Articles
1. Are you glad that you pursued a career as an engineer?
Yes: 91%
No: 4%
Don't know: 5%
A resounding start to get us off and running. Nine out of ten readers said they were glad they had become engineers. Lots of readers thanked their parents for encouraging them into the profession. There were very few regrets expressed in the write-in replies, with most readers happy with their career choice.
2. Would you actively encourage your own child to become an engineer?
Yes: 76%
No: 15%
Don't know: 9%
Although 91% of readers were glad they had become engineers, only 76% said they would encourage their child to follow in their footsteps. The lower figure was explained by a good number of readers who said it would be unfair to put any pressure on their offspring.
3. If you were back at school, would you try to become an engineer again?
Yes: 78%
No: 13%
Don't know: 9%
Again, another resounding endorsement of life as an engineer. Given the opportunity, more than three-quarters of respondents said they would make the same choice again. But there were a few grumbles among those who thought they would look to do something different. This question provoked the first mention of pay, with some respondents saying they had or were enjoying their careers but that they felt undervalued. Others bemoaned a lack of status and recognition among the public at large.
4. Generally speaking, would you describe engineers as poorly paid?
Yes: 46%
No: 48%
Don't know: 6%
Mixed bag here. The No voters pointed out that, relatively speaking, engineers enjoyed a good salary. But the Yes voters felt the salaries they received did not reflect the hard years of study they had put in, or the technical nature of the job.
5. Generally speaking, would you describe engineers as well paid?
Yes: 24%
No: 70%
Don't know: 6%
So, while question four was roughly a 50/50 split, the answers here were far more definitive. The message was thus: engineers get an OK salary, but they are certainly not well paid. Bankers are well paid, engineers are not, it was noted.
6. Does the public’s lack of understanding of an engineer’s role bother you?
Yes: 81%
No: 17%
Don't know: 2%
And so to the age-old issue of an engineer’s status. The statistics tell the story: engineers do get worked up about their lack of recognition. The write-in replies bemoaned the fact that most people in wider society still think engineers fix cars, or put up satellite dishes. But it wasn’t all embittered gloom. Lots of readers did note that engineering was undergoing something of an image change, and that they felt the profession was being better represented in the media. However, a seismic shift in the public’s attitude towards and knowledge of engineering would be a long time coming, it was stated on several occasions.
7. Would you do a job you thoroughly disliked if it paid double what you currently earned?
Yes: 14%
No: 76%
Don't know: 10%
If engineers are adequately paid, how about chasing the money, but doing a job you don’t like? No thanks, was the resounding answer. Many respondents said that would make them unhappy, and life was too short
8. Are you proud to be an engineer?
Yes: 94%
No: 3%
Don't know: 3%
Wow. One of the highest Yes responses we’ve ever had after doing 8 Questions for almost a decade. The pay might not be brilliant. Your neighbour might not have a clue what you do. But when all is said and done, engineers love being engineers, and wouldn’t want it any other way.