Is a Master's really necessary in this day in time? I have my BS in Engineering but I was wondering if I really need a master's as I have been told by a couple people. I just have no motivation at all to go back to school and I am still burned out from my 4 years at school even that was almost a year ago.
Want to push papers all day long? Get a masters in engineering.
Personally I think an engineering undergrad combined with graduate studies in Public Administration, Project Management, or Operation Management would be a good combo, and not trap to a life working in an office.
The bosses out here. The ones that own me via contract. They have their masters or higher (in engineering). If you can afford it, get motivated.
That is the other thing I don't want to manage people. I berkeleying hate that. It isn't why I got an engineering degree. Also I am about as diplomatic as a sledge hammer.
My boss (32, tall, blonde, girl) has two Masters'.
A degree gets you in the door, ethics and personality keep you employed.
^ This.
I received mine (IT Mgmt) in 2009 and many doors have opened!!
I would never get a master's in engineering. An MBA would make more sense. But if things keep going the way they are, I'm thinking no college and getting into a Government job or a union will be the best way to go in the future, I'm sad to say.
914Driver wrote: My boss (32, tall, blonde, girl) has two Masters'. A degree gets you in the door, ethics and personality keep you employed.
That goes for a Bachelor's too in some cases. I was a truck and auto mechanic before I went to college for engineering. I would never have had an interview for an engineering position without the degree, but in every position I've had since, I've made more use of my mechanics experience than I have engineering.
93EXCivic wrote: That is the other thing I don't want to manage people. I berkeleying hate that. It isn't why I got an engineering degree. Also I am about as diplomatic as a sledge hammer.
Hmm, me too. I'd say that if your current degree has you doing what you like, then there's no reason to go further unless people above you make it worth your effort.
yeah I see no point in a masters in Engineering, so I am slowly going for an MBA.. I would say a masters in any other field is a huge plus just not engineering unless you want the paperwork or teach
It doesn't have to be a big rush. I graduated at 23 with my bachelors, had a lot of fun through my 20s, and started on my MBA at 31. Now, at 41, I'm very glad I did it, I wouildn't have my current job without it.
One other thing: if you can get someone (ie, your employer) to pay for it, DO IT!!!
bravenrace wrote: I would never get a master's in engineering. An MBA would make more sense.
But wouldn't a MBA mean I would end up managing people?
It depends on what type engineer you want to be. I work for an environmental consulting firm. Having a masters is a good thing and most of our new hires have them. It also helps to have your PE. But, if you are worth a E36 M3, you are going to be a manager in a few years and never be hands-on again. If you are in industry, I would go for an MBA. You can often get them through online progams while you work with almost never setting foot on campus. And I don't meant the bullcrap diploma mills.
My experince was that a BS only taught me how to learn. The masters gave me experience.
spitfirebill wrote: But, if you are worth a E36 M3, you are going to be a manager in a few years and never be hands-on again.
How to avoid that?
I work for an environmental/civil consulting firm as well (even though I'm an electrical engineer) and as far as I know we don't have very many people with master's degrees - I'm sure there are some, plus a few doctorates and a bunch of MBAs. On the other hand most everyone is a PE. Fortunately, we don't have a lot of management going on 
(there's only about two layers of management from bottom to top, in a firm with 600 people) so that's not a big issue.
In order to make more money you've gotta have more responsibility. Simple fact of life.
More money doesn't mean more happiness.
It's really up to you to be a manager. I have been a manager LONG before I received my Masters.
Getting my Master help open doors in larger companies . . .
If you don't want to be a manager, you don't have to be.
EDIT: I was anti-mgmt for a while after I received my Bachelors . . . then something changed 
As I posted in the other thread, I got my masters in engineering just so that I could get into the field I wanted into. That industry was not recruiting where I got my undergrad, but was where I got my masters.
To me, that was a good reason to get a masters (and it paid off, too- since I started at a higher grade).
But if you don't need it to do what you want, I would not.
MBA = management. If you don't want to do that, you don't need it. You are not going to get a more technical job with an MBA.
Strike_Zero wrote: EDIT: I was anti-mgmt for a while after I received my Bachelors . . . then something changed
I am anti-management because I was the team lead for Formula SAE. I hated it. I hated dealing with political bullE36 M3 and asskissing. I hated trying to get people to do things. I finally said screw it and just focused on the design which is what I enjoyed doing.
You won't move up much higher than entry-level if you don't get a MS or PhD. It kind of sucks, but you can get research jobs with the higher-level degrees. If you love what you do, that's great. You can be happy with your possible 2% raise every year.
In reply to 93EXCivic:
Nothing wrong with that!! That's why I hated mgmt (still do some days).
I took the alternate route of Technical Mgr. Yes, I have to traverse both sides of the line (technical and mgmt), but it's enjoyable and keeps it fresh.
I read a few books that help with my transition (not saying you should move to mgmt):
I guess I will wait a few years and then go for it (a master's in engineering). I just don't want to spend a bunch of time and effort to end up with a job that I hate even if it pays more.
93EXCivic wrote: I guess I will wait a few years and then go for it (a master's in engineering). I just don't want to spend a bunch of time and effort to end up with a job that I hate even if it pays more.
The earlier you get it, the bigger your payoff will be. I also learned that my field was pretty boring the hard way.
rotard wrote: You won't move up much higher than entry-level if you don't get a MS or PhD. It kind of sucks, but you can get research jobs with the higher-level degrees. If you love what you do, that's great. You can be happy with your possible 2% raise every year.
that does kind of depend on where you are. There a much stiffer glass celing for non-degree than for the lack of MS or PhD.
Oh- and civic- when shopping for an MS degree, see if you can find a school that does one without a "project" or something like that. I got my MS at Michigan with just 27 credit hours and nothing else. Granted, that was 20 years ago... But if you are already doing work, just classes will be a lot less stressful.
If you are lucky, you'll be just fine with an BS. And I don't think it's a whole lot of luck needed to do that. Most of the people I directly work with only have BS degrees.
rotard wrote:93EXCivic wrote: I guess I will wait a few years and then go for it (a master's in engineering). I just don't want to spend a bunch of time and effort to end up with a job that I hate even if it pays more.The earlier you get it, the bigger your payoff will be. I also learned that my field was pretty boring the hard way.
I just can't do it now. I have zero motivation because I am still burnt out from getting my master's degree and while my company will pay for my education, they require me to stay for 5 years and I can't do that right now because I may not be at the company that long. I do like my job (most days) but I have some other things that may end up with me moving.
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