Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Engineer - TheBestSchools.org

There Are a Lot of Opportunities

"One thing I didn't realize is that all products and industries need engineers. Obviously cars, aircraft, and spacecraft need engineers — but also toys, mountain bikes, and furniture. I recommend focusing your education and job search on a product and industry you have a passion for. If you have hobbies and passions around specific products, you can find an engineering job in that world. Your work will be that much more enjoyable."

"It's surprising how few of us there really are in comparison to the amount of work that needs to be done. A lot of engineers are retiring right now. At the same time, there are a lot of design, infrastructure, and robotics jobs coming up."

Stay Nimble

"I wish I'd have spent more time learning the many variations of the engineering process and where those processes are used. Having practice at picking up new processes and jargon would have made it much easier to integrate into new work environments.

"Every company has a unique approach to the engineering process, and none of those companies are aware of how unusual their approach is."

Dive Into Real-World Practice

"Knowing a lot of stuff is essential for an engineer in any field, but being able to apply the knowledge in real life is important. The best way to create a strong bridge between the things you know and the things you can perform is to take part in various projects that require action.

"You can even start accepting various paid orders from people around the city to test and improve your skills in stressful real-life conditions. The more you practice, the more valuable and firm your knowledge becomes."

There Will Be Meetings

"I was surprised by how much of the work day is taken up by non-engineering: there are meetings, schedule, budget, purchasing, and customer discussions.

"The work that is needed to support the actual engineering effort is astounding. If not done properly, the engineering will not happen."

People Skills Are Required

"As for what has surprised me the most, I would have to say how people-oriented the career actually is. You spend a lot of time working closely with others — not just in the field, but overall. I'd also tell my younger self to brush up on social and communication skills!"

It's Not the Most Diverse — Yet

"The particular team I work on has a lot of women, but I have done some remote support for other projects where I was the only woman. Generally, I have found people to be respectful, but I know that's not a universal experience. So just be aware of that! You'll likely encounter some sexism at some point or another, and having support is what will get you through and help you find resolutions."

Networking Matters

"Your network is always going to be your biggest asset. Many of my career moves were possible only because I had already established professional relationships. Engineers tend to hear 'network work' and misconstrue that as 'you need to go out and meet new people.' No, that's not the right idea: strong relationships can take months, even years, to cultivate. So strike up connections with interesting people and do the work to stay in touch."

"You have to make connections. Someone you meet on one project might not be the most helpful, but for another project, they are the go-to for information!"