Choosing your college major or even your first job out of college can be overwhelming, as many options are available. While exploring many different careers is essential, you might find that one specific field clicks with you more than others.

If you love math and science but also love the idea of working in the arts or a business, consider engineering as your primary career path. With an engineering degree, you could help design the next generation of cell phones or build skyscrapers that will stand the test of time.

No matter what field you end up in, engineering will equip you with the technical knowledge and problem-solving skills to make your mark on the world. With this increase in demand comes an increase in job opportunities available to individuals with an engineering degree.

Engineering provides professionals with competitive pay, varied career paths, and advancement potential throughout their careers. This article will explain why engineering might be the right career for you. Read on to learn more.

An overview of engineering

Broadly speaking, engineering is the application of science and math to solve problems – but there’s much more to it than that.

Engineering is a creative and dynamic field that offers opportunities to make a real difference. Many types of engineers have varied backgrounds, expertise and career paths.

Some engineering fields involve heavy physical labor, while others require an extensive understanding of mathematics. Engineers work in every type of industry, from aerospace to zoology.

They design products and buildings, solve environmental problems, create new medical treatments, and more. The possibilities are endless when you study engineering.

What does an engineer do?

Engineers are problem solvers who design and build things that improve our lives and the world. They use their science, math and technology knowledge to figure out how things work and find ways to make them work better.

For example, an engineer can develop a more efficient car engine or create a new process for making computer chips. Such expertise is in high demand, with engineers in industries such as energy and manufacturing among the fastest-growing occupations in America.

Specialties that engineers can pursue

Engineering students have plenty of options when choosing the direction of their career in the field. Many end up sticking with the same specialization they studied in school, while others branch out into different areas they find more exciting or lucrative.

If you’re an engineer or are considering pursuing one, you might wonder what specialties exist in this field and what they entail. Here are some unique specialties that engineers can pursue.

Software engineering

With the rise of technology, more and more businesses need software engineers. You would be responsible for developing and maintaining software applications as a software engineer.

Also, you must test and debug programs to ensure that they are working correctly. You need creativity to stay on top of the newest technologies in this field.

Environmental engineering

Environmental engineering may be your field to help make the world cleaner and more sustainable. Engineers in this field work on projects ranging from water treatment and air pollution control to waste management and recycling.

They use their chemistry, biology and ecology knowledge to find solutions that protect human health and the environment.

Chemical engineering

As a chemical engineer, you could work in the food and beverage industry, developing new ways to process and package foods. You could also work in the cosmetics industry, creating new formulations for makeup and skin care products.

Mechanical engineering

You could specialize in aeronautical or astronautical engineering, biomolecular engineering, design engineering, energy engineering or robotics as a mechanical engineer. Within each of these specialties, there are sub-specialties that you can pursue.

For example, in energy engineering, you could focus on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power or more traditional forms of energy such as oil and gas.

Electrical engineering

Electrical engineers design, develop, test and supervise electrical equipment such as generators, motors, and radar and navigation systems.

They work in various industries, including power generation, transportation, manufacturing, telecommunications and the federal government.

Engineers in this field may specialize in one or more of the following areas:

• Microelectronics
• Semiconductor devices
• Communications networks
• Signal processing/control systems
• Sensors
• Actuators

Reasons why engineering could be the right fit for you

Engineering is a challenging yet rewarding career choice that requires significant time and dedication to accomplish great things. However, if you’re unsure whether this line of work would be the right fit, here are some reasons why engineering might be the right career choice.

Job satisfaction

A recent salary and careers report found that 87% of engineers are satisfied with their jobs. The main reasons cited were exciting work, good pay and opportunities to use creativity.

In the report, engineers claimed that the profession keeps them intellectually challenged and engaged in their daily lives. They also believe that they can contribute directly to society by using what they learn at school and applying it daily.

For example, some engineers have the opportunity to design spaceships or create new materials such as more robust steel or better alloys. Engineers may also work as designers, builders and inspectors of products used in everyday life, such as cars, buildings, bridges and machines.

With these diverse engineering careers available today, job satisfaction opportunities exist for those who want an engineering career.

Variety of career opportunities

You will be well-versed in math and science concepts such as physics, calculus, chemistry, and more as an engineer. Your analytical skills will make it easy for you to solve complex problems that you can’t solve with straightforward methods.

Engineering offers a wide variety of career opportunities. For instance, you could work in civil engineering, designing and overseeing the construction of bridges, roads and other infrastructure. You could also work in mechanical engineering, developing and testing new products.

