2. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

3. Overview: Mechanical engineers research, develop, design, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. They work on power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines, as well as power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center

4. Overview (continued): Mechanical engineers also design tools that other engineers need for their work. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers may work in production operations in manufacturing or agriculture, maintenance, or technical sales; many are administrators or managers. Mechanics, energy and heat, mathematics, engineering sciences, design and manufacturing form the foundation of mechanical engineering. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

5. Preparation: A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for almost all entry-level engineering jobs. Mechanical engineering programs provide more than technical training: they teach the more sophisticated skills of analysis and problem-solving that apply to most any type of engineering, manufacturing, business ventures, management, or even legal practice. They teach you how to learn, thought processes and approaches that will serve you throughout your life and career. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

6. Preparation (continued): Admissions requirements for engineering schools include a background in mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, physics), and courses in English, social studies, humanities, and computer and information technology. Focus on becoming as well-rounded as possible by taking a variety of humanities courses, and include business and communication courses whenever possible. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

7. Preparation (continued): Those interested in a career in Mechanical Engineering should consider reviewing engineering programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. Accreditation is based on an evaluation of an engineering program's student achievement, program improvement, faculty, curricular content, facilities, and institutional commitment. A list of universities offering accredited degrees in Mechanical Engineering is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

8. Day in the Life: There is no typical day for most mechanical engineers. Engineering projects are multi- disciplinary organizational efforts often involving scores of people inside and outside the company. The issues and challenges start-off numerous and evolve throughout the project. It is difficult to characterize a typical day under these circumstances. Laced within and among other activities is a great deal of communication -- on the phone, via e-mail, in meetings, teleconferences, and reports. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

9. Day in the Life (continued): Teams and Coworkers No engineer works alone. Engineering is a team sport. Mechanical Engineers often work in teams consisting of engineers of different disciplines who work in design, production, testing, sales and service, people with finance, legal and marketing backgrounds and project and corporate management. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

10. Day in the Life (continued): Tasks In their first job, 1/2 of all mechanical engineers have a primary focus on some form of design engineering and three-quarters do some work in this area. Product, Systems, and Plant Equipment Design are forms of design engineering. Mechanical engineers enjoy making a contribution to improving the quality of life. Whether it's improving the performance and safety of an automobile -- or the latest in medical diagnostic equipment. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

11. Day in the Life (continued): The Workplace Mechanical Engineers work in many different settings, most often as a matter of choice and career planning. Some mechanical engineers work in the design centers and headquarters facilities of high-tech companies, some prefer working in the field, and some travel overseas to serve clients and to develop new markets for products and services. There's a good chance that you won't spend all your waking hours sitting at a workstation. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

12. Earnings: According the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for mechanical engineers is $74,920. The lowest 10% earned $47,900. The highest 10% earned $114,740. According to a July 2009 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average starting salary for mechanical engineers who have earned a Bachelor's degree is $58,766. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

13. Employment: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, mechanical engineers hold about 238,700 jobs in the United States. Mechanical engineers are capable of working in a wide variety of industry sectors, and new technologies will create industries that don't exist today. Your opportunities are determined by education, your interests and attitudes, and the contacts that you make. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

14. Employment (continued): According to an ASME Career Path Survey, about half of mechanical engineers were employed in the original equipment industries. The next largest industry sector was non- manufacturing employers, followed by process industries. A sample list of employers of Mechanical Engineers is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

15. Career Path Forecast: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, mechanical engineers are expected to have employment growth of 6 percent between 2008 and 2018, slower than the average for all occupations. Mechanical engineers are involved in the production of a wide range of products, and continued efforts to improve those products will create continued demand for their services. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

16. Career Path Forecast (continued): In addition, some new job opportunities will be created through the effects of emerging technologies in biotechnology, materials science, and nanotechnology. Additional opportunities outside of mechanical engineering will exist because the skills acquired through earning a degree in mechanical engineering often can be applied in other engineering specialties. OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering

17. Resources: More information about Mechanical Engineering is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, including employer lists, accredited Mechanical Engineering programs, suggestions for precollege students, profiles of Mechanical Engineers, a free monthly careers newsletter, and a PDF that summarizes the field.Mechanical EngineeringSloan Career Cornerstone Centeremployer lists accredited Mechanical Engineering programsprecollege studentsprofiles of Mechanical Engineers newsletterPDF that summarizes the field Associations: ASME Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering Institution of Mechanical Engineers Int. Congress of Mechanical Engineering Societies OverviewOverview – Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – ResourcesPreparationDay in the LifeEarningsEmploymentCareer Path ForecastResources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Mechanical Engineering