Why did you decide to become an engineer? 10

[bigTomHanks]

Why did you decide to become an engineer and what was the biggest misconception that you had about what an engineer does before working in the profession?

For me I started taking automechanics at community college and realized quickly that I didn't need to pay someone to teach me how to repair cars. I also wanted to know how engines were designed but didn't know that mechanical engineering was what I needed to study until already in college.

I thought that the work done my most engineers in industry couldn't be completed without the knowledge gained in school.

 

[Careful]

I got along with machines better than with people.

Biggest misconception? I thought I'd be using all the higher math I took.

 

[FeX32]

I got along with machines better than with people

Beautiful. I always thought of machines as my buddies too


Fe

 

[patprimmer]

People sometimes ask me why I an so patient when dealing with machines and so impatient when dealing with people.

My std answer is, if a machine is causing you a problem it is always your fault one way or another as it is up to you to fix it or replace it or a component of it with a suitable device. It will always be logical and unemotional and devoid of ulterior motives.

With problems with people the inverse is very often the case.

Regards
Pat
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[beej67]

Drove my first bulldozer when I was 7.

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[SomptingGuy]

"Biggest misconception? I thought I'd be using all the higher math I took."

Change jobs then. I use "higher math" most days. Indeed my university text books are probably used more now than when they were new.

- Steve

 

[Gorpomon]

JohnRBaker, you said in an earlier posts there have been a lot of good books written on the intersection of engineering and technology. Can you recommend a few good ones you've come across?

 

[EricaB]

I really wanted to be an astrophysicist. Then I learned what they did. The fall back option at the school I went to was engineering. So I picked it because I liked physics and math. Always have. Once I started to study engineering I fell in love with it and decided it was what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing, to me it isn't work and it still doesn't feel that way. On the plus side, it pays relatively well and there are always engineering jobs out there no matter where you look. People love to build even in a bad economy, especially in the nuclear world.

 

[cksh]

I took 3 years of architectural drafting in high school, and afterwards went to school for architectural drafting, with the eventual goal of becoming an architect. Eventually got a job drafting in the construction industry, realized I hated the industry as a whole, and moved into mechanical drafting.

After a few years I realized that the engineers I worked for controlled all the strings, and knew probably less then I did about design. Unfortunately they had an engineering degree, and therefore could do no wrong, and I was nothing but their CAD secretary. Do I sound bitter? So I spent the next 7 years taking night classes to get my BSME. I am still thinking about a career change.

Biggest misconception? That engineers take some class that teaches them how to know everything about anything, and that they are never wrong. I couldn't find that class at my school. Although I have worked for a few great engineers that I still believe did know everything.

 

[SWmechE]

I became an engineer for the fame, riches and women... apparently I was a misguided soul.

Actually the current of life just kind of lead me into it. I didn't know any engineers growing up (was a farm kid) but both my parents pushed education as being needed. Thought I'd get bored with any trades jobs and didn't see myself as being too artsy. Engineering sounded interesting and it gave me an extra year to figure out what I wanted to do since the first one was generalized. After that was hooked.

My misconception was that the math involved would be easy since the high school math was so simple for me. A couple low grades and a withdrawl corrected that.

As for what I'd be doing if not engineering, maybe teaching I guess or some type of construction management.

 

[SomptingGuy]

Fame: nope.
Riches: nope (highr than average salary, but not by much).
Women: Find a female engineer and your life will be sweet.

- Steve

 

[MacGyverS2000]

That engineers take some class that teaches them how to know everything about anything, and that they are never wrong. I couldn't find that class at my school.

You just went to the wrong school... it was 4 credit hours at mine (with a lab) ;-)

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[JohnRBaker]

I think my comment was more about the intersection of History and Engineering. Unfortunately I'm in Vancouver this week at a conference and as soon as I fly home tomorrow I'm leaving on vacation for two weeks and won't be back in my office until after the 15th of August. The books I mentioned are all in the bookcase in my office so I won't be able to give you definitive list until I get back. Please remind me again in a couple of weeks.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.com/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[Careful]

""Biggest misconception? I thought I'd be using all the higher math I took."

Change jobs then. I use "higher math" most days. Indeed my university text books are probably used more now than when they were new. "

How nice for you?

 

[Ron]

For the high pay and short hours. Hmmm....could I have been bamboozled? I think after 35 years I'm starting to figure this thing out!!

 

[lacajun]

Electricity was fascinating. Math was interesting and a language. Science was necessary and useful. I loved seeing the application of math and science in engineering. I wouldn't have made a good scientist. Medicine and law seemed too expensive to obtain and seemed to require too much memory work.

What I really wanted to do was act but that was unacceptable, in my family, as a means of making a living.

 

[KENAT]

I wanted to fly planes (military not civil) or design them, or ideally fly them for a few years and then design them.

Didn't have the aptitude for pilot so...

If I hadn't been an engineer, well ideally pilot, or else something else in the RAF.

As to misconceptions, maybe that not being great at the more analytical/intellectual side of things would hold me back.

Actually I'm still convinced it does/will however my pay doesn't really back up that hypothesis and senior folks keep telling me the sun shines from my proverbial and that I'm not at my full potential. I don't yet have the balls to tell them I'm pretty sure they're wrong.

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[ewh]

Sit down, Ken... that light is hurting my eyes! ;-)

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[SNORGY]

lacajun:

Actually, acting is perfectly acceptable as a means of making a living, especially in engineering.

How else could I have survived this long in this business?

Regards,

SNORGY.

 

[KENAT]

Sorry ewh, I was just touching my toes for my morning calisthenics;-).

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[knight185]

Majored in mechanical engineering and now I work in a power plant. Never had much interest in technical things growing up. Was good at math and science but I never tinkered with anything...never had enough motivation to disassemble a machine to learn how it worked. Going to college for engineering was interesting because I learned how to design and build things but I can't say I had any strong passion for it. I also knew that my job would have a good salary.