There are many different engineering jobs, so it is essential to research your options before deciding. You can find these courses online or at local colleges or universities.

For example, if you want to advance your career in management, you can enroll in a master of engineering management online program. That way, you have the chance to gain all the necessary knowledge that will give you an edge over those with just a bachelor’s degree.

Enhances creative thinking

As an engineer, you are constantly problem-solving and thinking outside the box to find creative solutions. This thinking enhances your ability to be creative in other areas of your life.

Creativity is a valuable skill that’s transferable from one area of your life to another. For example, creativity would allow you to think outside the box and design spaces creatively if you were an interior designer.

Creative thinking also builds your confidence because it will seem easier to tackle other problems in different contexts once you solve a complex issue. For instance, engineers can explore how various people might react or interact with their ideas. This action allows them to see their project’s angles before deciding on its implementation.

Technological and scientific discovery

Engineers have been responsible for some of the most significant technological and scientific discoveries throughout history. From the light bulb to the space shuttle, engineers have contributed to society in a big way.

Engineering could be the right career if you’re interested in making a difference and being at the forefront of discovery. You could also make an impact by developing innovations that help reduce poverty or address climate change.

With the ever-changing technological trends, there are always new challenges for engineers to tackle. Engineers will likely play a key role in solving these problems and developing innovative solutions.

Professional environment

When you’re an engineer, you’re part of a team of professionals working together to create something unique. People who are passionate about their work will surround you whether you’re designing a new bridge or figuring out how to make a car more fuel efficient.

Working in a professional environment will give you freedom and independence while providing guidance and support when needed. Furthermore, being on a team with like-minded people allows you to bounce ideas off one another and generate creative solutions.

This environment can be excellent for learning and collaborating. The collaborative atmosphere also fosters innovative thinking.

Financial security

There’s no denying that engineering is a lucrative field. Engineers tend to get paid well, especially if they have a few years of experience under their belt.

Negotiating your salary can also be easy as there are many open positions in the field. In addition, engineering salaries tend to go up with each year of experience, which means that you could see an even bigger paycheck over time.

For instance, the average base salary for an engineer stands at $97,493 per year. The more experienced and qualified engineers may earn upwards of six figures and beyond.

All these factors make it easier for engineers to save money and prepare for retirement.

Use your natural skills and talent

Natural skills and talent are needed to be successful in engineering as it is not all math and science. There are lots of opportunities to use your natural skills and talent in an engineering profession.

For instance, you can be creative, artistic or even athletic, and you’ll still enjoy your time as an engineer. If you enjoy solving problems and puzzles, such as playing chess, then you might enjoy being an engineer.

Engineers also work with people from all over the world, so it is crucial to have various skills such as communication to get along with others.

Intellectual development

As an engineer, you’ll be able to engage in intellectually stimulating work. You’ll get to solve complex problems and figure out innovative solutions.

There’s a lot of room for creativity, meaning that each day is different and never dull. It also provides opportunities to learn new skills daily.

For example, with computers being such a vital part of engineering, engineers constantly learn new computer programs or software to be more efficient at their jobs. The profession demands quick thinking and mental agility, so it trains your brain.

The various tasks you’ll undertake will keep you engaged throughout the day because they’re all varied. These results translate into greater job satisfaction over time, making everything challenging yet rewarding.

Step outside your comfort zone

Comfort zones are critical as they help us feel safe and secure in everyday life. However, comfort zones can also hold us back from reaching our full potential, especially in pursuing leadership positions.

By entering a new profession, you’ll be pushed out of your comfort zone and challenged to grow personally and professionally. For example, being an engineer could mean tackling significant issues such as global warming or other environmental challenges while getting paid well.

These challenges will keep you engaged and allow you to build skills that transcend just engineering. You have many talents that you might not have appreciated until now, but being in this industry can highlight them.

Improving our quality of life

Engineering is an excellent choice if you want a career that will make a difference in people’s lives. Every day, engineers find new ways to improve our quality of life.

They design safer cars, develop more efficient energy sources, and create life-saving medical devices. Engineers are also responsible for developing innovative solutions to environmental problems such as air pollution, water shortage and global warming.

With the world population expected to increase, it will be up to engineers to solve these problems.

Wrapping up

There are many reasons why engineering might be the right career choice for you. Engineers solve complex problems that allow us to live our lives more efficiently.

They design products that keep us safe, communicate information, and improve the quality of life for people worldwide. It’s a lot of hard work and takes time to get where you want to be.

Your engineering degree can open doors to many great opportunities and a fulfilling career. Engineering might be the perfect fit if you’re good at math and science and want to make a difference in the world.