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TalkBass Engineers (and Engineering Students)

#41
Fontaine said:
Hello Engineers!

Personally im still a student (in for Petroleum Engineering Technology), which blows because i have 2 years left after this semester:crying:, how did you find schooling to be an engineer?

And of course what is your job actually like?

I know that some of my friends have uncles/cousins/parents...etc...that are engineers and most of them are doing nothing that requires what they learned in college but are still working as an engineer making big bucks.

For example one of my friends uncles is a Petroleum Engineer and all he does is mix cement, but his "label" is actually an Engineer and is making the same amount as the guy doing all the calculations/designing....they just trained him for a completely different job.

Oh and what Engineering field are you in btw?:D
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Hmm. I don't want to sound mean or anything but I figure someone's got to tell you. But I figure it's better to clarify any confusion now rather than later.

Your current program of study doesn't actually count as an engineering program or qualify you to become an engineer in Canada. There are strict rules in regards to the use of the word "engineer" or "engineering" in Canada. Your current area of study is in the realm of a technician/technologist.

In order to qualify to use the designation of "engineer" in Canada, you must be a registered member with the sanctioning engineering body for your province. In your particular case, it's the "Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland/Labrador" Invalid Link Removed

If you go to the website, you'll find the full details and the requirements necessary for eligibility. One of these is that your program of study must be accredited by your local sanctioning body. The program you're currently in is accredited, but by the "Canadian Technology Accreditation Board under the mandate of the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists" (as per your school's website) rather than the PEG.

It's a real sham the confusion that's been created by the post secondary education institutes in Canada. You'll notice that the university engineering programs will refer to their programs as "_____ Engineering" whereas the colleges call their programs "_____ Engineering Technology". They sound the same but are actually very different realms. As far as I know, accredited engineering programs are only available at universities in Canada. All college programs are for technicians/technologists.

Sorry if I've come across as a real snob/jerk. I just wanted to make sure you understood the difference as there are real and bad implication that can arise with the improper use of the term "engineer" in Canada.

As long as you're enjoying your program, and make a good future with it, that's what really matters. Engineers in Canada are like a cult :P There's a Ritual and all of them wear an iron ring on their pinky.
 
#43
I'm halfway through my second year of engineering now. I am an electrical engineer at Virginia Tech. I really love it here. I'm a very smart and nerdy person, but I am still finding college very difficult. None of the material itself is that tough, but because of how quickly I have to absorb materials from 5 different classes while still keeping up a busy social life, it gets crazy busy. I wouldn't trade it for anything though.
 
#44
Stock R said:
As long as you're enjoying your program, and make a good future with it, that's what really matters. Engineers in Canada are like a cult :P There's a Ritual and all of them wear an iron ring on their pinky.
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Haha, this got me thinking of a guy from Canada that came over here to work for roughly half a year last year. He works normally in our company's factory in Huntsville north of Toronto as a machine operator. He's a real hands-on guy that know all the practical things about the production. He said all the time how happy he was that the engineers in Finland actually listened to what he had to say and valued his hands-on experience. Back in Canada, no engineers ever listened to anything what he and the other guys on the floor might have had to say. Mostly, the "brand new, shiny inventions the engineers showed up with" (his words) didn't work properly, but if they would have consulted the men on the floor even a tiny bit, they could actually have worked from the beginning as they would have made the things slightly differently...

Basically, he just kept on throwing **** at the Canadian engineers and telling how full they were of themselves..... :hiding:


Although he praised us Finnish engineers, I still think we don't use enough the practical experience and knowledge the guys on the floor have. They can usually tell if something is going to work or not... On the other hand, as an engineer you want to push the limits on what's possible to do and make things in better, faster, easier and cheaper ways than before. That is something the workers usually don't seem to give too much thought unless it makes their life easier... :)
 
#45
Deacon_Blues said:
Back in Canada, no engineers ever listened to anything what he and the other guys on the floor might have had to say. Mostly, the "brand new, shiny inventions the engineers showed up with" (his words) didn't work properly, but if they would have consulted the men on the floor even a tiny bit, they could actually have worked from the beginning as they would have made the things slightly differently...
Click to expand...
Not a solely Canadian phenomenom sadly. It seems to be the case that the degreed have a sort of inbuilt snobbery to some extent towards those that don't.
Deacon_Blues said:
On the other hand, as an engineer you want to push the limits on what's possible to do and make things in better, faster, easier and cheaper ways than before. That is something the workers usually don't seem to give too much thought unless it makes their life easier... :)
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It depends. Pushing the envelope is fun and all, but actually delivering a product that works well, is reliable, affordable (intital + ongoing costs), easy to use, low maintenance and takes into account the practical aspects of the people who will actually use it is actually a bigger success to my engineering mind. However, such a design has little glamour.
 
#46
Stock R said:
Hmm. I don't want to sound mean or anything but I figure someone's got to tell you. But I figure it's better to clarify any confusion now rather than later.

Your current program of study doesn't actually count as an engineering program or qualify you to become an engineer in Canada. There are strict rules in regards to the use of the word "engineer" or "engineering" in Canada. Your current area of study is in the realm of a technician/technologist.

