8 things to do after Mechanical Engineering
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet keep looking. Don't settle." ~ Steve Jobs
You aspired to become a Mechanical Engineer and now that you have become one, be proud of yourself. Mechanical engineering is one of the popular streams of Engineering because of its diversity in career opportunities. Annually about 1.5 million engineers graduate every year according to AICTE data. The survey of 2019 says about 783 thousand students enrolled in mechanical engineering in India. Mechanical Engineering has a vast scope. A Mechanical Engineer can literally choose any available career path and survive very easily. The famous question the might arise you now is
What to do after Mechanical Engineering?
Let me take you through some of the options below: -
1. Study Abroad
Pursuing higher studies after your BTech maybe one of your options. If you feel that having exposure other than the Indian education system is your thing, then planning to study abroad is perfect. There are varieties of Master courses available in different subfields of mechanical engineering. I will take you through some of the courses though it is not in order. Although apart from these there are many more options as well.
- Generally, the first choice that pops out in mind is MS in Mechanical Engineering. Though this is a more generalized but advanced area, scopes of expertise are wide. The course goes in-depth in mechanical theory/practical and energy systems as well as designing. Upon the completion of this course, students can enter industries like Automotive, Chemical, aerospace, manufacturing, etc. They get positions like project manager, agriculture or mechanical engineer, manufacturing manager, etc.
- Another field that is gaining popularity these days is Robotics and Automation. AI and Machine Learning have an immense effect on this field. All the manufacturing plants are now automated and require skilled engineers for their operation.
- Masters in Mechatronics can be one of your options if you keep interest to be part of the booming electronics industry. Love for mechanical and interest in electronics is a must. If you are an automobile lover, you will be learning automotive electronics too.
- For car lovers, Masters in Automotive engineering or Vehicle Designing is perfect. You will be dealing with different Automotive designing, manufacturing, and testing processes. These days electric vehicles are booming. There is a huge scope for automobile specialized ones
- Last but not least one can pursue Masters in Aerospace or Electric Mobility which is a booming industry with many sub-branch and specialization fields. There are numerous opportunities abroad to study in these fields.
There are many unlisted courses which you may find while choosing the perfect course for you. Let us know them in comments.
2. MTech Degree
If you are a patriarch but still want to pursue higher education, don't worry India has your back. You may look up for MTech in various institutes. However, writing GATE is a must to pursue MTech in India. MTech is a two-year course that builds on the knowledge you have gained in your mechanical engineering days. It is often a misconception about sticking to just a single department. In this practical world, every field of engineering is interlinked. Hence, choosing a multidisciplinary field for your further studies will be an advantage. There is a wide range of MTech courses provided by different Universities in India.
- M.Tech in Mechatronics: An interdisciplinary field that deals with electrical, electronics, and mechanical along with sensors, robotics, and computers. Every industry requires knowledge of Mechatronics for design and development.
- M.Tech in Production Engineering: It is the design, development, implementation, operation, maintenance, and control of all processes in the manufacture of a product.�
- M.Tech in Robotics: It deals with the design, construction, and development of different robots and their components including different types of sensors.
- M.Tech in Manufacturing Engineering: An unique program interfacing machine technology with industrial processes. The engineers will understand the different technology of machines as well as the complex environment where these machines are operating. After this course, you can work on different manufacturing processes.
- M.Tech in Computer-Aided Design: Computer-based simulation, analysis, and optimization of a product are necessary before the development of the prototype. This reduces the cost of manufacturing and the possible failures of the product. CAD design increases the productivity of the designer by improving the quality of design predicting the performance of the product.
- M.Tech in Automobile Engineering: Automotive engineering includes the study of any moving machines. Incorporating elements of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and safety is a major task. Automobile engineering teaches us the design, manufacture, and operation of motorcycles, automobiles, and trucks and their respective engineering subsystems.
