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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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  • Peggy Layne, Virginia Tech
    Answered Monday, September 24, 2018 at 7:11 AM
    Hello Zahra, 
    In the United States, engineers are licensed at the state level. While the requirements are very similar across the country, you will need to check with the state where you are living for the specific licensure requirements. You can find ...
  • Kelly asked Kristin Malosh, North Star BlueScope Steel

    Added Monday, August 6, 2018 at 7:46 PM

    I love math and have loved all of my calculus classes. I ultimately want to do something along the lines of engineering solar panels and other clean energy sources and implementing them in third world countries. I initially thought environmental was the right path but I looked into biosystems more and now I'm unsure. What are the big differences between the two as far as employment and work environment and which one would you recommend for me? Thank you so much!
    Answers 1
    Kristin Malosh, North Star BlueScope Steel
    Answered Friday, September 14, 2018 at 8:59 PM
    Hi Kelly! This is a fantastic question....it takes me back to my time at MSU as I was making that same decision (although quite a few years ago I must admit).  Ultimately, I chose Biosystems over the Civil/Environmental route because I was more ...
  • Shelby asked Victoria Cummings, Walmart

    Added Sunday, April 8, 2018 at 10:30 AM

    Answers 1
    Answered Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 8:05 PM
    Hey Shelby,
    
    It really depends on your job position and company to determine if you travel. Most engineers don't travel as much unless they're going to other sites to help build that plant from ground up.  Yes, it is possible to travel as a chemical ...
  • Ally

    Added Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 3:50 AM

    I am a Freshman in high school, but I am worried about what kind of job I am going to have and if I will enjoy it and it will fit my needs. I would like to be an environmental, mechanical, or civic engineer. (I am not yet sure what kind of engineering yet) I would like to be able to help others, possibly in third world countries, but still, earn enough money. I would also like to travel when I am a young adult but have opportunities to settle down when I am older.
    Answers 1
    Karen Thole, Pennsylvania State University
    Answered Friday, November 3, 2017 at 11:28 AM

    Most of us did not know what kind of job we would like to have when we were at your stage of life. As a matter of fact, I did not even know enough to consider being an engineer! The good news is that most of us figure out what our passions are as we go ...

  • Yatziri

    Added Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 10:24 AM

    What are your reasons as to why you chose this career in general?
    Answers 1
    Answered Monday, September 25, 2017 at 7:44 PM

    Answered by Krista Murphy

    I was searching for an opportunity to combine technical skills and interaction with a variety of people. Engineering consulting offers an opportunity for both design and project management. I enjoy spending time with project ...

  • Mandy

    Added Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 10:52 AM

    I am 32 years old and completing my first year back to school to earn a degree in civil/environmental engineering (although I am open to switching fields). My first degree was in history and after many years with difficulty finding a job (I worked as a technical support representative at a few call centers) that could provide enough income, a yearning to challenge myself intellectually, and wanting to contribute more to society I decided Engineering was the way to go. By the time I will finish ...
    Answers 1
    Sandra Begay, Sandia National Laboratories
    Answered Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 12:52 PM
    I am proud that you’ve decided to challenge yourself! A degree in engineering is not easy, but my experience is that it is a very rewarding degree. The job opportunities can enhance your contributions and also most engineering jobs pay very well. My ...
  • Rachael Amoah

    Added Friday, March 24, 2017 at 5:12 AM

    What I should know before pursuing aeronautic engineering in terms of academics.
    Answers 1
    Elizabeth Bierman, Honeywell Aerospace
    Answered Monday, April 17, 2017 at 8:44 AM
    HI!  To enter college to study aerospace engineering be sure that you are taking the classes in high school that the college indicates you need to be ready.  What this usually is 3-4 years of science, 4 years of math, and 1-2 years of a foreign language. ...
  • Lia, Hamilton asked Laura Helbling, Aster Brands

    Added Monday, January 9, 2017 at 10:15 PM

    I'm in my final year of high school, and I am trying to decide between Civil and Mechanical Engineering. I am currently leaning towards Civil, but would that mean I would have to travel frequently? I do not mind travelling from time to time, but I do want to be close to friends and family. I also heard that there were design firms, where civil engineers have office jobs, but do they require previous experience of being on-site (which probably means travelling a lot?) ? Would it also require ...
    Answers 1
    Laura Helbling, Aster Brands
    Answered Monday, January 9, 2017 at 10:15 PM
    Lia,
    
    I am a geotechnical engineer, a field of civil engineering that focuses on the mechanics of subsurface soil and rock and the design of structures placed on these materials. I work for a consulting firm that specializes in retaining wall design. We ...
  • AC, Oak Creek

    Added Monday, March 28, 2016 at 8:34 AM

    Would learning a foreign language make a significant impact on the number of opportunities for an engineer in a corporate or manufacturing setting? Do many engineers travel abroad where a foreign language would be necessary or is that less common than not?
    Answers 1
    Yvette Gengler, Independent Mining Consultants, Inc.
    Answered Monday, March 28, 2016 at 8:34 AM
    Learning a second language is one of the MOST important things you can do to advance your career.  I have been able to travel to many Latin countries because I speak Spanish.  My boss only speaks English and whenever we get a job in Central America or ...
  • Janie

