How can a BSEET grad get a real engineering job?

LemonRind
Thu, 02 Jan 2014 04:32:00 +0000

Navyfc,

Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s great to see that I’m not alone having this problem with my BSEET. I actually already considered taking some additional undergrad classes (math and physics) in hopes to boost my “employability”. But now I am actually working on MSEE at a state school which I think is a much better option. I just finished my first semester and so far doing well. If I stick to the study plan I got my student advisor to sign off on, I will be done with everything in two years from now. Most people I spoke with confirmed that after I have the MSEE, my undergrad will be a lot less important.

As far as difficulty of MSEE, I can say that it is pretty challenging. Some classes require a lot of work outside of the classroom. I took my first required “math heavy” graduate level class in the Fall and I can say that it was not a walk in the park. But I still did fine in it and now taking the second required math-oriented class this Spring. I did not need tutoring yet but I also have no problems paying for it if needed.

As turbo93 mentions above, I hear pretty much the same thing from other grad students about DSP and Signals. Those subjects are for the ones truly dedicated to that specific area since they are really tough. I have a full time job and a family so there is little interest in investing 40+ hours per week into academics, especially since I have my own choice of the classes I take. A completed MSEE from a state school is a lot more important to me than what classes are listed on the transcripts (please, take my honesty in consideration if you choose to criticize me for that). So, no DSP for me and thanks for the heads up!

As far as heisenberg012’s reply, even if it is true that BSEET+MSEE only qualifying me to work on the application side, I am still fine with that. I find many jobs that I’m interested in are application oriented but still list “BSEE or MSEE” in the requirements section. Since I get no replies from those jobs with my BSEET by itself, they are going to be my main target category after I graduate, not the research stuff that was mentioned. It seems to me that in not all but many cases the job requirements are set higher than what is actually required. Maybe it is because the employers try to reduce the chances of hiring a dummy by asking for advanced degrees? They can get away with that given the glut of qualified people on the market.

My current plan is to finish MSEE and have my hands dirty in C/Python/Matlab. Also, after graduation I will get PMP certificate (project management class to qualify for the test is a part of my MSEE degree plan), Six Sigma Black Belt (already have the project completed) and possibly take FE exam. Maybe sprinkle some Linux and Cisco certs on the top. Getting a job in these days is a job by itself, lol. If for some reason I hit a road block and can no longer complete MSEE, I will just switch to working on those certs anyway. Any comments or suggestions about this plan?

As far as taking an engineering position with my current employer, it still does not really excite me that much. Like I mentioned in my post above, transition from hourly to salary would mean a reduction in pay with more hours (at my job salaried folks do no less than 10 hours per day and are routinely asked to come in on their off days to work on a project). Also, the job itself does not even interest me. I could, however, try to switch into it after graduation just so I can carry the title on my resume and hunt for a new job while in that capacity. Maybe that would land me some better opportunities?