I graduated last year and right now work in refrigeration design. A lot of CAD right now.
Careers in mechanical engineering
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Originally Posted By: tpitcher
I'm a Mechanical Engineer and have been for 27 years. Been in Semiconductors, Surface Mount Components, Fluid Dispensing, Robotics, etc.
Get into the Medical field. It's always needed and you'll never look elsewhere.
Go heavy on learning Stats & Probabilities!! Minitab rocks, I use it every day.
Get your Black Belt in Six Sigma!
Good luck!
How does one enter the medical field with a ME degree? Any advice on how to get in?
I'm a Mechanical Engineer and have been for 27 years. Been in Semiconductors, Surface Mount Components, Fluid Dispensing, Robotics, etc.
Get into the Medical field. It's always needed and you'll never look elsewhere.
Go heavy on learning Stats & Probabilities!! Minitab rocks, I use it every day.
Get your Black Belt in Six Sigma!
Good luck!
How does one enter the medical field with a ME degree? Any advice on how to get in?
Originally Posted By: Liquid_Turbo
Originally Posted By: tpitcher
I'm a Mechanical Engineer and have been for 27 years. Been in Semiconductors, Surface Mount Components, Fluid Dispensing, Robotics, etc.
Get into the Medical field. It's always needed and you'll never look elsewhere.
Go heavy on learning Stats & Probabilities!! Minitab rocks, I use it every day.
Get your Black Belt in Six Sigma!
Good luck!
How does one enter the medical field with a ME degree? Any advice on how to get in?
You get in pretty much as anyone else - who you know, sending out resumes, networking, etc.
Do you have MedicalDevice companies around where you live?
Originally Posted By: tpitcher
I'm a Mechanical Engineer and have been for 27 years. Been in Semiconductors, Surface Mount Components, Fluid Dispensing, Robotics, etc.
Get into the Medical field. It's always needed and you'll never look elsewhere.
Go heavy on learning Stats & Probabilities!! Minitab rocks, I use it every day.
Get your Black Belt in Six Sigma!
Good luck!
How does one enter the medical field with a ME degree? Any advice on how to get in?
You get in pretty much as anyone else - who you know, sending out resumes, networking, etc.
Do you have MedicalDevice companies around where you live?
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Commenting from the cheap seats of purely observational experience, I think that while the medical sector will provide a stable working future, I think that the BIG MONEY in terms of development and advancement have peaked and will be flat at best from here on out. If physicians are any indication... they're still getting their income levels, but are working harder to do so.
I think energy management will be the higher curve sector over the next 20 years.
I think energy management will be the higher curve sector over the next 20 years.
Thanks for all the replies. These have led to plenty of new questions, so I hope you'll humor me.
Originally Posted By: scurvy
I am a mechanical engineer and I work with & for other mechanical & electrical engineers.
To be blunt, your questions are too broad, waaaaaaaaaaay to broad. You're gonna have to pour several free beers in me to get started and keep 'em coming about once every 10 minutes.
But your last question is possibly the most valid, and I can share this: figure out what you like about engineering and get a job doing that. Not as simple as it sounds. There are lots of 'engineering' jobs out there where they just want you to be a CAD monkey all day long and you're at a computer 100% of the time. There are also engineering jobs out there where you'll be shoulders deep in machinery 90% of the time and only use a computer for filling out timesheets, getting drawings & writing your job reports. And a whole continuum inbetween, with most jobs biased towards the desk work. I think it's obvious you enjoy working with your hands, so try to seek out positions that are closer to the hands-on side of the spectrum. The last job I had was by far my favorite, and I spent about half my time behind a desk and half my time working on/with/in machinery. It was just enough propeller-hatted CAD work & calculations to keep those skills up to snuff and just enough hands-on work to prove why you went through [censored] to get the degree in the first place.
What field do you work in? What sort of non-desk work do engineers usually do? Something along the lines of modeling and testing?
I'm assuming that techs would be doing most maintenance and repairs... could be wrong.
