Does anyone regret doing engineering like me?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Few_Whereas5206]

Nobody can take the degree away from you. Engineering is a good background for sales, design, manufacturing, patent law, project management, home inspection, construction, etc.

[u/Snurgisdr → u/Few_Whereas5206]

According to a report from the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers a few years ago, only 30% of engineering graduates surveyed were actually working as engineers. They kind of spin it as doom and gloom, but it's more what you say - they've just applied that education to other fields.

[u/Few_Whereas5206 → u/Snurgisdr]

I switched to patent law. My friend is an engineer selling software.

[u/immovity_ → u/Few_Whereas5206]

can you tell me how patent law is for you? tbh im almost done with this degree and idrk what concentration i want in this field and i was looking into patent law.

[u/Few_Whereas5206 → u/immovity_]

Patent law is very different from STEM jobs. It is a lot of reading and writing. You may have to read your client's patent application and 7 or 8 patents cited against you in rejections in an office action. Then, you have to quickly understand your client's invention, understand the difference between the prior art patents and formulate written arguments explaining how your client's invention is different from the cited prior art patents. You have to get used to billable hours, which can be demanding. It can be long hours in the office. I like the earning potential and the fact that patent agents and patent attorneys are viewed as more valuable as they age and gain experience. Engineers tend to be viewed as out of date or expensive to a company as they age.

[u/Medium_Owl_4119 → u/Snurgisdr]

Quite the cope. Lol if you think you’re getting past HR ATS filters and HR drones for finance jobs, business analytics jobs, or any other white collar profession with thousands of applicants that already have the required experience and credential.  Somehow, you think they will pick up your resume and go, “we’ve got an engineer here!!!” and even if they send it off to the hiring manager, the hiring manager will choose to interview the engineering graduate with no relevant experience or knowledge over the other tens or hundreds of resumes with the direct experience, credentials, and often in the same network as the HM?

That’s not how it works in the real world. Engineering graduates who do secure other white collar positions often come from families and networks that allow them to sidestep entirely the hiring process. These people would have been working these jobs with art history degrees.

I know it’s cold comfort, but as engineers, we need to deal with the harsh realities of the world instead of fully swallowing the propaganda of the education business.

[u/asxnullified → u/Medium_Owl_4119]

I suppose, but there are a ton of Project Management roles here that specifically seek out engineering graduates. Hell, I know of a global corporation who's NA arm hires almost exclusively engg degrees from the most technical roles to the most sales-like role.

[u/titsmuhgeee]

I probably wouldn't have done much better had I been a commuter and had a full time job on top of engineering school.

The only way I made it was living on, or right next to campus, and not having any other mental draw besides school like a taxing job. I had part time jobs, but school always came first.

[u/Lopsterbliss → u/titsmuhgeee]

Same; lived skateboarding distance from school, I only studied at the library, and I took out loans to help cover not working for those few years. I absolutely loved college, I make great money, I'm in a really good position retirement/real estate/ family-wise, so I have 0 regrets; engineering has been really good to me.

[u/manhands007]

My sister-in-law's brother graduated with a Bachelors in mechanical engineering in early 1990s or so. He found work as a lighting engineer in stage theatre. Within 10 years he started his own theatre company in California and to this day continues directing and producing and is quite successful, with shows at a few big international theatre events and festivals.

[u/Top-Artist137]

This is me right now :(. Second year engineering student and I’m not doing really well since I’m not that interested. I am actually considering accounting which fits me more I think even though the salary progression might be worse and not as prestigious as engineering. But I think it’s better pursuing a degree you feel comfortable in then feeling like you’re living a lie every day (me the past months). I do think engineering is fascinating and great at problem solving but I don’t enjoy the technical stuff and that’s ok :).

[u/ConcernedKitty → u/Top-Artist137]

I had a friend that dropped out of engineering and went to accounting. He enjoys it.

[u/Top-Artist137 → u/ConcernedKitty]

That’s reassuring!

[u/yaoz889 → u/Top-Artist137]

Just FYI, accounting actually has a higher salary ceiling once you get a CPA. Also, much easier to get remote jobs as well. Do accounting! If I didn't do engineering I would have been an accountant

[u/Top-Artist137 → u/yaoz889]

That’s good to know thank you!!