- M.Tech in Electric Mobility: The pollution caused by IC engine vehicles has created an alarm all over the world. Major efforts and measures have been taken to convert the IC engine vehicle mode of transport to electric mobility. The course will teach you about different electric vehicle components and their performance in detail. You will also know about the different driving assistance systems involved.
- M.Tech in Renewable Energy Technology: Considering the present situations sustainable development is important for a secure future. Countries are moving to renewable technologies for energy generation and product development to promote sustainable development. M.Tech in renewable energy Technology helps learn the different renewable energy systems and sustainable development technologies to contribute to a better future.
- M.Tech in Thermal Engineering: Thermal Engineering is a study of energy transport particularly in nanoscale structure to obtain knowledge and understanding of the scientific effects on the physical world that can engineering discoveries in industrial energy applications. Thermal engineering is the heat transfer, thermodynamics, energy conversion, and HVAC applications.
3. Jobs in the Industry
As mechanical engineering deals with the design, development, installation, operation, and maintenance of any mechanical parts every industry requires a mechanical engineer. Graduates work in diverse areas, including manufacturing, automotive research, and aeronautics. I have named few industries where you can work below.
In your undergraduate times, you must have learned the below subjects. All these subjects will help you choose any core technical career in the respective fields.
- Fluid Mechanics, Advanced Mechanics of Materials, Kinematics of Machinery
- Metallurgy, Theory of Vibration and Material Science
- Programming in C (computer science)
- Advanced Strength of Materials, Industrial Hydraulics
- Manufacturing Processes
- Machine Drawing, Metrology, and Machine Tools
- Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing
- IC Engines and Combustion
- Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer, Thermal Systems and Applications
- Mechatronics and Control Systems (mechanical and electronics engineering)
- Automobile Engineering
- Finite Element Analysis, Optimisation Methods in Design
- Design of Transmission Elements, Dynamics of Machines, Gas Dynamics and Jet Propulsion, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
- Production Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Project Management (management), Operations Management, Disaster Management
Manufacturing Engineer
You will make the manufacturing processes happen. Whether it�s high-volume, mass-produced goods, or specialist, ultra-tech equipment, you create the machines and technology that design and produce the goods our growing population relies on. Manufacturing processes also involve automation according to Industry 4.0. Mechanical engineers give life to the robots involved in automation.
Automotive Engineer
Mechanical engineers drive the automotive industry. They design chassis, wheelsets, and combustion systems for every type of moving vehicle. Right from the 2 wheeler to 10 wheeler trucks, from 80 seater bus to 2 seater F1 vehicles, mechanical engineers as responsible for the motion. Automobile engineers work with electric vehicles, solar panels, hydrogen cells, and other technologies to find better ways of transport.
Aerospace Engineer
Aerospace engineers are all in the air. Whether it is plane, fighter jets, or rockets and missiles, they take care of the design and thermodynamics. They design more fuel-efficient aircraft that cut emissions, build the fleets of satellites that power modern GPS technology, and create the next generation of spacecraft.
Process Engineer
Process engineers manage mechanical processes and find ways to make them more efficient, safer, and deliver better quality. They directly affect almost every major mechanical industry in the world, from water supply and oil & gas through to pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing.
Railway and Waterways Engineer
Mechanical Engineers are responsible for motion. Every aspect of the railway relies on mechanical engineers such as tracks, engines, tunnels, barriers, and bridges. Similarly, waterways include boats, ships, submarines, and jets. They also work on energy generation systems such as hydroelectric power plants and turbines, windmills, and so on.
Biomedical Engineer
Pacemakers, artificial valves, and even robotic surgical assistants are all the work of mechanical engineers. They give lives by creating machines to save lives. Even the surgical blades and knives and other equipment are designed by mechanical engineers.
4. Become Research Assistant
Research assistants assist with academic or private research in various research institutes and universities. The primary responsibility of a research assistant is to provide support to either a research fellow or a research team, through collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. If you are interested in researching something to bring about innovation, then research assistant positions at best due to gain hands-on experience and exposure. You will get to experience many aspects of research life, and develop skills such as data analysis, communication, and problem-solving. You can work as a research assistant under different professors from different institutions. IITs, NITs, and all other institutions have positions open as a research assistant to work with the professor on a thesis.