Originally Posted By: XS650
As a retired mechanical engineer, I pretty much agree with scurvy.
I get the impression you would like to stay close to the machinery but not have to live with it all day. That is also where you have a BIG advantage over the young kids because of your background.
Don't let yourself get chained to a computer and turned into CAD monkey. Being a CAD drafter or CAD designer are good, important jobs, but that isn't why you go to engineering school.
Originally Posted By: tonycarguy
Mechanical engineering is indeed a broad field. It sounds like you want to work on big machines. My friend has an BSME and worked for a tech company designing the mechanicals for printers. Also she said a masters opens up many doors.
Yes, I enjoy working with my hands, and I'm [censored] good at it. I've always worked on machinery that ranges from automotive size, on up to heavy equipment approaching 40 tons or so. That IS what I'm comfortable with, though I'm always open to other options. I don't know about designing printers, though. I guess I could do it as well as any kid fresh out of school... but I'd be pretty clueless starting out.
Mainly, I don't want to be crawling around under a garbage truck when I'm 50 years old... which is one of the reasons why I've gone back to school.
The only job I've had where I worked directly with engineers was at a small factory in Houston. I was young and dumb at the time, and wish I had paid more attention. But from what I recall, the engineers' shop time was spent building and testing models, setting up test equipment for batch testing- to be taken over by a tech, and dealing with any problems that came up on the shop floor.
Would this be fairly typical for an engineers' shop time? What other work would 'shop time' usually entail?
As far as office work, from what I recall- these guys spend a lot of time designing equipment, dealing with assorted manufacturers to source parts, and attending meetings to discuss products, trade shows, sales, customer needs, etc.
Again, would this be fairly typical? What else does 'office' time usually involve?
Originally Posted By: scurvy
I am a mechanical engineer and I work with & for other mechanical & electrical engineers.
To be blunt, your questions are too broad, waaaaaaaaaaay to broad. You're gonna have to pour several free beers in me to get started and keep 'em coming about once every 10 minutes.
But your last question is possibly the most valid, and I can share this: figure out what you like about engineering and get a job doing that. Not as simple as it sounds. There are lots of 'engineering' jobs out there where they just want you to be a CAD monkey all day long and you're at a computer 100% of the time. There are also engineering jobs out there where you'll be shoulders deep in machinery 90% of the time and only use a computer for filling out timesheets, getting drawings & writing your job reports. And a whole continuum inbetween, with most jobs biased towards the desk work. I think it's obvious you enjoy working with your hands, so try to seek out positions that are closer to the hands-on side of the spectrum. The last job I had was by far my favorite, and I spent about half my time behind a desk and half my time working on/with/in machinery. It was just enough propeller-hatted CAD work & calculations to keep those skills up to snuff and just enough hands-on work to prove why you went through [censored] to get the degree in the first place.
What field do you work in? What sort of non-desk work do engineers usually do? Something along the lines of modeling and testing?
I'm assuming that techs would be doing most maintenance and repairs... could be wrong.
Originally Posted By: XS650
As a retired mechanical engineer, I pretty much agree with scurvy.
I get the impression you would like to stay close to the machinery but not have to live with it all day. That is also where you have a BIG advantage over the young kids because of your background.
Don't let yourself get chained to a computer and turned into CAD monkey. Being a CAD drafter or CAD designer are good, important jobs, but that isn't why you go to engineering school.
Originally Posted By: tonycarguy
Mechanical engineering is indeed a broad field. It sounds like you want to work on big machines. My friend has an BSME and worked for a tech company designing the mechanicals for printers. Also she said a masters opens up many doors.
Yes, I enjoy working with my hands, and I'm [censored] good at it. I've always worked on machinery that ranges from automotive size, on up to heavy equipment approaching 40 tons or so. That IS what I'm comfortable with, though I'm always open to other options. I don't know about designing printers, though. I guess I could do it as well as any kid fresh out of school... but I'd be pretty clueless starting out.
Mainly, I don't want to be crawling around under a garbage truck when I'm 50 years old... which is one of the reasons why I've gone back to school.
