Engineering As A Career

Engineering
Engineering as a career option has to be finalized at an age when the student
opting for is not very mature. Most of the time its the parents choice, who
undoubtedly think in the best interest of their ward or the students imitating
the seniors. Not necessary, those furnishing the advice are engineers or have
the complete idea of engineering as a profession. Its seldom that the one
opting for the career is completely aware of Engineering as a profession.

Engineering related Career Options

The ethos of Engineering is not new to the Indian subcontinent. The Rustless
Wonder - the Iron Pillar at Delhi, in the memory of Chandra Gupta
Vikramaditya, is testimony to the advances made in metallurgy some 2000
years back. But yes the study of engineering was confined to few and the
scope of engineering was certainly limited. But with the onset of
development fuelled by science and technology and the growth of service
sector Engineering as a career has attracted the student fraternity of the
country in a big way. Number of aspirants taking the engineering exams are
testimony to the fact. A large number of students take the Engineering
Entrance Examination but few are aware of the various career options that
engineering as a profession offers. Engineers use their skills and knowledge
in a specific field to make things work, solve problems and improve the world
around us. Engineers can be involved in building, testing and designing all
sorts of products and structures. They can be found all over the world
working in many different areas: environmental management, transport,
medicine, broadcasting, electronics and even enabling space exploration. You
name it, engineers have worked on it!

Why Engineering as a stream?

Any act of yours, bringing tangible change in the society, would undoubtedly
bring a sense of satisfaction and feeling of pride. What if, besides the
quotient of satisfaction and feeling of pride you also earn a handsome
amount and reputation in the society? A career in the field of engineering
provides just that. Engineering is amongst the few professions where
creativity and ingenuity knows no bounds. Moreover if you are the one among
those who look for challenging opportunities than probably, engineering is
the most ideal profession to opt for. As an aerospace engineer you have the
chance of developing cryogenics technology badly needed for the country to

make advances in the space research, as a Civil Engineer you have the
opportunity of developing earth quake resistant houses and as an electrical
engineer the challenge lies in developing superconductors. Your new mobile
phone or your tablet computer? Electronics engineers have had a hand in
making it. What about the make-up or deodorant youre wearing? Chemical
engineers will have tested out the product in a laboratory. The car you travel
in? Automotive engineers have worked in a team to make it happen.
Engineering is central to an exciting range of businesses and industries,
including construction, transport, cosmetics, medicine, food, fashion and
much more. With engineering, you can follow your interests - if you like sport,
you can work as an engineer improving the performance of new tennis
rackets. Engineers work in offices, laboratories, film studios, in the outdoors
and underground. Engineering today is closely linked with technology, and
plays a major role in many technological advances and new device
production. You might be reading this on your phone, and that will be thanks
to engineers. As an engineer you could be designing colour-matching
technology to determine the best make-up for different skin tones or working
as part of a team to improve the performance of artificial hip joints.
Meanwhile, the perks of a job in the food industry may include tasting the
chocolate prior to production! The list is endless. In a similar fashion every
stream of engineering has lots of such opportunities and challenges. And if
you are the one looking for opportunities where creativity and imagination
are the tools to mitigate the challenges then you ought to be an Engineer.

Rewards and Opportunities

1. Job Satisfaction Studies show that, by far, the most important cause of
dissatisfaction among the working people is the job dissatisfaction. Thus, it is
important to find a career that provides job satisfaction. After all, one has to
spend good part of his/her life at work station and if the place you work
delivers content and satisfaction you are bound to grow in a better way with
each passing day.

2. Variety of Career Opportunities

Neil Armstrong, Jimmy Carter, and Alfred Hitchcock, an astronaut, a
president, and one a filmmaker from different streams of occupation all
together but a commonality, they all started with an engineering education.
Engineering as a profession offers a wide range of career possibilities. From
the design of fighter planes to that of pacemakers for hearts from boring

holes deep in the earth for the petrochemicals to steeping at mars, engineers
play the pivotal role.

3. Challenging Work
Engineering is all about fixing things so as to make the object serve its
purpose in the best possible and efficient way. From the flying machine of the
Wright brothers to the stealth bombers the range of improvement and
development is enormous. Here lies the challenge. Challenge is not only
about visualizing the development and improvement but also in performing
it.

4. Intellectual Development
Engineering as a profession is function of creativity and ingenuity. Its more
about developing the best possible option. This in turn involves great
utilization of your mental faculties as compared to the professions where
practice and pattern aid a lot in performing the job.

5. Contribute to Society
No one can deny the contribution of society in ones own development but
few bother to contribute for the same. Engineering as a carrier provides lots
of opportunity to this end too. A civil engineer can design models for easing
out traffic congestion. A software engineer can develop cheap and user
friendly software for the disabled, an electrical engineer can devise ways and
means for optimum utilization of electricity. All in the interest of the society
and ones own career.

6. Financial Security
While financial security should not be the only reason for choosing a career in
engineering, if you decide to become an engineer you will be well paid.
Engineering graduates receive one of the highest starting salaries of any
discipline.

7. Prestige
Engineers play an important role in the development of the nation and add to

its international stature in a big way. And in this pursuit, one also earns a
reputed place in the society.

8. Professional Environment
As an engineer, you will work in a professional environment where creativity
and intellect are on the top priority. Working in such an environment with
creative and intellectual colleagues is rewarding in itself.

Do I have to be good at Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics?

Yes. Engineers do need to be good at maths and sciences, physics in
particular, as it is applied to a number of different engineering issues. As well
as good grades in mathematics and sciences, engineering also requires
hands-on experience; and an understanding of innovation principles,
processes, design and the practical needs of societies. If you've ever taken
something apart to find out it works, enjoyed building things or have a desire
to improve an existing product, engineering could be for you. The good news
is that whatever your interests are - in or outside of school , there is probably
a branch of engineering that will match. For example, a bio-engineer would
work with living organisms, for example helping to replace body organs, and
would need a good understanding of biology. A chemical engineer, who works
with raw materials to create products like shampoo or perfume, would need
an interest in chemistry. There are plenty of routes into engineering that
focus on your experience of practical problem-solving more than your
education, such as apprenticeships and vocational schemes.

If only choose science subjects, doesn't that limit my option?

By choosing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects you
are more likely to widen your options later in life rather than narrow them. A
wider range of careers will be open to you if you continue with STEM subjects
post 16. If you discount STEM subjects after 16, it is very difficult to go back
to study them if you change your mind about what you want to do later on.
Science and mathematics are valued and useful for the majority of careers,
not limiting. Qualifications in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics show that you're not afraid of hard work. Employers like that.