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Can I be an engineer and still dress conservatively?

I'm passionate about maths, physics, and problem-solving and want to be an engineer (I like mechanical and electrical right now), but I worry that the way I dress will limit my opportunities. I dress conservatively, remaining covered and not showing the form. I don’t want to work at a desk all the time, but is loose, flowing clothing permitted on jobsites or around moving machinery? Are there workarounds for someone like me?

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  • Aisyah

    Added Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 11:36 PM

    Hi! I've always been interested in engineering because I thought I would be building and designing things. Until recently where I met someone who is a Civil Engineer (the field I'm thinking about) told me that she 98% work in an office-- in a cubicle-- and that its meetings after meetings. The reason why I'm interested in Engineering is because of the hands on and the variety of projects, I didn't expect to work in an office and I feel like I would die if I do. So how often are you using your ...
    Answers 2
    Jacquelyn Berry, Collins Aerospace
    Answered Friday, October 17, 2025 at 1:33 PM
    It really depends on the type of engineering role you get, and the industry. There are a lot of different job types for engineers - design, stress, test, manufacturing, research, specialty analysis (aero, thermal), quality, project. 
    
    For example, a ...
    Amber Hall, City of Somersworth
    Answered Monday, August 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
    Hello there!
    Engineering is very broad, and there are all types of jobs! I spent my first 5 years in design, every day. As you progress in your career, you may choose to get more into project management than design all day! 
    I found that I was losing my ...
  • Added Monday, September 29, 2025 at 2:26 PM

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    I'm passionate about maths, physics, and problem-solving and want to be an engineer (I like mechanical and electrical right now), but I worry that the way I dress will limit my opportunities. I dress conservatively, remaining covered and not showing the form. I don’t want to work at a desk all the time, but is loose, flowing clothing ...

    Answers 6
    Amy Devine, QuickFlex, Inc.
    Answered Monday, September 29, 2025 at 2:34 PM

    You will find a job in engineering. The restrictions that we have in jobs are there to keep us safe. You cannot have someone operating machinery while wearing clothing that could get caught. That being said, I am sure that there is an OSHA person who can ...

    Sarah Kurtz, University of California, Merced
    Answered Monday, September 29, 2025 at 2:33 PM

    Conservative dress is just fine for office work and presentations at conferences. However, loose clothing when working near machinery may cause a safety hazard. This should be reviewed in consultation with your Safety Officer and appropriate precautions ...

    Kim Linder, Honeywell FM&T
    Answered Monday, September 29, 2025 at 2:33 PM

    In general, yes! You can dress conservatively. The only exceptions I can think of when you may not have 100% say in the outer layer is when safety comes into play. In a machine shop, or place with moving machinery, you are often required to wear steel ...

  • Added Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 6:52 AM

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    Like what other careers can you use an engineering degree in? I’m curious what kinds of options I could have if I don’t want to work in a traditional engineering role.

    Answers 10
    Answered Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 7:18 AM

    That’s an interesting question, as it makes me curious about what you imagine is a “traditional engineering role.” Quickly off the top of my head I know of friends with engineering degrees who work in sales, product design, quality assurance, testing, ...

    Carla Bailo, ECOS Consulting
    Answered Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 7:17 AM

    An engineering degree prepares you for a plethora of career opportunities. The fundamentals that you learn can be applied in the world of fashion, entertainment, medicine, and many more. I personally have several schoolmates who are now doctors, ...

    Danielle Cooper, The Chemours Company
    Answered Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 7:15 AM

    When I think of “traditional engineering,” I think of a role that is very technical. There are a vast amount of roles that engineers can have that are far from the technically detailed roles.

    I am a Chemical Engineer and have been a Project Manager, in ...

  • Added Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM

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    I generally do well in school, but I’m struggling with my 9th grade class workload. I want to be an engineer and I’ve heard that there is a lot of work to do in college classes. I’m worried that if I’m already having trouble with my workload in high school that I won’t last in college. Is the engineering workload as hard as I’ve heard? Any ...