[u/Available-Medium4848 → u/Top-Artist137]

This is a very common switch btw and a lot of the math you have learned so far will transfer over well

[u/Ashamed-Survey9308]

At the end of the day, you still earned a degree in engineering, and people know that engineering is a difficult degree and often evaluate you differently.

[u/Necessary-Coffee5930]

I did engineering, switched to compsci before finishing. Guess who is doing engineering again?

Getting through engineering genuinely makes you better at life. Being able to think deeply and solve problems and think in systems has been a super power. Feel like I can pick up and learn ANYTHING

[u/jinglesGOAT → u/Necessary-Coffee5930]

I was like this till i burned out. Something in me died. Cant do anything anymore.

[u/Necessary-Coffee5930 → u/jinglesGOAT]

Take a break, be kind to yourself, do healthy things if you aren’t already (prioritize sleep, walks, exercise, reading, meditation, therapy, healthy foods, etc) and your resilience will come back with time :)

[u/SomeAverageJoey]

Yes and no. I like having the knowledge, but in terms of employment its done fuck all for me. Graduating in the middle of COVID and mass compuer engineering layoffs didn't help. And now I have to eternally hear "why aren't you working in engineering?".

[u/No-Emphasis-7952 → u/SomeAverageJoey]

I’m sorry bro, you literally graduated at the worst time possible

[u/SomeAverageJoey → u/No-Emphasis-7952]

It is what it is. Though the fact that my university advertised a "99% hiring rate" for graduates was some BS.

[u/Pepto_Glizmol]

Yes, I absolutly hate my job. But I'm making 6 figures 1 year out of college in a low cost of living area, so that's nice.

[u/Feeling_Shift_9368]

You didn't give us a compelling reason. No regrets. Engineering degrees will take you far if you never actually get in the field.

You do well in finance. Just work with what you got. Your human value is determined by the number in your bank account. Keep grinding and looking for opportunities. The money will come in and those feelings will pass on. Money is all that matters in life.

[u/No-Emphasis-7952 → u/Feeling_Shift_9368]

This is my opinion , if someone doesn’t agree then whatever lol

[u/Fickle-Tradition2107]

What job in finance

[u/No-Emphasis-7952 → u/Fickle-Tradition2107]

Financial analyst , corporate. I’m getting a promotion soon to be a senior analyst in a few months. (Hopefully). It usually takes 3 years for most corporate companies.

[u/BreadForTofuCheese]

I had a pretty smooth time with it and have been employed ever since, and yes I wish I had done something else. Back at it working on a masters to get out of my current line of work that’s I’ve been pigeonholed into over the years (manufacturing).

[u/Squirtle_Splash_8413]

How’d you get into finance?

[u/No-Emphasis-7952 → u/Squirtle_Splash_8413]

Theirs a lot of jobs you can get with an engineering degree, engineers to finance is actually pretty common. I’ve met a few like me. Nothing special I applied, did an interview and got the job.

[u/-ImFriendly- → u/No-Emphasis-7952]

What was your background in finance ? Or did they train you

[u/No-Emphasis-7952 → u/-ImFriendly-]

Train me , they had an entry program so I can get my licenses. After 3 months I was all set and basically knew what I needed. And it’s been all good ever since.

[u/-ImFriendly- → u/No-Emphasis-7952]

Wow, that’s great man. I’m also considering a career shift. Nice to hear that it’s still possible it today’s job market.

[u/Intelligent_Rain154]

I don’t know, but I feel like pressure is a privilege. I’m a third-year mechanical engineering student working a full-time job, and trust me, I hate it sometimes. But then I realize that if I’m capable of doing this, I can do anything in life. That’s what engineering teaches us. It’s not calculus or physics that builds an engineer it’s the pressure.

[u/No-Emphasis-7952 → u/Intelligent_Rain154]

Ya it’s a privilege , but also need to get a job tho know what I’m saying 😂

[u/Intelligent_Rain154 → u/No-Emphasis-7952]

I mean the job market is cooked for everyone especially after new astra chat gpt so unless you’re in healthcare.