In order to qualify to use the designation of "engineer" in Canada, you must be a registered member with the sanctioning engineering body for your province. In your particular case, it's the "Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland/Labrador" Invalid Link Removed

If you go to the website, you'll find the full details and the requirements necessary for eligibility. One of these is that your program of study must be accredited by your local sanctioning body. The program you're currently in is accredited, but by the "Canadian Technology Accreditation Board under the mandate of the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists" (as per your school's website) rather than the PEG.

It's a real sham the confusion that's been created by the post secondary education institutes in Canada. You'll notice that the university engineering programs will refer to their programs as "_____ Engineering" whereas the colleges call their programs "_____ Engineering Technology". They sound the same but are actually very different realms. As far as I know, accredited engineering programs are only available at universities in Canada. All college programs are for technicians/technologists.

Sorry if I've come across as a real snob/jerk. I just wanted to make sure you understood the difference as there are real and bad implication that can arise with the improper use of the term "engineer" in Canada.

As long as you're enjoying your program, and make a good future with it, that's what really matters. Engineers in Canada are like a cult :P There's a Ritual and all of them wear an iron ring on their pinky.
Click to expand...

erm, i go to College Of The North Atlantic Engineering Technologist Campus

now im confused....just confused
 
#47
A9X said:
It depends. Pushing the envelope is fun and all, but actually delivering a product that works well, is reliable, affordable (intital + ongoing costs), easy to use, low maintenance and takes into account the practical aspects of the people who will actually use it is actually a bigger success to my engineering mind. However, such a design has little glamour.
Click to expand...

You said it better than me. :)
 
#51
Fontaine said:
now im confused....just confused
Click to expand...

The confusion probably comes from the use of "Engineer" and terms such as "Engineering Technologist". Countries such as Canada have regulations on the usage of "engineer" and various other forms such as "engineering", "professional engineer", "mechanical engineer", "electrical engineer", etc. Engineering Technologists/Technicians have the word "engineer" but it is not used in the same sense. Their trade is as a technologist/technician and their profession is regulated by a different body. Unfortunately, there's a huge mix up and misunderstanding between an engineer and technologist. As a result, the two terms are often interchanged or used incorrectly. Usually the easiest way to distinguish the 2 is: Pen+Paper=Engineer. Hands-on=Technologist. Many jobs however have a lot of overlap between the 2 roles.

In order to use an engineering designation in Canada, you must obtain a license which has various requirements such as: graduation from an accredited program, pass any required testing, have engineering experience supervised by another licensed engineer, and pay some money.

Accredited programs are offered through various universities across the country. The students of these programs usually graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or Applied Science. Upon graduation, the student attends "The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer" and receives their iron ring. See Invalid Link Removed However, until the graduate fulfills the requirements for professional licensing, they're merely someone who graduated with a degree in engineering. They're not considered an engineer and cannot refer to themselves as one either.

I don't know the process for a becoming an engineering technologist unfortunately so I can't really compare the differences.

Hope that helps a bit. Clear as mud? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineer for more info.
 
#52
Stock R said:
The confusion probably comes from the use of "Engineer" and terms such as "Engineering Technologist". Countries such as Canada have regulations on the usage of "engineer" and various other forms such as "engineering", "professional engineer", "mechanical engineer", "electrical engineer", etc. Engineering Technologists/Technicians have the word "engineer" but it is not used in the same sense. Their trade is as a technologist/technician and their profession is regulated by a different body. Unfortunately, there's a huge mix up and misunderstanding between an engineer and technologist. As a result, the two terms are often interchanged or used incorrectly. Usually the easiest way to distinguish the 2 is: Pen+Paper=Engineer. Hands-on=Technologist.
Click to expand...

as of now mine consists of a lot of "pen to paper" stuff, and my teacher says that thats what ill be doing in the field....designing....oh well, ill find out soon enough
 
#54
I'm an Acoustical Engineering student at Purdue University. In my Junior year, so I'll be done in one more year after this semester! It's tough, but I hope to get a job with an Audio Engineering company and work mainly with loudspeakers. Hoping for an internship with Klipsch now, hopefully that pans out!
 
#55
purduebass said:
I'm an Acoustical Engineering student at Purdue University. In my Junior year, so I'll be done in one more year after this semester! It's tough, but I hope to get a job with an Audio Engineering company and work mainly with loudspeakers. Hoping for an internship with Klipsch now, hopefully that pans out!
Click to expand...

hey! did you here about the deal our two schools have in terms of Architectural Engineering and Civil Engineering?

btw im at "College Of The North Atlantic"
 
#56
purduebass said:
but I hope to get a job with an Audio Engineering company and work mainly with loudspeakers. Hoping for an internship with Klipsch now, hopefully that pans out!
Click to expand...
I couldn't think of a better job. I'd love to work for Klipsch too, but even more than that, I'd have loved the opportunity to have a good chat with PWK, a great engineer.
I'm hopefully getting my modded Klipschhorns upstairs a bit later this week. Need 2 extra bodies to help lift them.
 
#57
A9X said:
I couldn't think of a better job. I'd love to work for Klipsch too, but even more than that, I'd have loved the opportunity to have a good chat with PWK, a great engineer.
I'm hopefully getting my modded Klipschhorns upstairs a bit later this week. Need 2 extra bodies to help lift them.
Click to expand...

Too bad the closest you'll get is his cousin who runs the deal now. But yeah, I'm hoping this works out!
 

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