do i have what it takes to be an engineer

Practice I have what it takes to be an engineer? Have yous ever wondered this? I'chiliad pretty sure anybody who starts thinking they desire to be an engineer, is and then chop-chop bombarded with this intrusive, self doubting question.

ADD_THIS_TEXT

This is a totally normal question. I desire to reassure you that the simply person that can answer that question is yous. No teacher, guidance counselor, online quiz, or career aptitude test can tell yous that you accept what it takes to be an engineer.

Taking the start step and making the decision to purse a major in applied science, even though you may exist intimidated, is the nigh bones skill you need in engineering science, perseverance . Being confident in yourself to face up fear, trouble solve, and keep trying to find solutions, fifty-fifty when you practice not have all of the answers, is a key quality of an engineer.

Mike Newlin described this perfectly when he said, "Genius is perseverance in disguise."

Adjectives anybody ever jumps to when describing an engineer is smart or genius. But the truth is, it is a person'south perseverance that makes them a adept engineer.

You could be the smartest person, but if you do not have the will to continue overcoming technical challenges, you lot volition fail at technology. On the other paw, you do non take to get perfect scores on your SATs, just if you have the drive and will to figure out a problem, you volition brand a neat engineer.

My Struggle With This Question

Practise I take what information technology takes to be an engineer is a question that has plagued me more I like to recall. But there is 1 instance that stands out in particular, where I truly doubted I could be an engineer.

It was my junior year of higher and I was taking Kinematics. The second calendar week of the semester had started and I was already struggling in the course. I was attending the professor'due south function hours for help on the homework.

During the session, I asked a question, which he condescendingly answered with this question, "Well have you ever taken apart a machine engine?" As if this was a right of passage to becoming an engineer. I sheepishly answered, "No."

And then, he went on to brand his point about taking apart a car engine and how that somehow related back to the original question I had asked. Withal, I do not know what the answer was or really annihilation he said subsequently asking that question. I was likewise stuck on how am I going to exist an engineer if I am not taking car engines apart in my spare time?

Mechanical aptitude, or having an interest in mechanism was always ane of my weaknesses and something I had piffling to no interest in. This was something I was cocky conscious about considering if I did not naturally want to take engines apart in my spare fourth dimension or go excited about machinery, could I brand it as an engineer?

The Turning Point

Well, not long after I dropped the class. Information technology was causing me a lot of stress and it was not a required class for my degree. I had chosen to take it every bit an constituent. After some cocky reflection, I idea about how well I was doing in other courses and how mechanical aptitude was simply one aspect of technology.

So instead of struggling in a course that I had no interest in, I decided to accept a course that I had a lot of involvement in and ameliorate align with my strength. The grade that replaced Kinematics was Biomaterials.

Biomaterials is a course that assesses material properties institute in the human body, such every bit os and tissue. Information technology also included how implants are selected and how the body responds to a strange fabric beingness implanted.

For example, titanium is normally used as an implant for bone if you take a fracture because the elastic modulus is shut to bone. This is important because you exercise not want the implant taking all of the stress away from the os, because then this would cause the bone to atrophy. Nosotros need stresses on our basic then they go on to get strong and good for you.

Stainless steel on the other manus has a much, much college modulus than bone, so it would accept all of the stress away from the bone, resulting in cloudburst. This was fascinating to me and I got an A in the class.

Concentrate On Your Strengths And Interests

Instead of deciding I shouldn't be an engineer because I had never taken apart an engine or because Kinematics was really confusing to me, I decided to persevere and concentrate on my strengths and interests.

This focus on biomaterials stayed with me when applying for internships and my full fourth dimension chore. I knew that was where my strengths and passions aligned. Therefore, I only applied to jobs in the medical device field. I was able to land an internship in the medical device field, which then led to my total time job.

Then what does all of this hateful? The reason I am sharing this story with you is considering you may be going through some self incertitude like I did.

Engineering is difficult! But, at that place are so many different engineering science disciplines to choose from every bit a major and then at that place are even more than jobs you can have as an engineer once you graduate.