The only job I've had where I worked directly with engineers was at a small factory in Houston. I was young and dumb at the time, and wish I had paid more attention. But from what I recall, the engineers' shop time was spent building and testing models, setting up test equipment for batch testing- to be taken over by a tech, and dealing with any problems that came up on the shop floor.
Would this be fairly typical for an engineers' shop time? What other work would 'shop time' usually entail?
As far as office work, from what I recall- these guys spend a lot of time designing equipment, dealing with assorted manufacturers to source parts, and attending meetings to discuss products, trade shows, sales, customer needs, etc.
Again, would this be fairly typical? What else does 'office' time usually involve?
Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
Just a few things I can pass along.
Government employees on average make twice as much, and have better benefits, and retirement packages. If you get a government position expect to be laid off for about two months before major elections when they try to make it look like they are cutting back on spending to get re-elected. As soon as the election is over you will be called back to work. When you have enough years in and are no longer the lowest seniority you will not be laid off before elections. If you are living pay check to pay check be prepared for this and expect the delay before un-employment benefits kick in, and the lower check of un-employment.
If you do not go with a government job, the next best for pay and benefits would be working for a company listed as a Fortune 500 company, or better yet a Fortune 300 company, or even better a Fortune 100 company. But these companies have major lay off every time the top brass wants to look good to the stock holders and get a bonus or raise. They also seldom call back if they lay you off.
The third tier would be a small company.
Also expect that the larger the company you work for the better the salary and benefits, but the more you will be limited in variety of what you do. If you want interesting work with variety, work for the smaller companies. If you want great salary with the best benefits work for a large company and expect to do the same thing every day and be bored with it.
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Where can I find that government job that pays 2x and get layed off before elections? Certianly not in my government job, I can assure you of that.
I get paid roughly equivalent or slightly less than my consulting brethern, but get to pay union dues (or fair share - 85%) unlike my consulting friends. In return, I get a 40 hour work week (versus the common expectation for 45+ at all the firms I worked for previously as a Civil Engineer), a pension plan instead of a 401(k) (has its pluses and minuses and is not nearly as wonderful as some folks make it out to be), and more vacation time than I recieved in the private sector. Otherwise I pay more for medical and other beni's than I did consulting...
As others have pointed out, figure out what you like to do - do you like to be behind the desk or in the field? Like the theoretical vs reality? Etc... Make sure you enjoy it. My biggest mistake was working my first job that was not exactly what I enjoyed, and I was miserable. Now going to work is rarely a chore... I get the right mix of outdoor and desk time, and the right amount of felxibility.
And by the way - smart engineers take good care of their CAD people - some of the CAD techs I've worked with were worth their weight in gold and made both of us much more productive and effective. That setup allows me to spend less time on my CAD skills and more time on design/review.
Most of the mechanical engineering jobs that I'm aware of are in the private sector. Obviously assorted governments and government agencies employ lots of civil engineers- but where the the mechanical engineers fit? What sort of jobs would mechanical engineers be doing for the government, and for what agencies?
Personally I've never had a government job, but I've known a few people who have... and I wouldn't be against it.
I know that there are lots of mechanical engineering jobs among government contractors (particularly 'defense' contractors)- and that's an option that I might pursue. My brother works for a defense contractor, and has seen lots of well-paid engineering jobs in passing. They're contract work and are therefore not the most stable job around... but I don't necessarily have a big problem with that. Most people in my generation have a pretty erratic work history at best. Personally I've never stayed at any single job for longer than 4 years- and I don't really feel any need to change that.
Just a few things I can pass along.
Government employees on average make twice as much, and have better benefits, and retirement packages. If you get a government position expect to be laid off for about two months before major elections when they try to make it look like they are cutting back on spending to get re-elected. As soon as the election is over you will be called back to work. When you have enough years in and are no longer the lowest seniority you will not be laid off before elections. If you are living pay check to pay check be prepared for this and expect the delay before un-employment benefits kick in, and the lower check of un-employment.
