Career Change into Engineering

Cynicaloflife on 04/02/2016 - 14:29

HI all,

I am at a bit of crossroads with my life. I failed my third year of dentistry, despite my best efforts. I am coming to the realisation that dentistry is not really my cup of tea. I no longer have the confidence or nor the talent in my work. I don't vision myself working as a dentist anymore in the nearby future. The course has depressed me.

Hence, I was looking to switch over to Engineering (Curtin) along, whilst doing BSc Comp Sci at Murdoch at the same time (External). The Murdoch BSc will have lesser units as I can waive off some of the elective units. I have a keen interest in Maths, Physics and Technology.

Before, I make my final decision I just need a few opinion/answers from people at this forums:

1) If I decide to switch over, I will be starting Engineering at the age of 21. I will be graduating at 25. Will this put me at a disadvantage considering that many of students will be 22/23? It will be a whole 7 years of education.

2) Should I switch over to Engineering at this stage or continue my course? I am well aware that there is an oversupply of Engineers but I am prepared for it.

3) Is it worthwhile doing Engineering (Mechanical – Curtin) + BSc Computer Science (Murdoch) dual degree? I was thinking that doing, both might open up more graduate opportunities.

4) How good is the Murdoch BSc Computer Science course?

If any experienced, Engineers reading my post, would provide me their experiences and opinions, would really appreciate it !

This is my last and final chance to make these life changing decisions.

Thank you

Education & Work

Comments

  • cDNA on 04/02/2016 - 14:34

    Stick to whirlpool man. More educated people and engineers are over there.
    I saw your thread

    If you suck at maths, creativity and not confident of being in the top 10% then don't bother.

  • ykwon10 on 04/02/2016 - 14:44
    +1

    I know of a few engineers that lost their job recently. With the slow down in mining industry, I do not suggest you go into Engineering. A few of my mates that is still working in engineering jobs are fearing to lose their jobs!!

  • scrimshaw on 04/02/2016 - 14:52

    Certain sectors of engineering has been hit hard post recession — the mining boom is over which means a lot of engies are jobless and are retraining in other sectors.

    Aircraft maintenance engineers also expected to decline according to Job Outlook
    http://joboutlook.gov.au/occupation.aspx?code=3231&search=&T…

    civil engineering / draftperson expected to grow moderately
    http://joboutlook.gov.au/occupation.aspx?search=keyword&tab=…

    Industrial / Mechanical engineers expected to grow strongly
    http://joboutlook.gov.au/occupation.aspx?code=2335&search=ke…

    Electrical engineers expected to grow moderately
    http://joboutlook.gov.au/occupation.aspx?code=2333&search=ke…

    Telecomms expected to grow
    http://joboutlook.gov.au/occupation.aspx?code=2633&search=ke…

    Material and Chemical engineers — is uncertain.
    http://joboutlook.gov.au/occupation.aspx?code=2331&search=ke…

  • chartparker on 04/02/2016 - 14:55
    +2

    I'm a mechanical engineer, and there are times I wish I'd become a dentist. The money in engineering isn't that great unless you have an MBA under your belt and are business minded. It's a bit unknown at the moment with manufacturing being so volatile in Australia, but that said there are a million things you can do with an engineering degree.

  • Edsanwong on 04/02/2016 - 14:58
    +2

    I would try to re visit the reasons you chose Dentistry in the beginning. Try to talk to the dentists who qualified and work now, about your lost of interest, your difficulty.
    Stick to the dentistry is my vote.

  • cvas on 04/02/2016 - 15:03
    +3

    I would stick with dentistry if you are only a year or 2 away… Sure you might have a few teething issues, but you have to expect that.

    • Cynicaloflife on 04/02/2016 - 15:27

      I still have three years to go. Problem is that I have lost confidence in all my work.

      • eatwell365 on 04/02/2016 - 17:30

        Be true to yourself, this decision is for you and you only. One may feel embarrassed to fail when the classmates finish, or to discuss with families or friends.
        Just remember one or two year life in your twenties now is nothing when you will live in the next twenty, forty or sixty years. If any possibility hang in dentistry, I would. You may finish 25 in engineering but then the path is very long to be top of its field. While dentistry, you can start practicising day one.
        Depend if you have to show cause, if yes, could you talk to a career counsellor. If not, would you consider to take a year break them come back to study in case you burn out. Don't rush to change career - grass is always greener next door.

        • Cynicaloflife on 04/02/2016 - 18:37

          Thank you for the valuable advice.

          The course has been a struggled since day 1. I have been struggling to get through the practicals. Although, I am able to manage the theory, it is the practical aspect that is causing me stress.

