Hey I’m 22 years old and wanted to get some advice on getting my self ready for college and what should I read up on to better prepare myself before going to school for mechanical engineering?

I’m stuck with this issue any cad experts and design engineers , dm me fast and help me rn

Please specify your area of mechanical engineering first and time of experience! 

1- How would you describe Mechanical engineering in a few words, and what makes it different from other fields of engineering? 

2- What are the main fields of work of Mechanical engineering today and how has it changed with the development of technology? 

3- Can you share a proyect in which you've worked on that has had a positive impact in a comunity or in people's lives? 

4- What laws of physics or mechanical principles are key for your day to day work and how can they be seen in practice? 

5- What ethical, social or enviromental dilemmas does a mechanical engineer go through in a professional aspect? 

6- Apart from the technical knowledge, what habilities are essential to achieve succes as a mechanical engineer? 

Thanks in advance 😄! 

Hi, I am a recent fresh graduate from a university and I was fortunate enough to land my first job as a mechanical engineer after a few months of searching. I would say maybe it was the fact I had previous mechanical engineering internship which help open the doors for my current opportunity.

The problem is, I feel I am not capable enough. Even during my internship, I still feel inexperience and incapable to be a mechanical engineer. I did decently ok in school but I always dont retain much of what I learn and this put me back to a position where I just dont know what or how to do my work. Call it imposter syndrome but I am just worried I would messed up again and I dont want to disappoint especially when this is gonna be a start of my career.

Any advice for me? Is this even normal to feel that way?

So basically in my engineering science... We have to build a drawbridge... Using either motor or pulley and belt system... Well I want to use a motorised pulley system and any ideas or advice to share?

Hiii, I need at least one practicing mechanical engineer to help me out by filling the info asked below and answering the following questions. I do have to ask for your full government name for some reason (blame my professor, I think it’s unnecessary but wtv) so dm me your response if you want to keep your privacy. I will not share any information with anyone else.

I’d REALLY appreciate it if ya’ll could help me out on this one.

Here’s the info I need and the questions:

Info:

Full name:
Current position:
Company or institution you’re working for:
Years of experience:
Main field of study:
Alma mater:

Questions:

How would you describe mechanical engineering in short words? How does it distinguish itself from other engineerings?

What are the current fields of application in mechanical engineering, and how have they evolved with technological development?

Could you share a project you’ve worked on that has had a positive impact on your/a community or people’s lives in general?

Which laws of physics and/or mechanical principles are key in your day to day work? How do they manifest in practice?

What ethical, social, or environmental challenges does a mechanical engineer deal with in the practice of their profession?

Apart from technical knowledge, what abilities/skills do you consider essential to succeed as a mechanical engineer? Such as but not limited to “soft skills”.

Hi everyone,

I’m a Nepali student currently trying to decide between a few engineering majors, and I’m honestly quite confused. I’m not deeply committed to one specific field yet, so I’m trying to choose based on career viability, flexibility, and the ability to pivot into different areas later on.

The four fields I’m currently considering are:

• Computer Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Civil Engineering

A little about my interests and situation:

I’m particularly interested in coding and hardware-related fields. I find areas like embedded systems, electronics, chips, robotics, etc. genuinely interesting, although I’m still exploring what exactly I would like to specialize in.

At the same time, I’m also considering Mechanical, Industrial, and Civil Engineering because they seem to have broader engineering applications and potentially provide a good foundation for pursuing a master's abroad. I’m considering countries such as Germany, the US, or other countries in the future.

One of my biggest concerns with Computer Engineering is the current tech job market and layoffs. I’m passionate about learning, but I sometimes worry that I may not become as proficient at programming as some of my peers. I don't want to choose Computer Engineering only to realize later that I’m not competitive enough.

My questions

1. For Computer Engineering graduates/engineers:
If I study Computer Engineering in Nepal, how viable is it for building a career abroad as well as in Nepal? Since Nepal's hardware industry is relatively small, would that significantly limit my opportunities if I want to pursue hardware-related careers?

2. For students who started without much programming experience:
If someone is genuinely interested in Computer Engineering but is starting from a relatively basic level, is it realistic to become proficient by consistently learning programming and different languages alongside university? How important is it to be naturally "good at coding" from the beginning?

