Many engineering bachelor’s students who study abroad want to become mechanical engineers. This may be due to the many job opportunities they can have after graduation or the skills they learn during the course of their bachelor study years. Here are some fun facts you should know if you decide to become a mechanical engineer! 

What is a Mechanical Engineer?

A Mechanical engineer is a graduate of the ‘Mechanical Engineering’ engineering program. This degree focuses on the design, manufacturing and testing of mechanical systems. These systems are found in any building, machine or industry you can imagine. 

The courses mechanical engineers take during the course of their engineering degrees are subjects like statistics, engineering economy, technical writing, automation and design and robotics. 

Many students choose to study this major because of the diverse career options available to them after graduation. They can work in fields like construction, automotive or robotics, among many others. 

mechanical engineer
mechanical engineer

Tip 1: Make sure you focus on these skills!  

During the course of your bachelor’s study of mechanical engineering, you should make sure you try to take classes that help nurture these skills.  

Problem-solving Skills

It’s important to learn problem-solving skills to figure out how the mechanical device or system works and also how to overcome any challenges that may occur with it. This could happen if it malfunctions or needs an enhancement.  

Creative Skills 

Other essential skills to develop are creative ones to develop advanced and innovative solutions. You also need creative skills to be able to create mechanical systems and products from nothing.  

 Communication Skills

Communication skills are essential in any field of work, and this is also the case with mechanical engineering. In order to be able to work with a team or lead one, you need to have good communication skills. These are also crucial when explaining to users how to use your mechanical devices or systems. 

Teamwork Skills

Finally, teamwork Skills are also essential when becoming an engineer. This is because they often work in groups and will need to brainstorm and communicate together to come up with the correct solution to a problem or overcome a challenge. 

mechanical engineer
mechanical engineer

Tip 2: Choose an excellent school to become a mechanical engineer

Another vital tip to follow is to choose an excellent  engineering school. If you want to study mechanical engineering and become a successful engineer, you should choose your school because names sell. This is one of the first things potential employers check on your CV. 

If you want to have a competitive advantage, you should choose an excellent engineering school for your bachelor’s and master’s studies. Some of the best schools include MIT, UC Berkeley, Queen’s University Belfast and RWTH Aachen.

Read more: Best Engineering Schools in the US in 2022

Tip 3: Pick the correct country to study in

Besides picking the right school, you should also choose the correct country to study abroad in. In general, the more cultures and people you get to know, the more you’ll be able to find solutions to the mechanical problems you’ll need to solve in your career. 

Also, the countries with the best mechanical engineering schools are the ones where you’re most likely to find the best jobs after graduation. For example, you should consider study in the US where there are many options available. 

Another option where there are good mechanical engineering schools is to study in the UK or in Germany. 

Read more: Why is the UK the best place to study?

Tip 4: Gain work experience as a mechanical engineer as early as possible

Another tip to become a successful engineer is gaining experience as soon as possible, whether during internships, part-time volunteering, or student jobs. 

It’s essential to get your hands dirty before graduation to gain practical experience in the field. This will give you a good insight into working in the industry properly. If you don’t want to perform a part-time job or an internship because it’ll be too time-consuming, you could simply do a job shadowing. 

Gaining this practical experience can give you a boost among others who graduate with the same degree. Some degrees may even require a certain number of practical hours before you are able to graduate with the certificate. 

Tip 5: Get inspired by great mechanical engineers

Another great tip is to study the lives of great mechanical engineers of our time so that you can avoid the mistakes they made and take advantage of their accomplishments so that you can figure out the quickest ways to succeed. You should study their methods and perhaps follow them so that you can hopefully be as successful as they are one day! Examples of these renowned engineers include Nikola Tesla, Karl Benz and Henry Ford.  

Tip 6: Look into the available career paths

Another piece of advice before choosing to study Mechanical Engineering is looking into the career paths that these engineers can pursue after graduation. Jobs for engineers in this field are prevalent and are typically stable and highly demanded.  

There will be a 4 per cent increase in jobs for mechanical engineers in the USA alone by the year 2028. 

Some of the potential jobs and the incomes they can achieve are listed below: 

Automotive Engineer: earns around 72,300 USD per year

Mechanical Engineer: earns 70,900 dollars per year

Nuclear Engineer: earns approximately 77,100 USD per year

Aerospace Engineer: 79,700 dollars earned per year

 

In general, mechanical engineering is a study that gives graduates many opportunities after graduation and helps them earn many excellent skills. There are also many tips and tricks to be successful engineers in the field after graduation, like the ones listed in this article. Excited to study mechanical engineering and start your journey into the world of mechanical engineering? Search for a suitable mechanical engineering program today and achieve your dreams.Â