          I had always wanted to do Engineering since day 1, but the parents pressure forced me into Dentistry.

          I have been looking at University Engineering papers and I think they are manageable. I would any day prefer struggling through a pen and paper exam rather than a practical exam.

          A couple of my friends have failed twice. I really feel sad for them. I dont want to be in the same situation. Add to that I am also living away from home.

        • chartparker on 04/02/2016 - 21:25
          +2

          @mandok: Well the way I look at it people really have two choices for careers: choosing one that you don't particularly enjoy, but pays well and affords you the means to enjoy your time off and material distractions, or a fulfilling and enjoyable one that doesn't pay nearly as much.

          Either you work to live, or your work is your hobby. Very few people get both, and most people get neither.

      • eatwell365 on 04/02/2016 - 20:40

        As struggling with practical. what type of help have you seek?
        You must be a pretty smart guy to get in dentistry the first place.

    • airzone on 04/02/2016 - 16:59
      +1

      Sure you might have a few teething issues, but you have to expect that.

      Yes, I expect that when dealing with dentists :)

      • cvas on 05/02/2016 - 11:56

        Thankyou airzone. That's all I wanted.

  • swapsey on 04/02/2016 - 15:08

    Hey Mandok,

    I will answer your questions, from a general "life" perspective.

    The underlying issue is not whether the world will bring you the success you dream, after you do this course or that.

    The more important, and maybe only important thing, is whether you are satisfied where you are right now.

    You see, many of us have spent years striving for something or other, the green patch of grass we think we see in the distance, only to find that degree after graduate degree, and promotion after promotion, does not fulfill us.

    We think we are "becoming" something, but instead we are missing the magic thing that has always been there, right under our nose all along.

    No matter what you do, be content with where you are.

    If you are confused about courses, be content with that. Say, "it's ok to feel confused". That is the magic.

    When you let go of trying to get somewhere, you will truly get somewhere.

    Take care,

    Swapsey

  • InfraRed on 04/02/2016 - 15:43

    Listen… Considering the whole 'dentists have the highest suicide rate' thing I suggest switching if its depressing you now. But I recommend against engineering from an employability stand point.

  • Polde on 04/02/2016 - 16:00

    As someone who's done 3 yrs of Engineering (Civil), and was somewhat prepared for the challenges of maths required I can tell for certain that your going to hate it in the long-run if your not already amazing at it to begin with (this is what has happened to me). What topics in Dentistry did you struggle with?, as not sure what the pre-req required for Dentistry are but Engineering requires a very high level of maths and physics.

    What you could do if your not certain, is go for a Diploma at TAFE (not those dodgy private schools). They're typically 1 yr I think, and they can also be used for future exemptions when you eventually go into your Uni course- also gain a qualification too in the end which looks good on your resume. This is what I did before I was in Uni.

    In saying that too, Engineering is hugely competitive and now in my opinion an uncertain job field to look into.

  • lupiter on 04/02/2016 - 16:48

    I have heaps of friends who did (civil, mechanical, electrical) eng, many of which are unemployed 2-3 years later, or just have part-time retail work. But there's always demand for software engineers. I changed degrees twice, and that part never held me back, what'll take you down is doing something you don't like, or something where there's no work.

    I agree with those who said you should look back at what you enjoyed about dentistry at the start. The final years of any degree are a slog: everything is hard, and you're sick of it. Why did you choose dentistry? Do you still think you would enjoy working as a dentist? Sometimes you just have to get through the qualification to do the bits you enjoy.

    On the other hand, if you've realised you're not going to like some big part of the work (teeth? people? children? dealing with other medical staff?) consider what job might have the parts you enjoy without the parts you don't. Maybe nursing, or teaching, if you like the people-part. If you like the technical, maybe take just straight biology and work in a med lab.

    I have a friend who took Actuarial studies and is now a full-time cafe manager. He hated everything about actuarial, but he did it because of the prestige and the money, but he loves running a cafe. Uni isn't everything.

  • xyron on 04/02/2016 - 16:49
    +1

    I would repeat the year of dentistry and stick at it. Dentistry is probably one of the few industries in Australia which is going to continue to grow in the coming years. A good mate of mine is a dentist now and it staggers me how much he earns - much more than I do (and I work as a lawyer for one of the biggest law firms in Australia) - and we have been out of uni for a similar amount of time. He also only works 4 to 4.5 days a week (compare to me…lucky if I get out before 7.00pm most days).

    5 years ago, everyone said you should become an Engineer because there were lots of opportunities and it was a booming industry. Looks like that might not really be the case.

    • Cynicaloflife on 05/02/2016 - 12:14

      Thank you.

