What are the personality traits of mechanical/technology engineers?

[DawnCt1]

DS 24 will be getting his engineering degree after this semester. I have some "observations" but I don't know if they are accurate or "just me". Any observations with regard to behavior and personality traits in this interesting group of people.

 

[copper68]

my cousin is a mechanical engineer.. he's 30.. i don't know of any traits.. however, he has deviated from the mechanical engineer and now owns his own bar and restaurant and makes enough cash to do whatever he wants.. oh yeah, did i mention he shaved his head and has a goatee.. one of those long goatees..

similar to this one..

 

[DawnCt1]

my cousin is a mechanical engineer.. he's 30.. i don't know of any traits.. however, he has deviated from the mechanical engineer and now owns his own bar and restaurant and makes enough cash to do whatever he wants.. oh yeah, did i mention he shaved his head and has a goatee.. one of those long goatees..

similar to this one..

Nope, I can't relate to that.

 

[cats7494]

My Dh is an engineer...some of his personality traits include:
o Very analytical
o Excellent mathematical ability (it is almost scary how good he is with numbers)
o Takes time with decisions
o Methodical
o Thorough
o Very logical
o Very good at seeing issues from all viewpoints
Those are the ones that really relate to his choice of being an engineer - imo

Edited to add - he is also very good at spatial thinking. (I am not! )

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I think they are divided into about 3 or 4 groups

Group 1 - The people they import from foreign countries because no one in the US has the experience in certain technologies or is willing to work practically 24/7 for peanuts, and believe it they will

Group 2- Those who are filling a space just to make sure their co. gets their govt. contract money. Our friend usually does this at various companys. The general regular employees can be found e baying, talking about their families, activities etc. while the job shop people do all the work and get no benefits like vacation, sick time etc.

Group 3 - Those who have been at jobs for a long time, get pigeon holed and can only do one thing, have stagnant skills and basically just warm their seats from 9-5 and do nothing. My dh works with alot of these types. Like to create lots of do nothing paperwork, this would include dh boss, he is of the useless reports and paperwork type, just tries to justify his existence, He is not old, but young and a definete waste of the govts. money. Sigh, Sigh.

Group 4 - This includes my dh. Always being dumped on by the management to come up with new and innovative ideas, is not allowed to say no to any job, cannot take a vacation, works from 8-5 and then they have him work at home on his comptuer till like 2 am for no more money, just his salary. Yes he was awarded engineer of the year, he did invent one of the top 100 inventions in american one year but they expect him to do the work of like 4 people and they take all the credit for it and my poor dh is ready to drop dead.

Our plan is for dh to sell his inherited property from his dad and we will retire. My dh works just too hard.

 

[mtblujeans]

My Dh is an engineer...some of his personality traits include:
o Very analytical
o Excellent mathematical ability (it is almost scary how good he is with numbers)
o Takes time with decisions
o Methodical
o Thorough
o Very logical
o Very good at seeing issues from all viewpoints
Those are the ones that really relate to his choice of being an engineer - imo

Edited to add - he is also very good at spatial thinking. (I am not! )

This sounds like my DS. He wants to go into Engineering....but I am just now learning all the different Engineering degrees that are out there! But, at least he will meet up with other engineers who are like-minded!

 

[BunsenH]

My Dh is an engineer...some of his personality traits include:
o Very analytical
o Excellent mathematical ability (it is almost scary how good he is with numbers)
o Takes time with decisions
o Methodical
o Thorough
o Very logical
o Very good at seeing issues from all viewpoints
Those are the ones that really relate to his choice of being an engineer - imo

Edited to add - he is also very good at spatial thinking. (I am not! )

I am an engineer and would be flattered to be included in the description of your husband. Many would add boring, wacky, nerdy, etc., but when your PC won't boot, "Who ya gonna call!!"

 

[cats7494]

I am an engineer and would be flattered to be included in the description of your husband. Many would add boring, wacky, nerdy, etc., but when your PC won't boot, "Who ya gonna call!!"

Actually, I am the wacky one in our family!

 

[sharbear]

DS 24 will be getting his engineering degree after this semester. I have some "observations" but I don't know if they are accurate or "just me". Any observations with regard to behavior and personality traits in this interesting group of people.

