Next Career Move

[EmbeddedGuy]

Hello. I have been developing embedded systems for the past 15 years, the last 5 of which have been for the same manufacturer of control systems for the converting industry. While I enjoy my present position, I am wondering if there is some sort of next career move that I should be making in order to improve myself and grow professionally. The job market for embedded systems developers is actually quite small in my geographical area, and I have recently been considering whether it would be worthwhile to move to hotter job markets such as San Diego or Phoenix.

I am in my mid-thirties, possess an associate degree, have a young family, and make an average salary for my current position. I do not wish to make any hasty decisions and make some sort of career move that ends up not working out. However, I do not want to pass up on opportunities either just because I am too conservative in my career decisions.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

[IRstuff]

Are you in any position to get a BS CompSci? Seems to me that you'll always be hampered by the lack of a bachelor's degree. There are companies that won't even consider someone without a BS degree, even if they come with solid recommendations.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529

 

[GregLocock]

I've had to move for every single change in job I have made.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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

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

 

[EmbeddedGuy]

Thank you for your responses guys. I do think that the lack of a bachelors degree is somewhat of an issue. Some potential employers have said "We see that you only have a 2 year degree, but we contacted you anyway because your past project experience is applicable to what we do here", while other potential employers have said "Sorry, we require a bachelors or higher, and we cannot make an exception to our policy".

With 3 young kids, it will be quite challenging, but not impossible, to obtain a bachelors degree in engineering from a school such as Arizona State University. Will my pay rise upon completion of the degree? I do not expect it to, but it may make it easier to obtain an engineering position with a different company.

To any younger people who may be reading this thread, I would suggest that you obtain as much education as you can before you are tied down with family responsibilities. That way, you will not find yourself in the quagmire that I am in.

 

[IRstuff]

You don't state what your degree is, but, it general, associate's degrees are substantially subordinate to bachelors'. As such, there would most certainly a salary difference, unless you get lucky and someone looks beyond your degree. The good news would be that upon getting your BS, you would have a truckload of experience, and would presumably be more mature than the typical new grad.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529

 

[EmbeddedGuy]

Degree is in Information Systems, and my salary is already comparable to that of an engineer with a BS degree for the geographical area in which I live.

 

[Panther140]

How much of a BS will your AS cover? My dad has an associate in computer programming and he is in a leadership role making a little over 100k annually. That's plenty of money in an area with low cost of living.

Keep in mind that in highly populated areas, you are going to see PLENTY of competition. All of whom will be wielding BS degrees from BS schools.

"Formal education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." ~ Joseph Stalin

 

[metengr]

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Make sure your wife is on board with any career moves.

 

[EmbeddedGuy]

I do have a few semesters worth of credits toward a BS degree, and am earning in the low 90's, which is fairly middle of the road for the small midwestern city in which I live. I am just debating whether or not it would be worthwhile to obtain the BS degree. It will be time and effort, and I am sure to learn some new things, but will my job prospects and salary increase enough for me to justify the time and effort?

 

[wtxhorsman]

The engineer I was working under in my first company out of college had 30 years experience in down hole tool design. He had been with the company for 28 of those 30 years. As soon as we were bought out by a larger company he was given the option of early retirement or being cut loose because of no degree before the buying company took full control of us. After seeing something like that I would say it is definitely worth getting the BS degree if you can.

 

[IRstuff]

I would second wtxhorsman's comments. We once tried to hire someone without a BSCS, even though he came EXTREMELY high recommended, and it was obvious from his body of work that he was very qualified. Nevertheless, our HR couldn't come up with any sort of decent offer.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529

 

[Panther140]

Bill Gates applied at my business in 2006. (Didn't have a degree at the time) I said get packing, chump.

"Formal education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." ~ Joseph Stalin

 

[Panther140]

True story.

(I'm now done producing amusement. Please, carry on.)

"Formal education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." ~ Joseph Stalin

 

[KENAT]

Funny IRstuff, I thought of you when interviewing a guy last week. He listed on his resume what colleges he'd attended but not what degree he had so I asked him. Told him I didn't really care as his experience more than made up for any lack of degree but that it was because some one else had fudged their resume a while before.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​