4 answers
Owen
Student
Safford, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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Being a first generation collage student, what is the most effective path to becoming a successful mechanical engineer today should I prioritize internships or early industry certifications?
I’m planning to study mechanical engineering and I want to make sure I’m taking the right steps early. I’m open to advice on skills, software, projects, networking, or anything you wish you had known when you started. Thank you.
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4 answers
William Vvuko
Retired engineer
150
Answers
Moyo, Northern Region
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi Owen,
Your desire to pursue mechanical engineering is an excellent starting point. Knowing what you want upfront puts you in a very good stead to succeed. It's equally important to love and enjoy what you do. Once you have potential, the next step should focus on you taking full advantage of it. The quality of your effort will determine the extent of your success. Passion, commitment, diligence, perseverance, curiosity and a positive attitude all play a role. Being your very best self will make the journey easier.
Opportunities for Internships and mentorships should be taken full advantage of as they not only provide you a platform to obtain valuable practical experience but also opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge.
Whereas technical excellence is essential, it is not adequate for success. You will need social and soft skills as a professional. These include ability to plan, organize, lead, analyze, solve problems and work in teams. Taking full advantage of these soft skills will truly put you on a firm trajectory to success.
Your desire to pursue mechanical engineering is an excellent starting point. Knowing what you want upfront puts you in a very good stead to succeed. It's equally important to love and enjoy what you do. Once you have potential, the next step should focus on you taking full advantage of it. The quality of your effort will determine the extent of your success. Passion, commitment, diligence, perseverance, curiosity and a positive attitude all play a role. Being your very best self will make the journey easier.
Opportunities for Internships and mentorships should be taken full advantage of as they not only provide you a platform to obtain valuable practical experience but also opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge.
Whereas technical excellence is essential, it is not adequate for success. You will need social and soft skills as a professional. These include ability to plan, organize, lead, analyze, solve problems and work in teams. Taking full advantage of these soft skills will truly put you on a firm trajectory to success.
Mallory Chaplain
IT Project Manager
2
Answers
New Orleans, Louisiana
Updated
Mallory’s Answer
Hi Owen, fellow first gen college student who went to engineering school! My best advice is to use your first 2 years of college to study hard and focus on understanding the course material. Everything after will be built upon this understanding and familiarity. If you are feeling good on your understanding of your coursework/concepts, I recommend looking into research studies your school is doing and try to connect with the professor to get involved. For example, my university was conducting an ergonomic study on factory workers. I am an industrial engineer and had a fascination with ergonomics of products. So, I emailed the professor for a meeting to express my interest in the topic and for working on this project. He ended up hiring me on the study. I worked very hard and showed integrity, interest, and my work ethic. He ended up recommending me to an internship/co-op my junior/senior year of college at a company in Europe.
Certifications are nice, but make sure to study hard on your courses first, and networking with professors conducting studies at your engineering school after your freshman year.
P.S. most research studies are for masters/PhD students, so it's nice to have those mentors who were recently in your shoes as an undergrad student.
Best of luck! The world is your oyster.
Certifications are nice, but make sure to study hard on your courses first, and networking with professors conducting studies at your engineering school after your freshman year.
P.S. most research studies are for masters/PhD students, so it's nice to have those mentors who were recently in your shoes as an undergrad student.
Best of luck! The world is your oyster.
Sreedhar Chanda
Mechanical Engineer
46
Answers
Kentwood, Michigan
Updated
Sreedhar’s Answer
Hi Owen,
I don't think you need to do anything special until you enter 3rd year Mechanical Engineering. Just research colleges, get into a decent engineering college. The college choice depends on tuition cost (after scholarships which will need good grades), proximity to home town, possibility of depending on public transportation, etc - pretty practical things. Internships and co-op programs are good in third year or later, and that too only if your graduation date does not get postponed too much.
Good luck!
Sreedhar
I don't think you need to do anything special until you enter 3rd year Mechanical Engineering. Just research colleges, get into a decent engineering college. The college choice depends on tuition cost (after scholarships which will need good grades), proximity to home town, possibility of depending on public transportation, etc - pretty practical things. Internships and co-op programs are good in third year or later, and that too only if your graduation date does not get postponed too much.
Good luck!
Sreedhar
Pushparaj Shetty
Project manager
1
Answer
Pleasanton, California
Updated
Pushparaj’s Answer
Hi Owen,
I believe the best way to succeed is to focus on internships first and use certifications as support. Internships give you real-world experience, industry exposure, and valuable professional connections. They show you how engineering works outside the classroom, boost your confidence, strengthen your resume, and often lead to full-time jobs. After gaining hands-on experience, you can add practical certifications like SolidWorks CSWA, AutoCAD, or Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, depending on your interests. Later, consider the FE exam to show your technical skills and commitment to growth.
Recommended Path
Year 1
1. Join engineering clubs like SAE, ASME, or robotics.
2. Learn basic CAD tools like SolidWorks or Fusion 360.
3. Work on small projects.
Year 2
1. Get your first internship, on or off campus, even if unpaid.
2. Earn a CSWA or basic CAD certification.
3. Start building a portfolio.
Year 3
1. Secure a strong industry internship.
2. Begin preparing for the FE exam if you plan to get licensed.
Year 4
1. Complete the FE exam.
2. Apply for full-time mechanical engineering positions.
In short, internships make you employable, and certifications make you competitive. The best path combines both in the right order. Best of luck with your future! You have a bright one ahead.
Regards,
Raj
I believe the best way to succeed is to focus on internships first and use certifications as support. Internships give you real-world experience, industry exposure, and valuable professional connections. They show you how engineering works outside the classroom, boost your confidence, strengthen your resume, and often lead to full-time jobs. After gaining hands-on experience, you can add practical certifications like SolidWorks CSWA, AutoCAD, or Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, depending on your interests. Later, consider the FE exam to show your technical skills and commitment to growth.
Recommended Path
Year 1
1. Join engineering clubs like SAE, ASME, or robotics.
2. Learn basic CAD tools like SolidWorks or Fusion 360.
3. Work on small projects.
Year 2
1. Get your first internship, on or off campus, even if unpaid.
2. Earn a CSWA or basic CAD certification.
3. Start building a portfolio.
Year 3
1. Secure a strong industry internship.
2. Begin preparing for the FE exam if you plan to get licensed.
Year 4
1. Complete the FE exam.
2. Apply for full-time mechanical engineering positions.
In short, internships make you employable, and certifications make you competitive. The best path combines both in the right order. Best of luck with your future! You have a bright one ahead.
Regards,
Raj