Research Assessment #1
Date: 4 September 2017
Subject: Mechanical Engineering Career Outlook
MLA Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Mechanical Engineers, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm (visited September 04, 2017).
Assessment:
Through my likes and interests I have chosen to further my knowledge and study mechanical engineering this year in ISM. Even though I chose mechanical engineering as my topic I didn’t know much about the rigorous path you have to go down to fulfill your goal. After looking through the page about mechanical engineers on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, many of my questions have been answered about the everyday labor of the job, the salary, the path it takes to become one, and how the job will look in the coming years.
The most basic parts of mechanical engineering is covered in the job description. Mechanical engineers design, build, create, and test products. This is one aspect of mechanical engineers that caught my eye because I love to problem solve. I also have always wanted to build my own creations which is another aspect that pulled me towards mechanical engineering. Another aspect of the job the article talked about was the variety of products you could be working on which shows that you could be working on a new product everyday which brings variety to your job and also keeps it interesting.
I always knew that becoming an engineer would not be easy, but after reading the article my view has not changed. I knew that you will need to likely get a bachelor’s degree, but after reading the article saw that you will need a bachelor’s degree and for some people a master’s degree in 5 to 6 years of school. Even though it is extra years spent towards my career it will be worth it in the long run. This page also talks about important qualities including problem solving, math skills, and creativity which would be necessary in mechanical engineering. I believe that I hold these qualities and make my choice for choosing mechanical engineering easier because it seems like the right fit for me. I have always known that engineers make a lot of money even at the very start of your career. I am studying mechanical engineering because I feel it is the best fit for me not because I want to make the most money. The typical salary for a entry level engineer is roughly $54,000 and for engineers that are more experienced can get all the way up to roughly $131,000.
Looking at the outlook for mechanical engineering I have found a lot of much needed information that can help me further my study in ISM. The information learned through my research had helped me confirm what I already know and figure out what I wanted to know coming into this assignment. Even though I was presented a lot of information I still have some questions; How involved are the mechanical engineers in the design process? Do they present the ideas to a team and they finish out the project? Or do they keep up with every step in the process? Another question I had come to mind was Since the mechanical engineering field is only expanding 5% in 10 years, are jobs that are similar to mechanical engineers going to pop up?
As I continue in ISM and look for a mentor, I will look for a mentor that can increase my understanding of mechanical engineering and present me with opportunities that I can not get elsewhere. I know that it is a very complex and demanding job but I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that are soon to come.