    Answers 7
    Beth Crisco-Kestner, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
    Answered Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 10:09 AM

    All college programs are going to require self-discipline and dedication in order to succeed. I wouldn't say Engineering is any different. It is a matter of passion and commitment. Most universities offer an introductory course in Engineering within the ...

    Erin Gately, Iron Mountain
    Answered Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 10:08 AM

    Engineering school is hard. But you learn tips and tricks to help you improve your study habits. Many of the engineering classes are challenging but they are also interesting. Studying interesting things makes them feel less hard.

    My advice is to find a ...

    Kim Linder, Honeywell FM&T
    Answered Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 10:06 AM

    Engineering classes do tend to have a bigger workload than other majors. However, just like you are learning time management and studying skills as a freshman in high school, you will take these high school skills and build on them as a freshman in ...

  • Added Monday, April 28, 2025 at 12:03 PM

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    I want to be an engineer and I’m good at math and science but I’m not good in reading and social studies. I don’t really like those other subjects. Do I need to be good at things other than math and science to be an engineer? I thought engineers just used STEM stuff but my sister says they use more things too.

    Answers 11
    Answered Monday, April 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM

    Hey! It's awesome that you're interested in engineering and that you're strong in math and science – that's a fantastic foundation! Seriously, those skills are super important for becoming an engineer, so you're already on a great track.

    Your sister does ...

    Patricia Mokhtarian, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Monday, April 28, 2025 at 12:28 PM

    I won't lie to you: the better you are with words (reading and writing), the stronger your impact as an engineer will be! I cannot imagine an engineering job in which you won't need to communicate your ideas, plans, and accomplishments to other people. ...

    Wendy Sahli, Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society
    Answered Monday, April 28, 2025 at 12:23 PM

    You do not have to be good at every subject. I would encourage you to look for STEM in subjects that you aren’t great at. You’d be surprised how much STEM plays a role in history, and you can find books related to your interests or find STEM in the books ...

  • Jas

    Added Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 2:16 AM

    Currently, I am thinking about declaring a major, but I am stuck between civil or environmental engineering. I've always had a passion for helping the environment but more so in urban planning/studies. I don't really know which engineering would be more geared towards urban planning and, thus I am stuck choosing between these two majors. I am also really interested in transportation as well, and I'm also interested in ways to reduce pollution in our atmosphere.
    Answers 1
    Answered Monday, April 14, 2025 at 12:21 AM
    The best fit depends on your emphasis: choose Civil Engineering if your primary drive is designing the core physical systems with environmental protection as a key component, or Environmental Engineering if you're more drawn to the specific pollution ...
  • Ivan Reyes asked Shima Hajimirza, Stevens Institute of Technology

    Added Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 11:22 PM

    Is an engineering degree still valuable to employers if the college is regionally accredited but not ABET accredited? I recently applied to school called ECPI university. I want to pursue a bachelor's degree in mechatronics at this school but they are not ABET accredited

    Answers 1
    Answered Friday, April 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM

    Response provided by the ABET Senior Director of Communications

    Thank you for your thoughtful question.

    ABET plays a critical role in providing quality assurance for programs in engineering, as well as in applied and natural science, computing, and ...

  • Added Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 12:16 PM

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    I’m starting to think about college and since it is expensive and a lot of work, I don’t want to regret my decision of what to study. I really like the engineering stuff I’ve done in school so far and think that it could be a good path for me. Are there parts of engineering that you don’t like or that make you regret going into it in the ...

    Answers 9
    Carla Bailo, ECOS Consulting
    Answered Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 12:34 PM

    This is a tough question for those of us who have spent our entire career in engineering related fields. Naturally, there are some areas which I loved more than others. In school, I struggled with thermodynamics but excelled at heat transfer which ...

    Una Trivanovic, METAS (Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology)
    Answered Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 12:33 PM

    Engineering is a very broad field so if you study engineering you can choose from a huge variety of jobs which all have pros and cons. I have had some engineering jobs that I didn't enjoy so much and others that I have found very fulfilling! I will never ...

    Answered Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 12:32 PM

    Hello! What a great question. First and foremost, I applaud you for understanding your likes and contemplating career choices while in high school. It will be important in college and class selections.

    Secondly, I wanted to answer your question, “have ...

