Future growth prospects in engineering? 3

[ziggi]

A few years out of univ, I am really torn as to what I should do with my life, straight up engineering, at least the sort I'm doing, is not cutting the mustard.
What sort of engineering career should I pursue...by that I mean, which field has a future?
Or should I just forget engineering completely and use my math skills in another field such as business, finance or economics?

I know oil, commodities and energy are the hot topic, but by the time I get some work related steam in that field, will the cycle be trending downwards?
Biotech and nanotech seem like the up and comers but what's the outlook for them.
And autos and planes are quickly becoming commodisized (ie. all the firms copy each other, so that not many distinguishing features remain, a horse is a horse is a horse, after all).

I really don't care too much about what field I work in, I just want to know that my field and consequently my skills will not become obsolete...like those of many computer engineers out there. I do like aerospace (mostly space) but that's full of old-timers who wouldn't know an innovative idea if it pissed all over their mounds of bureaucratic paperwork.

I also don't want to be at the whim of some idiot....hmmm maybe I should go into technology policy or into business for myself.

If I had started this thread back in the early 90s, I
wonder how many people would have replied - computers.

Anyway I'd love to hear any info.

 

[Ashereng]

ziggi,

Let me see if I hae this correct ... you are looking for a career that has these qualities:
- in a hot sector (and will be until you retire)
- has a future (preferrably a great future)
- your field will remain relevant (until you retire)
- something where your skills will not (meaning never?) become obsolete
- a field where there are no old-timers who wouldn't know an innovative idea if it pissed all over their mounds of bureaucratic paperwork
- and where you won't be at the whim of some idiot (I am guessing someone like a "boss" or manager/owner?)
- this one is mine (and something you can cross over to right now)

Hmmm. That's a tough one.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[ivymike]

if someone knows about where one might the above position, please email me, and me only, instead of posting a reply.

 

[ziggi]

Well sarcasm aside, I should have elaborated on my question.

I don't necessarily want to be in a field that will last the 40 or so years until I retire, just one with the potential to take off in a few years so that once I build up some experience I'll be in a good position.

Petroleum will be necessary for a very long time, I agree, but it also has its ups and downs. I'm more of an opportunist I like to find ripe opportunities, milk them and then use them as a stepping stone to the next task, I'm not in favour of staying on a sinking ship, hence my reason for finding a rising ship.

I'm in O and G right now and have been in this field since I started working, however I'm not in the lucrative and interesting side. I'm in the side of OnG that generates massive amounts of paperwork (usually weighing more than the part itself). For personal reasons I can't leave my current location either, nor do I want to, the Fort doesn't appeal to me, I just can't stand the wonderful weather over there .

PS. What is it that your yellow dude is doing to himself, it looks painful.

 

[ziggi]

Whoops almost forgot, by being under some idiot, I didn't mean all managers, just those who are tools.

 

[CanuckMiner]

'round these parts, the solution is to open up a Tim Horton's. It pretty much fits every item on the list.

Good Luck in your quest,
CanuckMiner

 

[Ashereng]

'round other parts, I guess Krispy Kreme?

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[ziggi]

hehehe well I guess a Timmys is basically a licence to print money up here in Canada, however you need a mint just to afford a franchise...I looked into it already

 

[UWH]

ziggi,

Get into oil. Move to Calgary. Everybody's doin' it!

 

[Jabberwocky]

I fell into Biomechanical out of school, it has been an interesting ride already. The market is madness right now, something like %20+ growth for at least the next 5-10 years. Things are pretty volatile though, with take-over rumors and IPOs and the like.

Do you want a one word answer? Plastics.

Longer answer - energy is huge and won't get any smaller any time soon, it's directly affected by the massive growth of China, India, and all other nations. Not necessarily oil and gas, but you can easily bet those companies will be the ones manning the windmills and hydrogen plants of the future.

Nanotech should eventually be even bigger, but there's still loads of practical issues to sort through and it seems to be mostly chemistry at this stage anyways.

Space will also be huge once we make some mighty leaps (with energy and nanotech), but that'll be awhile as well.

However, I've heard said that people will always get sick or hurt (doctors), always argue (lawyers), and finally, always like sweet/fried foods.

 

[Ashereng]

Mortician - people ALWAYS die.

