So I'm in my final year of highschool and pretty soon we are going to need to select which programs we want to go into in university. Engineering is something that I've always seen myself doing in the future. The thing that scares me is the difficulty of finding a job here in Canada. I've read a couple articles, listened to some of my teachers, and seen friends who have parents who have engineering degrees out of the engineering field and are currently working as teachers, in restaurants, etc. All this is pretty worrisome.

My questions are to any engineers here that live/work in Canada.

1) Are you currently working in the engineering field? If yes, how long did it take after graduation to find a job?

2) Would it be worth it to spend a lot more money to go to a more reputable school (e.g. U of Toronto, Waterloo) or stay home and go to my local university?

3) If you are currently working in the engineering field, would you say you enjoy your work? Descriptions of projects and work you do would be cool.

4) What would you say is the best field of engineering field to get into in terms of employment outlook?

Any other advice or information would be appreciated as well.

I graduated in 2008, at the end of the "boom"

1) Are you currently working in the engineering field? If yes, how long did it take after graduation to find a job?
Sort of... I don't quite work as an "engineer", more like a engineering tech at an engineering consultant firm. It took me 5 months after graduation to find a job because I didn't have much work experience. Several of my friends who graduated in May still haven't found a job yet. It's a big contrast to a year ago.... there were so many placements and now there's barely anything out. I think it's cyclic and will change with the economy. My coworkers have told me that they've seen this before and have went through the downsizing in the 80s. But you're right I know a couple of people who graduated from engineering who didn't actually work as an engineer... some find they lose interest halfway through their studies but finish their degree anyways. Another changed career because of the economy.

2) Would it be worth it to spend a lot more money to go to a more reputable school (e.g. U of Toronto, Waterloo) or stay home and go to my local university?

I don't really know. I haven't researched it that far... I went to the one in my city for financial reasons.

3) If you are currently working in the engineering field, would you say you enjoy your work? Descriptions of projects and work you do would be cool. biggrin.gif

it's alright, but because I draft all day, so it gets quite repetitive. It really depends on what job you get. One of my friend works with spreadsheets all day, another studies a mechanical part (he works for a supplier) and I think he does quotes for his clients and figures why a part should fail. One of my classmates researches for a plant that will produce ethanol from cow pie! (i think it was ethanol). Engineering is quite vast.... and if you're talented (and lucky) you can probably find what you are looking for.

4) What would you say is the best field of engineering field to get into in terms of employment outlook?

I wouldn't suggest picking a field based on the employment outlook, but based on your interests. The economy can change quite quickly. chemical was so hot 3 years ago, and now it's not.


my advice to you is pick engineering if you like it. It's definitely challenging. 4 years is quite a while away, the economy could be totally different from now (i certainly hope so )