Post: #1

For someone who wishes to move up on the technical career track and assume a sales or management role, which do you think is the most useful credential?

-Master of Engineering (ie mostly engineering coursework with little research)
-Master of Science in Engineering (lots of engineering coursework and research)
-MBA

Anyway, which degree do you think would be most useful?

The MBA seems the most popular as it's the most general and can apply to non-technical career tracks, but it can be disadvantageous on the technical side since it's not technical-specific enough.

Master of Engineering seems like a good credential to have, but I wonder if guys with MEng can be get as promoted as easily as the MBAs.

Your views? Especially if someone is interested in sales engineering/marketing.

Post: #2

Technical career track and management/sales track are different, often parallel, tracks. Thus I would say an MBA is more useful (I assume you already have an undergrad engineering degree). Only consider top-10 MBA schools unless your job is paying for the MBA.

Post: #3

(08-07-2014 02:21 PM)Menace Wrote:  Only consider top-10 MBA schools unless your job is paying for the MBA.

+100000000

Post: #4

MBAs are a dime a dozen unless you get one from a too school, but considering 20% or so CEOs have an Engineering degree, it doesn't disqualify you from moving up

also.it depends on what kind of engineering. systems engineering has a decent management and coordinatiin aspect to it

Post: #5

It sounds like you want to stay on the side of sales vs the science aspect of whatever field in engineering?

Either way I would go with a MSE. Many schools offer a MSE via 1 year of grad as long as you are admitted into their respective Engineering program.

Otherwise you're looking at 2 maybe 3 more years for a MSE vs 2 possibly 1.5 years for a ME.


Tell us what type of engineering you want to focus on.
It sounds like graduated with a bachelors.

Post: #6

As Menace mentioned, assuming you have an undergraduate engineering degree, a technical masters is not going to be a huge career boost. The MBA would certainly help more. The career ladder for technical people is rarely getting more and more technical, instead it is managing other technical people (think team lead or project manager).

A cert to SERIOUSLY consider getting is the PMP certification. Personally, I would consider that more valuable for a person who already has an engineering undergrad than an engineering master's.

Regarding only paying for an MBA if it is not in the top 10, I somewhat agree. I would expand that to the top 25, with the non-M7 schools being selected if you plan on staying in that region. For instance, UT Austin is ranked 15. However, if I were working in Texas (especially if I were working in the energy sector), I would not hesitate to go there.

Outside of the top 25 schools, I might still self-fund an MBA ONLY if it was a state school and I could get it for a REALLY good price (definitely under $30K, possibly under $20K). However, I would probably shoot for the PMP cert first.

Post: #7

Take an engineering degree, it will keep you from female-dominated workplaces.

Post: #8

Thanks for the responses, guys.

I have a BSIE and was wishing to obtain a MEng. Potentially to move into a sales type of position and it seems like an MEng could be beneficial because it combines both technical and business related courses. The MSE is more for those wishing to go into research.

As some of you have said, an MBA is only useful if it comes from a top program. There are way too many MBAs these days and it's not a particularly prestigious credential if it's not from a top program.

Will research the PMP too.

Post: #9

I know it's anecdotal (I'm mid career in financial field), but all the guys I know with engineering degrees are gainfully employed in a variety of fields.

In addition to getting one from a top school, an MBA is helpful as follows:

1) You obtain one soon after finishing college and use it to get into the field you studied.
2) An executive MBA earned mid career paid by your employer.

I am by no means dismissing an MBA in general, but as has been stated, the market is saturated with MBAs from mediocre-to-diploma-mill schools. For a few people that I know it did nothing for their careers. In fact, I'd say it just delayed their careers because they lost out on the experience while in school. On the flip side, one person I know obtained an MBA from a good school after college, was recruited by top companies, and became CFO of a large company by late 30s.

Either way, it sounds like you have a very solid plan, and will be in good shape.

Post: #10

Network in your local professional association and ask people in your specific field. Over the course of 18 months when making a mid-career transition, I talked to almost 50 people in the discipline I wanted to switch over to, and it was time very well spent. Now I know cats in almost every type of project I might have to work on and they remember the 10-20 minutes we spent talking about their jobs.

Post: #11

Its tough to know what's the best option for you.

I had a similar choice and picked doing an online MBA in Oil and Gas. I started a thread but it doesnt start till Sept so Ill update that as it progresses. Its ranked in the top 100 world wide buiness schools for an MBA and not all top schools have online Oil and Gas courses so I believe its credentials are sound.

I went with the MBA because thats what the guys in the positions I want have. I recommend using that as your guide. Ask around and see what the top guys in your field did. If you are not making this decision this year follow my thread and Ill try detail the value of an online MBA.

Feel free to PM if you want additional advice/info.

Post: #12

A lot of M.Eng programs require you to pay tuition while M.S. degrees often have funding (assistantships, etc.). Though at some schools you have to enroll in a Ph.D. program to get the M.S.

I think some M.Eng degrees can often just be an excuse for the schools to make more money on an extra year of tuition. However, depending on the specific program and field they might be a good move. Financial Engineering is one that pipelines you right into high-paying jobs.

It's best to pick the job you want first and work back from there, rather than just getting a degree.

Sales/Marketing is definitely more towards the MBA/"business" side of things.

M.S. is going to be research-base stuff, mathematical models, etc.

It really depends what your undergrad degree is, too. For most of the M.Eng or M.S. programs it should already be in engineering or a hard science.

Post: #13

I would look at online courses though, at least partially. Field experience + education = serious value. The problem in the energy sector (and its getting worse as the best guys retire) is the guys in the office havnt a clue what actually happens in the field and the guys in the field dont have the education to effectively run the business back in town. Having the skills to bridge the gap is the power position.

Post: #14

Do you think a Six Sigma cert or PMP would be useful for technical sales?

How secure is energy? I'm interested in a field with long term viability. So doing something related to manufacturing and robotics seems like a pretty good idea. With energy,
you're dealing with a lot of volatility.

Post: #15

An MBA from a good school will always be useful and a good investment I think. With that being said, the world is getting more and more specialized and being very good in a niche market is a great place to be. I'm doing an engineering MSc in geostatistics and I'm getting job offers already even though I have another ~6 months until I'm finished my thesis.

I think having an engineering masters in something interesting and useful is a great way to set yourself apart from the crowd.

Post: #16

From what I understand, go into the field and get your Professional Engineering Certification - work in industry for a few years then get your Masters and PhD paid for by your company. Even if you love theoretical work you'll be better off for it.

Post: #17

How do you feel about Six Sigma and PMP?