5 Great Benefits of Pursuing an Engineering Career

Why choose engineering as a career? There are several reasons why a career as an engineer can benefit you, and all of them point to the same thing: fulfilment. We work not just to earn a salary or afford our desired lifestyle but also to enrich our lives and that of others. The best way to do that is to make a difference in the world. Engineering has been at the forefront of every transformative event or invention in history. If you think about it, the better question becomes: why not choose engineering as a career?

To engineer, quite literally, means to create, construct, or build something. We all stand today on roads, buildings, and cities built by engineers. But they do not just construct things made of metal and concrete. Ultimately, engineers build the future, laid out from dreams and executed into reality.

A career in engineering now goes beyond the traditional civil engineer roles in construction or transportation. It can now involve information technology, environmental science, robotics, and any field that ushers the world into the future. If you are a forward-looking person, a problem-solver, or an innovator, then a career in engineering could very well be for you.

Let us look into the many ways an engineering career could be a fulfilling one.

1. Future-proof career opportunities

Almost every major change in technology comes from innovations in engineering. From the invention of steel and railways to the invention of the telephone and the internet, engineers have been at the forefront of new technology. Aside from careers in civil engineering, which deals with the construction of buildings and public works, you can also explore careers that may become more prevalent in the future, such as Aerospace Engineering or Robotics.

Aerospace Engineering jobs could increase in the next few decades or even years. Over the last few years, there have been over five commercial space launches, with a few more in the pipeline until 2023. Establishing a career in Aerospace Engineering this early could pay dividends in the coming years. The same goes for robotics, which has seen significant progress just this decade as it starts to mesh seamlessly with Artificial Intelligence. We could be a generation away from real robots performing important complex tasks. Would you not want to be at the forefront of this revolution?

While engineering can create change, it can also help the world adapt to changes. As industries begin to shift to green energy, a career in Renewable Energy Engineering becomes more valuable than ever before. The world needs engineers to build more sustainable energy sources, better electric cars, and a better tomorrow.

Engineering opens up plenty of options for the future. Knowing which engineering field is best for the future could help guide you in choosing what engineering course to take.

2. Access to high-paying jobs

There is still a high demand for engineering jobs in Malaysia. In fact, engineering roles are among the highest-paid jobs in the country. JobStreet’s 2022 Salary Report shows that engineering jobs have the highest median salary growth among all specialisations at 5%. Meanwhile, salaries in the Communications Service and Electronics industries have increased across the board, with entry-level positions getting significant increases at 33.3% and 15.4%, respectively.

Speaking of fresh graduates, engineering jobs in construction had the highest salary increase among all entry-level positions, going up 28.9% (RM2,900 monthly median wage). Entry-level construction/building jobs, particularly, have the highest median monthly wage across all industries at RM7,500.

This speaks to the importance of engineering in the country. As more and more industries invest in future jobs in tech, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy, you can also expect high-paying jobs in those fields in the near future.

(Read more: Top 5 Engineering Jobs And The Skills You Need For A Successful Career )

3. Intellectual development

There are few things in life more fulfilling than solving a problem. Troubleshooting and working tirelessly to address a problem or a challenge could be taxing, but arriving at a solution, in the end, is the very definition of gratifying work. It means all your effort was worth it and, therefore, meaningful.

There is a lot of problem-solving at the heart of any engineering field, whether it is Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or even I.T. Engineering. As a result, a career in engineering can enhance intellectual development, as constant problem-solving sharpens one’s mind. It primes you for critical thinking, encouraging you to apply systematic approaches in every endeavour and thereby discovering, or even establishing, best practices along the way.

Engineering is for people who want rewarding work that also benefits their intellectual development, not only as professionals but also as individuals who crave knowledge and wisdom. Imagine being smarter just by virtue of your job description. That is one of the more compelling reasons why you should choose engineering as a career.

4. Enjoying the tactile fruits of your labour

A career in engineering involves constantly dealing with practicalities. Of course, like any work, engineering also requires abstract thinking. However, most of the abstract ideas you would generate would ultimately lead to concrete solutions. What engineers ultimately create can be seen and appreciated, at times even from afar, and for many years.

One of the more fulfilling perks of an engineering job is seeing the building you helped build, right at the centre of the city, or a park you helped design where you could sit and appreciate it. You could see cars you helped develop on the road and appreciate their beauty and all the work that came into them.

It does not take much imagination to enjoy the fruits of your labour as an engineer. All it takes is a stroll through the city, a click on the internet, or a quick look at the sky. The engineers behind the Warisan Merdeka Tower must love going to Kuala Lumpur, if only to gaze at their masterpiece, standing proudly at the skyline.

5. Truly making a difference in the world

Perhaps above all, a career in engineering can be fulfilling because it is a great way to make a true and impactful difference in the world. Engineering is not really about the numbers, the computations, the tools, and all the handiwork. All of those are just meant to set the foundation for its true purpose: to make life better.

All of the feats of engineering in our history – from railways to commercial flight, from the steam engine to clean energy – were not built for their own sake but for the progress of mankind. Today, as we face new challenges, so do engineers in every field. Industries are already at work to find better and more sustainable sources of energy and food, which is why Environmental and Agricultural Engineering jobs could be crucial in years to come. What the world needs now could help guide you in choosing what field of engineering is best for you and for the world’s future.

So, why choose engineering as a career? Because a career should be gratifying, intellectually stimulating, and most importantly, should make a difference in people’s lives. If this is the kind of career you want, then you need to know the best engineering jobs in Malaysia.

You can find these and many other opportunities with just one click: just download the JobStreet app from the App Store or Google Play and search for jobs from the top employers in Malaysia. Feeling uncertain over a career shift? Do not worry because we have all the career resources and expert insights you need in our Career Tools that will help guide you in building a fulfilling career.