If you do not go with a government job, the next best for pay and benefits would be working for a company listed as a Fortune 500 company, or better yet a Fortune 300 company, or even better a Fortune 100 company. But these companies have major lay off every time the top brass wants to look good to the stock holders and get a bonus or raise. They also seldom call back if they lay you off.
The third tier would be a small company.
Also expect that the larger the company you work for the better the salary and benefits, but the more you will be limited in variety of what you do. If you want interesting work with variety, work for the smaller companies. If you want great salary with the best benefits work for a large company and expect to do the same thing every day and be bored with it.
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Where can I find that government job that pays 2x and get layed off before elections? Certianly not in my government job, I can assure you of that.
I get paid roughly equivalent or slightly less than my consulting brethern, but get to pay union dues (or fair share - 85%) unlike my consulting friends. In return, I get a 40 hour work week (versus the common expectation for 45+ at all the firms I worked for previously as a Civil Engineer), a pension plan instead of a 401(k) (has its pluses and minuses and is not nearly as wonderful as some folks make it out to be), and more vacation time than I recieved in the private sector. Otherwise I pay more for medical and other beni's than I did consulting...
As others have pointed out, figure out what you like to do - do you like to be behind the desk or in the field? Like the theoretical vs reality? Etc... Make sure you enjoy it. My biggest mistake was working my first job that was not exactly what I enjoyed, and I was miserable. Now going to work is rarely a chore... I get the right mix of outdoor and desk time, and the right amount of felxibility.
And by the way - smart engineers take good care of their CAD people - some of the CAD techs I've worked with were worth their weight in gold and made both of us much more productive and effective. That setup allows me to spend less time on my CAD skills and more time on design/review.
Most of the mechanical engineering jobs that I'm aware of are in the private sector. Obviously assorted governments and government agencies employ lots of civil engineers- but where the the mechanical engineers fit? What sort of jobs would mechanical engineers be doing for the government, and for what agencies?
Personally I've never had a government job, but I've known a few people who have... and I wouldn't be against it.
I know that there are lots of mechanical engineering jobs among government contractors (particularly 'defense' contractors)- and that's an option that I might pursue. My brother works for a defense contractor, and has seen lots of well-paid engineering jobs in passing. They're contract work and are therefore not the most stable job around... but I don't necessarily have a big problem with that. Most people in my generation have a pretty erratic work history at best. Personally I've never stayed at any single job for longer than 4 years- and I don't really feel any need to change that.
Originally Posted By: crinkles
I am a consulting geotechnical/civil engineer.
you should look into what kind of mind/thought type you have.
Being a successful engineer and a happy engineer takes a strange kind of mind and I only partially meet that criteria. You also need emotional stability and strength not many people have and I probably lack.
While I like to believe I am technically decent at my job I don't believe I fit the mental profile for being both successful and happy at what I do.
So I suggest seeing a psychologist who can do these kind of tests (you need to do them with an open mind, not in the mindset of trying to be an engineer). See if you would fit the profile. Otherwise you will end up hating going to work every day. Even people who have a high desire to be an engineer suffer from this.
I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at here- but I'm married to a psychologist, so she may have some insight into this. My personality on the Myers-Briggs test is INTJ (moderate on the I and the J, strong on the N and the T), which is quite uncommon within the general population (less than 1%), but fairly common among engineers.
And I definitely have a "strange kind of mind"... though I'm not sure if I'm 'strange' in the way that you're thinking.
Could you be more specific? What is it about engineering that you find difficult, unsatisfying, or not suited to your particular personality?
I am a consulting geotechnical/civil engineer.
you should look into what kind of mind/thought type you have.
Being a successful engineer and a happy engineer takes a strange kind of mind and I only partially meet that criteria. You also need emotional stability and strength not many people have and I probably lack.
While I like to believe I am technically decent at my job I don't believe I fit the mental profile for being both successful and happy at what I do.
