any engineers around here?

[stev0]

tell me a bit about your life. what did you go to school for (or going to school for). what do you do for a living. hows the pay? hows life in general being an engineer.

i've suddenly become torn between my current major (or what a plan on doing, graphic comm... and doing something in the engineering feild)

any input is appreciated

 

[Instan00dles]

Originally posted by: stev0
tell me a bit about your life. what did you go to school for (or going to school for). what do you do for a living. hows the pay? hows life in general being an engineer.

i've suddenly become torn between my current major (or what a plan on doing, graphic comm... and doing something in the engineering feild)

any input is appreciated

I am not an engineer but you could start by reading some dilbert comics

 

[NoReMoRsE]

I think you have to have good artistic/visual perception skills. I lack those skills. Hence I'm a pre-med. LOL

 

[Keego]

I'm a student in IE, looks fun

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: Keego
I'm a student in IE, looks fun

....... Internet Explorer?

 

[Kaervak]

Technically I'm an engineer. More of a drafter, but if I wanted to get a degree in engineering, it wouldn't be hard. Anyway, best advice I can give you is run like hell away from the idea of becoming an engineer. Unless you like looking up tensile strength of stuff and measuring things to a thousandth of an inch or doing tons of math then go for it. Luckily I didn't do much of that but that little amount was enough. I know not all engineering stuff is like that but, the majority is. Currently I'm looking into becoming an electrician. I like to do stuff with my hands and electrical work has a lot of that. And, not being stuck in an office all day in a little box is a great plus. Just my opnion about things.

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: Kaervak
Technically I'm an engineer. More of a drafter, but if I wanted to get a degree in engineering, it wouldn't be hard. Anyway, best advice I can give you is run like hell away from the idea of becoming an engineer. Unless you like looking up tensile strength of stuff and measuring things to a thousandth of an inch or doing tons of math then go for it. Luckily I didn't do much of that but that little amount was enough. I know not all engineering stuff is like that but, the majority is. Currently I'm looking into becoming an electrician. I like to do stuff with my hands and electrical work has a lot of that. And, not being stuck in an office all day in a little box is a great plus. Just my opnion about things.

What he said.

I just graduated as a Computer Engineer and am currently jobless now. I love computers but engineering isin't exactly my cup of tea I think.

 

[SuperTool]

Actually, Dilbert isn't all that far off
Life as an engineer is boring, but comfortable. You won't make tonnes of money, but you'll make a descent living. Salaries for someone with Bachelors in EE start at around 60K here in the bay area.
Also, it's not all that easy to get a job out of school now, because companies are getting picky and choosy.
If you are young, it sucks, cus you usually get only a couple weeks paid vacation, and sometimes it seems like work is consuming your life.

 

[Yossarian]

I'm a mechanical engineer for Mattel Toys. BSME from RPI. Pay is good, 80ish. 3 weeks vacation, half day Fridays, week and a half off at Christmas, occasional stock options. I figure out how to take designers' prototype models and make them manufacturable, act as the technical expert on the design team, and work with factories in China and Indonesia. I design parts with Pro/ENGINEER software and a couple other packages. I haven't had to do much in the way of engineering calculation except for the occasional gear train or motor. It's pretty fun, plus I get to work with a lot of absolutely gorgeous women (fashion designers).

 

[stev0]

Originally posted by: Kaervak
Technically I'm an engineer. More of a drafter, but if I wanted to get a degree in engineering, it wouldn't be hard. Anyway, best advice I can give you is run like hell away from the idea of becoming an engineer. Unless you like looking up tensile strength of stuff and measuring things to a thousandth of an inch or doing tons of math then go for it. Luckily I didn't do much of that but that little amount was enough. I know not all engineering stuff is like that but, the majority is. Currently I'm looking into becoming an electrician. I like to do stuff with my hands and electrical work has a lot of that. And, not being stuck in an office all day in a little box is a great plus. Just my opnion about things.

you see... that is the exact attitude i have towards it... i like being out on jobsites and working with my hands. not being couped up in a office all day.

and i'm already grabing my ankles math wise. (pre req for 3d rendering 2 at MSUM is vector calc... took me 3 trys to get through the first semester of HS algebra 2)

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: igowerf

Originally posted by: Keego
I'm a student in IE, looks fun

....... Internet Explorer?

Instrumentation?

I'm an Electronics and Communications Engineer by qualification. I think all 250+ graduates from my batch ended up in the IT field, so it didn't really matter But it's good to know that I do have alternatives when I get sick of this programming sh!t...even if said alternatives won't pay a fraction as much What kind of engineers were you looking for specifically?

 

[bpctech]

i'm a third year computer science undergrad. Get used to taking a lot of physics, calculus, comp sci, and field classes for whatever major you decide. You'll also spend plenty of weekends doing projects and homework if you tend to be lazy during the week like myself. Perhaps the worst part of being an engineer are the atrociously small number of girls that will be in the majority of your classes.

 

[SuperTool]

IE = Industrial engineering. Basically a field where all people who start doing real engineering but can't handle it end up.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

EE Major / Software Minor student here. Can't comment on most of these questions but keep in mind that most engineers with good leadership skills move into management fairly quickly (engineer -> group leader -> management)

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
EE Major / Software Minor student here. Can't comment on most of these questions but keep in mind that most engineers with good leadership skills move into management fairly quickly (engineer -> group leader -> management)

Not necessarily.
Most companies have dual career tracks. One for individual contributors who become experts, senior engineers, fellows, etc. The other one is management track.
Basically, if you like doing R&D as individual contributor, you don't have to give it up to advance your career. For example, a fellow at a company is roughly equivalent to a VP.
Also, noone is going to let you manage a big project unless you distinguish yourself as an engineer, and you will need to do a lot of engineering as a manager.

