Daily Work of a Mechanical Engineer

[KevinMcGovern]

Not sure if this is the place for this thread and after looking through 5 pages of a search, I didn't find a similar topic, but please tell me if I'm wrong.

As you can tell I'm new, so hello, I'll probably be on here more in a few months as I'll be starting grade 11 and may need help.

Anyway, on to the topic hand. For the past few months, the idea of aiming to become a Mechanical Engineer has become very appealing. I'm very analytical and have always been interested in the way things works and building things. My marks are only in the low-80s at the moment, but I'm hoping if I kick it into overdrive I'll be able to pull off good marks. If not, hopefully I won't fall too far away from my goal. But as I read more and more about this career path, I get more and more worried about the work involved. From what I understand, the process to becoming and the schooling of an Engineer is very, very difficult. I'm wondering, is this the same as the daily work of a Mechanical Engineer? Do all of the aspects of University that make Engineering a difficult subject transfer over to make your average day on the job just as difficult? Is it very stressful or are you generally not bugged by managers? Is there a lot of late-night and weekend work or are your hours pretty solid?

I'd just like to know these things because in the future I'd prefer to enjoy my life rather than have a heart attack from the stress of my daily life. I'll leave my wall of text at that for now, I look forward to posting more in the future. I may not know very much now, but there seems to be a large amount of very intelligent people on this forum.

-Kevin

 

[Astronuc]

Don't think of it as difficult, but rather think of it as 'challenging'.

As a colleague mentioned, if it was easy - we wouldn't get paid the big bucks.


Somebody has to take on the challenges. One has to find answers to problems (which are not in the back of the book) and produce results.

The goal of education is to become proficient such that one's work is interesting and challenging, but it's also rewarding.

 

[charng]

As a scientist and fellow mechanical engineer, I can understand your concerns about the daily work involved in this career path. Let me assure you that while the process of becoming an engineer may be challenging, the daily work of a mechanical engineer is both rewarding and manageable.

First of all, the skills and knowledge you gain in university will prepare you for the daily tasks and challenges of being a mechanical engineer. While the coursework may be difficult, it is designed to teach you the necessary skills to excel in this field. And once you are in the workforce, you will continue to learn and improve upon these skills.

In terms of stress and workload, it really depends on the specific job and company you work for. Some jobs may be more demanding than others, but as a mechanical engineer, you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of industries and roles. This can allow you to find a job that fits your personal preferences and work-life balance.

Additionally, as a mechanical engineer, you will often work in a team and have support from colleagues and managers. This can help alleviate some of the stress and workload, as you will have others to share the responsibilities with.

In terms of hours, it also varies from job to job. While there may be times where you need to work late or on weekends to meet deadlines, it is not the norm for most mechanical engineering jobs. Overall, the hours are usually manageable and allow for a good work-life balance.

I can assure you, as someone who has been in this field for many years, that the daily work of a mechanical engineer is both challenging and fulfilling. It is a career where you can constantly learn and grow, and make a real impact on society through the design and creation of new technologies and products. So, if you have a passion for analytical thinking and building things, I would encourage you to pursue your goal of becoming a mechanical engineer. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.