  • Amber Brown

    Added Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 10:36 PM

    I am currently majoring in civil engineering with a 3.7 accumulative but math Is my thing and I don't get tired of it. I found that choosing the project management aspect of engineering limits me to be more in charge than doing the technical aspect of things. I want to make a difference in this world, but am starting to worry that engineering is limiting in that retrospect. I want the civil aspect of our world to grow more environmentally conscious but don't find the environmental engineering ...
    Answers 1
    Answered Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 11:41 AM
    Your love of math and environmental impact within civil engineering is a powerful combination. Consider specializing in areas like:
     * Water Resources: Heavy math, direct environmental impact.
     * Geotechnical: Sustainable materials and modeling.
     * ...
  • Maryam Soliman

    Added Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM

    I'm really interested in nuclear and chemical engineering, and NASA or CERN seem like fantastic places to work.

    I'm a freshman in an engineering program. I find that I struggle a little bit with the CAD Program we use, Fusion 360, but I can get it with practice. The main reason I chose engineering is because I'm good at math and I love doing it. There are so many different options for what discipline I could major in, and it's amazing that I can get feedback from actual engineers!

    Answers 1
    Sarah Absher, Procter & Gamble
    Answered Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM
    I am a Chemical Engineer - I chose the field because I loved Chemistry and Math.  Any Engineering discipline is foundational to establish critical thinking and problem solving, regardless of the "discipline".  It is important to think about what you love ...
  • Added Monday, February 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM

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    I'm a high school student who is really interested in doing engineering. I'm not sure that I can major in engineering due to not having taken calculus as a junior in high school. I plan to take pre-calculus by senior year but won't be able to take calculus. I am taking an intro into engineering this year. Even if I haven't taken Calculus ...

    Answers 14
    Answered Monday, February 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM

    Hey there! Absolutely, you can pursue an engineering major even if you've only taken pre-calculus in high school. It's totally possible, and honestly, it's something I experienced myself!

    I actually started my undergraduate studies in a different field ...

    Kristin Sweeney, US Aggregates
    Answered Monday, February 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM

    Of course you can still be an engineer if you haven’t had the opportunity to take calculus in high school. It sounds like you’ve got a solid plan to take pre-calculus your senior year and this will give you a great foundation. When I was a senior in high ...

    Jennifer Myren, Collins Aerospace
    Answered Monday, February 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM

    Yes, absolutely! I actually think it's better to take calculus right before starting college as it will be more fresh in your mind. I highly recommend taking it at a community college in the summer so you can take your time and really understand it. I ...

  • Kayla cleminshaw

    Added Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 2:07 AM

    I am interested in studying further to make a significant impact on the environment. Would mechanical engineering be the right fit for that? I want to help reduce carbon emissions, minimize energy waste, and improve hydraulic systems.
    Answers 1
    Linsey Marr, Virginia Tech
    Answered Monday, January 27, 2025 at 9:35 PM
    Most types of engineering have the potential to make a significant impact on the environment. Mechanical engineering is a great choice because you can help improve efficiency of machines so that they use less energy, design machines to extract and store ...
  • Added Monday, January 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM

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    I want to study engineering in college but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed because the field is so broad and there are so many paths to take. How did you navigate this uncertainty as you finished high school and started college? What opportunities did you find most valuable? What should I do now to help find my direction?

    Answers 9
    Answered Monday, January 27, 2025 at 1:10 PM

    You are absolutely right that the paths in engineering are plentiful, and hopefully you’ll be able to see that as a good thing! There is no one singular straight road that will lead directly from here to your perfect dream (even once you know what that ...

    Erin Rosenthal, PMA Engineering
    Answered Monday, January 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM

    The field of engineering offers an overwhelming number of options. To navigate these choices, I recommend engaging in opportunities that provide mentoring and real-world experiences across various engineering disciplines. This will help you explore ...

    Patricia Mokhtarian, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Answered Monday, January 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM

    My experience is doubtless not for everyone, but I will share it in case it resonates. I started college as a tentative biology major -- I knew I liked science, but wasn't sure what branch of science I wanted to major in. Then someone told me, "You know, ...

