Eventual job dissatisfaction in engineers

[Jeff Ford]

I'm on my way back to school and am drawn towards engineering. I've read about engineering being a field with high job satisfaction, and it contains a lot of the elements I value in a job.

Recently I read that approximately 25% of engineers leave the fields between 5-10 years after entering it. This was explained as being due to the engineers moving from design work into management work, feeling like they were no longer connected with the projects, and feeling like the work at that level wasn't related to the work they had enjoyed at lower levels.

This concerns me a bit. I'll be investing quite a bit of time and money to return to school for a degree that I would only find satisfying for 5-10 years. Have any engineers on the board had experience with this?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[chroot]

Jeff,

People change careers an average of three times throughout their lives. The fact that 25% of engineers change careers within 5-10 years does not seem all that significant, since that seems roughly equal to what I'd expect for any profession. To put the numbers in context, can you compare them to the numbers for other professions?

- Warren

 

[piercas]

I understand your concerns about potential job dissatisfaction in the field of engineering. While it is true that engineering can be a highly fulfilling career, it is also important to acknowledge that job satisfaction can vary among individuals and may change over time.

The statistic you mentioned about a 25% turnover rate in engineering is not uncommon in many industries. It is important to consider the reasons behind this turnover and whether they are applicable to your own career goals and values. It is true that some engineers may become dissatisfied with their job as they move into management positions, as they may miss the hands-on technical work they enjoyed earlier in their careers. However, this is not always the case. Many engineers find fulfillment in leadership roles and enjoy the challenge of managing projects and teams.

It is also important to keep in mind that the field of engineering is constantly evolving and there are many different paths one can take within the industry. If you find yourself becoming dissatisfied with your current role, you can always explore other areas of engineering or even switch to a different field altogether. Your engineering degree will provide you with a strong foundation of technical and problem-solving skills that can be applied to a wide range of industries and roles.

Ultimately, the key to long-term job satisfaction in any field is to find a balance between your personal values, interests, and skills. I encourage you to research and speak with engineers who have been in the field for a longer period of time to gain a better understanding of their experiences and insights. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of an engineering degree and hope that you find a fulfilling and rewarding career in the field.