Am I heading in the right career direction? 3

[kwongsam]

Topic:
Focus on Masters in Civil Engineering or Focus on Project Management

Background:
Right off from my undergraduate work, I’ve been with my current company for roughly 4.5 years and along the way I’ve obtained a PE which enabled me to hold the title, “Civil Engineer”. Prior to gaining full licensure, I placed a hold to my graduated work so I can put a full effort into studying for the Engineering License exam. That worked out and I’m currently (what I consider to be) at my career peak. Recently I noticed a “shift” in the line of work that our line staff of engineers is heading towards to. I’m sensing we’re moving away from the technical aspect of engineering to towards a project management role. The company paid for our training to attend a PMP (Project Management Professional) course to prepare us for the PMP certification exam. Executive level management likes to use PMP keywords in presentations. PMP seems to be the buzz around here.

I’ve been receiving an overwhelming response from co-workers indicating its “worthless” to obtain a masters degree at my current situation (peak of my career). Beyond my level, the senior level, my company typically looks for managerial and administrative assets. In terms of pay, it’s not recognizable to deserve raise once you obtain a masters degree and the level beyond my current position isn’t what I’m seeking (pretty much I love where I am now).

Question:
Should I go back to college to finish my civil engineering graduate studies?

Many factors play a role in this question.
1) the direction of the company for the engineers is heading towards a project management role.
2) the increasing tuition cost (I estimated after I’m done, I will spend roughly $4000 into higher education).
3) no benefits in advancing to a higher position if I obtained a graduate degree.
4) no benefits in getting a raise if I obtained a graduate degree.
5) I’m half way to completing my graduate work.
6) possible future where I will need a masters degree.
7) very tiring to go to school after work and spending the weekends to finish homework.
8) it might be frown upon by my supervisors (not peers) to give up half way into my graduate work.

So Eng-Tips, if you were in my shoes what would you do?

 

[SNORGY]

Personally I struggle with leaving things half finished.

Also, I believe that if you have the academic credentials and the abilities to obtain an advanced degree beyond a bachelor's level, you should go for it, pay or otherwise. But that's just me. I didn't have the marks to get into graduate studies so I slogged along for three decades to where I am now: surrounded by MSc and PhD types, wishing I had done what it took to get to be smart as they are.

As for PMP, I personally think that it's a load of useless crap. A person either knows how to run an engineering project (i.e. plan and build something) or they don't. But again...that's just me. I follow the algebraic inequality:

(P.Eng. = PE) > PMP >> MBA

It is left as an exercise to the reader to provide the proof.

 

[Forensic74]

I think giving up halfway on your grad work because of where your current employer might be headed is very near sighted. At the end of the day, it needs to be what you want to do.


Imagine you were laid off in two years. What degree would you want to have?

 

[kylesito]

The only people I see as PMP's are in the computer and IT field. And most of the ones I knew I wouldn't want to follow them to the concession stand much less as a manager of a project.

My only thought is the PM degree is somewhat similar and doesn't have a lot of carry-over value down the road. It's just not something I would personally look at as distingishing. Much like the guys who got a Bachelor's in Leadership....great, now what does that mean?!

On the flip side, the MCE could be very applicable down the road and might help set you apart from another candidate if you should ever want anther job. Plus, you may discover you really want to stay in the design side of things once you get further along in this PM field.

My money...I get the MCE.


I would disagree with Snorgy's equation though as I think a MBA, for the right candidate, is a worthwhile career move. I think it's useless for a young person but someone ready to move into the ranks of managment (business side, not design side) could really benefit from the business lessons a MBA could teach.

PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi

 

[GregLocock]

Call me bitter and twisted, but in my experience an MBA is a walk in the park for any experienced manager, and doesn't really teach a non manager what it takes. The /words/ are great.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[graybeach]

I'm a fairly senior person who has a MSCE and who has stayed technical. I have never regretted this for one minute and wish I knew more technical stuff. Lately I've been getting into hydraulics and hydrology and just loving it. Last week I spoke to some senior Army Corps engineers. They lamented the lack of good solid technical Civil Engineering experts. They complained that too many leave the technical side for Project Management.

If you love the technical side - stay there and get your Master's. Either the demand for technical people in the USA is going to explode in the very near future due our rapidly aging infrastructure, or there is going to be a major breakdown in our civilization due to failing dams, collasping bridges, and broken sewers. Call me a Pollyanna, but I feel pretty confident about the former scenario.

 

[SNORGY]

kylesito,

I apologize. I do have a ...hint...of...bias in my opinions and...equations.

 

[miningman]

Less than 5 years since graduation and you are already at your career peak??? I graduated more than 35 years ago. Does that mean I wasted the last 30 years or are you so much bettter than me and managed to achieve in 5 years what I took 35 years to do????

 

[dhengr]

Complete your MCE, you are already half way there. I haven’t really looked at curriculum listings recently, but my sense is that a BCE hardly prepares young grads technically these days. There are dozens of course offerings out there, that they never touched on, or just barely, during your first four years, and all of these will make you sharper technically and a better manager too, if that’s the direction you finally go. While you may have progressed nicely during the last 4 or 5 years, you are hardly at the peak of your career yet. Maybe look to specialize in the courses you take. The way things are going these days it is more and more difficult to be a generalist, due to the complexity of the things we must do.

 

[stanweld]

Agree with miningman; you are far from your peak!! Why do you think that you will always be working for your current employer? The MSc degree provides greater opportunities if you wish to change employers, consult or be your own boss.

 

[debodine]

I like to tell people that in the USA for the last 25 years, almost every company of any decent size that has been driven into bankruptcy had a senior leadership team that all possessed an MBA. Yes, I know correlation is not causation, but I do wonder! )

 

[lacajun]

Listen to yourself and no one else. Your co-workers don't seem to be operating in your best interest. A master's will pay off in the long run and open doors for you that will otherwise not be open. Besides, education is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. It's imprudent to leave goals unfinished.

You can get the PMP but you'll still need experience to successfully handle projects. I've seen that firsthand. I agree with SNORGY'S inequalities, too.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC