ComplexHiAv8r / Chris 6387,
I'm a mechanical engineer working in the power (electrical utilities) industry. Previously I was in aerospace doing turbine engine design.
What I don't like about what I'm doing now and previously is that a small portion of your daily routine is actually spent designing. Often times you are in meetings, preparing cost estimates, talking to vendors, working project schedules, dealing with a*shole management, etc. It is very frustrating for me, as I like to have a clear direction of what needs to be done and then for people to get on board and make things happen.
I consider myself an above average communicator as an engineer, particularly when it comes to writing skill and conveying what needs to get done. When 90% of your coworkers don't share this trait, it becomes very annoying and frustrating when people are consistenly not on the same page due to poor communications.
The other things that bothers me is that you frequently take work home with you - even if not in the literal sense. You still leave worrying about this or that, which has no sign of ending until way down the road.
To top things off, what's the typical way of getting ahead in engineering? Become a manager! As if paperwork, meetings, and non-paid overtime didn't suck enough, it's now thrown into new levels as a manager. You literally have to love the stuff (which is baffling to me), or you will go insane. There are personality types that do love or at least enjoy this environment, and if that's the case roll with it. There are certainly much worse way of making a living.
BTW, let's just dispel the myth of engineers making big money. You ain't gonna get rich as an engineer, at least while working for somebody else (as the vast majority do). I make mid-50s, which is nice and I'm grateful for it. I was definitely in the lower-middle class (at best) growing up. Raises are usually around 3-5%/yr if you get a good review. This gives you a comfortable middleclass life in a dual income family, but you're not going to be owning your own Bonanza. The nice thing is that you at least start off making high 40s to low 50s (for mech eng). Electrical and chemical eng do better. Civils a little less. These figures are all on the average, so if you know some guy who owns his own consulting business making big $$$, I already know about those guys. The aren't typical though.
Am I glad I got an engineering degree? I think so... I really did enjoy my time in college and it prepared me well with critical thinking skills and the ability to basically get a job at will. I also think there are some good opportunities out there, but they are with smaller design firms. This is something I would explore further if I wasn't deadset on becoming a professional pilot.
