[Incorrigible]

My suggestion.  Tell them not to artificially limit themselves to engineering.

After graduation, I swore I would never take another engineering class as long as I lived!  I didn't.  I got my MBA.

The cool thing about being an engineer in an MBA class is while everyone else is struggling with simple integration equations in economics, the engineer can breeze through much of the math requirements of an MBA.  In fact, I was allowed to get a pass on several of the more basic math class requirements.

In my 15 years since graduation, I've drifted between development, consulting, management and sales.  I'm currently in sales.  I'm feeling pretty secure at the moment until everyone is willing to accept tele-video sales calls from India!

Having the dedication it takes to become an engineer means you can exploit that perseverance in any line of work.  Don't let the current market get them down.

[eno_]

You got it right. IT isn't even engineering. Engineering is creating the products IT uses.

Don't mistake being a code monkey at a bank for a "profession." It's hardly even a trade.

[bribriagain]

"In my 15 years since graduation, I've drifted between development, consulting, management and sales. I'm currently in sales. I'm feeling pretty secure at the moment until everyone is willing to accept tele-video sales calls from India!"

I'm in sales as well. Seems that folks like us gravitate to sales; not because of the trade, but because of our experience.

[Aquinasfan]

Having the dedication it takes to become an engineer means you can exploit that perseverance in any line of work.

It also fosters an intolerance of BS and an appreciation of logic. Unfortunately, it also produces asocial, libertine geeks.

Anyway, I'm an illustrator now, but I'm glad that I took classes in Fluid Mechanics rather than Modern Art.