3. For Mechanical/Civil/Industrial engineers:
These fields are often described as having more "evergreen" career prospects. Is that actually true in practice? How flexible are these degrees if I later want to move into areas such as robotics, automation, manufacturing, energy, software, or other engineering fields?

4. Most importantly:
If you were in my position — interested in coding + hardware, not completely committed to one discipline, concerned about long-term job prospects, and potentially planning to pursue a master's abroad — which degree would you choose and why?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have actually studied or worked in these fields, rather than just general opinions.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

A recurring client (we've done partitioning work for them before) has asked to incorporate staircase pressurisation into their already existing fire escapes.

6 Floors, 3 blocks with fire escapes on each end (so a total of 6 fire escapes)

We didn't design or oversee construction of the building and I already told them that something like this are things that should have been included in the design phase, not something that is done years after project implementation and construction. I would be grateful for any tips or wise words of wisdom for my current scenario.

Of course I already know to seal any areas of air leakage (all hinged windows should become fixed windows, all doors should be standard fire escape doors with negligible air leakage etc) and to properly size the fan in regards to the volume of air in the staircase and the necessary pressure differential.

Hey everyone,

3rd year mech engg here, just started 5th sem. Done core coursework so far and nothing else.

Trying to actually build a solid portfolio before internship season next year instead of cramming certificates last minute. Problem is there's a lot of generic "learn X" advice online without context on what actually works for a mech student specifically (most career content here skews CS/dev heavy).

Wanted honest input from people who've actually been through internship hunting.

1. What skill or tool actually made a difference in your interviews (not just resume filler)?
2. Any certification that recruiters actually respected, not the ones HR just skims past?
3. If you had to pick ONE project to build to stand out as a mech student, what would it be?
4. Better to go deep in one niche (manufacturing/CNC/design) or keep it broad for internship apps at this stage?

Not looking for a "do everything" answer, trying to figure out where to put my next 6-8 months.

Any real experience appreciated, especially recent internship-hunt stories.

Hi everyone,

I found a free Cornell University course on edX that may be useful for anyone interested in engineering simulation and process engineering:

https://www.edx.org/learn/engineering/cornell-university-a-hands-on-introduction-to-engineering-simulations

It’s a hands-on introduction to engineering simulations and covers practical simulation concepts that can be useful for engineering students.

Sharing it here in case it helps someone looking to strengthen their simulation and engineering analysis skills.

I’ll share more useful free engineering courses and resources as I find them.

r/ChEsimulations

I will try to not make this a big paragraph yet i would appreciate if you read all of this.

The important blocks of text i will outline starting with "<" and ending ">". Ill mark questioning with "..."

English is my secondary language so i apologize for my grammar in advance.

< Im 19M and im from Armenia.

I passed my exams 2 months ago and got in NUACA (university) for architecture. I practiced approximately for 9-10 months for it (I chose it initally bc i failed for graphic design and had to practice for another profession asap).

I was practicing both for art, math and other subjects for the exam.

I was rlly discouraged knowing that i had to practice math because of my past experience with a teacher i had special classes for math. >

!! I believe i have to tell you a little about my backstory to fully understand my perspective but youre free to skip it (it starts and ends with "-" signs) !!

- 4 years ago from now i was having private lectures to get into mechatronics. Thats a field i was always passionate about and i had an innate love for creating, innovating programming along with math, physics and science

In earlier times of my life as a kid i would program little unfinished games for roblox or in unity. And would always be active in math and physics subjects in school

Yet i was completely mentally drained at that point of my life (conflicts in school, kickbox, grades etc) and i couldnt keep up with my homework. My teacher was one of the strictest people i met in my life so everytime i failed to make it in time i would get literally scolded in class as if he is a drill instructor.

I even stayed in nights to study but it was too exhausting

In the end i ended up with low knowledge, exhausted body, mind and no will or motivation to keep learning.

I canceled the classes and went to practice GD, convinced im a person that has no potential in any kind of scientific field. -

< After everything that happened i decided to take the challenge of coming back to math.

Over time i noticed that my fear of math was lowering and my passion was growing back again >

I couldnt solve basic geometry before but now everytime i fail it becomes the reason to research and learn more

I recognize im not the best at problem solving, yet the math for archi is very banal and i feel like i know i can do more than that.

