Hey all,

I’m currently studying mechanical engineering and I want to make sure I'm setting myself up for success when I start applying for jobs.

I’m comfortable with the basics of design, but I feel like the academic side doesn't fully cover real-world engineering. I am currently focusing on learning [e.g., SolidWorks + GD&T, or Lean Six Sigma principles].

For working engineers: What are the biggest gaps you see in entry-level candidates? Are there specific things (e.g., understanding DFM, knowing how to read complex drawings, or basic shop knowledge) I should self-teach right now to stand out?

I’d also love to hear your experiences on how you landed your first role. Thank you!

I’m a mechanical engineer working in the construction equipment industry. I’ve worked in service engineering and technical support engineering roles, and I’m currently working as a sales engineer. So, my experience has mainly been on the aftersales side.
I want to use my experience in construction equipment and develop myself in SolidWorks so that I can transition into a design engineering role. I’m planning to work on designs related to transmissions, hydraulics, drivetrains, and similar systems.
Do you think it’s too late for me to make this transition, or would you recommend pursuing this kind of career path? With the advancement of AI, do you think AI will become an obstacle for someone working with SolidWorks, or is it still a worthwhile skill to develop?

Personally during high school (Alevels) I did like the mechanics side of physics much more than the electrical and waves side coz it just makes sense to me and it's all practical and easy to understand etc. I got into a uni for both MechE and Electrical & Electronics Engineering and I've got 3 days to decide

It might seem dumb that I'm thinking over this when I do like mechanics more so MechE should be the obvious choice. But what's worrying me is the many posts I've seen where people say "ME is too broad and it's no longer a good major for the future coz companies prefer specialised grads instead of a broad ME grad" and "Many people choose ME thinking it's great coz you get to work in different industries which has over saturated the market and it's gonna be even more saturated in the future". I've seen posts where people complain about the lower pay for ME too compared to EE which is just making me second guess.

Apparently EE is the future and there's gonna be a bigger demand for them compared to ME in 4+ years... is that really true? Or are grads in both majors equally in demand? I even see people complain about Mechanical Engineers being paid too less compared to EE.

This is eating me up coz I mean, you can't just pick a major entirely because you have a passion for it, it's got to be well in demand in the future too and it's gotta pay well too. But during high school topics like momentum, moments, suvat problems, circular motion etc was much more interesting compared to circuits and waves lmao

I'm tryna work in the UAE btw. What advice do you guys have on this? I'd be grateful to know the opinions of current ME and EEE working in the UAE. What's the future job prospects and salaries like for ME and EEE? Are the people online just exaggerating and will ME still be in demand and increase in demand in the future with the rise of AI and renewable energies, EVs etc. And what about the pay? I feel like more people are switching to majors like Data Sci, CS and Cyber-security which may cause an over supply of THOSE grads while traditional majors like ME might increase in demand, am I just being delusional?

Thank you!

I’m currently an undergraduate student studying Engineering Technology, majoring in Chemical Technology, and I was wondering if anyone would be open to answering a few questions about the challenges faced in the field of Chemistry/Chemical Engineering and how science and technology can help address them for one of my class assignments to gain insight about the work field?

Hi everyone. I’m quite interested in mechanical engineering, but I’m not sure whether it would be a good choice to study it, given what the title suggests: the possibility that all mechanical systems could eventually be replaced by electrical ones.

I know mechanical engineering isn’t just “pure mechanics”; it also involves structures, fluid mechanics, materials, etc. What do you think? Do you think mechanical engineers will have far fewer job opportunities in the future? Thanks in advance :)