WARNING: RANT

For those of us who are engineering majors, do you guys feel your profession is respected the way it should be? I am entering my senior year in mechanical engineering, and I have worked damn hard to get this far. A year from now I will be a Mechanical Engineer. However, I feel that the word "engineer" has almost lost meaning. It seems like every one is a "Something Engineer" these days.

There is not a week that goes by that I don't hear about an IT major taking a job as a "Production Design Engineer", "Agricultural Engineer" or a "Manufacturing Engineer". These stories are always followed by the same claim that these tech majors will be making "just as much as an engineer".

I want to hear some opinions on this. Perhaps this is not the case in other parts of the world, but it seems like the label "engineer" is thrown around with no regard to actual engineers.

Do a PHD lol. Then you can call yourself a doctor and piss off the medical proffession!

Here's something to think about. Do you actually think that other people care about how much engineering went into a project besides other engineers? I would say they just want something to do what it does and look good while doing it. I believe that applies across all disciplines. So I would say that no profession is respected the way you think your own profession should be.
Also, it sounds like you are making engineers out to be better than regular people who are undeserving of such a dignified title.

Looking at the quality of work from some of the graduating ME's this year on their senior design projects etc, there's some people I feel are very bright and will do very well, and there are others who scare me. There are those who busted their ass getting there and will have good jobs, and there are those who just kinda got by.

Manufacturing engineering is challenging stuff, I might add. Ridiculously low percentage of graduating engineers who really have a solid understanding of how stuff is manufactured and the problems incurred. I have much more respect for a machinist or toolmaker of some odd years of experience who is taking a Mfg. Eng. position, than I do some rookie mechanical design engineer just out of an ivy league school.

I think it's too puffed up anyways.

It could use a good deflation.

people are always going to give themselves names that make them sound more important than they are, one guy in the team last year was called "component intergration manager", i just called him bracket bitch! (he was good tho)

I guess it comes down to what people do not what they are called.

miko

And I realy hope (although doubt) that the irony of the (paraphrased):

"People aren't bowing down to me? They really oughta learn some humility!"

Makes its way through.

The term definately gets thrown around too much. Such as "This website 'engineered' by ..." or studying mechanical engeering "technology" at a local vocational school. So yes, I think engineers don't get near as much respect as they deserve for as much as they progress society, as opposed to just winning lawsuits.

I don't know about other people, but whenever I hear "mechanical engineer" I think "everyone's doing it" and mechanic. So no, I don't give them as much presitge as is due (even though I am one). I used to be an Engineering Physicist, sounds nice, but I learned that it's pretty much a bull shit major. They claim to give an adequate background in Mechanical and Electical Engineering and Physics. All somehow in less credits than a Mechanical Engineering degree.

quote:

Originaly posted by Greg H: Also, it sounds like you are making engineers out to be better than regular people who are undeserving of such a dignified title.

That's because we are and they don't. I AIN'T GOIN TO SCHOOL FO NOTHIN BIOTCH! lol

quote:

Originally posted by ScottW:
So yes, I think engineers don't get near as much respect as they deserve for as much as they progress society, as opposed to just winning lawsuits.

Save a baboon, use a lawyers heart.

That was a good bumper sticker I saw.

And let people call themselves what they want, it is the work/results that shine through. I know a guy named Jim-Bob who is a waste managment engineer and drives around the back of a big green dump truck...

quote:

I know a guy named Jim-Bob who is a waste managment engineer and drives around the back of a big green dump truck...

And none of us want to be THAT engineer. I think you have a valid complaint. Call home and your mom will send some cookies.

Really, I hope all of you don't feel like the fat kid (always picked on). Just take a second and think of all the jobs that people get very little respect/pay for that you wouldn't do. I am sure that most of didn't go to college with the thought, "When I get out, everyone's gonna kiss my ass!" I am sure that you went to get an education in a career that you enjoy and pays what you can live with (not live on). If you want respect, do something extraordinary: save a whale, starve yourself in he name of humanity, feed the starving children of the world, etc.

If you ever noticed the news, they don't announce the engineers who designed the plane that is dropping food into starving nations, they announce the eople, the groups, etc. that are sending the relief. Maybe you are in the wrong business if you feel otherwise.
Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Jersey Tom:
Looking at the quality of work from some of the graduating ME's this year on their senior design projects etc, there's some people I feel are very bright and will do very well, and there are others who scare me. There are those who busted their ass getting there and will have good jobs, and there are those who just kinda got by.

Manufacturing engineering is challenging stuff, I might add. Ridiculously low percentage of graduating engineers who really have a solid understanding of how stuff is manufactured and the problems incurred. I have much more respect for a machinist or toolmaker of some odd years of experience who is taking a Mfg. Eng. position, than I do some rookie mechanical design engineer just out of an ivy league school.

Having looked at (and taken) a job in manufacturing, I agree, its by no means as easy as some of the other people I'm going to be working with think it will be. But doing FSAE, the cost report, hanging around competition, etc., has taught me a lot, as has a manufacturing class I took with a guy who was a walking encyclopedia of manufacturing processes. Regardless, I decided to go into manufacturing because there was so much to learn, and I enjoy it.
one of the jobs i looked at sounds right up your alley, jersey tom. it was a manufacturing position where the day to day work was QA/troubleshooting: you get a team of a dozen seasoned unioners and when a machine breaks, you fix it. fast.

with respect to the respect engineers get, all i'm going to say is this: try going to a bar, meeting a pretty girl, then when she asks what you do, tell her you're an engineer. and see what she does.
that's why i'm only going to say the name of the company i work for. i don't want to be known as an engineer.

quote:

with respect to the respect engineers get, all i'm going to say is this: try going to a bar, meeting a pretty girl, then when she asks what you do, tell her you're an engineer. and see what she does.

Well thats sliiiightly different. That's why I tell them I play guitar and build/drive racecars. If I'm still coherent at that point. Usually not the case.

I love the manufacturing engineering aspect of stuff though. Working between the design engineers and the toolmakers, machinists, welders, et cetera. Get to play around in both worlds. Lot of fun.

You guys are all in school to learn how to drive trains, right?

quote:

Originally posted by CMURacing - Prometheus:

with respect to the respect engineers get, all i'm going to say is this: try going to a bar, meeting a pretty girl, then when she asks what you do, tell her you're an engineer. and see what she does.
that's why i'm only going to say the name of the company i work for. i don't want to be known as an engineer.

i go home to my prom queen and shes damn happy im an engineer.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RiNaZ,

quote:

i go home to my prom queen and shes damn happy im an engineer.

We all think you're the man.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RiNaZ,

If you want to make GOOD money get out of engineering as soon as you can and get into business...construction, real estate, entrepenuer self made business, whatever.

Engineering is a good background, but very tough to make a really good living (250K+) after being in the industry for a while.

But thats just my opinion (and most of the multi millionaires I know).

Working for someone else SUCKS.

quote:

"People aren't bowing down to me? They really oughta learn some humility!"

Heh, exactly what I was thinking. People should be lucky they have things like this to concern themselves with, instead of real problems.

i cant believe my last post was edited...regardless, engineering offers an awesome education, and combined with a business degree and a few years in industry, you have a lethal combo good for 6 figures.

Hahahahahah MY VIRGIN EYES