Do you want to become an Engineer? From training to career growth, everything you need to know
Engineers play a crucial role in. They make the modern world possible and make the conveniences of everyday life more comfortable for us. Engineers deal with "special" technologies making their work interesting and challenging. Moreover, it’s a profession in constant evolution as digitalization in particular is causing a radical change in the professional world.
But what are the requirements for the engineering profession, what kind of training should you follow and what are the career opportunities?
Not only one real “engineer”
To begin with: there is not one real engineer. There are architects, civil engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, mechatronics engineers and many more. Each direction and sector offers its own interesting and exciting challenges.
The focus of an engineer is mainly on research, development, design and production of products and technical processes. You do this as an engineer for both existing and new projects. You are also involved in the practical implementation but also the production and construction of the various technologies, products and services. The economic aspects are also important. Think of planning a production under different qualitative and economic aspects, as well as coordination in the field of financial controlling.
What requirements must you meet?
A mandatory condition to get started as an engineer is a completed engineering education. If you want to be admitted, you need either a general higher education admission qualification, a subject-related higher education admission qualification or an admission qualification for a technical college. Furthermore, depending on the university, there are other housing or admission restrictions, such as additional university-specific admission tests, a numerus clausus or a completed pre-study internship.
But personal motivation also plays an important role. Prospective engineering students should have a strong interest in science subjects (biology, chemistry and especially physics) and technology, as well as mathematical expertise, analytical, conceptual skills and a good knowledge of English (knowledge of another language is always an advantage). They must also be team-oriented, creative and good at communication.
Different fields
When you study engineering, you can choose from different disciplines. Most famous of these are:
- Factory
- Construction Civil engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Process technology
- Business informatics
- Industrial engineering
For those who know from the start in which specific discipline they want to work later, there are specialized courses to follow at some universities, such as:
- Aerospace engineering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Automation technology
- Biotechnology
- Robotics
- Media Informatics
- Medical Technology
Bachelor's or a master's degree
It will take a few years of training before you to call yourself an engineer. For this, a minimum of a bachelor degree is required. Generally, you can obtain it in 3 years, and the graduates will receive the title of Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) or, a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng.). Then if you’re not yet ready to start you’re professional career, you can chose to follow a master degree.
If you are interested to get both theory and in practice, to gain experience, then you can follow a dual program. In this program, you can work and study at the same time, and you can even get already a salary. Please note, however, that this is not necessarily a university degree results.
High failure rate
But whichever university you choose, the engineering course should not be underestimated. But it’s worth it! When you graduate, you will be rewarded for your efforts, because the current shortage of skilled workers means that a job after graduation is almost guaranteed. Nowhere else is unemployment as low as in this profession (less than 3%). In addition, an engineering degree is highly regarded both nationally and internationally, making the world literally open to engineers, regardless of the field in which they work.
Career and salary
In terms of career prospects, things look just as good in this field. With a bachelor's degree, the career opportunities to the top of the business world are very favorable. A Master's graduate is usually eligible for higher positions and therefore has even faster career opportunities.
The salary is just as lucrative. Income may vary by industry, region, company size and qualification, but engineers generally earn very well. A career starter earns usually between 40,000 and 50,000 euros gross per year. In addition, the income can increase by about 20,000 euros over a period of 6-8 years.
Future perspective
Becoming an engineer is a challenging and profitable career goal! It’s not only a fascinating and varied field of work, but also a job with prospects for the future. More and more school leavers decide to start a technical training. Women are also increasingly opting for this sector. The main reason for this is the business community, politics and educational institutions, which have been working for several years to inspire women for a technical and scientific career.
Are you also looking for a technical job? Progressive's consultants can guide your entire application process from start to finish. They introduce you to exclusive functions, prepare you thoroughly for the job interviews, inform you about everything that is important for the company in question and take care of contract and salary negotiations.
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