Esther
What are some challeges mechanical engineers face when working?
It's still taking me a while to figure out whether this will be the best career for me. I want to know eveything before I finish college. #mechanical-engineering #engineering
2 answers
Simon Robson
Simon’s Answer
Engineers are problem solvers. To be a good engineer and problem solver you need to be able to investigate a situation and provide a cost effective solution. Not only do you need a stong foundation of math and sciences, but you need also to be communicate well to understand the customer and sell your ideas. You also need to be curious and innovative to seek out problems and different solutions. Cost and schedule are very important also. An engineering career is very rewarding. I have seen ideas become reality hundreds of times and have taught young engineers how to manage projects and ideas, all of which have given me a great deal of satisfaction.
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Roger Johnston
Roger’s Answer
My students and colleagues I know who go into mech engineering tell me the following:
Mechanical engineering is still a very male-dominated field. (Only about 14% of bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering are awarded to women versus 20% for engineering as a whole.) Join any formal or informal support groups for women in STEM while in college and after graduating. (STEM=Science, Tehnology, Engineering, Math.) Seek a free online mentor from the many national organizations and professional societies that support underrepresented groups in STEM. You can find them on the Internet.
Another problem is that, while mechanical engineering is super-important in many areas of engineering, science, technology, and industry, it is often thought of (quite wrongly, I think) as not as glamorous as electrical or computer engineering, for example. Don't buy into such nonsense, but do be prepared for it.
As a professional engineer, you are likely to frequently encounter Putt’s Law: Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand. Effective management is a very rare skill, and engineers must often put up with knuckleheads who are above them in the organization, especially early in their careers. You need to learn how to manage your managers, and deal with people who may not treat others well. Engineers are not always the most people-oriented people (I am sure you are shocked to hear this!) but if YOU are good at dealing with people yourself, you can be a big asset to your organization.