Business Ideas: When people think of entrepreneurs, they automatically think of someone with a degree in marketing, finance, or even an MBA. After all, who is better suited to be a businessman than someone who has studied a business discipline, right? But then, why are there so many entrepreneurs who don’t have business degrees? Many don’t have degrees at all or got them in later life. The point is, you don’t need a degree to be an entrepreneur. You need a workable business model. That is why even engineers can become and have become successful entrepreneurs.
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Business Ideas For Engineers
People with advanced degrees in engineering are expected to do big things. They have everything they need to function in management or leadership roles. The problem is, most of them choose to do so in an existing organization. Like most people, many engineers feel entrepreneurship is beyond their expertise. However, with a little help from your local engineering staffing agencies, you can build a business model around selling engineering services. Here are a few ways you can start your own business with an engineering degree:
- Offer Consultancy Services
- Create a Product Design Business
- Take Up a Teaching Post
- Offer Technical Training Services
- Become a Technical Writing Guru
Let’s take a closer look at these business ideas below.
Offer Consultancy Services
Engineers are problem-solvers, which makes them naturally suited to offering consultancy services. Technical consulting is a very common field where engineers can put their skills and knowledge to use in solving technical problems for businesses. You may also find opportunities to work on improving a company’s technical capabilities and performance. You will find that consultancy involves exercising research and data modeling to find solutions to existing problems. In many cases, you will also find opportunities to assist businesses in implementing the solutions you develop.
Remember, running a consultancy isn’t just about offering technical skills. You will also need to develop soft skills like effective communication and time management. If you already have these soft skills, that is a big advantage. Even if you don’t, you can develop them by starting out at an existing consulting firm. This will also help you build relationships and network with people in your field. All of this will contribute to helping you successfully run your own consultancy firm.
Create a Product Design Business
Product design, and in particular, smart product design like IoT hardware is a rapidly growing field. The IoT industry is expected to grow to around $300 billion by the end of this year. With an increasing demand for skilled product design engineers, this may be an opportunity for you to capitalize on. For one thing, you will get plenty of chances to work with existing companies in creating new products and prototypes. But more importantly, you will get the opportunity to work with business creating new forms of technology or improving existing ones.
Take Up a Teaching Post
Teaching may not be your first choice as an engineer, but there are several reasons that make it a fulfilling profession. Tenured professors are usually employed for life, and it is a comfortable, low-pressure environment. You also get to pass on your knowledge to the next generation of engineers. At the same time, teaching helps you stay in touch with new developments in the discipline. Even if a full-time teaching post isn’t on your agenda, a part-time position could be fairly lucrative.
Offer Technical Training Services
Technical training services always have a demand. Businesses continue to invest in advanced equipment and technology to stay ahead of the competition. However, as tech grows more sophisticated, it can be very difficult for employees to learn how to use it on their own. In many cases, improper usage can cause significant losses to the company, in both time and money. This is where you can offer a solution in the form of technical training. You will find opportunities to develop training programs and devise ways to optimize productivity and efficiency. All at a comfortable income, since few people possess the technical skills and expertise that you do.
Become a Technical Writing Guru
If you’re looking for a part-time gig to supplement your income, becoming a technical writer might be a good option. Technical writers make around $40 an hour and have the liberty to choose what they work on. Publishers, manufacturers, websites, and many others are always in need of technical writing services. Manufacturing staffing agencies report an ever-increasing need for experienced technical writers. With more and more companies relying on technology, there is a good chance you will never run out of work.
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