Today I write about 6 misconceptions about engineering from an engineer’s perspective. All opinions are personal and out of my experience.
A few years back, being a banker was considered to be one of the best profession, a government job in general because of the various perks it offered. Then in line came professional courses like Engineering and MBBS. Every parent wanted their child to be a doctor or engineer. Recently I have seen many people doing what they feel is the right career choice for them and parents not being so obsessed with this idea.
I am an engineer by profession and a proud one. So here I am listing out 6 misconceptions about engineering.
- Engineering is easy!- When I was in class 12, I was told to work hard and get into a good engineering college and the struggle for high grades and the tension would end. I was also told engineering was very easy. Although I did not take it up for being easy but I would like to tell that person not to feed false hopes! Any course needs hard work and efforts to come up.
- Engineering is superior to other degrees: Every course has a value of its own and most of us end up being almost at the same job. So by any means, engineering is not superior, it has a beautiful charm and definitely teaches an individual a lot of things.
- Engineering = Job confirmed: Like any other thing in life, nothing comes confirmed in life. In needs a lot of preparation and patience to have job offers. Not everyone who studied engineering got it easily or may have one right now. It is a professional degree not the route to corporate.
- Engineers and the appliance fixing saga: Most of us love innovation but we can’t fix the mixer or the television and no matter what you think of us we are still engineers.
- Engineers are Gadget Gurus: Nope. Everything is born out of interest. Not all engineers love and know about gadgets. Many don’t have any social media profile and hardly know anything about the necessary specification.
- Engineering is entirely self-learning: In my early days of engineering, many people told me that nobody would teach in college. I was told that I must not expect them to because that is what “college” was meant to be. Why are there professors then? Any subject in engineering needs self- learning for better understanding but professors teach and you would have a great time if you had a professor who knows his subject his well and knows to teach well.
I know there are more such misconceptions but these are what I am fed up of hearing.We all assume so many things about various professions right? Is there any misconception you had about a career before which you no longer believe?
I plead guilty to No 4 and No 5. My bro-in-law is an Engineer and we rag him about not being able to ‘fix’ anything electric
This was such a nice and an informative read, Ramya.
Thanks for writing it.
Hear hear! ^_^ I’m only in my first year and my dad already expects me to know everything about computers, it being my branch of studies. Job assurance is also such a huge misconception, despite the statistics showing a big number of unemployed engineers. Nice read Ramya.:)
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Great Insights, Ramya. I connected myself with every point you shared since I am also an engineer.
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Perfectly compiled list Ramya and really a fun read! My daughter would totally empathize with all you said! I kept asking her all the time why are you studying so much, since I always heard former engnrs in the family brag that they never studied anything through their engineering days…that’s total bulls### I know now! And yes, I keep asking her to fix probs with my lappy and ohone 😉
Great one and I loved reading this. I always hated the engineers only for the reason is that when my peers got into engineering and I didnt it was as if I became a lesser mortal. It took lot of time to realise that finally what matters is whether you excel in what you do
I have this idea about engineering which is a tough nut to crack and being weak in Science, I don’t think that would sustain. Agree, all degrees have their own importance. I remember helping a friend in Pune writing his projects in a cafe for beer.
Really engineers are not tech savvy?
I am guilty of that misconception.Lovely reading this.
Sister to an engineer and friends with many more, this post is so spot on Ramya. Another one is all engineers know everything about computers, and the fact that they can talk their way out of anything because – Vivas.
PS: I almost became an engineer…almost
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Haha!
As an engineer, I have to agree with this post.
Way to break some ‘myths about engineers’
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This is what I look for in a good blog entry; a clear and well-written reflection on a topic that will have some interest for many people. Thank you.
Being an Engineer myself,could relate to all the points Ramya.Especially about that appliance fixing thing.Sigh!.I have been asked multiple times what kind of an electrical engineer are you if you cant fix this or that.
I love #3 for thats what I have heard so often and maybe somewhere, believe it too. I was persecuted by my parents to become a doctor – didnt happen – thank god!! 😉
Lovely writing Ramya- cheers
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Haha..This one made me laugh Ramya cos I am married to an engineer and I often ask him most of these things especially appliance fixing one. Good one.:)
I guess you missed a part Ramya, many people realize their true worth while engineering. Eg. Most people from IITs are now actors and directors 😉 But couldn’t agree more with your point !
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High five,Ramya! Being an Engineer I could relate to all the points! Also, I so agree with the 5th point that everyone thinks of us as a gadget guru, who can resolve all the gadget problems in a split of a second.That’s really annoying! And the way technology is advancing ,it’s not making things easy either.
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My favorite- engineering (even MBA these days) guarantees you multi-million dollar salaries.
I am both, that too with a Gold Medal in engg. and rank-holder in mgmt degree, but nowhere near the first million
i THINK THERE ARE MANY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BEING AN ENGINEER. ONE OF THEM IS WHAT YOU SAID…
BEING AN ENGINEER DOESN´T ENSURE PEOPLE A JOB.
I regularly go to Mexico from time to time. And the amount of unemployed engineers is amazing. And this happens all over the world
Great one and I loved reading this. I always hated the engineers only for the reason is that when my peers got into engineering and I didnt it was as if I became a lesser mortal. It took lot of time to realise that finally what matters is whether you excel in what you do