Why do engineers do very little engineering?

Question

It seems like most of my day is spent doing mindless paperwork and boring meetings. I do absolutely no hands on work which was the main reason I chose the engineering field. When I try to apply for a job that does more hands on, I am promptly told that I don't have enough hands on experience. No kidding right! The hardest equations I use are simple addition and multiplication. I feel like I'm getting dumber every day. Is there any way to recover from this hole I'm in without changing professions? I am considering going back to school to start a new profession with more hands on work.

Answer 1

My husband works for an engineering company in Kentucky, they have their Engineers go out sometimes & do field work on boundary's and such. Just try new locations, not all firms are the same on how they operate.

Answer 2

I was in the exact same boat as you. As an aero engineer NOT working for an aircraft manufacturer, my whole life consisted of looking up other people's calculations in a manual, then re-typing them onto a form, calling the manufacturer for confirmation.

Get a PE if you want to do actual engineering work, that's pretty much the only way anyone will accept the liability of trusting someone doing engineering work.

PS - I got my MBA instead and completely chucked engineering.

Answer 3

IMO Civil Engineers are likely to do more hands on. You could start your own firm. Do construction testing, plans, etc. Most engineers I have known do forget about how the real world works once they've been cloistered in the office a number of years...

Good Luck & Blessings