“What is a MACHINE?” When you read or hear this question, you immediately think of the iconic scene from the Hindi movie 3 Idiots. Rancho (Aamir Khan) answers in layman terms – “A machine is anything that reduces human effort”. Let’s extend this further to “What does a Mechanical Engineer do?”. Taking a cue from Rancho’s response, we can say that mechanical engineers design, develop, install, operate and maintain all kinds of machines.
Mechanical Engineering is one of the oldest and possibly the most diverse specializations. It provides a wide range of opportunities in different industries, various job roles and overall career options. This article will discuss the scope of mechanical engineering as a career option and the multiple courses available to students in India.
What Is The Scope Of Mechanical Engineering?
Smack in the middle of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate. Automation has impacted most industries; hence, Mechanical Engineering has become one of the most favoured branches of engineering in recent times. Mechanical engineers in India are in high demand due to the rapid industrialisation of the nation. Job prospects for skilled mechanical engineers are limitless in India and abroad.
Students are actively recruited by private and public sectors in various industries. Gone are the days when Mechanical Engineers were restricted to manufacturing units. Now with additional qualifications, they can hold senior positions in managerial and administrative fields.
Some of the job roles available to mechanical engineers include but not limited to:
- Project Manager
- Senior Engineer
- Service and Maintenance Engineer
- Instructional Designer
- Professors/Lecturers
- Mining Engineer
- Patent Attorney
- Robotics Engineer
- Biomedical Engineer
The scope of growth and career advancement of mechanical engineers in India and abroad are spectacular. Skilled mechanical engineers have many opportunities in aerospace, automobile, chemical manufacturing plants, oil exploration, railway coach factory, research, and development. Due to the massive influx of technology, a mechanical engineer’s expertise is required in robotics, biomedical, nanotechnology, AI, energy conservation, and more. This specialization promises exponential growth in the next few years. Hence, mechanical engineers will soon become one of the highest-paid career options.
How to Become A Mechanical Engineer?
A bachelor’s degree (B.Tech/B.E.) is essential to pursue a career in Mechanical Engineering.
Acquiring a postgraduate degree (M.E. or M.Tech.) is also recommended. Many Engineers also consider postgraduate studies in Management for career advancement and prepare themselves for higher-level managerial roles. This is the most conventional route; however, students have various options to study Mechanical Engineering.
- Diploma after 10th
👉🏻Minimum score of 55 percent in 10th grade
👉🏻10th pass with ITI certificate
👉🏻10th pass with Certificate in Motorcycle Services and Repair (CMSR) from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) - Diploma after 12th
👉🏻Qualifying 12th grade in Science Stream (with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as main subjects) with a minimum score of 50 per cent. - Undergraduate Degree (BE/B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering – 4 Year Degree)
👉🏻Passed Grade 12 or an equivalent examination with 55 percent of marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. - Postgraduate Course (M.E./M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or Related Specialization – 2 Year Degree).
👉🏻Graduates with a B.E./B.Tech/AMIE or equivalent degree with an aggregate score of 55 percent and above. - Doctoral Degree (Ph.D)
👉🏻Mechanical Engineers pursue a doctoral program to explore their inclination towards research and education.
👉🏻They are trained to utilise and advance their engineering skills and contribute to applied manufacturing and mechanical research projects.
👉🏻A PhD program can range from 3 to 6 years.
👉🏻Aspiring candidates must have scored at least 75 percent in B.E./B.Tech and/or 65 percent in M.E./M.Tech.
Most reputed engineering colleges will need students to qualify for different entrance examinations. These exams are held at national-level and state-level for admissions to bachelor’s and master’s programmes. Shortlisted candidates are also required to appear for a personal interview and counselling session. The admission decision is made based on the student’s performance in the entrance exam and following interactions.
Recommended Read: The Career Counselling Process
Is Mechanical Engineering the right choice for you?
One must keep in mind that being one of the most favored options, it doesn’t automatically guarantee success. After the degree, your interest and passion will drive your performance. Your soft skills must complement the hard skills that you will acquire in Mechanical Engineering.
While it is common to find a mechanical engineer, especially in India, it isn’t easy to find a skilled one. Another aspect that you must keep in mind before making your choice is the variety of specializations available to you at the postgraduate level.
With the plethora of options available, how do you figure out if Mechanical Engineering is the right choice for you?
Like many students considering Mechanical Engineering, you may also have some concerns about this specialization. It is a rigorous program, and students who take up Mechanical without much thought and proper planning end up feeling like their undergraduate years went in vain. Hence, we recommend that you research your options thoroughly before making your decision. You can consider taking internships, informational interviews with industry experts, and talking to alumni of the institute, which will also help. It is most important to analyze if this is the best-match career option for you. Remember, the goal is not to go after the best career. It is to pursue the career option that is best for you.
If you are still wondering whether Mechanical Engineering is the right choice for you or not, or need assistance in choosing the right program/college, take the Mindler Career Assessment and get expert advice from the country’s leading career coaches.
And, if you want to get an overview of Mechanical Engineering as a career, then you should try our ‘Virtual Internship Programs’ in Mechanical Engineering and get yourself upskilled and certified by Mindler.
To know more about career coaching programs, you can contact us.