I promise it's not just you! LOL! My DH is a ME. I don't like generalize but engineers are a breed apart. Quirky, I like to call it. Most of his engineer friends are the same. In fact, wives of engineers have a special humor about their husbands.

My DH's boss lives in a very tony section of town in a very nice house. He does not make $2! This summer he took two weeks off to roof his own house. Oh man, it cracks me up still. I promise people don't roof their own $500,000 house! Unless you happen to be an engineer. Then it's fun!

 

[Crankyshank]

My Father is a mechanical design engineer. DH has an AA in electronic engineering.
DH is fairly stereotypical in some senses. He loves gaming, sci-fi, D&D, dresses very Dilbert-like, methodical, very math proficient, thorough, and efficient.

My Dad is a kook. His math skills are so-so, but he's creative and a whiz with cad. he's also thorough, methodical, logical, able to see the big picture, and both he and my DH have a tremendous work ethic.

 

[mtblujeans]

....I promise people don't roof their own $500,000 house! Unless you happen to be an engineer. Then it's fun!

I really think that people that sit and think for a living literally do the most extreme activities for relaxation! I think they have to!!

My DH sits at a desk all day long and he works with people over the phone. Sometimes, he is so mentally exhausted I get the feeling he can't go on! He will not hesitate to hang on to a problem steer or cow as it drags him all around a field....just waiting for the animal to get tired out! Then, he will get up off the ground and drag that critter back to the barn and tie him up! I was raised in 'the city' and I had never seen anything like that!! But, I don't think he could do what he does for a living if he didn't have the option of doing the physical stuff!

 

[missypie]

If you google "Asperger's Syndrome" and read a description of this type of high functioning autism, I guarantee that it will describe LOTS of engineers.

Here's an example:

"Often individuals with Asperger's syndrome have many of the behaviors listed below:

Language:
grammar and vocabulary are usually very good
speech is sometimes stilted and repetitive
voice tends to be flat and emotionless
conversations revolve around self

Cognition
obsessed with complex topics, such as patterns, weather, music, history, etc.
often described as eccentric
I.Q.'s fall along the full spectrum, but many are in the above normal range in verbal ability and in the below average range in performance abilities.
lack common sense
concrete thinking (versus abstract)

Behavior
movements tend to be clumsy and awkward
odd forms of self-stimulatory behavior
sensory problems appear not to be as dramatic as those with other forms of autism
socially aware but displays inappropriate reciprocal interaction

Researchers feel that Asperger's syndrome is probably hereditary in nature because many families report having an "odd" relative or two. In addition, depression and bipolar disorder are often reported in those with Asperger's syndrome as well as in family members.
At this time, there is no prescribed treatment regimen for individuals with Asperger's syndrome. In adulthood, many lead productive lives, living independently, working effectively at a job (many are college professors, computer programmers, dentists), and raising a family."

 

[Huggles]

FASCINATION WITH GADGETS. To the engineer, all matter in the universe can be placed into one of two categories: (1) things that need to be fixed, and (2) things that will need to be fixed after you've had a few minutes to play with them. Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems. Normal people don't understand this concept; they believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet. No engineer looks at a television remote control without wondering what it would take to turn it into a stun gun. No engineer can take a shower without wondering if some sort of Teflon coating would make showering unnecessary. To the engineer, the world is a toy box full of sub-optimised and feature-poor toys

I think this pretty much describes every engineer I know!

 

[mtblujeans]

If you google "Asperger's Syndrome" and read a description of this type of high functioning autism, I guarantee that it will describe LOTS of engineers.

Here's an example:

"Often individuals with Asperger's syndrome have many of the behaviors listed below:

Language:
grammar and vocabulary are usually very good
speech is sometimes stilted and repetitive
voice tends to be flat and emotionless
conversations revolve around self

Cognition
obsessed with complex topics, such as patterns, weather, music, history, etc.
often described as eccentric
I.Q.'s fall along the full spectrum, but many are in the above normal range in verbal ability and in the below average range in performance abilities.
lack common sense
concrete thinking (versus abstract)

Behavior
movements tend to be clumsy and awkward
odd forms of self-stimulatory behavior
sensory problems appear not to be as dramatic as those with other forms of autism
socially aware but displays inappropriate reciprocal interaction

Researchers feel that Asperger's syndrome is probably hereditary in nature because many families report having an "odd" relative or two. In addition, depression and bipolar disorder are often reported in those with Asperger's syndrome as well as in family members.
At this time, there is no prescribed treatment regimen for individuals with Asperger's syndrome. In adulthood, many lead productive lives, living independently, working effectively at a job (many are college professors, computer programmers, dentists), and raising a family."

