Calling All Engineers

[NickH440]

Hello everyone, I'll be finishing highschool in the next few weeks. I've been accepted to the Memorial University of Newfoundland into the engineering faculty. I've always wanted to be an engineer, I love design, I love problem solving, and the money shouldn't be too bad.

For the last few years I've said I was going to do mechanical engineering, but lately I've been rethinking this, and wondering what else is out there, and what the other fields are like.

There's a lot of people on this site, a few of you guys must be engineers. So what field do you work in, how is the pay, how hands on is your job, because I really don't want to sit at a desk for all of my adult life, do you enjoy what you do?

 

[powderbound]

Petroleum Engineering is hot now, best pay there is and 100% employment. As a young engineer lots of outside wellsite work and travel, less as you move up.

Downside- you will be moved all around the country and likely all around the world with not much choice about when you have to go and where you go. I moved every year the first 10.

The oilfield is good when it is good but really bad when it is bad.

Check out SPE.org

 

[ruffryder]

Engineers make pretty good money, especially oil field guys, but most will live comfortably as long as you are working for someone. The big money comes in sales or owning your own company.

I am an Electrical for power systems, demand is quite high right now too. All the people that graduated from my school in EE - Power systems had jobs before they walked for graduation. Just be able to look at a computer for a while though, as they don't allow you to test the system by throwing chains on transmission lines, unfortunately...

 

[Skadi]

I've worked in the semiconductor industry -pays well but the only place i could find a good job was in san jose or in texas and i was NOT interested in living in those areas for very long!! the industry is't booming like it was but there are still jobs out there....

also worked in litigation.... acting as an expert witness to delay incurred on jobs, pointing the blame on someone so that they would have to pay for the demages if a project was late enough to deem litigation needed. i hated that job. it was interesting but i hated my bosses (lawyer types), i hated the long hours and i hated being in an office ALL the time...

bailed from teh litigation job to get field experience, went 180 degrees and took a job as a tech in the Heating, Veniltion and Air Conditioning field. Pay was ok but the experience was KILLER. Now i work as a commissioning agent in theis field which has me out in the field 1/2 time and in the office 1/2 time. I try to plan my office time around the weekends so i can recoup if i had a rough one riding!! plus the hours are REALLY flexible -unlike most construction industry jobs! I guess my lesson learned as an engineer from this one was get field experience but put yourself in a position to move up. you won't ALWAYS want to work in the field! Also, stay as broad as you can. I got a double degree, civil and mechanical so i had MANY opportunities! You don't want to hop around form job to job and field to field but keep a strong wide base and play that up in all your interviews and you'll find a great career that suits you.

I considred and EE/ME double but did't want to be an EE type! funny as that may seem, I'm an outdoors type person so civil fit a little better. Mechanical well i've always loved teraing things apart!! a business minor or something along those lines wouldn't hurt either... it would allow you to move up into management more easliy as you got older.... or constructionsite managment if you want to work in the construction industry....

Pay, well i don't make what i made in the semiconductor industry but i'm much happier!! i live a pretty comfortable life and althought i don't have the money to buy the RIPPIN sled I want i have enough time to get out and enjoy the sled i do have!!

Congrats on the impending highschool graduation and good luck to you! just keep your eyes and ears open. once you get into the industry and the program a lot more doors will open for you and you'll start seeing what's out there!

 

[sledjunkies]

A Mechanical Engineer is sought after quite regularly. I work in this field and we always find a need for more Mechanical Engineers. It is a widely used field that will land you a job in any industry.

Good luck!

Matt

 

[NickH440]

Thanks for the quick responses guys, Petroleum was the first thing that came to mind when I thought about other fields of Engineering. Newfoundland's economy is driven by oil now, so it seems like a good choice, and the oil sands in alberta are still going. Most of my friends have just left highschool, and moved to fort macmurry to drive a truck, they make over 70K a year, and all they needed was a driver's liscence! Most of my family works in trades, wleding, electrical, mechanics, and have over 20 years experience, they seem to all be making about 100K a year. I could easily do this, and live happy, but I have the knowledge, and drive to go a lot further. I already have 2 university credits in physics and calculus through a program in my highschool.Also, It seems like the cost of living is going up all the time, so I want to start out in the right direction. I figure that my work terms will cover my student loan, and I'm hoping I'll have a job before I leave university.

One thing I've always dreamed of doing was making enough money and having the experience to own my own business.

All my teenage life I worked to buy my own sled, this winter I accomplished that goal, and it seemed like the best decision I ever made. Now it looks Like I'll have to sell it in the fall, since I won't be able to ride more then 2-3 times in the following winter. Life is full of a lot of tough decisions.

 

[Barnes]

I graduated two years ago with a mechanical engineering degree. While in college, I worked in coal mining industry. It was about perfect as far as time in the office versus time in the field. I spent about half the time in the office and when i had something to do outside, or if I got bored, I hopped in the pickup and drove to the pit.

