No longer interested in Mechanical Engineering but I have gone too far. What should I do?

Recently graduated with my Mechanical Engineering degree. I want to do Manufacturing or sales engineering type of work. I’m not interested in designing engineering drawings or CAD as a career. I just don’t want to be on the computer for long periods of time. However, to gain engineering experience I am open to anything at this point.

I now have two degrees. Associate in Science as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. It wasn’t easy at all to attain these degrees but I did it! After finishing up at my community college it took me 3 years to get my ME degree. I am very proud of myself for sticking in the program. However, Mechanical Engineering seems like its all about CAD. What would you do in my situation? I have a business sales type of mindset and plus I like to build stuff and work in a team environment.

Congratulations! It’s rarely an easy path, and you made it through.

There are so many different directions you can go than just CAD work. Specifically for you, in addition to considering sales positions, you may consider test engineering since you like to build stuff and don’t like spending a lot of time behind a computer.

And outside of engineering, I’ve seen several of my cohorts go into financial planning, real estate, etc. Your technical skill is widely applicable.

Sometimes it takes a few years to work yourself into a position you really like, so don’t get discouraged.

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Congratulations.

Agree that you have many good skills…are you using your school’s career center to help you in your job search?

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My husband was an engineering major but knew before he graduated he did not want to be an engineer. He ended up going into a “technical sales program” for a large company. He eventually moved from sales to product management and also went back to school to get his MBA. Companies wanted him for his technical knowledge and business skills.

I agree that you should contact your school’s career center to help you out!

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I got hired as a mechanical engineer for a large company and worked in their manufacturing plant. I only did that for a few years and eventually became a sales engineer. I moved to software for a while, and I am back as a sales engineer. The degree will get your foot in the door. What you afterwards is up to you

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