Well, this doesn't describe my DS at all!

 

[vettechick99]

My ex was a civil engineer. He chose the field not because he liked engineering but because he always knew he'd have a job (and one that paid well). He worked in lumber manufacturing as a Planer Mill Manager and in road construction as a Project Engineer. He enjoyed the work very much, even though he wasn't doing engineering stuff all the time.

I'm not sure he'd be your typical engineer, but he was extremely smart, dedicated to his work and a fantastic problem solver.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My dbf is an engineer. He's extremely smart, but not at all nerdy. He's very logical and detail-oriented. And really hot. Huh? What were we talking about again?

 

[DawnCt1]

This thread has been interesting for me. DS has taken courses that he hasn't "needed" because he thought they would be interesting, as a result, he had to take a 6 credit Spanish course in 6 weeks because he didn't see 'why he needed it'. when he should have taken it. He will be graduating with a lot of extra credits because an elective that he needed to graduate was cancelled because of low enrollment so he ended up taking anothe course that he didn't really need. He is extremely good in math. He took University Physics as a sophomore with 28 students. Six finished, he got an A. However, he can't keep track of keys, has to wear two specific shirts to the gym. Works out very regularly and worries if he misses more than 2 days. He can't shut a closet door, a cupboard, a drawer and even his best friends say they couldn't live with him for very long because he is too messy. He spends more time looking for things he misplaces than he would have to if he put them away. Now when he asks me where something is, I just roll my eyes. He also has a lot of the positive traits that have been listed too but those don't annoy me. He is methodical about his school work, he has an excellent GPA and is very creative. I hope he will enjoy the "world of work" and I hope he will experience it soon. In all fairness, he has worked all throughand high school college but not in engineering.

 

[Crankyshank]

Funny when you google Asperger's I always thought it describes the people I work with and they're professors/researchers

 

[diznygirl]

This thread has been interesting for me. DS has taken courses that he hasn't "needed" because he thought they would be interesting, as a result, he had to take a 6 credit Spanish course in 6 weeks because he didn't see 'why he needed it'. when he should have taken it. He will be graduating with a lot of extra credits because an elective that he needed to graduate was cancelled because of low enrollment so he ended up taking anothe course that he didn't really need. He is extremely good in math. He took University Physics as a sophomore with 28 students. Six finished, he got an A. However, he can't keep track of keys, has to wear two specific shirts to the gym. Works out very regularly and worries if he misses more than 2 days. He can't shut a closet door, a cupboard, a drawer and even his best friends say they couldn't live with him for very long because he is too messy. He spends more time looking for things he misplaces than he would have to if he put them away. Now when he asks me where something is, I just roll my eyes. He also has a lot of the positive traits that have been listed too but those don't annoy me. He is methodical about his school work, he has an excellent GPA and is very creative. I hope he will enjoy the "world of work" and I hope he will experience it soon. In all fairness, he has worked all throughand high school college but not in engineering.

LOL! Sounds like an engineer!

 

[chrissyk]

I promise it's not just you! LOL! My DH is a ME. I don't like generalize but engineers are a breed apart. Quirky, I like to call it. Most of his engineer friends are the same. In fact, wives of engineers have a special humor about their husbands.

My DH's boss lives in a very tony section of town in a very nice house. He does not make $2! This summer he took two weeks off to roof his own house. Oh man, it cracks me up still. I promise people don't roof their own $500,000 house! Unless you happen to be an engineer. Then it's fun!

LMAO!! DH's good friend (EE) is currently SIDING his own house. He has some other funny quirks. You would pass out if you knew what this guy makes/is worth

FWIW, I'm a mechanical engineer. I haven't read this entire thread yet. I'm a little afraid of what it might say