During my senior year, I decided I did not want to sit in an office all day and draw parts on solidworks or pro e so I started looking for jobs that weren't design based. The majority of the jobs I found were in reliabiltiy engineering, which sounded fun but none of my offers seemed high enough on the pay scale.

Being that America is in an energy boom, I figured coal/oil was the way to go. I had an offer from the coal mines, but hated the town I would have to move to; so I choose the oil field. Even though I have a ME degree, the oil field is hot enough right now that I had no problems getting a job. What I am doing right now is 100% field work, and because of that, I didn't have to move from where I went to college.

I know that the oil boom is not going to last forever, but I also dont want to work in the field more then 5-10 years.

 

[yammadog]

Luckily you have some time before you have to decide on the specific road. I would think that a civil would be good given that our infrastructure is going to be rehabilitated for years to come. Plenty of work and i would think almost all locations.

Being an electronics tech, I really appreciate engineers....they give me plenty of work to fix....

 

[Squeal]

Software Engineer, around $90,000 a year.

 

[Luke The Drifter]

Thanks for the quick responses guys, Petroleum was the first thing that came to mind when I thought about other fields of Engineering. Newfoundland's economy is driven by oil now, so it seems like a good choice, and the oil sands in alberta are still going. Most of my friends have just left highschool, and moved to fort macmurry to drive a truck, they make over 70K a year, and all they needed was a driver's liscence! Most of my family works in trades, wleding, electrical, mechanics, and have over 20 years experience, they seem to all be making about 100K a year. I could easily do this, and live happy, but I have the knowledge, and drive to go a lot further. I already have 2 university credits in physics and calculus through a program in my highschool.Also, It seems like the cost of living is going up all the time, so I want to start out in the right direction. I figure that my work terms will cover my student loan, and I'm hoping I'll have a job before I leave university.

One thing I've always dreamed of doing was making enough money and having the experience to own my own business.

All my teenage life I worked to buy my own sled, this winter I accomplished that goal, and it seemed like the best decision I ever made. Now it looks Like I'll have to sell it in the fall, since I won't be able to ride more then 2-3 times in the following winter. Life is full of a lot of tough decisions.

Yeah sure, your buds are making killer money but they also don't mention that they work rediculously long hours and the shifts are weeks long. Don't forget the huge drug problems that can happen with that much money. I worked in Ft.Crack for a few days at my work's other shop and I swear, its a depressing sight seeing those buses full of workers going to the jobsite. As well I swear those camps along highway 63 look like concentration camps. Don't get me wrong theres nothing wrong with the trades (I'm a heavy duty mechanic apprentice myself) but I see a lot of guys throwing their happiness/sanity away for the fat paycheques and doing something a lot of guys eventually get sick of and become just plain miserable.

My .02

 

[ibdoon]

Another babysitting job, get some hands on experience, and learn, know the practical side before I get to you or it will be painful costly experience and I'll bill your balls off.

 

[drmiller100]

the second coolest thing about college is you realize most of the folks around you are the same morons you went to highschool with.

the coolest thing is the friends you make from a bigger world you never knew before.

go to college. spend 2 years before you totally commit to one exact degree. think just a bit, and you can take classes that apply to many degrees.

i started ME, ended math with minors cs and fizzicks. went back 20 years later for MBA.

i'm somewhat inebriated, cynical, and bitter tonight.

 

[mb1]

Check out Power engineering, to get your steam ticket. In two years I got my 3rd class and now make about 100k. Most of the guys that were in my class are about the same. If you're inclined to do so, study up and get your 2nd class, for better security and oppourtunity for dayshift jobs. Not to mention more money.

One of the guys in our program bailed out after year one to go to University for electrical engineering. 2 extra years and he starts at about 60k now. My bro is in civil and will start about 50k. Even if the money gets better than for me, it's gonna have to be pretty hard to make up for the 2 years I've been making 100k while they were in school.

www.sait.ab.ca
www.nait.ab.ca

good luck whatever you do.

 

[rmk8hundo]

I will be graduating with a mechanical engineering next spring, and I am currently an engineering intern at a local firm dealing with the oil industry. From what I have seen and heard from other engineers there is quite a shortage and most of the big companies cannot find enough of them. I like the design aspect, and as a mechanical engineer you do also have opportunities to get out on the jobsite or on the field somewhere. The money is great and there are plenty of options out there, and just cause your degree is for a certain type of engineer that doesn't mean that is what you have to do, the possibilities are endless. good luck

 

[hatchers]

For the last few years I've said I was going to do mechanical engineering, but lately I've been rethinking this

In this day and age most big boy manufactures and industries are looking for a EE with a high level of mechanical application knowledge, be it book or experience…..I’m a EE and would be less productive in my job if I was a degree ME….JMO

I've worked in the semiconductor industry -pays well but the only place i could find a good job was in san jose or in texas and i was NOT interested in living in those areas for very long!! the industry is't booming like it was but there are still jobs out there....
!