    Added Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 12:51 PM

    I'm interested in biomedical engineering, but I also want a job where I can travel. Is there a job option within biomedical engineering where I can do this?
    Answers 1
    Esha Singh, Corning Life Science
    Answered Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 12:51 PM
    Biomedical engineering is a branch which has got scope in 3 major regions.
    1).Hospital
    2).Manufacturing units
    3).Sales and service 
    
    Talking about your interest, if you want to go for travelling based job as an biomedical engineer, then choose the ...
  • Nasly, Jersey city

    Added Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 12:39 AM

    Hello, I'm currently a student at a community college majoring in Engineering Science. After I get my Associate I would like to major in Civil Engineering, but I'm kind of wondering if this means that I have to travel a lot. I don't like traveling. So my question is does civil engineers travel a lot?
    Answers 1
    Colista Freeman, Mulkey Engineers & Consultants
    Answered Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 12:39 AM
    Many civil engineers are able to work without traveling extensively. It simply depends on your employer and the type of engineering work you do. Working on the construction side of civil engineering will often require more travel, since work occurs on ...
  • Anonymous, Quezon City, Metro Manila asked Jennifer Polivka, Nike

    Added Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 12:33 PM

    Hi, Jennifer Polivka! I am a second year college student taking up BS Materials Engineering at the University of the Philippines. I know that this course covers a wide range of topics. That is why in the fourth year of the course, there is a need for specialization. I really want to work in Nike. After reading your biography, I became more motivated than ever. But the problem is, I don't even know how I would be given the opportunity to work there. Well, first of all, it's in Oregon. It's so ...
    Answers 1
    Answered Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 12:33 PM
    Hello!
    
    Nike is amazing and I truly enjoy my job and the company.  But also be open to other opportunities because you never know what is going to come your way!  I didn't do my studies in university with Nike in mind; I actually intended to work in ...
  • Lydia, Denver

    Added Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 1:46 PM

    I currently live in the US but am going to go to college in Canada. If I get my engineering degree in Canada am I able to practice engineering in other parts of the world, or does it depend on the school?
    Answers 1
    Kristen Sanderson, GE Digital
    Answered Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 1:46 PM
    As an engineer in a global company, I can say that I hire people from all over the world and your situation would not present a problem.  What might matter, depending on your specific field, is whether you need any local certifications (like PE) to work ...
  • Shelly, Chatham asked Eva Regnier, Naval Postgraduate School

    Added Friday, November 30, 2012 at 8:16 AM

    Have you ever traveled the world when working?
    Answers 1
    Eva Regnier, Naval Postgraduate School
    Answered Friday, November 30, 2012 at 8:16 AM
    Yes, I have traveled a lot with my current job - I've been to Argentina, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Colombia, Estonia, Germany, Guinea, Kenya, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, South Africa, Thailand, .... Most of that travel was to teach, which is an unusual ...
  • Judy Rasmussen, Liberty Lake, WA asked Danielle Forget Shield, SCC Americas

    Added Friday, March 30, 2012 at 7:06 AM

    What skills does one need to become an engineer who works on projects like providing clean water systems for villages in Nicaragua?
    Answers 1
    Danielle Forget Shield, SCC Americas
    Answered Friday, March 30, 2012 at 7:06 AM
    Someone providing clean water systems would need to understand both the civil engineering aspects of constructing a clean water source and the environmental requirements for clean water. A Civil Engineering degree with an environmental emphasis would be ...
  • Shariah, Abu Dhabi, UAE asked Urbashi Mitra, USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Added Friday, March 30, 2012 at 4:28 AM

    I finished high school a few months back and scored high grades for both maths and physics during my a-levels. I am thinking of pursuing a career in engineering. I am wondering which engineering degree is better suited for women, in terms of field work (working outside in the sun or open field frequently, or having to travel alot)? Because it is not always easy for women to travel frequently outside, such as for civil engineering. I am thinking of pursuing electronics and telecommunication ...
    Answers 1
    Urbashi Mitra, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
    Answered Friday, March 30, 2012 at 4:28 AM
    I do not believe that one form of engineering is better or worse for women, since every woman is an individual. Each engineering discipline is quite varied and diverse even within that discipline. I can think of mechanical engineers, chemical ...
  • Katie T, Osaka, Japan asked Patricia Eng, Self Employed: Speaker and Author

    Added Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 4:08 AM

    After getting my BS in Physics I decided to spend a few years traveling and seeing the world before I settled down to a graduate program. 3 years later I'm teaching English in Japan, and wondering how to get back in the game, and where. For my masters degree I want to move into engineering so I can apply my love of science to help people. But I'm not sure what field is best for me. How do you decide what field to choose? Next I have to consider location. I'd be happy to stay on in Japan and get ...
    Answers 1
    Patricia Eng, Self Employed: Speaker and Author
    Answered Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 4:08 AM
    The questions that you ask can only be answered by you. Choosing a field is very personal. I don't know what nationality you are or what your background is, so do not know if career tools are available to you, but in the States, there are many ways to ...
  • Victoria Masucci asked Peggy Layne, Virginia Tech

    Added Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 7:03 PM

    I just graduated and would love to find an environmental engineering job that would allow for some basic traveling, either through the job to visit places of need on projects. Is that possible in environmental engineering?

    Answers 0
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