Best Careers 2009: Engineer

Environmental/ecological engineering

I've been browsing the comments and am surprised at all the negative postings. I've been led to believe that engineering in general was a good career choice. I have been considering changing careers and going into engineering. (I'm currently a dairy farmer, so hey it can't get any worse!) I am 37 and very interested in an ecological engineering course. It's a pretty new field so not much job growth/salary info but I've seen lots of positive articles about environmental engineering and the two are similar. Am I too old to be starting this now and is it a big mistake, or is this a promising field? Seems to me that sort of thing would be all but impossible to outsource.

Brian Dougherty of IA @ Oct 29, 2009 21:57:23 PM

Avoid Engineering

I believe according to IEEE employment data there is a large amount of unemployment after the age of 40. Go look it up for yourself. Short term Career.

I have over 20 years experience and would avoid it. Too much cheap outsourcing and more effort hiring the CHEAP new grad and giving 2% raises. Go into the medical field. Too late for me as I'm old. It had demand 20 years ago. You cannot compete with an Indian making $10/hour.

OldEE of FL @ Oct 28, 2009 20:22:53 PM

American Policy

The above's comment's, from "ex-engineer" highlight a fundemental flaw in economic and importantly, trade policy, that provides tax and inherently cash folow incentives to companies willing to do what he references.

Let's try to keep the best jobs in America, not through oppressive Stalinist planning but through incentives that encourage them to keep these important jobs here. They are in business to make money and if it's cheaper overseas/better quality, that's where they will go. So let's help the business of America remain the business of America.

Can we do a story on this US News?

Christopher Manocchio of CA @ Oct 27, 2009 10:47:09 AM

Avoid engineering....

Guys, 20 years experience as engineer. I have gone thru all the stages; I have managed other engineers as well....

I strongly recommend new prospects not to get in this field. Unless (listen) you are looking for something on a temporary basis...meaning you want to get some decent money while you pursue something else. The true is that engineering is an unstable field. Your retirement age is in your earlier 40's. After that if you loose your job you are going to have serious difficulty in getting a job (if you get lucky). Salary by then will be very difficult to maintain, especially if you change job, they expect you to start at the lowest scale.

Consider better alternatives, healthcare for instance or better yet become an Entrepreneur, the earlier you start the better.

Good Luck

Paco of NY @ Oct 21, 2009 15:16:16 PM

Pleased EE

I agree with the article - engineering is a good field to be in. There's definite caveats:

- You must be willing to work hard

- It is important to stand out at your workplace

If you're good at your job (better than the others) and you work hard, you'll have work. Prosperity isn't an entitlement.

IMHO outsourcing is one reason many products have decreased in quality in the last 5-10 years; it isn't as effective as many corporations believe it is. However, the work ethic in America has suffered from being on top in the 50 years after the rest of the world annihilated its industrial base (WWII); when there's no one else with factories, every decision is a good decision. Other countries are catching up with a good work ethic and savvy choices about where to focus effort.

And yes, doctors make disproportionate income. Their political organization, AMA, has seen to that. Witness the PR spin about why the scientifically ranked #37 health care system in the world (ours) is "the best in the world" (?) and doesn't need to change...

Gary of MI @ Oct 20, 2009 10:28:57 AM

ex-engineer

Outsourcing, offshoring and the H1-B visa program have made electrical and computer engineering dead end careers for Americans. The faster the technology changes, the more likely companies will fire you after 5 years and replace with a recent graduate works cheaper and has fresher current skills. Best to stay with something that changes slowly, like civil or mechanical engineering. Avoid electrical computer engineering, or you will be selling used cars in 5 years.

ohio state engineer grad of OH @ Oct 18, 2009 14:32:11 PM

Faces of change

Been in the field since the early 90's and agree with most here...the message that is being portrayed that it is exploding or a strong demand field is absolutely false. There is some merit to the 'growth' if you are referring to speeding up the process of 'when one is shown or walks out the door, there's another one coming in' especially if it is a intern or very low pay engineer. Or growth in companies that don't care about quality because of the shorter life-cycles...to make the shorter lived 'product'. I hate to say this but it seems like we are becomming more like a third world country, especially in this field. I know several engineers, some who have never been laid off and some who have in their respective careers. Most all agree this field is tough, stressfull and not as rewarding as we all thought in the 90's when we were in college. I'm currently approaching 40 and am thinking about changing careers myself. Why stay up until midnight 'keeping up to date on trends' and 'buying your families time' when there are other fields out there that give you exactly what you pay for...a fun and rewarding career. A career that you can remain in a certain area for your family w/o yanking kids out of school. Bang for the buck, engineering IMHO is becoming a bust.

When I think of the most compelling case to make to deter a prospective engineer, I state the fact below:

All you have to do is look at the 'faces' of any nurses, medical workers, physical therapists, etc., and then compare those 'fresh lookiing' faces to the engineers as you take a walk into a R&D engineering center, electronics manufacturing facility or one of these 'contract' engineers who move all over the place.

Lots of wear and tear these days on the faces of the typical U.S. engineer....and not too 'healthy' looking.

Troy Johnson of IL @ Oct 18, 2009 09:59:31 AM

RN

I agree 100% with you!!! My husband is a mechanical engineer with a PE and Ph.D., and he is probably the smartest, most well rounded person I know. As a nurse, I work with doctors all of the time and I see the disparity in income, prestige, respect, etc. that my husband will never receive as an engineer. I believe he has let his PE license lapse, recently, after 20+ years of paying a yearly fee for it but not needing it. So many "imposters" say they are engineers who are not. A hairdresser requires a license-an engineer should also. Maybe that would give them SOME respect. Our society would be NoWhere without engineers, including the medical community. Who does everyone think designs and invents CT scanners, MRI machines, etc? Of course, engineers do! for little pay and gratitude from society.

ku of CT @ Oct 16, 2009 22:08:24 PM