So I suggest seeing a psychologist who can do these kind of tests (you need to do them with an open mind, not in the mindset of trying to be an engineer). See if you would fit the profile. Otherwise you will end up hating going to work every day. Even people who have a high desire to be an engineer suffer from this.
I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at here- but I'm married to a psychologist, so she may have some insight into this. My personality on the Myers-Briggs test is INTJ (moderate on the I and the J, strong on the N and the T), which is quite uncommon within the general population (less than 1%), but fairly common among engineers.
And I definitely have a "strange kind of mind"... though I'm not sure if I'm 'strange' in the way that you're thinking.
Could you be more specific? What is it about engineering that you find difficult, unsatisfying, or not suited to your particular personality?
I have a general question, addressed to whomever has experience along these lines: Once you have some experience within a particular industry or a particular niche- how 'set' does one generally become within that industry or niche? Do ME's commonly move around between different types of jobs, or do they usually find one type and stay within that field/niche?
At this time and in my current location (Wichita KS), the three fields that would be easiest for me two move into would be diesel/mobile equipment, oil field equipment, or the aircraft industry. There are pros and cons to each, and I've wondered just how important this initial decision will be. If I go to work for Boeing, will I be pretty much stuck with aircraft? Or within the engineering profession, is it generally assumed that a guy who can design landing gear can also design printers and lawnmower engines?
At this time and in my current location (Wichita KS), the three fields that would be easiest for me two move into would be diesel/mobile equipment, oil field equipment, or the aircraft industry. There are pros and cons to each, and I've wondered just how important this initial decision will be. If I go to work for Boeing, will I be pretty much stuck with aircraft? Or within the engineering profession, is it generally assumed that a guy who can design landing gear can also design printers and lawnmower engines?
You would do well to join SAE International and pay for a couple of their publications (Off-Highway and Aero, perhaps?). That way when you're sitting around having a beer you can peruse the articles and think about what direction you might go...
Also Diesel Progress and Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazines.
Also Diesel Progress and Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazines.
Originally Posted By: onion
Originally Posted By: crinkles
I am a consulting geotechnical/civil engineer.
you should look into what kind of mind/thought type you have.
Being a successful engineer and a happy engineer takes a strange kind of mind and I only partially meet that criteria. You also need emotional stability and strength not many people have and I probably lack.
While I like to believe I am technically decent at my job I don't believe I fit the mental profile for being both successful and happy at what I do.
So I suggest seeing a psychologist who can do these kind of tests (you need to do them with an open mind, not in the mindset of trying to be an engineer). See if you would fit the profile. Otherwise you will end up hating going to work every day. Even people who have a high desire to be an engineer suffer from this.
I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at here- but I'm married to a psychologist, so she may have some insight into this. My personality on the Myers-Briggs test is INTJ (moderate on the I and the J, strong on the N and the T), which is quite uncommon within the general population (less than 1%), but fairly common among engineers.
And I definitely have a "strange kind of mind"... though I'm not sure if I'm 'strange' in the way that you're thinking.
Could you be more specific? What is it about engineering that you find difficult, unsatisfying, or not suited to your particular personality?
Wow! I don't meet too many INTJ personalities. I'm an INTJ as well. I get the strange comments quite a bit as well, but I've concluded that we just think outside the box (no idea is too strange, as long as it works).
Originally Posted By: crinkles
I am a consulting geotechnical/civil engineer.
you should look into what kind of mind/thought type you have.
Being a successful engineer and a happy engineer takes a strange kind of mind and I only partially meet that criteria. You also need emotional stability and strength not many people have and I probably lack.
While I like to believe I am technically decent at my job I don't believe I fit the mental profile for being both successful and happy at what I do.
So I suggest seeing a psychologist who can do these kind of tests (you need to do them with an open mind, not in the mindset of trying to be an engineer). See if you would fit the profile. Otherwise you will end up hating going to work every day. Even people who have a high desire to be an engineer suffer from this.
I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at here- but I'm married to a psychologist, so she may have some insight into this. My personality on the Myers-Briggs test is INTJ (moderate on the I and the J, strong on the N and the T), which is quite uncommon within the general population (less than 1%), but fairly common among engineers.
