Crossroads: what would you do? 3

[desertpilot]

For the first time in my engineering career, I have recently found myself unemployed as a result of my former employer's imminent bankruptcy.

I started hunting for a new career quite some time ago when things began to go sour. But unfortunately, I haven't had any luck so far even though I feel my qualifications are fairly extensive (summa cum laude BS ChE grad, quite a few corporate honors, manufacturing/process/applications engineering experience in a number of fields).

So I was considering perhaps going after additional education of some sort in my downtime. Right now I'm working on a Six Sigma certification just to keep from going brain-dead, but I am thinking something more might be in order.

What would you do? My heart tells me to go for an advanced engineering degree. Although my degree is ChE, the majority of my experience is across the spectrum, so I was thinking something like maybe a master's in materials or electrical engineering, or perhaps another field (recommendations for the future?) My mind, however, points to something different. I see all of the information here and I find myself skeptical about my future in engineering. For that reason, I'm now also considering the MBA route, just because I feel like it could possibly be marketable in other industries in the next several years.

Appreciate your input.

 

[GregLocock]

Well, what I'd do is slightly different to what I'm going to recommend to you.

Do the MBA. RDK as persuaded me that, for alll practical purposes a competent experienced engineer knows 'enough' engineering to pick up the technical details of any vaguely related field very quickly.

What we lack is all the rest of the people and leadership skills.

Also, assuming you are American, it will be much harder for a management role to be outsourced overseas, compared with a technical design job.

Six Sigma is fun, but it is no panacea. Unless the management in the company are committed to it, it will go the same way as all the other SPC and quality fads. (I'm just a green belt in a company that /does/ believe in it).


Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[PSE]

I am tending to agree with Greg. The MBA would seem to put you in a more versatile position whereas an advanced degree may put you in the role (from an employers standpoint) of a specialist. The MBA would also help you if you find you want to start your own business (consulting or otherwise).

It's a tough call when you post that your heart tells you to go for an advanced engineering degree. From that standpoint, would you be happy or comfortable in a less technical and more managerial role?

As to other technical fields, your background would be helpful in the semi-conductor industry and along the same lines micro-electical-mechanical systems (MEMS) both of which would benefit from the materials side of an advanced degree. Your view through the "crystal ball" is likely as good as anyone elses.

Regards and good luck

 

[metengr]

desertpilot;
From what I have seen, MBA's with an engineering undergraduate degree are all too common in the US. I remember almost falling into this trap back in the 80's because engineers were looking to get into Project Management. I pursued a masters in engineering instead of an MBA because I wanted to remain technical, and eventually move into engineering consulting work.

From what you have stated in your post, are you are having a tough time finding employment because you cannot re-locate? I have several colleagues of mind that stayed technical and were able to find engineering jobs, but they had to re-locate in the US.

If you enjoy engineering, try obtaining PE registration (if you have not done so already). As an option, you could consider working for an engineering firm that provides experienced engineers on a per job basis. You are paid by the hour and provide your own benefits. The hourly rate is more than enough to cover your salary plus medical. I know two mechanical engineers that have gone this route for the last 5 years. The work is steady, and the money is great if you don't mind travel. This could be an option to tide you over until an opportunity presents itself in the future.

 

[COKA]

I agree with metengr. If you are willing to move, then do a masters in Metallurgy or Mining. There are so many jobs far away from everything. Say northern Canada... I have friends who are working there and are paid almost twice then what I make

Coka

 

[dporte17]

desertpilot:

I think the greatest variable is yourself in this. My wife has an MBA and I decided to do the M.Eng route in a program that tries to incorporate 1/3 to 1/2 MBA material. Somewhat an Engineering Management sort of degree. There is material in the MBA that I will never touch, but honestly it isn't what I wanted to know. I am going to get enough business background to understand the fundamentals, but still have some advanced technical material. It was a fit for me because I wanted to sharpen my technical skills and still be able to run a company if I wanted to. My wife is going the Director route in IT, and the technical skills are of little value relative to the business skills, so the MBA worked best for her.

It really depends on what direction you want to go. Do you want to stay technical or go mostly managerial? You can pick the choice that you think will best situate you to not have your job outsourced, but like everyone else you are not psychic. Enjoying what you do and being good at it is a better bet for keeping your job.

Dave

 

[pmkPE]

I once considered getting an MBA and a friend that has one said that you should only get an MBA if you have a need for having one. (Just having the credential on your resume is not a sufficient reason to get sidetracked for two years and several thousands of dollars.)