5. Upskill Yourself
In today's world, there are thousands of unemployed graduates while the other technical graduates end up in non-core jobs. One of the reasons can be that the educational system is not connected with the industry. Today with the new technologies industry changes from time to time, but our curriculum is still the same. on the other hand, employees are looking for skilled talent that adds business value. However, the talent available needs to be trained and guided to make them industry-ready. So stay in touch with the latest development in the industry. Spend active time learning skills not only other than your textbooks but also develop interdisciplinary skills. As designing is one of the major parts of the industry, you should upskill yourself with the knowledge of different design software such as Catia, AutoCAD, NX, or Creo. There are various online courses available for you to learn industrial skills.
We have a wide variety of courses especially for mechanical engineers which are listed below. So what are you waiting for? Join us today and get your industry certification.
- Vehicle Dynamics: Basics To Expert On Commercial & Race Cars
- Electric Vehicles: Basics to Experts on Commercial Electric Vehicles.
- Autonomous Vehicles: Basics to Experts on Commercial Autonomous and Smart Vehicles.
- Computational Fluid Dynamics: Basics to Industrial Application
6. MBA
Now that you have strong technical background after your BTech, you require some non-technical and managerial skills too. Through MBA you will acquire skills such as marketing, finance, human resources, presentation, management, and other soft skills.
Different Specializations available are:-
- Finance
- Marketing
- Human Resources
- International Business
- Logistics and Supply Chain
- Operations
- Information Technology
- Retail Management
- Strategy
- Business Analytics
- E-Commerce
For students with a mechanical engineering background, MBA in Operations Management or Project management is recommended although there are so many courses available based on your interest. An MBA in operations management will give you exposure in various areas of business operations and functions. Project management lets you manage various ongoing projects.
7. Entrepreneur
Do you want to be your own Boss? Then starting your own venture is a good option. Startups are the latest fashion but starting a venture and making it stand out is the real success. Although it will be the toughest of all with lots of ups and downs every new day. A determined entrepreneur overcomes the challenges and makes learning and outcome of every failure. You can use your mechanical knowledge to start your own venture and also work hard on the same. You can be technical, non-technical anything but everything involves the skill set and determination. All the knowledge gained during your Btech may not be required but the overall holistic development and skills are what will make you succeed.
8. Armed Forces
As a Btech graduate, you have so many opportunities to join the technical team in the Indian armed forces. And since you are a mechanical engineer will have numerous vacancies available for the engineering streams in all the 3 forces. Mechanical Engineers are the backbone of the Indian army. They are responsible for maintaining the team that repairs machines', vehicles, aircraft, and weapons. Also, their work is multi-disciplinary based on the situations.
You can join Indian Army after graduation in 3 ways:-
- WritingCombined Defense Services (CDS) conducted by UPSC. Candidates get Permanent Commissioning and are trained at IMA, Dehradun once they clear the exam.
- Short Service Commission(SSC) conducted by Services Selection Board(SSB): - There is no written exam for this entry. The candidates are shortlisted for SSB interview based on the basis of cut off percentage applied on marks obtained by the candidates� up to the 6th Semester. If you want to join in your core stream you can opt for SSC(tech) or you can opt for SSC(Non-tech).
- There is an entry called TGC entry i.e. Technical Graduate Course entry. You need to have a first-class BE degree and can apply at an age less than 25
Mechanical engineering has its branches going into every walks of life. You might have studied about most of the things that you need to know, except of course the details into electronics, computer, communication, etc. But you will learn the basics of all of that also. And that's all you need to know even if you plan to walk that road. Not everyone is meant for everything. Do what you love and be the change you want to see in this world. Have you now chosen your career?
Let us know the more options available in the comment section. Comment below the career you have chosen and your queries.