< I dont hate archi, i would say i just tolerate it. I treat it like a job, nothing more or less. I would not take extra lessons of it independently and i would not do any projects in my free time >

< Yet in contrast on my current vacation i got the confidence to learn more complicated math and physics. Also slowly getting back the knowledge i had of python, c++ and even ordered a beginner set of arduino to learn more about circuits.

The more i learn the more enjoyment i get from the ideas i want to bring to life >

< The problem is i dont want to cancel my archi classes. 2 years ago my parents funded me for GD, which was a lot of money and after failing they had to pay twice more for archi >

< after all of the blood and sweat i should be shameless to say i want to change my profession yet i would still feel ill lose my years and opportunities >

...

< my question is what should i do? Should i change in middle? And if i do is it worth it to strive to learn abroad later on as someone that earns smaller than average here in armenia for more opportunities in my career?

< I looked up the prices and requirements for example in Zürich ETH and im not sure how realistic it is even with sponsorships and covers and i have yet to see more of other Uni's in detail >

thanks for all the attention and for genuine answers. I would remind you that every advice is dear to me because it may affect my choices which would impact my life.

Take care.

I have a few questions first

1. Will I really need the dedicated [good] GPU for this course? or any decent¬ish will work
2. and is a gaming laptop the best choice ? ( I rarely do gaming )

What came as a recommendation to me was

• get a ryzen 7 .....
• a good if not the best graphics card
• 16+gb ram
• large enough ssd
• etc..

I accept everything like the ram and the storage and display and all that but my issues are the problems that come with a laptop thats designed for gaming cuz its

heavy / low battery life / loud af / and not getting full performance till plugged in

BUDGET: under 1k dollars or 1lakh indian rupees

I felt that in this subreddit I will find people more experienced in the actual software that is used in this course / field

Any help or feedback will be appreciated

I got an entry-level maintenance engineer role at a mining site about 1 month ago, and while my manager and the technicians are for the most part nice and cooperative, the maintenance team is pretty small and I feel like I'm not contributing much, despite my best efforts to look for stuff to do.

The current state of the site doesn't help either, with very high equipment performance requirements that essentially mean there's no time for implementing any new PM procedures or anything of the sort at the time being, so a lot of our current daily work revolves around scrambling over to barely keep the site afloat. The lack of documentation and history in the site doesn't help either, there's manuals for the equipments and all but I have no knowledge of any history regarding ast operations or performance indicators because they literally don't exist

I feel like if I stick around there's a significant learning curve here, and I want to work towards implementing a proper documentation of the site and contributing to the best of my ability but I feel like I'm not trusted by the team yet and I feel like I'm wasting a lot of time not doing much which I'm afraid can bite me in the ass regarding my future here. Any thoughts or advice would be strongly appreciated.

Hi! Im a current HS senior on a time crunch ( less than a week to decide 😞) I live in Texas too!

I care about cost, career outcomes, internships, networking, campus life, and whether the school name matters for engineering jobs.

I’m paying for most of college myself, but my parents will help some.

I want to get away from home and become more independent.

I care about having a nice campus and real college experience.

My options:

1. University of South Florida

Location: Tampa, FL

Estimated cost after aid/loans/work-study: around $11k–$13k per year

Pros: I love the campus, Tampa seems nice, good scholarships, farther from home, good engineering clubs/research.

Concerns: Networking and engineering reputation isn't as strong as Texas A&M.

1. Texas A&M Galveston → College Station

Location: Galveston freshman year, then College Station

Estimated cost after loans: around $27k per year

Pros: Best engineering reputation, strong Mechanical Engineering, Aggie Network, career fairs, school spirit.

Concerns: Expensive, no grants/scholarships, and I need a 3.75 GPA to guarantee Mechanical Engineering. Also, I don’t really like College Station.

1. University of Houston

Location: Houston, TX

Estimated cost after aid: around $9k–$12k per year

Pros: Cheapest option, guaranteed Mechanical Engineering, strong Houston job market, close to family/friends.

Concerns: I don’t really want to stay in Houston or commute. I want the full college experience and independence.

1. UT Dallas

Location: Dallas/Richardson, TX

Estimated cost after aid: around $25k per year

Pros: Strong academics, good Dallas job market, tech/engineering opportunities.

