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What are the pros and cons of working as an engineer?
What are the pros and cons of working as an engineer?
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David’s Answer
Hey Gary! I had a few thoughts that might address your question.
One of the pros about engineering as a career path is that there are so many different kinds. There are engineers that do creative work, there are engineers that do problem solving, there are engineers that do compliance work, and there are engineers that do design of individual elements and engineers that do system/holistic design of many components. And another nice thing is that you can move between these responsibilities throughout your career, that flexibility can be a tremendous benefit as you get more experienced and as your personal life evolves.
Capable engineers are often given a lot of control in the workplace, driving the business for long term success, not just the immediate next few months.
Companies of all sizes need engineers, and many start-ups are created and run by engineers, so you can find a community that fits you best.
Engineers' training brings a lot to your life outside of work. Problem solving, project management, creativity, design work, people skills, rigorous thinking, those things apply outside of work in really healthy ways.
Engineers are generally paid very well, well above the average or median salaries for most jobs in the US and around the world.
There are a few downsides to the career.
It requires a lot of dedication and rigor to develop the skills. As they say in business schools, it has a high barrier to entry. That's a good thing too, because only people that are willing to invest in the time and the discipline can become an engineer, it keeps the salaries high.
Any sort of engineering that is generic can be exposed to job relocation/off-shoring. There are a lot of good engineers around the world, so I would encourage you to have a career path that is distinctive in some way. Because engineers are expensive, companies are always going to look for ways to spend their money wisely.
Engineers tend to be put into situations that are deadline oriented. If that is not your thing, your job satisfaction can suffer.
The last thing I'll share is around how companies are organized. A lot - not ALL, but a lot - of engineers work in departments that do not generate money for the company itself. Think about roles where the engineer's job is to maintain something or to enforce compliance with something as examples these kinds of roles. It's hard to get recognition for great work in those positions as compared to engineers that are part of the company that brings in revenue. If you are creating new products or doing design work that brings in money, the environment is a lot more positive in my experience. An easier comparison of this idea would be for lawyers or accountants. If you're a lawyer that works at a law firm, your work experience (and the reward system) is going to be totally different (and better) thana lawyer that works at a company that makes tractors. The same thing is true for engineers.
Hope that helps!
One of the pros about engineering as a career path is that there are so many different kinds. There are engineers that do creative work, there are engineers that do problem solving, there are engineers that do compliance work, and there are engineers that do design of individual elements and engineers that do system/holistic design of many components. And another nice thing is that you can move between these responsibilities throughout your career, that flexibility can be a tremendous benefit as you get more experienced and as your personal life evolves.
Capable engineers are often given a lot of control in the workplace, driving the business for long term success, not just the immediate next few months.
Companies of all sizes need engineers, and many start-ups are created and run by engineers, so you can find a community that fits you best.
Engineers' training brings a lot to your life outside of work. Problem solving, project management, creativity, design work, people skills, rigorous thinking, those things apply outside of work in really healthy ways.
Engineers are generally paid very well, well above the average or median salaries for most jobs in the US and around the world.
There are a few downsides to the career.
It requires a lot of dedication and rigor to develop the skills. As they say in business schools, it has a high barrier to entry. That's a good thing too, because only people that are willing to invest in the time and the discipline can become an engineer, it keeps the salaries high.
Any sort of engineering that is generic can be exposed to job relocation/off-shoring. There are a lot of good engineers around the world, so I would encourage you to have a career path that is distinctive in some way. Because engineers are expensive, companies are always going to look for ways to spend their money wisely.
Engineers tend to be put into situations that are deadline oriented. If that is not your thing, your job satisfaction can suffer.
The last thing I'll share is around how companies are organized. A lot - not ALL, but a lot - of engineers work in departments that do not generate money for the company itself. Think about roles where the engineer's job is to maintain something or to enforce compliance with something as examples these kinds of roles. It's hard to get recognition for great work in those positions as compared to engineers that are part of the company that brings in revenue. If you are creating new products or doing design work that brings in money, the environment is a lot more positive in my experience. An easier comparison of this idea would be for lawyers or accountants. If you're a lawyer that works at a law firm, your work experience (and the reward system) is going to be totally different (and better) thana lawyer that works at a company that makes tractors. The same thing is true for engineers.
Hope that helps!
Updated
Luciano’s Answer
Hey Gary,
There don't seem to be any downsides if you enjoy what you're doing, right? Perhaps you can't work in the exact field you'd prefer, but that might be the only downside. Just explore different ways to grow your passion, like taking part in classes, chats, clubs, or other fun activities outside of your job. You'll definitely feel rewarded!
There don't seem to be any downsides if you enjoy what you're doing, right? Perhaps you can't work in the exact field you'd prefer, but that might be the only downside. Just explore different ways to grow your passion, like taking part in classes, chats, clubs, or other fun activities outside of your job. You'll definitely feel rewarded!
Updated
Gurpreet’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team
Hi Gary!
I wasn't sure which branch of engineering you were asking about, so I assumed you meant software engineering. I found a similar question that was asked by another student, and I think you might find those answers helpful. Check it out: https://www.careervillage.org/questions/697818/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-being-a-software-engineer
Please let me know if this doesn't answer your question and I'll try my best to find another source that can help you :)
I wasn't sure which branch of engineering you were asking about, so I assumed you meant software engineering. I found a similar question that was asked by another student, and I think you might find those answers helpful. Check it out: https://www.careervillage.org/questions/697818/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-being-a-software-engineer
Please let me know if this doesn't answer your question and I'll try my best to find another source that can help you :)