Engineers Career Guide: The Ultimate Roadmap For Engineers
Are you looking for a career that can make a change, get you the riches, and give you a bundle of options? Then engineering is your best bet. Becoming an engineer can be a lifelong goal for some but some require the push for it. Nonetheless, engineering isn’t very easy but can be pretty rewarding. As an engineer, you can solve dilemmas haunting humans for decades.
From keeping an eye on the pollution, coming up with new machinery for medicine, and even exploring the world of small and the large, it will surely keep you on the edge of your seat. A Brunel Career Guide or simply a roadmap is all you need to avail yourself of the benefits of being an engineer. And the best part is the flexibility of the workplace it offers since you don’t have to work in an office, you can opt for space, the wilderness, and even industries and factories.
What is a professional engineer?
A professional engineer is a licensed professional that permits him to work in a specific geographic region. They fulfill the requirements for this license, such as expertise and experience and the educational prerequisites. All these requirements vary from county to country, but licensing is a must everywhere. If you plan on working in two separate regions, you have to get double licensing of both the states to be legally able to practice as an engineer in both territories.
Common options for an engineer
One of the biggest advantages is the diversity in the options you have as an engineer. With a plethora like the following, you can choose one that works for you. Although this guide won’t be diving into the details, you can check out the scope, requirements, eligibility criteria, and even average salaries online for those. They include:
- Electrical
- Electronics
- Computer system
- Mechanical
- Civil
- Chemical
- Environmental
- Health and safety
- Industrial
- Marine
- Agricultural
- Nuclear
- Petroleum
- Geological
- Telecommunication
Besides these, there are many other fields and subfields in engineering, and you have to explore them all to understand your potential and what you like.
Career planning at an academic level
The journey starts from your mindset, but it also starts from your academic level. No matter which grade you are in, you need to plan what career. Multiple factors are involved in choosing a degree in engineering that works for you, but today, we will be only diving into the topmost.
National need: While selecting a career choice, most individuals keep in mind the earning or what their family wants but lack this aspect. While selecting, you should also keep in mind the national needs of your specific countries. A country rich in oil reserves like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would require more engineers in the petroleum and mining sector.
However, one with more tech advancement would need more relevant engineers. That is why I always keep the country’s needs, especially in the next scores and decades, in mind while choosing a degree.
Interest: Another major dilemma individuals face is the lack of interest in their careers. If you do something you don’t like, it will certainly feel like a burden; that’s why it is essential to opt for a career you like, so it doesn’t feel like it was imposed on you through your life. Dive and explore different options before choosing one to see what you like.
Prospects: This part covers whatever other things you have to keep in mind; this includes all prospects, employment opportunities, and earnings. No matter how much you love a field, you have to consider its scope, future opportunities, salaries, and the like. Without these, you may choose an option that is dying out already.
Career planning at a professional level
After you have undertaken your degree, you have to start planning your professional career. This includes networking, internships, looking for recruiters, and all the other prerequisites that we will be getting to in a minute. As a professional engineer, networking is essential. Without the proper connections and people, you won’t exceed your field. So whether it’s your friends, their parents or teachers, try to stay in touch.
Furthermore, it would help if you kept an eye on the top recruiters of your area and field; this will help you know where to apply. It might also give you inner glimpses at what you plan to do. Lastly, you have to keep transitions in mind in a professional career. From an internship to a professional job and from one place to another, a healthy transition is required throughout the way.
Learning the basics
You need to be well aware of the following to pave your career as a successful one.
- Email: You should learn how to write the correct email, send one, and even respond to one. This will help you in the long run.
- Internships: Whether paid or unpaid, internships are a great way to get practical experience. It would help if you always grabbed such opportunities whenever you got them.
- Recommendation: You need recommendations for about anywhere you go. Try to make a good impact where you study or work and get as many positive recommendations and references as you can.
- CV writing: Another thing to master is the art of CV writing. Drafting a resume or a CV requires the right technique since it’s your first impression on the recruiter. Make sure you learn this skill well.
- Statement of purpose: You should also develop an intelligent statement of purpose for your field.
- Interview: You need to learn how to give the perfect interview for your career.
Dilemmas
You need to prepare yourself for many other post-hiring dilemmas, from things like office politics to managing projects, especially with a team. You need to be well aware of how to handle all that.
Final thoughts
The engineering world is limitless and growing by the day. Although it won’t be easy if you want to make it your lifelong career, keep the above roadmap in mind and don’t wait for the field to keep your career first. Start now and slowly work your way up the ladder. Good luck!