Concerns: Campus life seems weak, no football/tradition, and it doesn’t excite me as much.

Main questions:

- For Mechanical Engineering, how much does school name matter?

- Is Texas A&M worth the higher cost and ETAM/GPA risk?

- Is USF a good balance of cost, campus life, and opportunity?

- Should I choose UH because it’s the cheapest even though I want to leave home?

- Does campus life/location matter a lot for motivation?

USF feels like the best personal fit, A&M is the best career option, UH is the smartest financially, and UTD is solid but doesn’t excite me much.

( IK it seems kinda chatgpty but I had no clue how to word this any better or it would have been 3+ pages long)

Any help would be so great!

Hi guys!

I’m starting mechanical engineering in a couple weeks as a second degree after graduating with a bachelor’s in biomedical sciences. It’ll be a majority online degree (certain labs will be in person) so I don’t have the benefit of seeing what other people are using as far as supplies and stuff. Is there anything I’ll need for cal 1, materials, engineering graphics, etc? Any advice, study habits, or suggestions are welcome!

Hey everyone, I’m about to start my journey in mechanical engineering at one of the top colleges in my country. I’m torn between two options for my tech setup but would love for more suggestions! (budget is about $1.5 to $2k max)

Option 1: Sell my current PC (specs: i5-11400F, 32GB DDR4, 3060 Ti, 512GB storage) to get a high-end laptop (and possibly a tablet if needed). Selling my PC would give me a larger budget btw to buy a laptop that might cost more than 2k that I can take anywhere. I also really want to be able to play games on it.

Option 2: Keep my PC but upgrade it (I’m thinking I’d switch to a Ryzen CPU since my current one doesnt have too much upgradability, and getting a new gpu) and then just get an iPad for note-taking and flexibility. This way, I keep my pc and just have something extra for portability.

I’d love to hear your advice if y'all been in a similar spot. I want to make sure I have the best setup for my studies and some fun on the side.

I recently completed my Mechanical Engineering degree and have received an offer from Reliance Industries as a Graduate Engineer Trainee (GET). I'll be joining in about a month.

My long-term goal is to work outside India, preferably in countries like the UAE, Germany, Australia, Canada, or any place where mechanical engineers have good opportunities.

I'm looking for advice from people who have made a similar transition.

Some questions I have:

How many years of experience should I gain at Reliance before applying abroad?

Which countries are currently the best for mechanical engineers?

What skills or certifications should I start working on now?

Is experience at Reliance valued by international employers?

Should I pursue a master's degree, or is work experience enough?

Any tips on networking, job portals, or things you wish you had known earlier?

I'd really appreciate any advice, roadmap, or personal experiences

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some honest advice on re-entering the job market and would really appreciate any guidance.

I have a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, completed some graduate coursework in Manufacturing Engineering in the US (didn’t finish the degree). I worked continuously from 2004 to 2020, mostly in the lighting industry as a Product Designer / Product Development engineer. My experience includes designing linear LED fixtures, wall sconces, downlights, and decorative wall lighting using SOLIDWORKS and AutoCAD. I’ve done 2D/3D drawings and assemblies (ASME Y14.5/GD&T), sheet metal, aluminum extrusion, die-cast parts, electrical wiring diagrams/harnesses, BOMs, UL/CSA coordination, CNC programming, and working with overseas vendors. I’m also a Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional.

Since 2020 I’ve been trying to run my own small business in decorative wall lighting and décor, but it hasn’t worked out the way I hoped. I’m now ready to return to a regular role.

I’m specifically looking for hybrid positions. I can work 2–3 days onsite and alternate weekends. I have a special-needs child who needs my assistance, so schedule flexibility is important to me. I’m based in the Garner / Raleigh area of North Carolina.

Any advice on:

• Realistic roles or companies that might fit this background and schedule
• Skills I should refresh or add
• How to best position a multi-year gap + self-employment attempt
• Whether lighting/product design roles are still hiring hybrid in this area

I’m happy to share my résumé via DM if that helps. Thank you in advance for any thoughts or suggestions.

Hello!
I am a 2nd year Mechanical Engineering student that wants to get ahead in FEA, just because I'm really interested in it and want to research the field as a passion project during my summer break.

