Successfully obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering is no easy task, but the versatile career field and job opportunities around the world certainly make it worth the hard work. Securing a mechanical engineering job abroad can fulfill your travel dreams, expand your professional network, and jumpstart your career. Fortunately, mechanical engineering is a diverse field, so you can find a job abroad that reflects your interests in the field nearly anywhere; whether designing new automobiles, optimizing existing energy processes, or operating large systems, mechanical engineers are needed in every corner of the world.
Why Work Abroad
If traveling has ever seemed out of reach because of the demands of your mechanical engineering degree, landing a job abroad can give you the best of both worlds: the opportunity to explore new places and explore a new position in the workforce. Many who are interested in studying abroad find that the demanding course schedule, lab work, and internship requirements can defer their dreams of traveling abroad while in college. Seeking a mechanical engineering job abroad, whether long or short-term, is a great way to explore a new part of the world, see the museums and attractions of a new city, and potentially learn a new language, all while earning an income.
Modern cities in every country have been built with tools designed by mechanical engineers, and powered by their work as well. Mechanical engineers do important work all over the world, including monitoring daily activities of large facilities and developing and testing new tools and technologies. In lesser-developed nations, mechanical engineers have the opportunity to bring some of the instruments that make life healthier and safer to the general population. Working abroad can show you, first hand, the impact engineering has on everyone’s daily lives.
Locations
With cities ranging from large and modern to rural and agrarian, China presents interesting challenges to mechanical engineers, and is one of the biggest international employers in the industry. China is a world leader in development of new high-tech mechanical applications, especially in the robotics industry. Some companies hire English-speaking candidates solely to help conduct their international business interests.
New Zealand is a huge recruiter of international engineers; this beautiful country appeals to engineers not only because English is spoken there, but because New Zealand receives millions of dollars of government funding just for mechanical engineering research projects, meaning they have the ability to work at the forefront of the development field.
Renowned at their expert ability to take theoretical ideas and apply them to industrial applications, Germany is an excellent choice for mechanical engineering jobs abroad, especially for engineers interested in innovative engineering technology. With high budget projects in the fields of sustainable energy production, biotechnology, and experimental engineering technology, Germany is a great place to work abroad in mechanical engineering, particularly because German companies have the reputation of constantly investing in their employees by helping them seek more education or training if desired.
Countries in Africa, including South Africa and Ghana, have numerous mechanical engineering job opportunities for professional engineers. These countries are working to keep up with the world in mechanical engineering invention and energy production, providing an interesting opportunity for entry-level workers to get in on the ground floor of a rapidly growing industry.
Mechanical Engineering Jobs Abroad
Though the schooling of mechanical engineers is similar, the available mechanical engineering jobs abroad are wide-ranging and varied. From the multibillion dollar energy industry, to small research and development firms, your can find a mechanical engineering job that suits your specialized interests and skill set, or step out of your comfort zone and explore new applications of the field.
Many mechanical engineers are employed by the energy industry; entry-level positions involve plant engineering or supervision of processes or production. Nuclear power is a growing interest for those looking to work abroad; mechanical engineers are trained on the job to monitor and optimize nuclear power operations, and to scrutinize the environmental impacts of the plant.
On the innovative side of the mechanical engineering industry, research and development organizations work in a variety of applications, including robotics engineering, biomedical engineering, and automotive engineering. Entry-level positions in these fields are more competitive, and employers like to see internship experience, research projects, and knowledge of the language spoken in their country. Day-to-day, research jobs can look very different, as one day you may be supervising testing of a product, and the next may involve team management tasks.
Working abroad in mechanical engineering is a unique experience because it can expose you to the unseen benefits of the mechanical engineering profession. If you’re working in an underdeveloped nation, the work you do has a direct impact on the local population; you could potentially be responsible for people having access to indoor power, or receiving advanced mechanical tools to better farm their land.
Benefits
Starting your career in mechanical engineering can be as daunting as it is exciting, similarly to how traveling abroad can be. Taking your career abroad can introduce you to new aspects of the profession, get you involved with cutting edge research projects, and boost your career prospects in the future.
- Travel Smart. Working abroad is certainly the smartest way to travel, because your salary can help offset the cost of traveling internationally, and give you the financial freedom to explore and experience cultural events and other attractions in your new nation of choice. Securing a mechanical engineering job abroad will also make visa processes go more smoothly; though visa applications are notoriously stressful, those with jobs lined up are more likely to receive their visa hassle-free.
- Find a New Home. For many, finding a mechanical engineering job abroad is just the start of an international lifestyle. Working abroad can expose you to new ways of life, in and out of the office. Many engineers are intoxicated by the professional atmosphere and the drive to innovate in other countries, and love the cultural differences outside of the workplace as well. There’s no better way to secure an inside look at life in another country than to live and work abroad, as many young professionals are quickly discovering.
- Professional Growth. A mechanical engineering job abroad will inevitably broaden your job horizons. People that have been employed abroad have larger professional networks, as they have met and worked with a variety of people of many nationalities. Transitioning from a job abroad to a job back home, employers are often impressed at the initiative and passion required to take your mechanical engineering knowledge abroad. This often piques interest in what you have learned from the experience.
