<p>Hey, I'm just starting out, and when I started I was totally excited, but everything I'm hearing about engineering now is confusing me.
I've read that it's hands on, but then I've read that it isn't really hands on also.
I've read some things that make it seem like it is all boring calculations. I like math and science, and designing things fascinates me, but no one can tell me what the job is really like so far. Please any comments would be welcome, especially if you have working experience.</p>
<p>I think it is difficult to give you a definite answer because the field is so broad, with lots of possible career paths, and individual interests are so varied. Getting a job right off the bat in a design area, especially new product or high technology design, can be somewhat selective; many employers look for students with especially good grades for those types of positions. The good news is that if you are truly hands-on the job market is pretty wide-open. You can look at design, manufacturing, service, and test engineering, it's really up to you. Many who start in other areas can always come into design engineering after a while if they keep their analytical skills sharp, but many don't.<br>
You use the term "the job", and that is really the source of your confusion, there really isn't a typcial job. This is the good thing about engineering, if you're self-motivated you can't be pidgeon-holed. You're not like a bank teller or a store clerk. You can decide for yourself what types of things interest you and then go for them.</p>
<p>Engineering is a very broad field, you can become a "hands on" engineer and work with people in a factory (or similar enviroment) or you can get a desk job. You can work in a lab, or in a classroom. With ME, you can basically choose your work enviroment.</p>
<p>Secondly, the work envolves a lot of calcuations because that is the way they teach engineering.</p>
<p>Lastly, hang in there. Enginereering (esp ME) is a very rewarding course of study, and you will find many opportunities to apply your knowledge in the "real world".</p>
<p>The jobs in ME range from computational to hands on, depends on what job you chose. I did research with a Phd who couldnt change the oil in his car.</p>
<p>Can you tell us some of the more hands-on jobs? Like, what industries or companies in particular involve hands-on work for mechanical engineers? I don't think I can survive working in an office or <em>gulp</em> a cubicle my whole life.</p>
<p>Its the job description more that a company. Research major companies to see.</p>
<p>me-eng is right, look to the job description and the functional area and make sure you ask any interviewer serious questions about any job you apply for. Most big companies have a wide range of possibilities. Many jobs in the areas of manufacturing, services, facilities maintenance and test are heavily hands-on. Many design jobs are good because they give you a variety of tasks- trust me, you will not be allowed to sit in your cubicle when one of your designs is first being built or tested.</p>
<p>Most engineering jobs, and this especially true for ME, have job descriptions that pretty much say "find a problem and fix it, make it work, and fill in when neccessary". Pretty borad job description if you ask me.</p>
<p>While I am a ChemE, I know and work with a lot MEs, most of my friends are MEs. Anyway, what I see them doing is not mere design work, most of them design for function, so they end up working on initial equipment setup and troubleshooting (commisioning) of equipment. So, not only would they design the improvement or process but they would see it is fabricated, implimented, and successfully executed. This entails knowing quite a bit. </p>
<p>Many engineers will work closely with marketing or sales gorups to develop and design product lines or OEM equipment; not use saying we can make that if we can't. And, many engineers will work with manufacturing personnel to help optimize and streamline manufacturing process. </p>
<p>Thus, it really will depend not only on the industry you choose, but the needs of the company that is hirig you.</p>
<p>The MEs I know have worked on car engines, servo motors, window and door latches, industrial magnets, jet engines, pharmaceuticals, pumps and heat exchangers, and devices that convert diesel engines to allow them to run on natural gas. The sky is the limit.</p>