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Career Enjoyment: engineer

Engineers design the construction of things, applying scientific principles to meet particular specifications or requirements. There is some overlap between engineering and architecture. The difference is that architects are primarily concerned with the creation of something that hasn't been built before. The primary focus of engineers, however, is ensuring any construction meets already-established standards and principles. This career tends to have salaries in the range £20-45k (based on research in the UK). Typically, therefore, it has a higher than average earnings potential.

Views from people doing the job

The common feedback from people in this career was:

When people in the job described what they liked about it, the common themes that emerged were: research, variety of projects, travel.
When people described what they disliked about the job, the themes were: repetitive projects, poor management and leadership, disorganisation, lack of people interaction, not enough high-level involvement in the company, mundane work.

Enjoyment Rating

When we asked people in each career to rate their job for enjoyment, on a scale between 1 (low) and 6 (high), the average rating for all jobs was just over 3.5. The average score for this career - engineer - was 3.5, making it as enjoyable as the average career. This is only one part of what makes a job enjoyable. You can find out how well your unique personality fits the job by completing our personality questionnaire.

Behavioural Demands

The table shows the balance of preferences that are required in this career, using the language of the Myers Briggs model of personality. This career therefore involves:

The demands of the job
	E	I
	S	N
	T	F
	J	P

Slightly more Introversion than Extraversion.
Slightly more iNtuition than Sensing.
Slightly more Thinking than Feeling.
Slightly more Perception than Judgment.

Job Profile

Job Profile

This style involves taking action using logical analysis - e.g. selling a product or constructing a table.

This style involves taking action using important values - e.g. performing a piece of music or teaching a practical subject.

This style involves introducing change using important values - e.g. being an advocate in social work or running a culture change programme.

This style involves introducing change using logical analysis - e.g. developing a new business or providing management consultancy.

This style involves building relationships based on insights or vision - e.g. improving teamwork or building a society or community.

This style involves building relationships using information or experience - e.g. looking after customer satisfaction or employee welfare.

This style involves organising things based on insights/vision - e.g. improving a team's efficiency or designing business processes.

This style involves organising things using information or experience - e.g. managing an office or administering an insurance claim.

This style involves analysing to find the correct explanations - e.g. identifying the cause of a car breakdown or understanding an electrical circuit.

This style involves identifying what is important based on facts - e.g. selecting ingredients for a menu or overseeing safety in a swimming pool.

This style involves analysing to find new possibilities or truths - e.g. researching scientific or technological principles.

This style involves identifying what is important when things change - e.g. editing a publication or counselling a patient.

This style involves developing vision using important values - e.g. teaching media studies or leading a church.

This style involves clarifying information using important values - e.g. curating exhibits in a museum or getting to know customers.

This style involves developing vision using logical analysis - e.g. conducting market research or designing computer systems.

This style involves clarifying information using logical analysis - e.g. inspecting accounts or investigating a crime.

The wheel provides a more detailed view of the types of behaviours required in this career. Each segment represents a behavioural style. Lighter segments indicate that you need to use that style more in the job. On a PC, you can hover the mouse over a segment for a brief description.

Lighter/redder segments show the types of behaviour you will need to use more of, i.e.: strategic thinking; thinking about what motivates people; theorising or analysing; challenging the status quo; starting new initiatives.

The job does not involve as much: maintaining good relationships.

Comparison with your personality

You can find out how well your personality matches this and all the other careers by completing the MMDI personality questionnaire.