Topic: who's an engineer on the forum?

[greasy j]

If you are going into the Mechanical Engineering fields and have a creative mind you can always seek out a job in the R&D sections of different companies. I had an internship when I was in CC at a company that manufactured farm implements (not exactly my cup of tea) but I was in the Research & Development section and had my free run of creative thinking and got to see the products thru from start to finish. It was one of the best jobs I've ever had. If I had been thinking ahead I would have gone that route and tried to work my way into an R&D department at a motorcycle or auto company...

this sounds like something I would enjoy a lot.

Picking up 4 cylinder iron block Volvo motors ('57-74 motors) (with the head still on) by myself on did some damage to my low back that I'm paying the price for now. So, I moved to motorcycles again.

Engineers are creative people and many don't recognize their creativity as such. (viewing it more as logical engineering) You need a creative outlet or two.

J, I'm sure you'll enjoy college and you know there are a few engineers here who can give you guidance or possibly talk through tough math topics and the like.
Good luck!

David

yeah, my back is usually aching, I'm just used to it. 12 yrs. painting houses.

you guys have already inspired me a lot. I'm really excited for school to start again.

[/quote]

EET from Purdue Indianapolis.  Personally I'm a terrible student ( I always did better with real life as opposed to school).  I started with EE but soon decided that I like the break/fix technical side so I moved to EET.  If you've got the brains for the EE or ME, then go for it.  But if it's the hands on break fix stuff you like, don't be too stubborn to move to the tech degree if it gets to be too much.

I'm kind of the opposite. I've always been 'book smart', I memorize whatever I read for the most part. do really well on tests. but I always lose my keys and miss really obvious stuff in the real world, when I'm on auto-pilot at least. it may be because when I read or learn I concentrate. when I'm out and about I daydream, zone out, imagine greater...


I'd like to do this for a feeling of accomplishment and salary and all that, but I also like the idea that at some point maybe I could use what I've learned to do my own thing. if I could do anything, had unlimited funding, I'd build motorcycles. even if I don't love my day job, I think all the things I will learn will allow me to go further with my hobby. bikes. not to mention being able to afford parts and cool tools.

Erik Buell's an engineer, look what he did.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Got shafted by Harley, keep that in mind when looking.

[johnny_from_bel]

Electronics and Robotics.
Additional degree in Computerscience

[wannabridin]

If you are going into the Mechanical Engineering fields and have a creative mind you can always seek out a job in the R&D sections of different companies. I had an internship when I was in CC at a company that manufactured farm implements (not exactly my cup of tea) but I was in the Research & Development section and had my free run of creative thinking and got to see the products thru from start to finish. It was one of the best jobs I've ever had. If I had been thinking ahead I would have gone that route and tried to work my way into an R&D department at a motorcycle or auto company...

this sounds like something I would enjoy a lot.



R&D is awesome work, but in this market, it's very tough to find a job doing it.  i've been looking since 2006 for a position doing this, namely failure analysis, and a LARGE majority of the positions require at least a MS.  they want people to have the research background before going into R&D.  you can go into that field with any engineering background really, just good luck finding a position in it! 

[Laminar]

In my case, I was required to choose elective courses from other engineering disciplines to complete my Mechanical Engineer degree. I could have done a lot of EE courses if I wanted (I didn't want).

Mechanical engineering is pretty broad and will allow you to do quite a bit. I spent some time as a manufacturing engineer, which meant I got to spend time out on the floor with the welders, machinists, etc. Basically it was my job to watch and participate in a live version of "How It's Made."

I'm currently working in electronic control systems as a field service engineer. I travel around to jobsites and install and troubleshoot our control systems on giant compressors and turbines. Plenty of hands on, which suits me well.

[drnap10]

I am 21 and have one more year of classes and hopefully graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering.  If you are anything like me then all of the math and physics will be pretty easy but the chemistry kicked my a$$ pretty hard.  Go figure since my dad has a damn chemistry degree. 
After pouring driveways, sidewalks, and stairs for a while I decided that design would be a little bit easier on the back.  Although not easier on the rest of my figure because when I was working all day in the sun I could eat or drink anything I wanted and not gain a pound  .

