HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT ENGINEERING SPECIALIZATION?

If you're thinking, how do I choose the right engineering specialization, you're in the right place. As the field expands and grows, you and many other students will find in-demand engineering jobs that can suit a variety of different interests and strengths. Here's how you can choose the right specialization for you.

Do Your Research

Before you begin to even think about choosing the right engineering specialization for you, take a moment to research engineering in general. Check out what the different types of specializations exist, the job outlook and salary for each specialization, and the job duties. Also make sure to check out what the educational and training requirements are for becoming an engineering, both in general and with specifications, because you might find out that one specialization you like requires a master's degree while another one doesn't.

Go With Your Interests

Do you like physics, math, infrastructure, marine biology, medicine, electronics, computers, or robots? If you do, then there's a specialization for you within the engineering field. Finding the right engineering specialization means that you have to really think about where your interests lie in order to make a decision; the more passionate you are about the field, the better you'll perform in school and the more likely you'll end up with a job you truly enjoy doing. Be sure to be honest with yourself about your interests, because even though one job may pay you more, it doesn't mean that you'll be happy in that line of work.

Gauge Strengths and Weaknesses

You'll also have to be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. Some engineering specializations lend themselves well to people who like to work alone or can be trusted to be independent and lead their own projects. Other specializations require you to work in a group with like-minded individuals to achieve a goal. These aren't the only differences that matter in engineering; your ability to work with computers is a strength that could see you following a path into computer engineering while an innate gift with robotics could see you working for NASA as one of their robotic engineers. It's strongly encouraged that you think about your own strengths and weaknesses when you're looking for the right engineering specialization so you can hit the ground running when you get into school.

Talk to Actual Engineers in Your Field of Interest

One of the best ways to tell if an engineering specialization is right for you is to actually speak to engineers who work in that specialization. Go to career days, talk with your advisor about finding an engineer to speak with, or take the plunge and call an engineer's office to see if they'll speak to you about their work. Engineers who work in the field can give you a better idea of what the workplace is like, from the demands and duties of the job down to mundane tasks that you may not have thought about yet. They can also tell you if going to school for that particular specialization will be useful to you and may be able to give you insight on courses that are not required but should be, for the specialization.

You should take your time when deciding on your career, especially if you're going to school to complete that goal. By asking yourself, how do I choose the right engineering specialization, you're taking the time to ensure that you're happy with your decision and you're committed to making that the career of your dreams.

Related resource:

Top 25 Ranked Engineering Programs with the Best Return on Investment (ROI)