• Question: Is it stressful being an engineer?

    Asked by thedoctor2014 to Alex, Claire, Kate, Marcus, Neil on 19 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Marcus Johns

      Marcus Johns answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      I think my lifestyle choice along with my work is stressful on my body. I have had nights that I haven’t been able to sleep because there’s so many work-related things on my mind and I have a habit of getting a cold whenever I go on holiday because my body is able to relax. But I love the work that I do and don’t want to do anything else, so take this in my stride and just get on with it.

    • Photo: Alex Lyness

      Alex Lyness answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Hey thedoctor2014,

      I think everyone gets stressed sometimes, whether they are preparing for exams or a job interview or moving house or having a family, so I would not be too worried about picking a job based on the amount of stress it may/may not bring. Life has many stresses, looking back school was the easy bit!

      I’ve met really relaxed engineers and really stressed ones. I’m sure the same too goes for cleaners, lawyers, bin men, bankers, teachers and fighter pilots!

      I would pick a career based on how much you enjoy it, as if you enjoy your job the parts that seem stressful won’t be as bad. Sure, the higher, further and farther you want to go in any career will mean you will have to stay in or stay late sometimes to get jobs done, but the more you try, learn and develop the better you get will get which makes all that stress worthwhile.

      The key thing is: pick a job you will enjoy, which is not necessarily always the one that will pay you the most. I’m fortunate as I enjoy engineering and it can be quite well paid = win win!

    • Photo: Claire Brockett

      Claire Brockett answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Hi thedoctor2014
      There are a few times I get a bit stressed out – when I’ve got deadlines looming, or when I have to deliver a lecture to 140 students, but most of the time I really enjoy my job and the problem-solving is fun.
      Probably the only time I’ve really stressed myself out was my own doing – checking my work email on my phone as soon as I woke up and before I went to bed – so I’ve stopped doing that now – I have definite work-free times and it’s much better 🙂

    • Photo: Kate Niehaus

      Kate Niehaus answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      I think it’s easy to let any job become overwhelmingly stressful if you allow it to be! The important thing is to keep perspective (there are many other aspects of life outside of just work!) and to just approach busy or stress-inducing times in smaller, bite-sized chunks.

      That being said, I don’t think that engineering is generally more or less stressful than any other job. You can take roles with more responsibility, which usually pay more and offer more opportunities, but may be more stressful, or you can take roles that are very predictable and the work load may be more easily planned. It all depends on your preferences down the road.

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