<p>We all know that earning an engineering degree is quite a strenuous task but I hear that its quite rewarding. So my question is, how stressful is a profession like engineering after one has entered the workforce. Do you (current engineers) find your job difficult to keep up with especially as you get older? Do you find yourself pulling out your old textbook to look up a equation you learned back in college. Or is it the opposite. Much less stressful and quite rewarding in the sense that you are helping others and impacting the world. Is it safe to say that as a working engineer life is much more pleasant than when you were in college or grad school. Thanks. Hopefully others are curious as well.</p>
<p>Good question. I am very interested as well. Specifically, most of the time I hear people talk about college like they were the good old days, in a very enjoyable sense. However, I have had to work very hard to keep my grades up, and this often comes at the expense of a fun social life and relaxation. Truthfully, I have been hoping that working will be easier and more enjoyable is there any truth to this? I have kind of reached the point where Im sick of dealing with numbers all day, and trying to learn a whole bunch of material for exams that I wont remember next week - let alone next year or five years from now. I have pretty much succumb to taking a management track in my career as early as possible because I just am not that technical of a person, and I would really prefer to work on business and people problems, not technical problems.</p>
<p><<<do you=“” (current=“” engineers)=“” find=“” your=“” job=“” difficult=“” to=“” keep=“” up=“” with=“” especially=“” as=“” get=“” older?=“”>>></do></p>
<p>I graduated with a BSCE in 1982. I earned a MS in Engineering Management in 1991. I work in a medium-sized (120 +/-) office of a large (10,000 +) transportation consulting engineering firm as a Structural Engineer and Project Manager. I have played a significant role in some major bridge and highway projects. The work is as challenging and rewarding as one chooses to make it. The more dedicated and competent an engineers is, the quicker he/she will advance. In addition to expectations for completing your normal project work assignments within defined budgets and schedules, my firm has two distinct tracks for advancement:<br>
(1) Technical - 3 levels of certification as a technical expert in various fields of practice. Requirements are to publish and/or present technical papers in industry publications and/or conferences. First level requires publication and internal references. Second level requires continued publication (three papers within five years), internal and external references, and recognition as a local and/or regional expert in your field of practice. Third level requires continued publication and recognition as a national and/or international expert in your field of practice.</p>
<p>(2) Project Management - 3 levels of certification that demonstrate proficiency in increasingly challenging project managment roles. The first level certification requires completion of a series of internal training courses. The second level requires successful performance as a PM plus additional senior-level intensive training. The third level requires successful performance as a PM on major interdisciplinary projects.</p>
<p><<<do you=“” find=“” yourself=“” pulling=“” out=“” your=“” old=“” textbook=“” to=“” look=“” up=“” a=“” equation=“” learned=“” back=“” in=“” college.=“”>>> </do></p>
<p>Not often. In my field (bridge design and engineering), code references, such as AASHTO Specifications for Bridge Design and/or state DOT Design Manuals are more frequently used, as opposed to textbooks. Commercially available software is uses extensively.</p>
<p><<<or is=“” it=“” the=“” opposite.=“” much=“” less=“” stressful=“” and=“” quite=“” rewarding=“” in=“” sense=“” that=“” you=“” are=“” helping=“” others=“” impacting=“” world.=“” safe=“” to=“” say=“” as=“” a=“” working=“” engineer=“” life=“” more=“” pleasant=“” than=“” when=“” were=“” college=“” or=“” grad=“” school.=“”>>></or></p>
<p>I find it rewarding to see a project that I designed actually built and in use by the public. In terms of enjoying life, I have been able to reach a balance with my work and home life. I make a point to spend quality time with my family. I rarely have to go into the office on weekends. I have four weeks vacation now, although I started out with just two weeks (which took some time to get used to coming out of college).</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the reply.</p>
<p>I have a few more question to ask for anyone who is interested in answering them:</p>
<p>How many hours a week do you find yourself working? Is it the standard work hours 8-5?</p>
<p>Are there annual tests that you are required to take to maintain your license?</p>
<p>After you finish school, are you still constantly learning.</p>
<p>Do you enjoy your job/are you happy that you chose engineering as your profession? Any regrets?</p>
<p>Are you able to spend amble amount of time with your family/friends; hobbies?</p>
<p>Do you feel like you are making sufficient money to support your family?</p>
<p>Thanks for answering</p>
<p>BS ChemE, 1999
MBA, Dec. 2009 </p>
<p>By day I’m a technical consultant to the biofuel and biochemical industries, at night I go to school to earn my MBA, and will be done at years end. I have a family, 2 kids, and enjoy wood working activities (rebuilt my deck last weekend). In the past I’ve been a chemical and process engineer to the biotech/pharma industry. I see a lot of overlap between the biofuel/biochemical industry and the biotech industries, not only in technology but personnel as well. The company I work for is small, 4 people, and only 2 years old. </p>
<p>Anyway, I work from 8 to 5, 5 days a week. I travel about 2-4 weeks a year, mostly to meet with clients, site visits, and during plant start-ups. Since the company is so small I do everything that needs to be done, and there is time enough for me to remain sane, surf these boards, and get everything done in a timely fashion. After working for 1000+ companies my whole career, thus far, the change in pace is nice. The client focus atmosphere takes some getting used to, but since we are so small I get a good grasp on the breadth of an engineering firm and not just assignments or pigeon-holed.</p>
<p>Engineering is a blue collar position that sits on the cusp of the white collar world. There are those who tip the scales and leverage themselves into middle and upper management positions as well as those who remain as plant engineers or head engineers. From what I’ve seen money has never been the motivator either way and the choice is generally placed on the individual and not on those above or around them. Meaning, an engineering degree is a solid foundation to move up a corporate ladder, should one choose to. Those I know who remain engineers love their job and the work they do, similar for those who move into management.</p>
<p>You are always constantly learning. While I may use the same set of equations most of the time there are still those odd applications or pieces of equipment that find themselves into a plant that must be learned. My text books get a good bit of wear and the same holds true with all of my colleagues. I am also constantly learning because industry needs me to. New organisms come out all the time, new technologies or uses for the technology are constantly being discovered, and I am not constant in what I do anyway. I enjoy the learning process, the mentors I’ve had because of this, and will look forward to being a mentor one day as well. This is knowledge management and is essential to engineering fields.</p>
<p>The only thing I really find frustrating as an engineer would be interactions I’ve had with specific individuals I’ve been forced to work with over the years. These relations, however, are not an isolated circumstance to the engineering field, and will have to be handled in any arena. The most stress I face comes from dealing with non-engineers trying to make engineering decisions (or rather barring engineers from executing what needs to be done) and lay-offs. Both situations are reasons why I am getting my MBA; to ensure that the right people are in charge and to ensure that gainful employment is available and fair.</p>
<p>I am not licensed, and probably never will be. I have debated getting my PE, but 10 years out might make passing the EIT/FE rather tough. Our consulting services are mostly to engineering firms themselves, so while it would add credibility I’m not sure how else would assist me in my career. Still might though, but it won’t be till next year. I think my efforts might best be applied elsewhere.</p>
<p>I know vacation time varies depending on where you work, but is 2 weeks the average vacation for an engineer? Placing HUGE emphasis on work over leisure seems to be pretty normal in this country though. sucks.</p>
<p><<<how many=“” hours=“” a=“” week=“” do=“” you=“” find=“” yourself=“” working?=“” is=“” it=“” the=“” standard=“” work=“” 8-5?=“”>>></how></p>
<p>It varies, depending on project demands. It not required to work more than an eight hour day, but I usually work 8:30-6:00, or later when necessary. I sometimes work from home a bit on the weekends.</p>
<p><<<are there=“” annual=“” tests=“” that=“” you=“” are=“” required=“” to=“” take=“” maintain=“” your=“” license?=“”>>></are></p>
<p>I am licensed in NJ and PA, and currently there is not a continuing education requirement to maintain your license in those states. Although, several others (e.g. NY) do require it. I’m not aware of any states that require annual tests.</p>
<p><<<after you=“” finish=“” school,=“” are=“” still=“” constantly=“” learning.=“”>>></after></p>
<p>Yes. Much more of what you will actually use is learned “on the job” from experienced engineers vs. what you learned in college. </p>
<p><<<do you=“” enjoy=“” your=“” job=“” are=“” happy=“” that=“” chose=“” engineering=“” as=“” profession?=“” any=“” regrets?=“”>>></do></p>
<p>Yes, to me it is a rewarding profession. As mentioned in an earlier post, I enjoy seeing projects that I helped design get built.</p>
<p><<<are you=“” able=“” to=“” spend=“” amble=“” amount=“” of=“” time=“” with=“” your=“” family=“” friends;=“” hobbies?=“”>>></are></p>
<p>Yes, I make it a point to spend quality time with family. Attend sons’ sporting events, take family vacations. Have time to golf on Sunday mornings.</p>
<p><<<do you=“” feel=“” like=“” are=“” making=“” sufficient=“” money=“” to=“” support=“” your=“” family?=“”>>></do></p>
<p>You are not likely to get rich, unless you go into business for yourself, but that has financial risks as well.</p>
<p>Two weeks seems to be the norm to start out. At my company, you start with two, then go to three after five years. Then four after ten years. Four weeks is the maximum. I find that it is difficult to take more than one week in a row without falling behind on my projects, so four weeks works ok for me.</p>
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<p>Ditto to that. When I was an intern at a traffic engineering firm, we used commercial software a lot to do calculations, though for complex unusual situations, we would have to do it ourselves. I don’t recall anyone ever pulling out a textbook, but we did use a lot of professional handbook and manuals.</p>