Let's see:
- in a hot sector (yup, aging baby boomers)
- has a future (yup, people always die)
- your field will remain relevant (yup, this profession has been around for a while)
- something where your skills will not (meaning never?) become obsolete (yup, this field has been around for a while)
- a field where there are no old-timers who wouldn't know an innovative idea if it pissed all over their mounds of bureaucratic paperwork (yup, not much innovation in the last few centuries)
- and where you won't be at the whim of some idiot (I am guessing someone like a "boss" or manager/owner?) (yup, most are runned by owners)
- this one is mine (and something you can cross over to right now) (hmmm, not sure what the licensing requirements are)

6 out of 7 isn't too bad.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[quark]

Damn it! Is the poker joke becoming a reality

? I heartily hated the thread a few days back.

Ashereng,

There seems to be a contradiction in your first post.

- your field will remain relevant (until you retire)
- a field where there are no old-timers who wouldn't know an innovative idea if it pissed all over their mounds of bureaucratic paperwork

 

[Comcokid]

Ashereng - You get a star! The almost perfect job! Mortician!

 

[Ashereng]

quark,

Not my post - I was paraphrasing the OP.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[DaveVikingPE]

"A few years out of univ, I am really torn as to what I should do with my life, straight up engineering, at least the sort I'm doing, is not cutting the mustard.
What sort of engineering career should I pursue...by that I mean, which field has a future?
Or should I just forget engineering completely and use my math skills in another field such as business, finance or economics?"

Degreed engineers who've made a pretty good "life" outside of engineering:

Dolph Lundgren
Michael Bloomberg

There might be others out there, too.

As far as a field of endeavor goes, definitely mortician. More steady than doctors and your customers NEVER complain.

 

[Comcokid]

15 years back during the 90-to-94 recession I felt the same way. Engineering was hit so hard it even spilled over into the popular culture in such movies as "Falling Down". But, the ecomony is better right now than any time in the past 5 years. Of course, more recenty, offshore outsourcing has produced movies like "Office Space".

So Ziggi, why the soul-searching posting? You do a lot of eng-tips reply posts so you must have a good bit of skill and experience. Or is it the 30-40 something year old mid-life crisis? (Come to think of it, in the 90-94 recession I was in that age range.)

I know as an electrical engineer, I've seen so many technologies come and go that I slowly worked my way to analog and RF engineering - the only place I saw gray-hair electrical engineers.

As for up-and-comming technical areas, I would guess that it would be nano-technology and bio-enginnering. But the only thing assured about new technology is that it moves fast and what you learn today is obsolete (or commonplace) tomarrow.

And, engineers can do well in other professions:
Rowan Atkinson (aka "Mr. Bean") MSEE Oxford
Leonid Brezhnev metallurgical engineer
Jimmy Carter Nuclear Engineering

 

[ziggi]

I'd heard about Rowan Atkinson and Jimmy Carter being engineers, but Dolph Lundgren...that explains alot.

Comco, thanks for the complement but no life crisis for me yet, that's my dad's problem right now, not mine.

Ashereng, 6 out of 7 isn't bad, I just dislike O&G. However I do like the business side of O&G, hmmm.

 

[davefitz]

Over the next 40 yrs, major technical challenges will be related to energy issues.

Regarding the rate of increase in cost of transportation fuel oil, there will be a need to develope transportation systems that are are more efficient, ie, more person-miles per gallon, so mass transit systems, diesel powered cars, and electric cars ( recharged at night ) . Likewise, due to the rapid incrase in relative cost of oil, there will be a trend to convert coal to transport oil ( ie, coal to liquids systems) .

There is a current trend in the electric power industry to ramp up the hiring of newly graduated engineers, as the rapidly aging population of engineers in that industry are on the verge of reitrement. ( The age problem stems from the fact that they did not hire anyone in the 20 yr period of 1982-2002). So, a 40 yr carreer in that industry is feasible. Associated with this is the difficulty that industry is having finding new engineers to work on the new nuclear reactors that are being considered to be built. Jobs associated with managing those wastes may have a longevity of 400,000 yrs.

There are also so-called "energy engineers" who primarily consult with small factories and office building owners to re-engineer energy systems in those buildings to minimize energy consumption. In terms of impact on the environment , that is about as green as you can get.

 

[ziggi]

I do like nuke engineering and am seriously considering that.
I also think fusion has a future, any thoughts on fusion?

 

[canyonchris]

There is great pleasure in owning your own company. Unfortunately that limits you to fields that are not capital intensive. Unless you have a Harvard business degree as well. Consider any engineering field related to buildings, infrastructure, etc. A civil, structural, geotech, or mechanical in these areas can hang his shingle just about anywhere he wants. After 15 years of "working for the man" I started a construction defect and forensic engineering company. I have never been happier or more challenged. Plus I make far more money than a salaried engineer in just about any field. However, be prepared to diversify and stay on your toes! We will always need buildings, roads and power.