On no fewer than one hundred occasions (literally) I have been asked this question. At every interview or whenever persons hear that I studied engineering at University there is always the expected reaction of disappointment that I am now in the web development arena. Given the prestige and seeming financial advantages to being an engineer, the question is indeed a valid one. In fact there are times that I ask myself the question. Here are the three top reasons I made the switch:
Flexibility: Web and App development gives you the opportunity to make as much as you like. You have the flexibility to work from anywhere and for anyone. A career in Engineering does not easily allow for that maneuverability. You may work as a consultant engineer but that usually is more feasible later down in the twilight of your career after several years of being an employee. In web development you can become an expert in area quickly and thus quickly climb the career ladder in a short space of time.
Learn and earn: Learning a new skill, programming technique or software can quickly translate to additional earnings. You can apply these skills immediately on an existing project or offer a brand new service. There is no need to have years of experience and certification behind you before you can really begin earning from new knowledge.
Stability: You often hear of engineering companies firing staff in tranches. While this can happen in any organisation there seems to be no rhyme or reason for engineering companies to initiate a campaign of downsizing and/or restructuring from time to time. Web development allows you to have more control over your financial destination. While job security is a thing of the past it is much better to have multiple streams of income than to have all your eggs in someone else’s basket.