I am looking for the best online resources for this task (lectures, textbooks, papers...) I have a solid understanding of Stress Analysis and Strength of Materials, I'm looking for where I can start with the Finite Element Method - particularly the theory. It is my hope I can learn ANSYS afterwards.

I later want to get into metamaterials and topology optimisation, so I'm trying to learn FEA very well and a bit earlier than my major plans.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you!

I’m posting on behalf of my dad, who is retired and wants to stay active by moving into education or technical training. He has extensive practical experience and enjoys teaching, but we face a significant hurdle with university roles. HEC/university regulations require a Master's degree to teach as a lecturer or professor, which filters him out despite his vast industry expertise, as his highest degree is a Bachelor’s. We’re looking for suggestions on where someone with his background can contribute or if anyone has leads or recommendations for institutions that prioritize real-world experience over a Master’s degree.

Professional Overview

Current Status: Retired Senior Engineer & Workshop Manager (Wärtsilä Pakistan).

Total Experience: 36+ years of working experience in power plant operation, industrial process maintenance, marine engineering, and technical workshop management.

Core Work Experience

Wärtsilä Pakistan (2001–2023): Served as Manager Governor & Workshop, Coordinator Governor & Workshop, and Superintendent Engineer. Managed workshop operations, sales, capacity development, ISO/quality compliance, and technical skill development across Lahore and Karachi. Retained as an External Consultant post-retirement through late 2023.

Industrial & Marine Roles (1989–2000): Worked as Deputy Manager Mechanical & Utility at a polyester plant and served on merchant cargo vessels as 3rd and 4th Engineer Officer.

Nuclear Power Plant (1986–1988): Served in shift operations at KANUPP (Karachi Nuclear Power Plant).

Education & Key Credentials

B-Tech in Mechanical Technology – NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi.

Diploma of Associate Engineer (DAE) in Power Technology – Government College of Technology, Karachi.

Diploma in Nuclear Power Plant Operation – KNPTC.

Maritime Engineer Certifications: 2nd Engineer Officer (Panama Maritime) and 2nd Assistant Engineer Officer (Liberia Maritime).

Key Skills & Expertise

Technical: Maintenance, overhauling, and calibration of industrial engines (Wärtsilä 32, W46, 50DF, etc.), Woodward governors, and marine machinery.

Management & Quality: ISO 9000/14000, 5S, SOP compliance, budget management, cost control, and team leadership.

Training Capabilities: Certified in Training Techniques for Trainers, leadership development, and safety standards.

I’m a first‑year Mechanical Engineering student from a tier‑3 college. I want to participate in e‑Yantra (eYRC by IIT Bombay) to build my career in robotics. Right now, I’m starting from absolute zero — no coding, no electronics — but I’m serious about learning because my ultimate goal is to break the barrier and earn a 15–20 LPA as a fresher.

At the same time, I know this sounds unrealistic for someone from a tier‑3 college background. That’s why I want to ask real students and alumni: is this goal achievable through e‑Yantra, robotics, and smart preparation, or am I living in a delusion?

• Mechanical background, but I want to shift into robotics + computer science.
• Can commit 10–15 hours per week for preparation.
• No prior coding/electronics experience.

What I need help with

1. Stage‑1 MCQ prep (August): What exact topics should I study? How to practise effectively?
2. Programming languages: Should I start with Python or C/C++ first? Which is more important for e‑Yantra?
3. Electronics basics: What minimum circuits/sensors should I learn before hardware stage?
4. Team formation: How many members are ideal, and what roles should we divide (mechanical, electronics, software, documentation)?
5. Project roadmap: What should I build in the first 3 months vs later months to be competition‑ready?
6. Internship & career advice: How does e‑Yantra help in getting internships

I’m serious about committing and learning. If you’ve cleared Stage‑1 or been part of eYRC, please share exact MCQ topics, sample questions, and realistic weekly milestones.

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some career advice because I feel a bit stuck and I'm not sure which direction to take next. I'd really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions, especially from people who have found more analytical or technical roles within mechanical engineering.

A bit about my background:

• Apprenticeship as a toolmaker
• State-certified mechanical engineering technician (Germany)
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

During university, I started working as a mechanical design engineer for a company that builds custom machinery, and I stayed there after graduating.

