This post is a bit late, but I hope it will help those school students who will be looking at an engineering education next year to decide which branch they want to go for.
Everyone says IT is going down.
Many students are opting for mechanical engineering just because someone told them IT is unstable and is going down. I have a few questions for them. Answer these questions and you will know what to choose.
Where are all the mechanical Engineers going after their studies ?
What’s the Ratio of IT companies to Mechanical companies who are recruiting from the campus ?
IT took a hit some years back. But still who is the single largest recruiter ?
Do not choose mechanical engineering just because IT is going down. If you are passionate about it, then its ok. But if you don’t have a choice of your own and is looking only at the job prospects IT is still the best. Computers and Information Technology has come of age and is here to stay.
Engineering is not the end of the world
If you are ready to look outside the engineering “Glamour”, then there lots of other exciting possibilities out there. Insurance, banking and retail sector need a lot of people and they are facing a quality crisis right now.
There are a lot of job opportunities for skilled labour in western countries. And believe me in some countries plumbers, carpenters and other works that involve manual labour makes twice as much as an engineer makes.
Side Note
We need to think straight, and don’t go by what others tell you. Some times people give opinion just for the sake of giving an opinion. Do your research thoroughly and consult people who have already been there. Don’t ever believe what Malayala Manorama writes about job opportunities.
Exactly dear Kenney…
You are right, this article is a bit late..Last day I went to a college, there also I found some interesting reports from placement officer like this.
Well I expect one more article from you….Infosys and Wipro alone are not the last word of Software Companies in India…Because So many people do believe like this..I dunno where is TCS, Satyam and other big companies and other also 1000s of other mid-cap companies..Its the time to change attitude
Comment by anoop krishnan — October 9, 2008 @ 7:12 am
hehehe…i liked the last sentence..lol
))
Comment by scorpiogenius — October 9, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
The basic education ( from standard 1 to plus 2) that we provide to our kids makes all the difference in life. At the end of plus 2 students should have basic language skills, sufficient mathematics and general awareness of things happening around them.
The present day schooling system in Kerala is oriented towards entrance examinations and most of the guys entering engineering are not fit for anything. So there is no difference whether they study IT or Mechanical Engineering. I know many engineering students who can not find out the area of a circle.:D
Comment by vu2swx — October 9, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
The crowd is singing again…and every one is running after what is being said…when will the parents learn that there are other things in life other than engineering and medical….
Pheueeeeee…at least people like us have come out of this vicious cycle and show the next generation some light…
Comment by JMJ — October 9, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
Yea, I recently saw a parent in a college who did not let his son join that college as he got computer science.
Comment by theanand — October 9, 2008 @ 7:15 pm
Even I feel that same. Its the first 12 years of your education who defines who you are. Study in a wrong place and you are screwed for life… its take a lot of effort to get out of a bad education….
Comment by Kenney Jacob — October 9, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
Really Great post.
Also there is the fact that people think CS is very easy and they can learn it from outside the college. computer എന്തു പഠിക്കാന്?? This is what they ask. Well, learning to use a computer is not what Computer Science is all about. Let the students understand that
Comment by Aswin — October 10, 2008 @ 12:10 am
Very True Kenney,
I have studied mechanical engineering and I do not work in a field that is not at all related to engineering, let alone mechanical.
Also I know that only a few of my fellow students are actually working in the field after all these years.
So I have to point out three things.
1) Do not think that CS/IT is something that will go out of work in your life time, at least anybody who are old enough to read this. I am not qualified to make a judgment about the next generation.
2) Again, what you study at college may not have anything to do with what you end up doing in your life.
3) Most importantly, if you are not looking at entrepreneurship, the most money is not made by engineers or doctors. It happens in the financial sector. But do not think that a B. Com (with first class?
) will get you the entry ticket to that field.
Comment by Issac — October 10, 2008 @ 1:09 am
My bad, double negatives. I do not work in a field that is related to what I studied.
Comment by Issac — October 10, 2008 @ 1:13 am
You said it right.. Public speaking just for the sake of saying something do affect the students…This years admission criteria shows that. Last year the priority was Electronics>Computer Science>>Electrical>>>Mechanical etc..
But this year it is Electronics>Mechanical>Electrical>Computer Science..
And many of my college who came to CS this time are those who didn’t get the other courses.
I liked Computer Programming at school. So that by the time of entrance, I had confirmed on CS. And I gave only Computer Science as option for allotment.
I then had many of my relatives asking me to take a core branch. The reason they give was that a 3 month or so course at NIIT can make you as well equipped as any Computer Engineer is..
Going to a branch without interest is going to make your life miserable..
Comment by Alex — October 10, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
People are sometimes really stupid. 3 months NIIT and you are a CS engineer !!!
Its like saying, 3 months of apprenticeship in a workshop and you are a mechanical engineer.
Comment by Kenney Jacob — October 10, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
Here are the pecking orders Youngistan is subjected to:
studies: engg>med>….
colleges:IIT>NIT>…
branches: electronics>CS…
career: programmer>MBA>….professor>…
companies: MS>Infy>wipro…
We are told “your ambition is fine and all…” but that we have to fight for our place in the pecking order. That is why I am happy that there is a recession going on. People will have to give up their tunnel vision of the said pecking order.
I wouldnt be compelled to get a job next semester for companies I dont appreciate. I wouldnt be admired for the ability to buy a BMW. People wouldnt join mechanical and elctrical just to get to the college which offers sure jobs. Heck, people wouldnt join engineeering if it doesnt suit them.
Good times are ahead, people!
Comment by jesvin — December 19, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
If any1 is reading ths thn thks for it.Actualy i wantd help in arranging the career option sepuence for the COMEDK 2009 counseling in whch i got 8284 rank.I like to do thngs wth comp frm childhood & i hav learnt alot on my own bt wht abt mech,EE,CIVIL.PLZ
Comment by Sonu — June 18, 2009 @ 8:40 am
Dont argue for cse versus mechanical because every branch has got its own speciality. Most of you people are speaking about computerscience dont u know that there is huge requirement of mechanical engineers in quality control,design optimisation, advanced manufacturing technicques of ur electronic gadgets like cell phones,lcd s,tv,computers,laptops,………the list goes like anything.
Comment by krishna — December 30, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
what u said is jus a shit
!!!!!mechanical engg is far more good branch than IT N CS!!!cs is not an engg…dont mis guide students!!!!!mechanical is a core engg field where there is alot of opportunities!!!people jus thnk only infosys tcs wipro are companies!!!!mechanical is a very very vast area!!!dont ever try t compare with them
Comment by nikhil — March 10, 2010 @ 9:34 pm
I feel nikhil is a dummbo!!!!
C.S. is the best branch for engg. just writing the complicated names with mechanical doesn’t mean that it is a good branch…
please dnt misguide people… CS is much much better than ME!!!
Comment by Chandresh — March 24, 2010 @ 10:42 pm
mechanical is damn shit engg got it..?
computer science * information technology are the best engg’s and em advicing to all that choose only these engg’s which i told to u..ok…..?..:d:D:DD al the best guys..
bye…:D
Comment by preet — June 8, 2010 @ 5:23 pm
guys pls dont fight over this simple issue. just like what krishna said ” every branch in engineering is just as good as the other ” im a software engineer but still i like doing mechanical stuff. its what u enjoy doing is what is the best thing in life. if ur gettin into engg placement choose a branch u like to work with ur entire life. all the best…..
Comment by aravind — June 25, 2010 @ 10:25 pm