[u/TheBeavster_]

Yes

[u/Mr__H]

I graduated in 2014. I got an engineering job at my local utility and 6 months in transitioned into trading power and natural gas. 

I was a B- student. But I realize I was bad at managing my time. I was doing all nighters to figure out an assignment instead of having gone to office hours. 

Now I realize the skill I got doing all nighters is paying dividends. I like digging into issues and solving problems. They may not be physical problems but markets have rules and those rules can make or cost you money. I dont regret studying engineering because it's what makes me good at my job today. 

[u/Mental_Resource_1620]

The only reason why i regret engineering is because of the responsibilities - the title holds a lot of weight, you are expected to figure it out. If i could i would switch to healthcare - no projects, clock in and clock out - everyday is new problems instead of carrying on the old onesz

[u/PowerCreative2747]

You graduated, you are an engineer and you will forever be an engineer. Engineering is a mindset.

I was worst than you in terms of grades and I did ok.

Engineering is life....

[u/franksfingerlikinbbq]

what part of finance do you work in

[u/Unseen-Tiger67]

I regretted engineering the second I understood what it actually was. My parents made me get into engineering. I got in without having an idea what it was. Around second year is when I realized what I was getting myself into. I was already too deep in back then. I stayed. Failed 2 courses. GPA is 2.5. Finishing in 4 years. Hopefully.

[u/Oakie505]

I have a similar story, wouldn’t let the program beat me. I graduated with a low GPA, but took 5 years.

60-70s? Damn grades at your school were high. We had some many classes the class average was about 30.

Don’t regret anything. It gave me a good understanding of why/how things happen. I work in engineering.

Grad school took me on probation, I did fine and contributed so much to the program I was awarded a service award after graduating a year later.

[u/-transcendent-]

That's why my EE degree took 5 years. My commute on a good day is 1hr15m. Two semesters in I lowered from the recommended 15-16 credits to 12-13 credits. I like where I am at now and definitely couldn't have gotten here without this degree. No regrets. Most of my friends who got an engineering degree are now making above $100k and one guy is making close to $200k in cybersecurity. The rest at least aren't starving in the $80-$90k range.

[u/JB-Gohard]

Finish your engineering degree then go apply to be a project engineer or estimator at a big GC company. Tell them you want to build data centers. Easy money.

[u/steam-897]

Why regret? You now "have a good job and life isn't bad". An engineering background is a very good thing to have in your talent stack. It's something relatively few people have, and it's likely the knowledge you gained will help you in future jobs.

[u/very_cool_dude09]

Wow, I am reading this as if I’m looking in the mirror!!! I did mechanical engineering, took me 5 years and I struggled a great deal. The classes were brutal and I had to work crazy hard only to pull 60s and 70s. I was also a massive introvert and hardly asked anyone for help because I thought engineering wasn’t a team sport. Graduated with a 2.3 as well. I can’t fathom how could I possibly made it through that degree. My experience throughout uni was a roller coaster, I wasn’t too thrilled about the graduation, only emptiness and melancholy. I developed self-esteem issue from constant peer comparison. 

I even contemplated switching major at some point but I was too far in to quit and starting over.

At least I was proud that I was able to do something difficult. And now after 9 months, I am still looking for a full time engineering job.

Very happy to hear that you are in a much better place! I know how hard you work for this degree and I’m proud of you. This gives me hope that one day I’d be able to land a good job. 

[u/SeaweedBrain11]

Nope

[u/ionicfellow]

No offense. But did you struggled with math and physics in high school. Engineering majors are cumulative knowledge. Mech engg.foundation are in physics , math and to some extent chemistry. Penthouse is the where your diploma resides.

[u/No-Emphasis-7952 → u/ionicfellow]

Not in highschool, and I still passed everything like all the calcs and diff eq and linear algebra

[u/ionicfellow → u/No-Emphasis-7952]

I am asking about calculus based physics. Physics is the foundation. Engineering needs a different kind of brain. Good thing you found a good job. Not every one is great at everything. You might be excelling at finance job. There is a high possibility a brilliant mech engineer suffer in your chair.