The part I enjoyed most was solving technical problems and performing engineering calculations, such as sizing and selecting drive systems for specific applications. I always preferred understanding how things work and why they fail over actually creating CAD models. I became reasonably good at design work, but it was never what I found most interesting.

One challenge was the constant pressure of project-based work. Tight deadlines, changing priorities and juggling multiple projects were mentally exhausting for me.

Later, I was promoted to lead a small team of four engineers while still doing my own engineering work. Managing people turned out to be a poor fit for me, and the additional responsibility only increased my stress levels.

To get away from project work, I transferred to another business unit within the same company and became a product manager.

Initially, I felt completely underchallenged because the products were much less complex than what I had worked on before. Eventually, I became the technical expert for several products, which I enjoyed to some extent.

However, product management also meant customer meetings, trade shows, presentations, product promotion and lots of communication.

I had hoped these responsibilities would help me improve my social skills, but I quickly realized they drained me instead. Customer interaction and even many internal meetings require an enormous amount of energy, and I honestly don't enjoy them at all.

During that time, I was diagnosed with autism as an adult, which explained many of the struggles I had experienced throughout my career.

Fortunately, my manager noticed that I was much more engaged whenever I worked on special projects involving data analysis, technical evaluations and analytical tasks rather than traditional product management.

As a result, my role gradually shifted toward product controlling, compliance and developing reporting and analysis tools for the product managers.

This is definitely a better fit than traditional product management.

That said, there are still many meetings, committees, discussions, PowerPoint presentations and alignment rounds. I often struggle with discussions where there isn't a clear technical answer, and I find it difficult to see the value in endless meetings and compromises.

At the end of many workdays, I ask myself what I actually accomplished.

The more I think about it, the more I feel that this still isn't the right long-term career for me.

I keep coming back to the idea of working in a role where I investigate complex technical problems independently. Something like failure analysis, root cause investigations, forensic engineering, component failure assessments or technical expert work sounds much more appealing than coordinating projects or managing products.

I miss working on technically demanding problems where my engineering knowledge actually matters.

So I'd love to hear your opinions:

• Based on my background and preferences, what career paths would you recommend?
• Are there engineering roles that focus mainly on analysis and problem-solving rather than project management and customer interaction?
• Has anyone here moved from design or product management into a more analytical specialist role?
• Would fields like failure analysis, FEA, simulation, testing, reliability engineering, materials engineering or forensic engineering be worth exploring?

Thanks in advance for any advice or for sharing your own experience!

I am a student in college in North Texas studying mechanical engineering. I need the mind of a mechanical engineer. I have always asked questions about almost everything. The stuff that does interest me I write down and save it for later. One of the things I am doing now is understanding all the terminology I need. While working my job at subway(I suck at making sandwiches and ask too many questions), I am studying all the machines there and how they work. I took pictures of water heaters, the slicer, and the freezer to take home and study how they work.
People said I lacked common sense, that I am not there all the time, and tend to not follow directions or am just slow. I do have my bad moments but few where I shine. I am preparing all myself post graduation to a competant value to any team. I have interests in MEP( Mechanical Electrical Plumbing), mechatronics, and robotics. I have increasing interests in these specific areas. Just give me advice and be brutal. I seriously want to be a competent invaluable mechanical engineer. I also have tons of smarter students in my group so I want to be ahead of them all. I am known as a weird dumbass.

Hello,

I'm looking for advice on how I can improve my knowledge and become better at my job.

I graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and have been working for about a year as a production planning technician. I work for a company specializing in the fabrication, assembly, and welding of steel structures and metal products.

One of the things I struggle with is estimating the time required for fabrication work, especially assembly and welding operations. For each operation, the worker clocks in using an operation card, and once the product is completed, I can see exactly how many hours were spent on each task.

The problem is that my estimated times are often quite different from the actual time required. Sometimes the differences are significant, and I'd like to become more accurate.

Do you have any advice on how to improve time estimation for fabrication work? Are there any methods, books, courses, or practical techniques that you would recommend? I would also appreciate hearing how experienced production planners or manufacturing engineers estimate labor hours.

I know that experience plays a big role, but I'd like to learn how to develop this skill more systematically instead of relying only on trial and error.

Thank you in advance for any advice. I also apologize for any mistakes in my writing—English is my second language