Engineering is the most popular subject to study at college at the moment. There are thousands of graduates in the field every year, and unlike a lot of their peers, they aren’t struggling to find work. Engineering positions are fairly easy to come by once you are qualified and they pay well, even at entry level. The opportunity for career progression is also better than most other industries so it’s no wonder that it’s a popular career path. One of the most lucrative and sought after positions in the engineering world is mechanical engineering. If you are weighing up career options and you think that a job as a mechanical engineer might be for you, here’s how you get there.
The Traditional Route
The standard path into an engineering job, and the one that most people are taking at the moment is a four-year college. While it might be the most common route into the industry, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. For some people, it is absolutely the right fit, but there are negatives. Four years at an expensive college is going to saddle you with a lot of debt. You will probably be able to get a well-paid job when you come out the other side, but it’s still going to take you a fair few years to pay that all off. If you don’t like having that hanging over you then maybe you should consider different options.
You’ll also be waiting for four years before you can get any real life job experience in your chosen industry. If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t like sitting in a classroom then you might be keen to get stuck in. If that’s you, then there are shorter routes that can get you working a lot quicker.
Online Courses
Another way to get into the engineering industry is to take an online course and then get an entry level position. You can do a lean manufacturing program online and it’s really up to you how long it takes. It’s possible to complete in as little as a year, then you’ll be qualified to get entry level jobs in the industry. Some people are put off this idea because you’ll enter at a much lower level that you would if you have a four-year degree. That doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to rise to the same position in time and you’ll be getting hands-on experience and learning on the job. This is a better fit for some people so it’s worth looking into.
Apprenticeships
If you can’t wait even a year to get working, then an apprenticeship is the way to go. It allows you to learn on the job, topping up your skills and knowledge with a few days a week at a local college. You’ll also be getting paid while you learn so the financial strain is much smaller. This is a big consideration for people these days because the price of college is so high.
Whichever route you choose into your new mechanical engineering career, you’re sure to be a success.
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