And I definitely have a "strange kind of mind"... though I'm not sure if I'm 'strange' in the way that you're thinking.
Could you be more specific? What is it about engineering that you find difficult, unsatisfying, or not suited to your particular personality?
Wow! I don't meet too many INTJ personalities. I'm an INTJ as well. I get the strange comments quite a bit as well, but I've concluded that we just think outside the box (no idea is too strange, as long as it works).
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While I may not be an INTJ, this is one characteristic I share with them.
Quote:
Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense.
More in wondering why they don't want to make sense to themselves.
Quote:
Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense.
More in wondering why they don't want to make sense to themselves.
I think to get a job in designing you would generally need a Masters or experience in design. As I mentioned before the job market is tight so if you had work experience in a certain area it'd probably be more likely and easier to get another job in that same area. Employers generally want someone with experience in the particular position type if they can find it. As far as government jobs my brother who is an ME has worked in utilities. Engineering jobs tends to be pretty stable unless maybe if it was a contract job. They aren't as stable but usually pay higher.
It's really hard to say what one's experience in mechanical engineering will be because it can vary so much. After you worked a few years you can test to become a professional engineer which my brother has done.
It's really hard to say what one's experience in mechanical engineering will be because it can vary so much. After you worked a few years you can test to become a professional engineer which my brother has done.
Originally Posted By: bigmike
Wow! I don't meet too many INTJ personalities. I'm an INTJ as well. I get the strange comments quite a bit as well, but I've concluded that we just think outside the box (no idea is too strange, as long as it works).
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
While I may not be an INTJ, this is one characteristic I share with them.
Quote:
Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense.
More in wondering why they don't want to make sense to themselves.
In his books on personality types, David Keirsey gives each of the 16 possible personality types on the Meyers-Briggs test a descriptive label, among them are idealist, inventor, artisan, performer, pedagogue, guardian, etc.
He labels the INTJ as "mastermind". And most INTJ's would agree with this. But I really think that "arrogant [censored]" would be a little more precise. It fits me well... and fits most of the INTJ's I've run across.
For some reason, your average person takes offense to my operating rule that MOST people are wrong MOST of the time. I dunno what the big deal is... it seems obvious to me.
Wow! I don't meet too many INTJ personalities. I'm an INTJ as well. I get the strange comments quite a bit as well, but I've concluded that we just think outside the box (no idea is too strange, as long as it works).
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
While I may not be an INTJ, this is one characteristic I share with them.
Quote:
Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense.
More in wondering why they don't want to make sense to themselves.
In his books on personality types, David Keirsey gives each of the 16 possible personality types on the Meyers-Briggs test a descriptive label, among them are idealist, inventor, artisan, performer, pedagogue, guardian, etc.
He labels the INTJ as "mastermind". And most INTJ's would agree with this. But I really think that "arrogant [censored]" would be a little more precise. It fits me well... and fits most of the INTJ's I've run across.
For some reason, your average person takes offense to my operating rule that MOST people are wrong MOST of the time. I dunno what the big deal is... it seems obvious to me.
Originally Posted By: bigmike
Originally Posted By: onion
I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at here- but I'm married to a psychologist, so she may have some insight into this. My personality on the Myers-Briggs test is INTJ (moderate on the I and the J, strong on the N and the T), which is quite uncommon within the general population (less than 1%), but fairly common among engineers.
And I definitely have a "strange kind of mind"... though I'm not sure if I'm 'strange' in the way that you're thinking.
Could you be more specific? What is it about engineering that you find difficult, unsatisfying, or not suited to your particular personality?
Wow! I don't meet too many INTJ personalities. I'm an INTJ as well. I get the strange comments quite a bit as well, but I've concluded that we just think outside the box (no idea is too strange, as long as it works).
I have just a quick look at this test that I did not know, but from what I understand, yes, engineers tend to be INTJ, as you learn rationalities and be cartesian in the school.
