takes curiosity, initiative, and consistency. Every question you ask, project you share, or event you attend is a step toward learning, growing, and becoming the mechanical engineer you aspire to be. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, seek them out, stay engaged, stay curious, and keep up with industry trends to prepare for a successful and fulfilling career in engineering.
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Ellen’s Answer

Great question! Begin by networking and creating a LinkedIn profile. Recruiters often search LinkedIn for potential candidates. Start working on your resume now to gain practice and improve it. Include only relevant details like classes, projects, and work experience if you have any. Connect with your school advisors and teachers and start asking for reference letters.

Identify a few companies on LinkedIn where you'd like to work, and connect with their recruiters and engineers.
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Chris’s Answer

Very good lists of things to do have been provided by the respondents above.

Only thing I would add is that Edison’s “98% perspiration, 2 % inspiration” quote probably applies to your question too.

If you know one aspect of engineering that really excites you, I’d spend some quiet time researching that, deeply. Becoming directly involved with a single project in a meaningful way at your stage of the game would do the toughest job you have in front of you; informing you about what YOU really want. Networking is always good to do, but self understanding is irreplaceable.

Let’s say that you find machine design to be the thing that really inspires you. Just a single summer project or a job might result in that conclusion. At that point you are better able to shape your networking and extracurriculars in a general direction rather than shotgunning.

Just be aware that more than 50% of undergrads change their majors at least once…. which means that you need to be open to the results of your own self- education.
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Lorenzo’s Answer

The previous advice was excellent. You can also talk to faculty at the universities or colleges you want to attend. They can help connect you with alumni, faculty, or volunteers in the engineering field.
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