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: Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry, and education. Even so, as a group, engineers earn some of the highest average starting salaries. According to a 2005 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, those with bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering received starting salary offers averaging $50,236 a year, master's degree candidates were offered $59,880, and Ph.D. candidates were offered $68,299. 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 held about 226,000 jobs in 2004. This represents 15.6% of the 1.4 million jobs held by engineers in the U.S. in 2004. 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 the 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 projected to have an average rate of employment growth through 2014. Although total employment in manufacturing industries -- where employment of mechanical engineers is concentrated -- is expected to decline, employment of mechanical engineers in manufacturing should increase as the demand for improved machinery and machine tools grows and as industrial machinery and processes become increasingly complex. 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): Also, emerging technologies in biotechnology, materials science, and nanotechnology will create new job opportunities for mechanical engineers. Additional opportunities for mechanical engineers will arise 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:  ASMEASME  Canadian Society for Mechanical EngineeringCanadian Society for Mechanical Engineering  Institution of Mechanical EngineersInstitution of Mechanical Engineers  Int. Congress of Mechanical Engineering SocietiesInt. 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