It is totally normal to feel uncertainty and defoliation at some signal. That is why yous should focus on the courses that align with your interests and strengths, instead of struggling through courses you have no interest in.

I would similar to reassure yous that if you truly want to be an engineer and you work at it, you will be great at it. The secret is you lot demand to place your unique skill set, harness information technology, and use information technology to assistance you become the best engineer that you can be.

Teams Are Fabricated Up Of Diverse Skill Sets

The truth is, no ane actually wants all engineers to be the best in mechanical aptitude and just okay in all the other skills. If that was the case, who would lead teams?

Who would exercise the creative brainstorming?

Who would accept attention to detail to brand sure goose egg is missed?

Who would give the presentations for the project?

Projects are made up of teams and the best teams are the ones with individuals who have all different skills sets. Therefore, do not get stuck on the skill that yous think engineers must have to succeed. Instead, focus on your strengths and work to be the all-time at those. Aye, you should always expect to improve and attempt to get improve in areas you are defective in. However, just every bit important is recognizing your strengths and how to utilise those to the all-time of your ability.

Skills Required For Engineering

To illustrate how many different skills are required in technology, I take created a list of technical and soft skills. When people think of technology skills, your mind automatically goes to the technical skills. However, soft skills  are very of import likewise. The soft skills often differentiate an okay engineer from a great engineer. Soft skills are also referred to as interpersonal skills.

Beneath is a breakdown of technical skills and soft skills to bear witness yous all the unlike traits that make a good engineer. Technical skills are dependent on the chore. The list below are examples of technical skills for a job yous could get with a mechanical engineering degree. Soft skills are universal, and then they would be applicable to any blazon of engineering y'all go into.

Technical Skills And Soft Skills

Technical Skills:

• Use of lab equipment
• Statistics
• Data analysis
• Analytical or CAD software (Minitab, SolidWorks, MATLAB, Excel)
• Office, Process, and Product blueprint
• Root cause analysis
• Examination method development
• Technical writing
• Ability to read and create technical drawings
• Ability to create specifications, BOMs (beak of materials), and drawings
• Belittling skills
• Mechanical Aptitude
• Job specific:
  
  • Understanding of specific processes (i.e. extrusion, metal working, injection molding)
  • Understanding of how specific products work (anything from medical device to cars)
  • Certain types of analysis (i.e. structural, dynamic, fluid)

Soft Skills:

• Leadership
• Fourth dimension management
• Ability to prioritize tasks and multitask
• Oral and written advice
• Attention to detail
• Organisation
• Resourcefulness
• Decision making
• Negotiating
• Influence
• Problem solving
• Understanding the processes of the company to go things done
• Presentation skills
• Perseverance
• Attitude (enthusiasm, commitment, and motivation)
• Ability to piece of work independently and with a team
• Ability to give and receive feedback
• Power to justify and defend your logic

Want to print the skill set listing above? Get your printable version of the listing here!

Mechanical Aptitude Is Just Ane Of Many Skills That Brand Upwards An Engineer

All engineers are not going to be cracking in every skill, therefore, what I lacked in mechanical bent I made upward for in other skills .

Even though you may be doubting if you have what it takes to be an engineer, understand that being able to push yourself to overcome that challenge is your beginning step to becoming an engineer. Perseverance is one of the most of import qualities of an engineer because in practice, you are constantly problem solving and overcoming technical challenges.

Most of the time you lot will not have all of the answers or know what path to accept. That is why you need perseverance to go along going even when just starting is intimidating or later multiple attempts you nonetheless do not have a solution.

Recognizing your strengths and understanding how they align with your goal of becoming an engineer is also crucial. This volition assist you identify a major and cull your classes. Being enlightened of these strengths will and then help you lot in getting a job as well.

Teams demand individuals with diverse skill sets to be successful. So focus on your strengths when yous are doubting yourself to assist y'all through the challenging times. This will show that you practise have what it takes to be an engineer!

What practice you recollect your strengths are? Do they align with your interests? Did they help y'all choose your major or career? Allow me know past leaving a comment below!

newburyafterand81.blogspot.com

Source: https://engineeringexpectations.com/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-be-an-engineer/

Share this post