<p>I’ve been skimming through the threads here and while i’ve read tons of positives and negatives to being an engineer i was wondering if any engineers here could give me a sense of what gets them up in the morning and why (or why not) they enjoy their career in engineering. Thanks.</p>
<p>Knowing that the product or process I create will have a huge impact on society. Unfortunately, only a handful of us will experience that joy.</p>
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What do you mean?</p>
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<p>I think that’s why.</p>
<p>Because you know how many careers make a huge impact on society…</p>
<ol>
<li>Money.</li>
<li>Career advancement.</li>
<li>Prestigious considering the degree requirements.</li>
<li>Helps the American economy be competitive.</li>
<li>Career stability.</li>
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<p>Okay, buddy this is 2008. These are exciting times to be living. Our civilization is advancing at a fast past, and we are steadily moving into the digital age. </p>
<p>As an engineer, you get to be envolved with developing tomorrow’s technologies…you actually get to work on the things before they “come out”…you dont just sit on the sidelines and marvel at what other people invented… you also get to see technology come alive…</p>
<p>Also, as an engineer, you can get very creative in solving problems, which could change the way a business (or perhaps even society) operates.</p>
<p>…becasuse you don’t have to worry about knowing how to spell ;)</p>
<p>As an engineer, you will be able to work in many different industries and areas of specialization. You could work in design, manufacturing, sales, project management, or even starting your own company. There are literally hundreds of possibilities. I think an engineering degree gives you the ability to figure out an area that you really like and make a very good living doing it.</p>
<p>When your system or even your part of your system is being used by the corporation, there is not many other things that will give you a better feeling.</p>
<p>Also, like someone else pointed out…regardless if engineers “ceiling out” in salary before business folks or may make less money in the long run than some business folks, lawyers, etc…it’s not a bad career to have that really only requires a 4-year degree. It’s also not bad that you will always have steady employment.</p>
<p>Me?..I rather have near-guaranteed steady money with little to no competition. You really do not have to take any sh-- from supervisors because you can leave one job and be on the payroll of another employer one week later.</p>
<p>I feel like one of the people behind the scenes whose work lets the rest of the world operate. I work in a power plant and I remember that when I first starting working in power plants I was amazed at how electricity was made and how many people have no clue about it. I guess it feels somewhat nice being part of an exclusive group of people who help light up the world. </p>
<p>And money was part of the reason I got into engineering. In high school all I saw was the high starting salary. However, 9 years later the dollar does not stretch as far as it would have then.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Justin. I really like knowing how stuff actually works.</p>
<p>My experience has been in power plant, steel mills, and chemical plants. The kind of plant that has always fascinated me are plants that use automated assembly lines. However, I would not be interested in working in that kind of plant.</p>
<p>What has always fascinated me about engineering is where is all began. For example, we use steam turbines to help make electricity. A machine, such as a lathe, was used to make the turbine rotor. Another machine was used to make the lathe, and so on.</p>
<p>ENGINEERING without a doubt is the profession that has made the greatest contribution to improving humanity’s quality of life and standard of living the world over.</p>
<p>Every single day, the profession that makes people’s lives easier, more comfortable, more convenient is ENGINEERING- more than any other profession hands down.</p>
<p>Power grids, vehicles, public transport buildings, water treatment, televisions, computers, medical equipment, factories, hyro-dams, bridges, waste facilities…etc etc etc, If these things did not work society would be absolutely crippled and brought to a STAND-STILL.</p>
<p>Engineering is one the greatest, (if not THE greatest) source of wealth for a nation because it PRODUCES NEW THINGS. Engineers create the wealth and products that the rest of society uses and shuffles around and also export to other nations thus bringing in money in return.</p>
<p>When I look at the work engineers do, and how critically important it is to the proper functioning of society, I can only shake my head at the “salary ceiling”. I know of many cushy jobs that have almost no benefit to society and that require very little rigorous thinking or tangible skills but that make the same or more money than an average engineer. </p>
<p>I think engineering is a great career if you have a passion for math, science, designing and building. The sad part is that our society/market does not properly incentivize/reward people to study this most important profession.</p>
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<p>There’s no doubt that engineering has made great contributions to the human race, but “without a doubt, the greatest?”</p>
<p>I could easily make the argument that modern medicine has vastly increased the quality of life which has enabled so many people to become engineers. In past ages, people died of sicknesses and maladies that were not well understood or even known about. And it was basic science that allowed these illnesses to be properly studied and identified so the medical professionals could both treat and prevent them.</p>
<p>Let’s not get carried away here. Engineering is important, but not obviously more important than many other disciplines.</p>
<p>Engineering is responsible for the technology that modern medicine depends on (MRIs, x-rays, catscans, EKGs, radiation treatments, ultrasound machines, surgical tools, prostetics, joint replacement materials, even new drugs). Without engineering, modern medicine would not be what it is today. Not by a long shot. Physicians are essential in society, don’t get me wrong but the fact is that innovation and development of new technology in the medical field depends on chemical, electrical, mechanical, biomedical, and material engineers…etc…Even medical researchers (they are very essential also) depend on equipment that has been developed by engineers.</p>
<p>Engineers are responsible for practically everything around us.</p>
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The only argument for something other than Engineering, in my mind, is the core science and research behind it. The Newton/Maxwell and other basically made engineering possibly by defining the physical laws which are used in engineering to make products.</p>
<p>Which came first, the engineer or the scientist?</p>
<p>My argument is that both are necessary (as well as people from other disciplines) to allow forward progress to continue.</p>
<p>I think we have a winner with Mr. Payne’s response.</p>