thinking about doing engineering! :confused:

mcgarry098

Hi,,

I doing the leaving cert this year and am considering doing mechanical engineering next year in galway,,. I'm just wondering is there jobs in it for the majority of graduates, and are they well paid! Are the places you can realistically work in fairly limited!

Ive read up all the prospectus's but they are are so unbelievably biased, and say that jobs are a guarantee bla bla bla,,, so just want to see some real opinions!

Is the course extremely hard , and is it enjoyable. Also what college would ye think is the best.

One other thing im wondering is when your applying for an engineering job do employers pick people that qualified from the likes of trinity or galway or does it matter (is there any snobbery!).

any thing else you think I should know,,


Thanks a lot,
Sean

Turbulent Bill

mcgarry098 wrote: »

Hi,,

I doing the leaving cert this year and am considering doing mechanical engineering next year in galway,,. I'm just wondering is there jobs in it for the majority of graduates, and are they well paid! Are the places you can realistically work in fairly limited!

Ive read up all the prospectus's but they are are so unbelievably biased, and say that jobs are a guarantee bla bla bla,,, so just want to see some real opinions!

Is the course extremely hard , and is it enjoyable. Also what college would ye think is the best.

One other thing im wondering is when your applying for an engineering job do employers pick people that qualified from the likes of trinity or galway or does it matter (is there any snobbery!).

any thing else you think I should know,,


Thanks a lot,
Sean

The economy's on the floor at the moment, and engineering certainly hasn't escaped. It's very difficult for current graduates to get work here, however you won't be graduating for 4+ years and anything can happen in the meantime. Mech is very broad so you won't be restricted to particular areas.

I'd research the courses carefully, and go for something you actually like rather than a course that (falsely) guarantees jobs. People don't do engineering for the money, though you can earn well.

I've never come across college snobbery while working, and employers don't have a strong preference.

Aln_S

Hi,

Thought I'd throw in my 2c. I have been in mechanical Engineering for 6 years now, graduated from DIT Bolton St.

As with any course, a job could not be guaranteed, however the better you do the better your chances. With regard to the number of jobs available there are not a whole lot at the moment (in Ireland anyhow) but a good few companies are still recruiting.

Mech engineering or Engineering in general probably is a bit harder than the majority of courses as the hours tend to be quite long and the subjects fairly maths heavy. That said I found them interesting, I couldn’t have studied something like arts.

With regard to what college, It doesn’t make a whole lot of difference but I would I would recommend you aim for a Level 8 Honours degree from a course that is accreted by the IEI.

I know where I worked before (started there as a grad) Engineers came from everywhere, UL, DIT, UCD, UCC, UCG, Trinity. Some had gone straight to degree, others done the cert/ diploma route and had started in various places like Athlone, Waterford, Sligo etc. So I cant really say that there is snobbery.

Other than that Mech Eng is a great field to work in, and a degree in Engineering is well respected. If you finish your degree in 4 years and decide that you don’t want to go into Engineering there are plenty of other options.

Hope that all makes sense and I haven’t bored you to death, if you have any other questions shout.

godtabh

if you look at the meidcal devices/pharma sector they are always on the look out for process/mech engineers. Who knows in 4 years time but now is good.

Galway has some major employers of mech eng. Boston, Medtroinic etc

mcgarry098

thanks lads,

Went to the galway open day today and have to say it is some set up. The engineering building is top class and brand new. The course looks really interesting and I do think it would be something I love! Every person who was speaking about the engineering course said everyone in their year got a well paid job straight away with no hassle, but dunno if they were just saying that to make it sound better?? One civil engineer did say that he didnt get a job so he went travelling for a few years then came back and was being paid by a company to do a phd! The biomedical engineering looks really interesting and there does seem to be a lot of jobs going in that area. Im going to do the undenominated engineering in first year anyway just so i make the right choice.

Keep yer opinions coming,
cheers

djpbarry

mcgarry098 wrote: »

Every person who was speaking about the engineering course said everyone in their year got a well paid job straight away with no hassle, but dunno if they were just saying that to make it sound better??

Of course they were! While engineering degrees are certainly held in high regard in pretty much any industry, you’re not going to just stroll into a “well-paid” job after you graduate and I really wish figures of authority would stop filling young people’s heads with such nonsense. Regardless of the economic climate, getting a job with no real-world experience is tough. Getting a well-paid job is even tougher. I graduated in 2004 with a degree in electronic engineering from UCD, but I ended up temping on minimum wage for a few months as I couldn’t get a job related to my degree. I then worked in finance for about a year, which wasn’t something I wanted to do, but I eventually managed to get into an area I was interested in. But that took perseverance. I’m now very happy with what I’m doing, but I wouldn’t say I’m particularly well-paid relative to other professions.

I don’t want to sound off-putting, I’m just trying to give you more realistic expectations – an engineering degree (or any other degree for that matter) doesn’t automatically land you on easy street.

backboiler

Previous relevant experience is a big advantage in looking for any job.
Some colleges have a formal work experience programme as part of the course, usually in 3rd year, where you go and work in an industry setting for 6 to 9 months. At the time I was going through I think only DCU, UCC and UL did it but this may have changed.
Even if the college doesn't have the option, you'd be as well knocking on doors to try to get summer work in a relevant company.

You won't be designing the next great thing but if you're fortunate you may get to work with some people who are and gain that intangible sense of how things are done in the real world.

mawk

I spent four years doing mech in cit, then I went working for a few years before returning this sept for more study'n.



if you can handle the maths, its a good course.

godtabh

mawk wrote: »

if you can handle the maths, its a good course.

