Best career path for mechanical engineer mom 2

[AR29]

I have always dreamed of becoming a mechanical engineer, and I will be graduating this May!!!
I am female, married, have one kid, and I plan on having more.
It seems like all the jobs I apply to/interview with want someone who will come in and work 40+ hours a week (if not 60+).
Although I love engineering, my family is more important than my job. I am starting to feel like I made a big mistake going into engineering, knowing that I want to have a big family.
My question:
What can I do with a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering that is family friendly? Is there any sort of mechanical engineering entry role that only requires max 40 hours a week or is there anything part time?
I have been thinking of doing paid research and getting either a Masters or PHD because it seems like that has more flexibility in terms of the hours and days off (ex: summer break). At this point, I don't care what I do, as long as I get paid something, and it is in the engineering field.

 

[CWB1]

Curious, what school allows someone to go from undergrad directly to Phd with zero experience? I know 50+ years ago a few allowed that jump for those with extensive industry experience, but I didnt think anyone offered that today, much less offered it to undergrads with zero experience.

 

[RVAmeche]

People that graduated with bachelor's can advance directly into graduate work pursuing a Phd without any experience. She's beginning graduate work, not automatically getting a Phd.

 

[AR29]

Anyone I know who is getting a PhD in a STEM field went straight from Bachelor's degree. The first year is master level credits but you do research at the same time. I have some friends who have done this. I believe this is normal in the US.

 

[phamENG]

AR29 - not at my school. We had a program to do a bachelors and masters at the same time, but not a masters and doctorate at the same time (at least not that I'm aware of). An MS has always been a prerequisite for a PhD or DEng.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

At Purdue, a number of students went directly from BS to PhD program... but that doesn't mean they (eventually) graduated, only that they were accepted.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[xnuke]

In many U.S. engineering colleges, students can enter a PhD program directly from a BS program without any real-world experience. They will earn the MS along the way toward the PhD. Some students who start graduate work don't even finish the PhD, they just leave with the MS.

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[CWB1]

We had a program to do a bachelors and masters at the same time, but not a masters and doctorate at the same time (at least not that I'm aware of). An MS has always been a prerequisite for a PhD or DEng.

Same for every college I have lectured or completed coursework at, including Purdue. BS or BS&MS then reapply separately for a Phd, usually after you have worked a few years. Many schools leave the door open to special programs like this for the donating/experienced/otherwise special few in basketweaving programs but as a "perpetual student" with multiple degrees I have never heard of anyone doing so in engineering stateside, hence the question. If I had, I'd be on Phd two or three by now.

 

[DrZoidberWoop]

Before jumping into a PhD program, do a serious evaluation of your short and medium-term finances with your partner. By not taking advantage of the highly employable position you have put yourself in, you will be making a tremendous sacrifice w/ earning potential and early-life investment, which are critical to accruing long-term capital. A PhD is not going to make you any more money until you use it to leverage yourself into a management/executive position.

Not that it matters, but I would be ecstatic if my wife also had an engineering degree and the household brought in significant dual incomes. But, I married a teacher, and she can always move laterally back into teaching after our kids are off to school. Engineers do not have that luxury because early work experience and continuity are king. Best of luck with your choice.

 

[moon161]

I've worked a bunch of places (US, upstate NY) as an engineer and CAD jockey. 2 of them definately involved miserable engineers coming in on a saturday morning, and 3 definately did not. At one of the definately not places, I worked for a really pregnant and really smart engineer who designed automatic welding & positioning equipment. Everyone there was going to home or to happy hour at 5. Everyone was mentally present, in a good mood and effective instead of dragging their tails. Even the guy who seemed to drink a lot.

At one place they tried starting a new young engineer on 50 hour weeks at least for a while, he was gone after less than a year. Current new guy is strictly 8-4:30.

Please note that there are questions that it is illegal to ask in an employment interview, and do you/will you have or care for a kid is one of them.

Best of luck with the PhD!

 

[moon161]

I'm guessing you live in America-land. In Australia and the UK I have rarely /had/ to work more than 40 hours a week, and when I do I get overtime or time off in lieu.

Yeah, I think it's important for americans to know how relatively overworked they are. Maybe enough will come to their senses eventually. In 86 my dad took us to France when he was consulting over the summer, and he was like, 'here, people pretty much take august off'. Same thing dealing with italian companies in the summer.

 

[phamENG]

moon - you mean we're not supposed to grind our souls to dust making a small fraction of the population rich with minimal hope of actually elevating ourselves, despite the anecdotal evidence to the contrary and all the while demanding services that are poorly delivered and overpriced while we eschew taxes of any kind on "principle" such that our national debt balloons to an unsustainable and reckless amount?

Nah.

 

[TheTick]

Ph.D.? At least it's not an MBA (or, Cthulhu forbid, a JD).

 

[CWB1]

I've worked a bunch of places (US, upstate NY)...Yeah, I think it's important for americans to know how relatively overworked they are. Maybe enough will come to their senses eventually. In 86 my dad took us to France when he was consulting over the summer, and he was like, 'here, people pretty much take august off'.

Engineers commonly get 4-6 weeks off stateside too. Your view is likely a bit jaded bc in NY, like most of the NE US, the job market for engineers is terrible, incomes are pitiful, and benefits abysmal. Its unfortunate, but the lack of industry coupled with another state school located every ~50 miles cranking out engineering bachelors' for $25k has flooded the market with folks willing to work for peanuts and lousy benefits. I grew up "upstate" (usually references the NYC burbs downstate), went to school in CNY and NNY, and have tried moving back several times for family. Unfortunately, a top offer there still has me facing a ~30% pay cut and ~30% cost of living increase before discussing lack of benefits, bonuses, career growth, or other negatives. Its better than Europe or Oz but that's not saying much. Oddly enough, I find myself drawn into conversation whenever recruiters or friends back east starting discussing money and the old joke comes to mind - the 1990s called, they want their incomes back!

As to the hours, I believe a lot of this comes down to the type of person you are and who you surround yourself with. My wife and I aren't the sleep late, lounge-around watching television, or wait for opportunity to come our way type. I grew up modestly poor and she grew up without indoor plumbing, so needless to say we have no interest in being poor or simply scraping by. We work hard and play hard. We have both a formal breakfast and formal dinner as a family every day, spend an hour or more working out, work the hours, and are home between 5-6 most nights. As an engineer I can't keep govt hours (most non-govt workers can't), but I can pretty easily flex my schedule given a few days' notice to attend the occasional doctor's/vet's/other appointment or event so IMHO this career has better hours than many and worse than a few. It also gave me enough financial freedom over the first few years after college that I haven't been beholden to any supervisor, employer, or banker. The big decision with every career move I have made in my decade of engineering has been - start Monday or take a few months/years off? I keep choosing the former.