[greasy j]

I am 21 and have one more year of classes and hopefully graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering.  If you are anything like me then all of the math and physics will be pretty easy but the chemistry kicked my a$$ pretty hard.  Go figure since my dad has a damn chemistry degree. 
After pouring driveways, sidewalks, and stairs for a while I decided that design would be a little bit easier on the back.  Although not easier on the rest of my figure because when I was working all day in the sun I could eat or drink anything I wanted and not gain a pound  .

well, you're smart to have gotten into school right away. my back is already having problems.

I start school next week, I'm pretty psyched. I did well on the assessment, even though it's been so long since high school. except I completely forgot how to do trig- and sine, cosine, tangent. so I got 99 on the algebra and somewhere around 20 on the trig. haha. also aced the reading & writing, so I can start in higher level english. I never did stop reading. just stopped doing higher equations, not much call for it as a painter.

I really appreciate all the encouragement and personal stories. the more I hear the more motivated I get.

I've got tons of math ahead because a lot of the classes I need have calc as a prereq. so I have a math class this semester, and should have at least one math class every semester. and I have an intro engineering class, design principles, or something like that. just taking 2 classes this semester, more next one. still gotta work.

I'll keep checking back here and update once in a while. it would be cool if this thread is still around in 4 yrs when I get my 1st degree! I'll be the 1st in my fam since we came here from 'the old country'(Italy). haha.

[rhos1355]

I'm really envious that you have the wisdom and the foresight to do this now before it's too late.
Wish I'd had the common sense to do something 20 years ago.
Grit your teeth when you feel the work-load is overwhelming and just think of yourself 20 years down the line where you're not gonna have to take sh*t from some 2-bit foreman chewing your backside.

[greasy j]

I'm really envious that you have the wisdom and the foresight to do this now before it's too late.
Wish I'd had the common sense to do something 20 years ago.
Grit your teeth when you feel the work-load is overwhelming and just think of yourself 20 years down the line where you're not gonna have to take sh*t from some 2-bit foreman chewing your backside.

it's not too late for you either...

it's only 4 yrs. just have to be willing to not have a social life for 4 yrs. and figure out how to pay bills while in school. I'm going to work nights and days that I don't have classes. of course I don't have dependents or car payment, house payment, etc. you're situation may be a lot more difficult. but at 55 you might still have another 40 or so years in ya.

2-bit foremen suck. I was one for a while, haha. now I work for myself, hope to be able to keep that up throughout school, but I might try to find a part time job as well.

[Laminar]

My mom just got her bachelors at 56 years old and is starting her career the same year my dad is retiring.

[Joel]

I just finished my BS in mechanical engineering a few weeks ago at Purdue.  I'm looking for my first job at the moment.  I'm very excited to be finished!

[greasy j]

I just finished my BS in mechanical engineering a few weeks ago at Purdue.  I'm looking for my first job at the moment.  I'm very excited to be finished!

congratulations!!!

[greasy j]

an update:

still going, getting ready to get ready to transfer. one, maybe 2 more semesters.

all A's so far. this semester I have a chemistry class that is unreasonably hard and a calculus class that is incredibly easy. it balances out. but I had to drop a 3rd class because I just dont have enough time for it all.

which is why I am not on the forum anymore. or facebook. or the local bar.

just in a book or at work all the time.

another update in another year...

[Bob Wessner]

,,and a calculus class that is incredibly easy.

    

[SD750F]

,,and a calculus class that is incredibly easy.

    

I found that such a statement depends on the calculus instructor and the method used. I have had both fantastic instructors that instructed the "short" method and complete foundational history, and I have had terrible instructors that insisted using the "long" method of calculation with exercises that took weeks with no explanation of reason or purpose.

[CrankyOldGuy]

Structural engineer ... 33 years  ... plus 9 years university 

Agree wholeheartedly with SD750F.  The instructor makes a big difference; but this applies to any course.  Too many professors, although highly educated, have forgotten (or not tried to learn) how to communicate with students that have just graduated from high school.  I taught at the university level for two years, and it's amazing the difference in maturity between a 1st year and a 4th year student.

Harry O.

[scottly]

an update:

still going, getting ready to get ready to transfer. one, maybe 2 more semesters.

all A's so far. this semester I have a chemistry class that is unreasonably hard and a calculus class that is incredibly easy. it balances out. but I had to drop a 3rd class because I just dont have enough time for it all.

which is why I am not on the forum anymore. or facebook. or the local bar.

just in a book or at work all the time.

another update in another year...

Good to hear from you dude! Keep plugging away at the school work..

[Raul CB750K1]

When Soichiro Honda started his piston ring business, he was having trouble with brittle rings that broke up easily.

He went to University to learn how to make the right alloy for his rings, and when he knew, he left.

He was asked why he didn't finish at University, to which he replied: "A university degree is worth less than a ticket to the cinema. With the latter at least you are positive you will get to see the movie, but with the former, you have no guarantee that you will get a job".

[rhos1355]

When Soichiro Honda started his piston ring business, he was having trouble with brittle rings that broke up easily.

He went to University to learn how to make the right alloy for his rings, and when he knew, he left.

He was asked why he didn't finish at University, to which he replied: "A university degree is worth less than a ticket to the cinema. With the latter at least you are positive you will get to see the movie, but with the former, you have no guarantee that you will get a job".

I beg to differ, Raul; I have never come across an unemployed engineer. I have seen loads of guys that had the degree but completely rejected the career because they couldn't handle the responsibility, but that's another story. In my last job you could spot the Electrical Engineers' cars in the car-park quite easily; BMWs and Mercs. Mind you, they used to put in 100 hour weeks regularly 'cos there was so much work.

[Duke McDukiedook]

I could see where it would tend to lead you in a particular way of thinking, stifle creativity somewhat.
Fundamentals of engineering knowledge must be learned though, for most people this would be tough to learn without teachers guiding you.

Frank Lloyd Wright did not like to employ people that had degrees, but architecture is a different animal from the engineering disciplines. Ah, architects. 

[Raul CB750K1]

I beg to differ, Raul; I have never come across an unemployed engineer. I have seen loads of guys that had the degree but completely rejected the career because they couldn't handle the responsibility, but that's another story. In my last job you could spot the Electrical Engineers' cars in the car-park quite easily; BMWs and Mercs. Mind you, they used to put in 100 hour weeks regularly 'cos there was so much work.

In Spain you can have engineers at a dime a dozen. I myself am, haven't been unemployed a single day in my life -that's a 16years working life-.

I think it all comes down to "the wave". Engineers used to have a high status over here, and were highly paid. That attracted a lot of youngsters into University. When you see the wave and want to get into it, it is already too late........ excess of engineers make them accept lower wages.


Would you spend 4 years at university to make $24.000 a year? that is roughly the price of a medium sized car......


In my opinion, the only safe bet is a job that, because of its own characteristics, cannot be made either abroad or by an inmigrant. That is, a job that has to be done on site, by someone with an scarce field of knowledge -or an scarce ability-.

[rhos1355]

In Spain you can have engineers at a dime a dozen. I myself am, haven't been unemployed a single day in my life -that's a 16years working life-.

I think it all comes down to "the wave". Engineers used to have a high status over here, and were highly paid. That attracted a lot of youngsters into University. When you see the wave and want to get into it, it is already too late........ excess of engineers make them accept lower wages.


Would you spend 4 years at university to make $24.000 a year? that is roughly the price of a medium sized car......

I wish I'd known that, Raul, 'cos in 06, 07 and part of '08 we were really desperate for Mechanical, Electrical, Structural Engineers. So Desperate we were importing them on licence from India. Obviously, for the 2 years fter '08 it was another story. But now its getting back to what it was like 4 years ago.
I work with a lot of engineers, some good, some not so good. But I know one thing for sure, they would not have the competition for job oppurtunities I have had since I turned 50. Plus, the organisations I worked for always treated their engineers a lot better than it did technical staff (me) or clerical staff.
But onthe other hand they (the engineers) are always under a huge amount of pressure. The responsibilities are immense. Once they have put their signatures to a design, and the specification for that design life is say, 20 years, they are responsibile if something goes wrong with it in the next 20 years.
To your question whether I would spend 4 years at university for $24,000.- my answer is yes, yes, yes. It might only be $24K this year and next year, but soon they will be begging you to stay with the company, and then it gets higher and higher.
As for me?? Ha! for every one of me there's 10 of them waiting to take my place.