I will have to do this test, but everybody tells me that I am way too cartesian to be easy to live with (I get people irritated a lot), and he drives me nuts beyond belief when someone gives me explanations that are not rationnal.
So, I would say you are in a good way to use your full potential and that you will enjoy your new life, it is what you have been born to be.
Originally Posted By: onion
I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at here- but I'm married to a psychologist, so she may have some insight into this. My personality on the Myers-Briggs test is INTJ (moderate on the I and the J, strong on the N and the T), which is quite uncommon within the general population (less than 1%), but fairly common among engineers.
And I definitely have a "strange kind of mind"... though I'm not sure if I'm 'strange' in the way that you're thinking.
Could you be more specific? What is it about engineering that you find difficult, unsatisfying, or not suited to your particular personality?
Wow! I don't meet too many INTJ personalities. I'm an INTJ as well. I get the strange comments quite a bit as well, but I've concluded that we just think outside the box (no idea is too strange, as long as it works).
I have just a quick look at this test that I did not know, but from what I understand, yes, engineers tend to be INTJ, as you learn rationalities and be cartesian in the school.
I will have to do this test, but everybody tells me that I am way too cartesian to be easy to live with (I get people irritated a lot), and he drives me nuts beyond belief when someone gives me explanations that are not rationnal.
So, I would say you are in a good way to use your full potential and that you will enjoy your new life, it is what you have been born to be.
Originally Posted By: bigmike
Originally Posted By: onion
I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at here- but I'm married to a psychologist, so she may have some insight into this. My personality on the Myers-Briggs test is INTJ (moderate on the I and the J, strong on the N and the T), which is quite uncommon within the general population (less than 1%), but fairly common among engineers.
And I definitely have a "strange kind of mind"... though I'm not sure if I'm 'strange' in the way that you're thinking.
Could you be more specific? What is it about engineering that you find difficult, unsatisfying, or not suited to your particular personality?
Wow! I don't meet too many INTJ personalities. I'm an INTJ as well. I get the strange comments quite a bit as well, but I've concluded that we just think outside the box (no idea is too strange, as long as it works).
So, I did the test, and yes, after 72 questions, I am INTJ (very much in I and T, moderate in N and J). My wife won't be surprised by that
(no need a test for that, just ask her). At least, she is OK living with me (most of the time), that is the most important
.
So INTJ represent only 1% of the population? I know I am weird, but I thought I won't be that special (choose yourselves the meaning you want to give to the word special
).
Cool thing: Marie Curie was INTJ too, and I always admired her.
Sorry for the Off topic..., you will love be an engineer.
Originally Posted By: onion
I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at here- but I'm married to a psychologist, so she may have some insight into this. My personality on the Myers-Briggs test is INTJ (moderate on the I and the J, strong on the N and the T), which is quite uncommon within the general population (less than 1%), but fairly common among engineers.
And I definitely have a "strange kind of mind"... though I'm not sure if I'm 'strange' in the way that you're thinking.
Could you be more specific? What is it about engineering that you find difficult, unsatisfying, or not suited to your particular personality?
Wow! I don't meet too many INTJ personalities. I'm an INTJ as well. I get the strange comments quite a bit as well, but I've concluded that we just think outside the box (no idea is too strange, as long as it works).
So, I did the test, and yes, after 72 questions, I am INTJ (very much in I and T, moderate in N and J). My wife won't be surprised by that
So INTJ represent only 1% of the population? I know I am weird, but I thought I won't be that special (choose yourselves the meaning you want to give to the word special
Cool thing: Marie Curie was INTJ too, and I always admired her.
Sorry for the Off topic..., you will love be an engineer.
When I worked in healthcare a while back, I met a guy that was a mechanical engineer who applied for a position with a manufacturer of orthopedic implants but was not hired as an engineer but as a salesman for hip, knee and shoulder implants cause they needed a 'technical' person talking to the surgeons.... verses a nurse turned salesperson. He was one of the highest grossing salesperson for this company and made a killing.
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