So You Want To Be An Engineer

So, you’re thinking about a long-term career as an engineer.  You might be asking, “How do I become an engineer?”  Perhaps you are just getting out of high school or think your current career path is not leading you where you want to go.  Engineering seems attractive, and you’re thinking about giving it a try, but you’re not sure the best way to go about it.

Getting into engineering is not the easiest career path, but it can be quite rewarding.  In addition to a good pay scale, engineers also have the opportunity to be creative and inventive.

Evaluating Your Fit for an Engineering Career

The first thing to consider is what it takes to be an engineer.  Is engineering a fit for you?  Ask yourself some critical questions.  Do you have the essential talent needed?  For example, how are you with math?  I admit that I am not great at math, but I understand the concepts well and can negotiate my way around moderately tricky equations.  If math is a non-starter, you may need to consider another line of work.

Perhaps more importantly, do you want to be an engineer?  I’ve met folks who decided to go to college and get a degree in engineering, only to find out they hated being an engineer.  Check in with yourself, and be sure this is something you want before you dive in with both feet.

Pursuing Academic Avenues

College aside, there are many ways to get educated, which is beyond this article’s scope.  But there is one thing I would like to suggest, and perhaps this is the most important point I will make:  Find engineers working in the specific field in which you are most interested.  Enlist their help, and learn from them.  Get practical experience as a technician if you can.  For example, in college, I helped support myself by fixing electronics for others and gaining valuable experience.

The Power of Mentoring

As I progressed in my career, I was helped along by the valuable mentoring of others.  I learned about antenna design from a top aerospace antenna designer.  I learned about PLLs, or phase locked loops (a new technology at the time) from one of the leading design engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena.  I met both of these guys via Ham Radio, a hobby I would recommend for anyone getting into engineering since many expert technical folks enjoy applying their expertise to their leisure time.

Lifelong Learning

Ultimately, an engineer never stops learning.  Make every challenge an opportunity to learn, and you’ll be a great engineer.  You can start by signing up for our email newsletter to receive helpful learning tips, articles, and more to build your knowledge!