Should I get a 2nd masters degree?

[ttm12372]

Two months ago I graduated with a MS. in Aerospace Engr. (aerothermodynamics specialization). I've been searching for a job since January and haven't found one. (I have a B.S. in mechanical engineering and 2 years of mechanical design experience.) From what I understand, the economy won't fully recover for another 2-3 years. I'm afraid I won't be able to find a job until the recovery.

Should I get a 2nd masters degree? My thinking is that I will have a 20hr/week paid assistantship and will be able to maintain/further my engineering skills.

 

[FeX32]

If you want to stay in school, do not do another masters. Do the PhD.
And yes, the amount they pay can actually be as much as a full time job.
Where I am from they pay 30-45 grand/year (if you are a proven 'researcher')


Fe

 

[321GO]

Maybe i'm missing something, but you have a BS in mechanical engineering and aditionally an MS in aerospace engineering and you still not able to get a job?

Is the situation realy that dire? That's insane IMHO.

 

[ttm12372]

FeX32:

I presume you've obtained some sort of fellowship? Most of the PhD students I know seem to be living off the 1500/month stipend.

I'm not motivated to do the PhD. It seems like the professors at my school want 4-8 years of commitment. 4yrs if you're good, and 6-8 if you're average like me. I guess I can't commit 6-8 yrs to become an average research.

-----------------------------------------------------------
321GO:

Thats what it seems like. I know 4 people who have graduate degrees in AE. 2 with a PhD and 2 with MS. All four have not been hired since their graduation last spring 2009. They of course have 3.0 or greater GPA's and RA experience and have attended fairly good schools.

I've applied to ~30-50 jobs per month since January. I had 1 successful interview where I was informed that I got the job. Two weeks later I was notified that the company couldn't hire me due to budget cuts.

In comparison to when I was an undergrad, I had multiple job offers 3 months prior to graduating. In addition, the school was not as highly ranked as my grad program.

 

[FeX32]

Yes, that amount I quoted does include scholarships.
4-8 years seems like a lot. I know that average time is 5-6, but I think 3-4 is more than doable.

Keep trying to get a job. Try networking or go to conferences. If you haven't done so already create a short conference paper (even if you have a few journal papers already) out of your MS thesis and choose a conference that you might expect potential employers to attend. That is the prime opportunity to network. After all, when it comes to jobs in general this is the way the world works.


Fe

 

[321GO]

tmin,

are you not overqualified for the jobs you are applying for?

 

[shawnpeter]

I fully endorse all education, to whatever level someone deems fit for them. Myself, I dropped out while working on an BS/MS program because for me the BS was already making enough money. I've got friends that did the joint BS/MS and are having a hell of time landing work. I blame it one "entitlement" issues.

Go to school for the education, work hard for the money.

 

[moltenmetal]

Your timing sucks, that's all. The entry level gets hit hardest every time there's an economic downturn.

I'd recommend you keep looking for a job- things will turn around. It sounds like the PhD would take you a long time because you're far from passionate about it. Doing a PhD without being passionate about it from the outset sounds crazy to me.

Here in Canada, while $30k/yr should be possible for at least part of the program, I think a engineering PhD student who is making $45k/yr would be pretty rare- those would be pretty rich scholarships, or involve working on contract research for extra pay (i.e. taking you longer to finish your grad work). We pay our Bachelors grads a fair bit more than that to start, with +10%/yr thereafter being pretty normal for the 1st 10 years. Doing the math, based on what the average PhD grad engineer makes versus what Bachelors level engineers make (based on salary survey data rather than anecdotes), the PhD has a net negative IRR even if you only take 3-4 yrs to do it.

No amount of education is ever a waste- but it certainly can be a poor economic investment.

 

[kontiki99]

If I go to

http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/

and search on keyword engineer I usually get at least 2000 hits.

I have no idea where you're from, but there are openings.

 

[KENAT]

Are you willing to relocate?

Seems I get regular job notifications from places like General Atomics even for entry level jobs.

UAV's may be a good area to look at generally, as IRstuff has said in several other threads. In fact in one of them he had a list to a directory of UAV companies - may be worth you taking a look.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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

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

 

[FeX32]

UAV - "Unmanned aerial vehicle" ???
If so, that sounds like a cool industry to work for.


Fe