I found myMyself in the same corner…fresh out of school as an EE “Electronic Engineer in my eyes”…and the open doors for what “I thought I wanted to do in my career” were small dots on a big map…..

I did the true EE thing for Eastman Kodak for the better part of 3 years…..saw an opportunity with a turbine manufacture in field service, took it, been here for 7 years…..the extent of our software is Rockwell ladder logic (super simple)……and I get to put my hands on the turbines and other equipment we make. In my eyes this is a perfect job, perfect balance between mechanical and electrical applications…..got really sick of staring at code and surface mounted ships with Kodak

Software Engineer, around $90,000 a year.

looking at code all sure is fun.......no way jose!

I thought C++ and Q Basic were kinda cool in school......not the case when you are making a program you don't agree with are are not interested in.....its like licking razor blades

 

[hatchers]

the second coolest thing about college is you realize most of the folks around you are the same morons you went to highschool with.

the coolest thing is the friends you make from a bigger world you never knew before.

go to college. spend 2 years before you totally commit to one exact degree. think just a bit, and you can take classes that apply to many degrees.

i started ME, ended math with minors cs and fizzicks. went back 20 years later for MBA.

i'm somewhat inebriated, cynical, and bitter tonight.

he said "fizzicks"........LMFAO!!

true dat on testing the waters the first two years, it seems the first two years of school truly "teach you how to learn".......as goofy as that may sound

 

[ibdoon]

Check out Power engineering, to get your steam ticket. In two years I got my 3rd class and now make about 100k. Most of the guys that were in my class are about the same. If you're inclined to do so, study up and get your 2nd class, for better security and oppourtunity for dayshift jobs. Not to mention more money.

One of the guys in our program bailed out after year one to go to University for electrical engineering. 2 extra years and he starts at about 60k now. My bro is in civil and will start about 50k. Even if the money gets better than for me, it's gonna have to be pretty hard to make up for the 2 years I've been making 100k while they were in school.

www.sait.ab.ca
www.nait.ab.ca

good luck whatever you do.

Are you bragging or crying, most rough necks already make more than you with zero education..

newbee , I like billing the shi- out of you

 

[Wade]

Remember, you got 5 years of school ahead of you, I wouldn't pick "today's" hot jobs, but to each his own.

There's Chemical Engineering, it's pretty cool, and if you make the grades, you'll get big bucks.

Aeronautics Engineer, kinda like ME, but more geared towards planes. That field may grow a little over the next many years. Lots' of the AEs are old, and ready to retire.

Materials Engineering. There's some truly cool stuff you get to do with a degree like that. Explosive bi-metal manufacturing comes to mind.

ME is good all around, better if you work in a heavy industry where the EEs don't reign.

Personally, designing hardware, writing Embedded software, and using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers, and embedded debuggers is much more interesting to me. You write some code, and see something move. Much better than writing stupid GUIs all day. Go for the Electrical Engineering Degree, you can always slide back to ME or CivilE. I work in the semi-conductor industry.

Nuclear Engineering is set for a comeback. The schools are having a hard time finding students that can pass a security clearance. Be prepared to be the only North American in a class of The-Bomb seeking foreigners.

 

[Nate]

Highly recommend listening to this man. Very smart fellow for sure.

Remember, you got 5 years of school ahead of you, I wouldn't pick "today's" hot jobs, but to each his own.

There's Chemical Engineering, it's pretty cool, and if you make the grades, you'll get big bucks.

Aeronautics Engineer, kinda like ME, but more geared towards planes. That field may grow a little over the next many years. Lots' of the AEs are old, and ready to retire.

Materials Engineering. There's some truly cool stuff you get to do with a degree like that. Explosive bi-metal manufacturing comes to mind.

ME is good all around, better if you work in a heavy industry where the EEs don't reign.

Personally, designing hardware, writing Embedded software, and using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers, and embedded debuggers is much more interesting to me. You write some code, and see something move. Much better than writing stupid GUIs all day. Go for the Electrical Engineering Degree, you can always slide back to ME or CivilE. I work in the semi-conductor industry.

Nuclear Engineering is set for a comeback. The schools are having a hard time finding students that can pass a security clearance. Be prepared to be the only North American in a class of The-Bomb seeking foreigners.

 

[hatchers]

Are you bragging or crying, most rough necks already make more than you with zero education..

newbee , I like billing the shi- out of you

and that "zero education" gets you.....

- Little to no benefits
- Little to no pension
- Completely jacked up body with a bonus bad back and knees that cant keep the man up to take a piss
- Hands of leather
- And you will look 200 before you hit the age of 40…sounds dreamy

Remember kids, its not what you make, its how big that pot of gold is at the end and how healty you are to enjoy it....talk to a 50 yr old rough neck see if he has the same thing to say......i could be wrong