  • Brooke Menne

    Added Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM

    I got rejected from only aero university in MN after previously pursing an aerospace degree elsewhere. Am I able to pursue the same dreams I had as an aerospace engineer if I do a mechanical degree?
    Answers 1
    Kim de Groh, NASA Glenn Research Center
    Answered Friday, January 10, 2025 at 11:22 AM
    Hi Brooke, I can not answer your specific question, but I can let you know that I have a BS & MS in materials science and I work at NASA Glenn Research Center flying spaceflight experiments and studying the durability of spacecraft materials in the space ...
  • Nathan

    Added Friday, November 29, 2024 at 1:51 PM

    Answers 1
    Donna Hull, Verizon
    Answered Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:03 PM
    Choosing the Military will take just as much energy and research as choosing a college. There a many avenues which can lead to you being an engineer in some capacity in the military.  
    
    I encourage you to just not go on the answer I provide here but ...
  • RANA

    Added Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 3:45 PM

    I'm interested biomedical engineering and I've been doing research on it but I keep seeing more cons than pros. Right now I'm in my first year for materials engineering. At the same time I'm not sure what to do so i was considering offering electrical engineering. Please I need advise on what to do.
    Answers 1
    Chunqing Liu, Honeywell
    Answered Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 8:35 AM

    I feel that you are at an important crossroads in your academic path during your first year in college. Based on my personal academic experience, I would suggest that you can calm down and try a step-by-step approach to help you to make your decision. I ...

  • Added Monday, October 28, 2024 at 12:37 PM

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    How do you deal with the fact that engineering designs impact people directly and can change lives? Like what if you accidentally endanger human life or make lives worse? Isn’t that scary?

    Answers 6
    Carla Bailo, ECOS Consulting
    Answered Monday, October 28, 2024 at 1:30 PM

    Actually, one of the best parts of an engineering career is the ability to fundamentally improve peoples' lives through innovations and sound design. In any engineering role, there are clearly defined standards that have been developed over time that ...

    Erin Gately, Iron Mountain
    Answered Monday, October 28, 2024 at 1:29 PM

    Very rarely do we design something by ourselves. When designing a product or a process, there will be an entire team involved. The team will look at the engineering design from different aspects such as ergonomics and safety. Marketing will do market ...

    Kate Fay, Verizon
    Answered Monday, October 28, 2024 at 1:28 PM

    One of the great things about engineering is you are never working alone. There are multiple people/ teams involved in a design or process. This provides multiple eyes on a project to ensure everything is going smoothly and will not cause any negative ...

  • Added Friday, September 27, 2024 at 11:07 AM

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    I love building and engineering. I’m in 9th grade but do you know any ways I can get involved now in programs that can help me on my college essays or on jobs in the future? I want to be as ready as possible.

    Answers 6
    Carla Bailo, ECOS Consulting
    Answered Friday, September 27, 2024 at 11:41 AM

    It's always good to be preparing for your future and considering ways to improve your success. I would recommend that you think about different clubs that might lead to your success such as Robotics and/or auto drive challenges. Take a look at what's ...

    Kim Linder, Honeywell FM&T
    Answered Friday, September 27, 2024 at 11:39 AM

    Great question! I think there are many aspects you could spend time with, but most of all, have fun!

    Academically, continue to take as much math, science and computer science as you find appealing. Get involved in some type of STEM group that works for ...

    Nancy Post, Boston Consulting Group
    Answered Friday, September 27, 2024 at 11:37 AM

    There are so many ways to start preparing. First of all, take all of the math and science you can, including college level courses, as soon as your school allows. I know that in some schools, they make exceptions and allow ninth graders to start if ...

  • Halima

    Added Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 2:54 PM

    I am interested in studying aerospace engineering in uni but after that i want to go into project management, so i was wondering how you got into it? and any advice on how to go about it. thank you
    Answers 1
    Answered Monday, September 16, 2024 at 2:16 PM
    There are many different ways to get into project management. Many companies that hire you will have a path and training within the company to help you on that path. Another option is to get an MBA, but I would get at least 2 years of experience before ...
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