What practical experiences should I seek before deciding what kind of engineer I want to become?
Start by trying to build, measure, or analyze something in areas that interest you, both individually and in teams. In addition to classes, laboratory work, and design, programming, or making projects, consider internships, workplace visits, competitions, or community activities when available. Seek experience not only with technical tasks but also with identifying problems, collaborating, explaining your work, and improving after failure. Comparing different fields and roles, then reflecting on what you found interesting or suited to you, can help guide your choice.
Key points
- Gain experience in both individual and team work.
- Try different stages, such as design, implementation, experimentation, analysis, and presentation.
- After each experience, compare your interests, strengths and weaknesses, and preferred ways of working.
Things to check
- The availability and timing of experiments, projects, internships, and similar opportunities vary by university, faculty, program, and student situation, so check official information.