 

[stev0]

Originally posted by: PipBoy
I'm a mechanical engineer for Mattel Toys. BSME from RPI. Pay is good, 80ish. 3 weeks vacation, half day Fridays, week and a half off at Christmas, occasional stock options. I figure out how to take designers' prototype models and make them manufacturable, act as the technical expert on the design team, and work with factories in China and Indonesia. I design parts with Pro/ENGINEER software and a couple other packages. I haven't had to do much in the way of engineering calculation except for the occasional gear train or motor. It's pretty fun, plus I get to work with a lot of absolutely gorgeous women (fashion designers).

sounds like you got lucky?

what part of the country do you work in?

 

[Hector13]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
IE = Industrial engineering. Basically a field where all people who start doing real engineering but can't handle it end up.

maybe that is how you see it. I graduated with a degree in IE and went into finace. Last year (my second year out of school), I made just under 100K. Granted, the hours in finance suck, but as an engineer, you have the opportunity to make a ton of money. Just don't get sucked into a typical engineering job, because most of them do really suck.

 

[Kaervak]

Originally posted by: stev0

Originally posted by: Kaervak
Technically I'm an engineer. More of a drafter, but if I wanted to get a degree in engineering, it wouldn't be hard. Anyway, best advice I can give you is run like hell away from the idea of becoming an engineer. Unless you like looking up tensile strength of stuff and measuring things to a thousandth of an inch or doing tons of math then go for it. Luckily I didn't do much of that but that little amount was enough. I know not all engineering stuff is like that but, the majority is. Currently I'm looking into becoming an electrician. I like to do stuff with my hands and electrical work has a lot of that. And, not being stuck in an office all day in a little box is a great plus. Just my opnion about things.

you see... that is the exact attitude i have towards it... i like being out on jobsites and working with my hands. not being couped up in a office all day.

and i'm already grabing my ankles math wise. (pre req for 3d rendering 2 at MSUM is vector calc... took me 3 trys to get through the first semester of HS algebra 2)

Yeah that's way too much math for my dumbass self. That's one of the reason why I didn't care for the stuff I did, I realized I'm not all that bright with math & calculation stuff. I'm more of a use my hands than my brain person, but I'm not a complete dumbass. Good luck to whatever you decide.

 

[cchen]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
IE = Industrial engineering. Basically a field where all people who start doing real engineering but can't handle it end up.

Not really... its an easier track than other traditionally engineering majors but its by far not easy if you suck at math or design projects....

Anyway I'm Operations Research / Econ major at Columbia University, OR is all math but has many engineering applications...

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
EE Major / Software Minor student here. Can't comment on most of these questions but keep in mind that most engineers with good leadership skills move into management fairly quickly (engineer -> group leader -> management)

Not necessarily.
Most companies have dual career tracks. One for individual contributors who become experts, senior engineers, fellows, etc. The other one is management track.
Basically, if you like doing R&D as individual contributor, you don't have to give it up to advance your career. For example, a fellow at a company is roughly equivalent to a VP.
Also, noone is going to let you manage a big project unless you distinguish yourself as an engineer, and you will need to do a lot of engineering as a manager.

I agree but in order to stay technical you have to be an outstanding engineer. To get into management, you have to be a good engineer and have good leadership skills. Truth is, there are much more openings for managers with good technical skills than for experts. Engineering school teaches you a lot of technical stuff, but it mostly teaches you how to assimilate information, evaluate a problem, and select the best approach to solving it; and that's something you can use anywhere in life.

 

[stev0]

Originally posted by: athithi

Originally posted by: igowerf

Originally posted by: Keego
I'm a student in IE, looks fun

....... Internet Explorer?

Instrumentation?

I'm an Electronics and Communications Engineer by qualification. I think all 250+ graduates from my batch ended up in the IT field, so it didn't really matter But it's good to know that I do have alternatives when I get sick of this programming sh!t...even if said alternatives won't pay a fraction as much What kind of engineers were you looking for specifically?

construction... civil... industrial... nothing to do with computers please (i love playing with them... but working 8-5 or more on one drives me up the wall)

 

[bpctech]

I work at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. If you're interested in aerospace engineering this is a great place to work, but all kinds of engineers work here. Hell it seems practically everyone has at least 2 degrees in 2 different fields.

 

[ElFenix]

well, i didn't really need school... i just sorta watched my father work, and one day he said, "here, you wanna do this?" and he let me at the controls. i was hooked that day and i still enjoy it. theres something about being at the helm of 3200 horsepower 135 ton locomotive that makes you feel manly

 

[Hector13]

Originally posted by: cchen
Anyway I'm Operations Research / Econ major at Columbia University, OR is all math but has many engineering applications...

how odd, the OR/IE program at columbia is the only reason I become an OR/IE (or IEOR) at Berkeley. It really is a great major for those who don't know if they want to be an engineer or want to be in the "business side".

 

[stev0]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
well, i didn't really need school... i just sorta watched my father work, and one day he said, "here, you wanna do this?" and he let me at the controls. i was hooked that day and i still enjoy it. theres something about being at the helm of 3200 horsepower 135 ton locomotive that makes you feel manly

wtf? you drive a train?

btw, not the type of engineer i was talking about