FAQ's - Answers to some of the questions we receive here at EngineerGirl! on a regular basis.

What do engineers do?  What is your typical day?  How much do you get paid?  Do you enjoy your job?  Why did you pick this job? Etc.

These are all great questions and exactly the type of questions that the EngineerGirl site is designed to answer.  Please review the Gallery of Women Engineers to find the answers to these questions from many different women engineers.  You might want to check out the career section of the site for specific information about salaries or different engineering disciplines, and you can see responses to some of these Engineering FAQs here. You may also find answers in the questions posted from our Ask an Engineer archive. 

How can I find money for school?

There is no substitute for scouring the web for such resources, but you should also check with the financial aide office at your local college or university.  Here is one website with lots of scholarships to search through that is a great place to start.  Good luck with your search.

I have a class project to do, and I need to interview an engineer.  Will you answer this list of questions for me right away?

Sorry, but typing out answers to a list of questions can be very time consuming.  If you have a specific question for someone in the gallery you may write to us, but there may be times when we are unable to answer you.   Also, the purpose of a class project is generally for you to speak with an engineer.  The best way for you to do that would be to look in your local phone book for companies that employ engineers.  You might have to call two or three, but usually they would be happy to talk to local students who are interested in what they do.  If you are lucky you may even get to visit them at work and see what their job is like first-hand.

Where can I find a summer program in my area?

You may find several links to programs in our section on “Contests and Awards” or in the “Cool Links” area.  You may also try the program search function offered here by the Women in Engineering Organization. This site will allow you to search for programs by state and target area.

Where should I go to study a specific discipline of engineering?

This is an important question and you will need to explore your options carefully  as you consider your future path.  When thinking about where you might want to go to college there are a large number of factors to consider.  Once you have an idea of what some of your guidelines are you can go to the Institute of Education Sciences College Opportunities Online Locator.  There you can search for schools within the USA by location, program or both.  You might also look at the university locator provided by TryEngineering, where you can find schools in a number of countries and search by programs or other criteria.  Keep in mind that this very important decision is ultimately up to you.  Friends, family and others can offer support and advice, but you are the one who will have to finish your education.  Think about these reasons not to choose a college, and then do your research to find the school that will be best for you.

How can I find a job, internship or volunteer opportunity?

If you are at a university your best resource is your Career Placement Office.  Even if you are not currently attending school, there are often job fairs that are open to the public.  The internet is also a great place to begin a job search and discover opportunities.  Try typing "engineering jobs" into a search engine to see what comes up. 

Where can I find a mentor?

A good mentor can make a big difference in your career, and we encourage you to seek them out.  Your best mentors are generally people that you are able to see on a regular basis.  Consider what you would like to gain from a mentoring relationship, and make a list of potential resources.  If you do not know anyone that you think would be a good candidate you might consider going on a number of informational interviews with people who are working in a field that interests you.  You might also consider an email mentor from a site like Mentornet, but that will depend on what you want out of your mentoring experience.  When it comes time to ask someone to be your mentor it is best to establish at least a basic relationship first.  You should also explain why you chose him or her and what you hope s/he will do for you.  Realize that mentoring can be a big responsibility and not everyone will be willing to do it.  Be respectful, and don’t get discouraged if you are turned down.  Generally, finding a mentor and establishing a good rapport will take a fair amount of work from you, but the potential rewards from such a relationship are well worth the effort.

Can I join your organization?

EngineerGirl is a service provided by the National Academy of Engineering.  Membership in the Academy is a prestigious honor that cannot be applied for, but you may see the membership requirements at this site.  If you are an engineer and would like to be included in our Gallery of Women Engineers we would welcome a self-nomination.  See this page for details.  If you would like to join our email list for announcements about website-related activities and new website features you may do that here.

I am writing a research project or article on women in the field of engineering. Where can I find statistics or information on women in engineering?

The National Science Foundation has a webpage devoted to statistics and articles about the nation’s science and engineering resources. You can look up information about women in both the workforce and the education arenas.  

Will you answer an engineering problem for me?

Although we want to help, we are unable to give engineering advice through the website.  If you require an engineering consultation, please seek the services of a professional engineer.