Different strands have different types of engineering and you arent thrown in at the deep end. They do build up to it

mcgarry098

well mawk only for i seen godt's comment i nearly sh1t myself lol! Ive an interest in comming up with ideas and being able to see them from start to finish so i do think engineering is the one for me, and its not all maths, is it!!!

dahamster

mcgarry098 wrote: »

its not all maths, is it!!!

No. Not all, most of it is though.

mcgarry098

Ivan Offlcockitch

hey, i think its worth mentioning that most engineering courses are now really 5 year courses due to engineers ireland requiring you to do a masters to become a chartered engineer.That can be thought of as one more year for the economy to improve.:D
Just keep it in mind

godtabh

Ivan Offlcockitch wrote: »

hey, i think its worth mentioning that most engineering courses are now really 5 year courses due to engineers ireland requiring you to do a masters to become a chartered engineer.That can be thought of as one more year for the economy to improve.:D
Just keep it in mind

That isn't an Engineers Ireland requiement. It's a European requirement under the Balonga agreement

Ivan Offlcockitch

godtabh wrote: »

That isn't an Engineers Ireland requiement. It's a European requirement under the Balonga agreement

tomayto tomahto... point is you have to do an extra year


(and if you're gonna get technical at least get the name right...the BOLOGNA process.just sayin like)

rcdk1

Had a look on the IEI website for membership requirements but there's no mention of a Master's Degree requirement to become Chartered. Could someone clarify?
(The above document does seem a bit dated)

mawk

mcgarry098 wrote: »

well mawk only for i seen godt's comment i nearly sh1t myself lol! Ive an interest in comming up with ideas and being able to see them from start to finish so i do think engineering is the one for me, and its not all maths, is it!!!

Im trying to talk you out of doing engineering but really, there is a lot if maths. We had a 70% failure rate in first year, all down to maths and thermofluids (more maths)

They do if course, teach you these maths though. Its not like you need them coming in. but its seriously a lot more pencil than it its spanner.

If you're willing to keep up with the work, its a great field. Even better once you get out in the real world and actually get problems to fix. And its crazy broad so there is an engineering role to suit almost everyone, be it design, manufacture, r&d, maintenance, quality.. Etc.
You should get the chance to find your strengths

random.stranger

mawk wrote: »

Im trying to talk you out of doing engineering but really, there is a lot if maths. We had a 70% failure rate in first year, all down to maths and thermofluids (more maths)

They do if course, teach you these maths though. Its not like you need them coming in. but its seriously a lot more pencil than it its spanner.

If you're willing to keep up with the work, its a great field. Even better once you get out in the real world and actually get problems to fix. And its crazy broad so there is an engineering role to suit almost everyone, be it design, manufacture, r&d, maintenance, quality.. Etc.
You should get the chance to find your strengths

70% sounds like a very high failure rate, I take it most peopel pass the repeats?

godtabh

Ivan Offlcockitch wrote: »

tomayto tomahto... point is you have to do an extra year


(and if you're gonna get technical at least get the name right...the BOLOGNA process.just sayin like)

I'm not going to point out the obvious. I will point out that the 5 year masters program brings Ireland I line with the rest of the EU. You also don't have to do 5 years same as you currently don't have to do a 4 year program but will limit your options.

mawk wrote: »

Im trying to talk you out of doing engineering but really, there is a lot if maths. We had a 70% failure rate in first year, all down to maths and thermofluids (more maths)

They do if course, teach you these maths though. Its not like you need them coming in. but its seriously a lot more pencil than it its spanner.

If you're willing to keep up with the work, its a great field. Even better once you get out in the real world and actually get problems to fix. And its crazy broad so there is an engineering role to suit almost everyone, be it design, manufacture, r&d, maintenance, quality.. Etc.
You should get the chance to find your strengths

engineering maths isn't difficult once you do your work. I did it witm minimum fuss. You get your c3 min in honours and you should be ok

bnt

rcdk1 wrote: »

Had a look on the IEI website for membership requirements but there's no mention of a Master's Degree requirement to become Chartered. Could someone clarify?
(The above document does seem a bit dated)

Have a look at the Accredited Courses page:

Engineers who graduate from 2013 and wish to become Chartered engineers will need to hold an accredited Master Degree (Level 9), or equivalent. Level 8 Bachelor degrees will, from 2013, satisfy the requirements for MIEI membership only.

None of the Bachelor's programmes on their Chartered Engineers list is certified past 2012. Only two ME programmes are currently certified past that i.e. there must be a review under way.

Ivan Offlcockitch

rcdk1 wrote: »

Had a look on the IEI website for membership requirements but there's no mention of a Master's Degree requirement to become Chartered. Could someone clarify?
(The above document does seem a bit dated)

This should be all the clarification you need:
http://www.engineersireland.ie/media/engineersireland/services/programmeaccreditation/Stepping%20Up%20to%20Level%209%20Brochure.pdf

its from 2013(graduating year) on so that is everyone who starts an engineering course from now on

crazy cabbage

In 1st undenominated engineering in galway at the minate and love it. work load is very heavy in comparson to all other courses. i currently have 35 hours a week not including tutorials or assisments or study time which would push it up past 40. If your doing arts or commers or law or something you would have aobut 15-20 hours. but on the bright side there is 200 odd people suffering with you

there is alot of maths already and am in week 4. got a C3 in hons maths in the leaving (which was the min) but if you just keep on top of it it isn't to bad (so far anyway)

that all i can really think to tell you. have no idea about job prospects. im just hoping for the best. if you have any other questions about the course or about galway feel free to pm me (could be a while getn back to you cause i dont come on this very often)

besta luck with the leaving
kev

cjpm

Stumbled upon this FB page by accident when I googled Precast Arches. There are some good videos about the work that different types of engineers do.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003034303625&sk=wall