When looking for work for example, on the internet or where ever hiring firms that you are interested in advertise - look first at what they are seeking in an individual. Are their advertisements all worded the same, are they looking for the same qualifications, credentials, etc? Do you have any experience related to what they are asking for. Are all of the employment opportunities that interest you different or similar to what you have been doing and most importantly what can you do to help them?

Are you getting interviews? If not you need to evaluate why you are not getting them. Are you assertive? You need to hit the road and literally walk in on people and introduce yourself and tell them what you can do and what you can do for THEM. (They know what they can do for you.)

Also, you need to be aware of the industries that are hiring and what their standing is in today's economy. If they are struggling then you need to consider different industries or sectors of work. You may have to consider moving or taking a cut in pay if you must stay in your area.

You are listed as an electrical and from my perspective electricals have been in demand and on average make better salaries than Civils and even Mechanicals when involved with power distribution and systems such as in heavy industry and areas such as hospitals where they can not tolerate system failures.

Getting back to advanced degrees, I strongly believe in the adage that it is not what you know but what you do with what you know. Be your best, if to do that you need an advanced degree then go for it. If not, perhaps become registered as a professional engineer, (if you are not currently). The effort put out for post graduate study for the PE exam will help you in your career; it is refreshing in the sense of reviewing studies long forgotten. In fact I had been considering obtaining a MS in structural engineering but when I researched the time and money necessary to obtain the degree versus the added income that I might make I came to the conclusion that it was not worth it. (It would be worth it for the experience of learning.) However, I am now preparing to take the Structural Engineer's Exam next year in lieu of working on a masters. I'll still have the hours to put in, not as much though, and I'll have earned an additional creditial that will let my current and future potential employers know that I have the abilities that could benifit them.

 

[moltenmetal]

What skills are in demand is a highly localized thing. In Ontario, in a job skills program for recent immigrants, we had the hardest time trying to find job placements for electrical engineers. Electrical engineering grads also had roughly twice the unemployment rate 2 years after graduation of the average engineering grad (actually far worse than the average grad of all university programs). This shocked me, because electrical has a rep for being an in-demand field, and still has higher admissions averages at most Ontario universities. But I don't think we've recovered yet from the high tech bust. I have absolutely no idea about your prospects in your own area.

As to the value of an advanced degree, it's not monetary. The stats up here show that a Master's degree in engineering has a very long payback period. Better than sitting on your butt, but not worth deferring employment unless you have a burning interest in the subject matter. If your interests run toward research, then go for it. But if you have the choice between a coursework only Masters and one where you do lab work and write a thesis, take the 2nd option as it's more likely to teach you something worth knowing IMHO.

The MBA has lost some of its novelty, though it's still a benefit if you want to get into the business side rather than going the technical route.

Best of luck to you desertpilot.

 

[BobPE]

think beyond the trap we are all in...LAW....go for the JD.

This is just my opinion as I have researched things for myslef but, an engineer and an MBA are mutually exclusive. A good engineer is a poor business person, and a good business person would not be an engineer. My friends that have those joint credentials say that they are conflicted in their careers, having to choose between business and engineering and always seem to be on the business track and wanting to be an engineer.. Now, every case is different, but this is just us talking here.

I have a few friends with Law and engineering and they ended up in quite a good spot since all lawyers secretely want to be engineers, but alas..they can only pretend. So it is quite the opportunity when you can be a lawyer that knows engineering. They say that they are constantly leading in their careers shich makes for fun days...

 

[HarrisDE]

I can help compare Law and an MBA.

My friend has been working on his law degree for a couple of years. He has two more to go. Normally the program will take a minimum of three years and cost a bundle. He has choosen to work on the side. It streches the course load out for an extra year - but get this, he's making about $50k a year on a part time basis at a law firm. As a young engineer, this is almost as good as what he was making before.

I finished my MBA in 2002. It took me six years of night school to get an accredited degree. The cost was lower overall than law and because I was employed, I bore almost none of it. My company actually noticed (surprise!) when I graduated and I got a raise. I was further able to negotiate a rewarding transfer that would not have been otherwise possible.

We have talked about what engineering means to the law and MBA career paths and they are very similar. Engineering is the basis of what we do - patent law or middle managment suck-up. The engineering education and experience may will allow us to out-perform our peers (if that matters). Strangely, both career paths have a similar return in the near term accounting; law pays about 20% more but the costs are much higher.

We both wanted to get away from engineering and are succeeding in that goal. We both wanted to make more money through expanding our educations and are also succeeding.

Gruß Scott