Careers in Engineering Tips
Read these 4 Careers in Engineering Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Jobs tips and hundreds of other topics.
Military Engineering: Weapons of War and Peace
The origin of military engineering dates back to the Roman empire, and in many respects is one of the oldest occupations still hiring. Though historically military engineers have been associated with designing and building weapons of war, their role is far more diverse.
In addition to improving weapons and aircraft technology, military engineers are responsible for a number of defensive strategies. Scanning and disarming enemy minefields, erecting bridges, setting up communications posts, and utilizing their ingenuity to circumvent all manner of battlefield obstacles may not adequately describe a day in the life of the average military engineer, but it does describe some of their collective accomplishments.
In addition to their invaluable contributions during wartime, military engineers also work in a variety of different fields, from aerospace to environmental health and safety. With defense spending a continued priority in today's world, opportunities are ripe for those interested in pursuing military engineering careers.
The Dilemma of Choice: How to Determine Where to Work
More than ever before, there is an unprecedented demand in the world for individuals with engineering skills. College graduates entering the workforce are finding themselves in the enviable pickle of having too many choices. Being faced with an abundance of choices can be almost as bad as having none at all, and can lead individuals to make poor decisions based on a lack of information and research.
Professional recruiting agencies don't simply look to fill empty desks. They have an extensive understanding of how the engineering industry operates, and work closely with corporations and job seekers to evaluate their respective needs and pair them together. Recruiters cultivate relationships with contacts from all corporate levels to be able to place applicants from entry level to senior positions.
Whether seeking the freedom of temporary employment or the security of full-time, permanent work, using a professional recruiter is a recommended move for those seeking out careers in engineering.
The Job Forecast for Engineers
The outlook for future engineer jobs is an overall positive one, although the long-term outcome varies depending on the area of specialty chosen. Five areas of focus stand out as the best bet for rapid industry growth.
- Biomedical engineers. Technological and medical advances will continue to make this field one of the highest growing areas in all of engineering.
- Chemical engineers. A diverse range of applications, including aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic, environmental, and military will keep demand for chemical engineers high.
- Civil engineers. As population continues to expand, cities, roadways, and all manner of structures in between will need to be retrofitted and, in many cases, rebuilt.
- Computer software engineers. Advances in computer technology will continue to keep software engineers well employed for the foreseeable future.
- Electrical engineers. The explosion of cheap and affordable telecommunications devices will propel this area of specialty to new heights.
The Many Facets of Being a Civil Engineer
Civil engineering is one of the most long-standing disciplines in all of engineering, and continues to play a vital role in societal growth. It's also been identified as one of the top engineering jobs for pay and projected job growth. The career path of a civil engineer can cover a broad range of specialties:
- Geotechnical engineers determine the load bearing capacities of rock and soil in preparation for the building of roads and structures.
- Structural engineers are involved in the safe design of buildings, bridges, dams, and tunnels.
- Transportation engineers utilize a complex method of traffic and population forecasting to plan streets, highways, railroads, harbors, and airports.
- Hydraulic engineers work closely with geotechnical engineers in the building of bridges, dams, levees, channels, and canals.
- Environmental engineers study the effect of pollution on our environment, and work to find avenues of improvement to eliminate the causes and minimize their negative effects.
