Engineering Job advise

Is the job of Project Engineer hard? Is it true that people who can communicate well, and is manager-material, can do well in it?

Also, sales or project engineer, generally, which one can earn more? Since engineering is said to be not paying satisfactorily, would sales fare better?

hi everyone, i'm currently an undergraduate in NUS studying engineering. previously, i graduated from SP with an engineering diploma (EEE). due to the unattractive market landscape in engineering, i realised that it doesn't justify me spending 3 or more yrs to study hence i'm thinking of leaving NUS and coming out to work instead. but i'm unsure of the current job outlook for engineering field. i would love to switch to another field but will need to work first to earn some $$.

can anyone here in the industry advise me on the current job outlook and the types of jobs a EEE diploma holder can look to secure?

thanks a million for your replies.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

hi everyone, i'm currently an undergraduate in NUS studying engineering. previously, i graduated from SP with an engineering diploma (EEE). due to the unattractive market landscape in engineering, i realised that it doesn't justify me spending 3 or more yrs to study hence i'm thinking of leaving NUS and coming out to work instead. but i'm unsure of the current job outlook for engineering field. i would love to switch to another field but will need to work first to earn some $$.

can anyone here in the industry advise me on the current job outlook and the types of jobs a EEE diploma holder can look to secure?

thanks a million for your replies.

Since u are already studying, why not opt to change major? imo, having a good degree really helps in whatever field u choose to pursue.

Originally Posted by Unregistered000

Is the job of Project Engineer hard? Is it true that people who can communicate well, and is manager-material, can do well in it?

Also, sales or project engineer, generally, which one can earn more? Since engineering is said to be not paying satisfactorily, would sales fare better?

Project engineer is a very broad title as any engineer working on a project is one. From ur desc, do u mean project manager, lead engineer or maybe chief engineer? technical knowledge and exp is the most impt i think - as a project manager, people cannot smoke u; as a leader, ur engineers will respect u; as a chief, ur engineers will trust and follow ur engineering decisions.

very generally, sales engineer would fare better than normal project engineers - not those leader roles mentioned above.

I would advise those looking to go into engineering field to pursue related environmental business, e.g. chemical engineering. This is the in-thing in a lot of countries, one good example would be water management industrial.

[Iruka1]

What about scm related work such as planner, procurement, logistics...?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

hi everyone, i'm currently an undergraduate in NUS studying engineering. previously, i graduated from SP with an engineering diploma (EEE). due to the unattractive market landscape in engineering, i realised that it doesn't justify me spending 3 or more yrs to study hence i'm thinking of leaving NUS and coming out to work instead. but i'm unsure of the current job outlook for engineering field. i would love to switch to another field but will need to work first to earn some $$.

can anyone here in the industry advise me on the current job outlook and the types of jobs a EEE diploma holder can look to secure?

thanks a million for your replies.

With the exception of a few rare cases, diploma holders generally cannot expect to earn too much. There is always a glass ceiling in place. Many jobs requiring work experience also require a basic degree.

I'd advise you to finish your degree, or you could try to switch course in NUS, assuming your grades in your current NUS course are good.

Best wishes during this important part of your life!

I seriously think that there's alot of under and grossly under estimation of people working in engineering fields.

My wife told me her friend who is an engineer, earns about 100k pa, and whilst holding discussion with him, it dawned to her that engineers actually earn quite alot. Of course, he's a degree holder and in his mid 40s.

Too far for me to mention about someone I dont know? Alright.

I just came back from Shanghai and met a friend there. He's my old friend from poly and still only holding a diploma cert. He had worked in Chartered semicon and after it gone down, he switched around and is currently based in Shanghai. Earning about $5-$6k per month. Not an engineer per se, but a sales engineer. Nontheless, a job that require acute understanding of engineering stuff, despite being a sales job. Hence, engineering is still attractive.

Ok, how about this - my neighbor is working in Starhub as an engineer and is drawing about 5.5k per month. I think he's a degree holder of some engineering school. He was also my poly mate and we happened to stay in the same block now. Drives a MPV and also paid a good COV for his resale flat just as I had. Doing well.

Sometimes I read the posts here and other forums, where taxi drivers claiming that they were engineers and now have to drive taxis... and how the market and industry destroys them.

However, I would like to state politely that they do not have any tertiary education and from their complaining attitude, it seems to me that they have the mentality that the world owes them a living. If they want to remain in the industry, the least they could do was to upgrade themselves and I'm pretty sure the engineering industry is still sunny for them.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I seriously think that there's alot of under and grossly under estimation of people working in engineering fields.

My wife told me her friend who is an engineer, earns about 100k pa, and whilst holding discussion with him, it dawned to her that engineers actually earn quite alot. Of course, he's a degree holder and in his mid 40s.

Too far for me to mention about someone I dont know? Alright.

I just came back from Shanghai and met a friend there. He's my old friend from poly and still only holding a diploma cert. He had worked in Chartered semicon and after it gone down, he switched around and is currently based in Shanghai. Earning about $5-$6k per month. Not an engineer per se, but a sales engineer. Nontheless, a job that require acute understanding of engineering stuff, despite being a sales job. Hence, engineering is still attractive.

Ok, how about this - my neighbor is working in Starhub as an engineer and is drawing about 5.5k per month. I think he's a degree holder of some engineering school. He was also my poly mate and we happened to stay in the same block now. Drives a MPV and also paid a good COV for his resale flat just as I had. Doing well.

Sometimes I read the posts here and other forums, where taxi drivers claiming that they were engineers and now have to drive taxis... and how the market and industry destroys them.

However, I would like to state politely that they do not have any tertiary education and from their complaining attitude, it seems to me that they have the mentality that the world owes them a living. If they want to remain in the industry, the least they could do was to upgrade themselves and I'm pretty sure the engineering industry is still sunny for them.

Well I don't hear of bankers driving taxis.

[Bean]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I seriously think that there's alot of under and grossly under estimation of people working in engineering fields.

My wife told me her friend who is an engineer, earns about 100k pa, and whilst holding discussion with him, it dawned to her that engineers actually earn quite alot. Of course, he's a degree holder and in his mid 40s.

Too far for me to mention about someone I dont know? Alright.

I just came back from Shanghai and met a friend there. He's my old friend from poly and still only holding a diploma cert. He had worked in Chartered semicon and after it gone down, he switched around and is currently based in Shanghai. Earning about $5-$6k per month. Not an engineer per se, but a sales engineer. Nontheless, a job that require acute understanding of engineering stuff, despite being a sales job. Hence, engineering is still attractive.

Ok, how about this - my neighbor is working in Starhub as an engineer and is drawing about 5.5k per month. I think he's a degree holder of some engineering school. He was also my poly mate and we happened to stay in the same block now. Drives a MPV and also paid a good COV for his resale flat just as I had. Doing well.

Sometimes I read the posts here and other forums, where taxi drivers claiming that they were engineers and now have to drive taxis... and how the market and industry destroys them.

However, I would like to state politely that they do not have any tertiary education and from their complaining attitude, it seems to me that they have the mentality that the world owes them a living. If they want to remain in the industry, the least they could do was to upgrade themselves and I'm pretty sure the engineering industry is still sunny for them.

still low compare to financial/banking/investment sector