• Question: what is the hardest thing about being an engeneer

    Asked by calan to Matthew, Neil, Paula, Pete, Philippa on 10 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Neil Taylor

      Neil Taylor answered on 10 Mar 2015:

      Hi Calan!

      Hmm good question! I think that there are a few hard things about being an engineer. Two of these are budgets and deadlines! At the end of the day, you are using your engineering skill to produce something – and there will usually be a timescale and cost associated with this. Sometimes, it can be really hard work to meet the deadlines set!

      One other hard thing is that sometimes things don’t go how to expect first time, and you need to use all the knowledge and skills that you have learned in order to solve them. Sometimes you need to learn something new, sometimes you need to ask someone with more years in the industry, and sometimes you just need to look at the problem in a different way!

      No matter how you go about it, however, it is always a great feeling when you eventually manage to solve the problem! And that’s what makes it all worth it. Ultimately, engineering wouldn’t be such a rewarding career if it was easy all the time!

      Hope this helps!

    • Photo: Pete Symons

      Pete Symons answered on 10 Mar 2015:

      Most certainly working within the constraints of cost, time, scope to achieve the output you want. I’ve often seen this referred to as the Project Management Triangle and its used in for building projects, but the basic premise it that you need to strike up the right balance between the cost, time and scope to achieve the type of product you ultimately want. Unfortunately in a commercially driven world where money and time matter, these will always be a constraint but these challenges are also the beginnings of innovation!

    • Photo: Philippa Jefferis

      Philippa Jefferis answered on 12 Mar 2015:

      Agree with both answers below. Working within constraints can be frustrating but you can also be really rewarded when you find the solution that works.

      My big challenge is working with people who don’t appreciate the constraints so get annoyed with me. I have to be very good at explaining things to people.

Comments