      I am not concerned about the earnings atm. I am just looking at my capabilities and my interest.

      • minniethemoocher on 05/02/2016 - 12:42
        +3

        While you might not be concerned about your earnings right now you will be in 20 years. I studied engineering and I wish I studied dentistry, have you seen how much they charge for a simple clean? Your patients won't now you failed Uni. People say money doesn't matter but it really can change the quality of your life. Good luck.

      • xyron on 05/02/2016 - 12:43

        I think you are being pretty hard on yourself if you think you should throw it all in the bin because you failed one year. I have plenty of friends and acquaintances who failed a year of med school, but had since gone on to finish, and are now in some very competitive specialist training streams.

        I doubt anyone who is a dentist is particularly excited about being a dentist - but given the earning potential, and the fact that you don't need to work many days a week to earn it, means that you will have so much time to dedicate to things in life that you are truly passionate about (hobbies, sports, whatever).

        It's not something that is really possible when working as an engineer or lawyer or some other professional, doing 60+ hour weeks for much less pay (and facing a less flexible work environment to boot).

        Just a thought. Dentistry is a very competitive course to get into and you obviously did something right by getting into it in the first place (and getting through two years already!)

        EDIT - totally agree with minniemoocher. Young people these days spend way too much time looking for career fulfilment when, in my opinion, they (we!) should be looking for a stable, safe career with maximum earning potential, so you can do all the things you really enjoy doing in life (lets face it, very few people in this world truly love their job and would rather be doing work over anything else).

  • shaybisc on 05/02/2016 - 08:55

    If you are depressed and failing already with dentistry it's not going to get any better doing it for 40 years- nurse, hand me my revolver. But surely with your keen interest in Maths, Physics and Technology there must be a productive career out there for you.

  • Brendoo on 06/02/2016 - 05:11

    As it seems you were forced into dentistry by your parents and it is not something you like or are good at, I agree with you to get out of it. There is no point wasting more years on something you don't like, even if you pass, to then get into a job you don't like which will make you hate going to work and probably cause you to quit that career anyway, leaving you in a much worse position to retrain down the track.

    I think having both engineering and comp sci is a good idea if you can manage it. I work for a very large multi-national industrial company with engineering being the core of our company (chemical, mechanical, electrical). I don't work in engineering, I work in IT and am a senior software development lead for our company globally. The amount of work we have is huge and literally never ending in IT. We get more and more work every year as time goes on. In Engineering it is similar and having comp sci skills is extremely valuable because usually an IT guy with a comp sci degree cannot create the software required in the engineering depts because you need to be an engineer as well.

    There is tons of work in IT (don't worry about all this Indian offshoring you may hear about, we do that too, but it's just the non value add boring stuff that goes to them, we keep the good stuff that needs highly skilled local people who understand the business and in many cases the engineering).

    There is tons of work in engineering too, at least in a company like mine (not a mining company, although we are a huge supplier to the mining industry). The competition out there between companies to get customers/contracts drives never ending innovation and thus the never ending need for good engineers.

    Like anything in this world, the opportunities you will get are proportional to the amount of effort you put in to get them. They are there for the taking.

    And remember, once you set foot in a large company you may not spend your career as a hands on engineer, you would probably move into management, you may cross into other areas of management not directly in engineering, you will spread your wings. You could move into IT etc etc.

    And when it comes to earnings, I see you are not too fussed, but a senior engineer/manager of engineering or a similar role in IT my company would get similar money to a dentist (maybe not a high end dentist) or a GP. You also have perfect credentials to travel and work overseas. Engineering and IT skills are completely valid in every country without you needing to re-certify yourself or anything like that. I have worked all over the world in IT and that in itself is a huge bonus.

    Go with your gut mate, I think you are doing the right thing. And if you love your work, you'll never work a day in your life!

  • Cynicaloflife on 06/02/2016 - 12:02

    Thanks !

    If I do change, I will be 25 years by the time I graduate. Would that be too old for me to get myself in the industry?

    • justaverage on 08/02/2016 - 00:13

      As someone who just graduated from Curtin engineering there are many students who start at 21. Some of them have previously done trades or other degrees.

      Many of my friends who did mechanical don't have jobs yet but the same goes for all engineering disciplines.

      • Cynicaloflife on 08/02/2016 - 19:00

        Can I PM you regarding Curtin Engineering, would really appreciate it !

  • shaybisc on 06/02/2016 - 12:05
    +1

    It amazes me that engineers, now that they are not needed to assist in digging rocks out of the ground, are having great difficulties getting a job in Australia. What a clever country we live in.

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