What's the average entry-level engineering job like?

jack63
Tue, 16 Dec 2014 19:37:09 +0000

dg1…I read thru this thread. I worked in industry as an EE for several years before returning to grad school. The old comments by PurdueEE are not that far off. I did not find much fulfillment in the technical work I did. However, in my PhD research, I did find some fulfillment in my technical work. Many people who worked as engineers with a Bachelors or Masters degree eventually changed careers. A number left to pursue business degrees, some pursued PhDs (like me), a couple of engineers I knew ran for and won “small-scale” political offices.

The engineers who stayed in industry often tried their hand at being a manager. Many pursued a part-time business degree in the process. Being a “1st line” manager (basically manages engineers in the trenches) in industry is a tough gig. Many just don’t succeed and end their career as a project lead or in customer support.

I actually have heard of students in their late twenties that go back get a EE undergrad and go on to get a PhD. That is an option.