I’m entering grad school in the fall in the ECE department where my focus will most likely be Computer Security and Information Trust.
My undergrad was mainly focused on hardware, though… I had two internships in the semiconductor industry, and the company offered me a job with compensation in the mid 70s. I turned it down for grad school though - we’ll see how that decision turns out.
[quote]Joe84 wrote:
I know it’s been done before but any engineers here? I’m almost finished my Masters program and would like to get out of the academic world, I find it boring and wish I would have just taken a job out of undergrad.
Any advice for transitioning from one background to another, job applications, cold calling, what recruiters are looking for, applying to positions in different parts of the country, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone wants to talk about their work that would be cool too.[/quote]
My advice, as an engineer. Stay in the academic world. If you find that boring, I cannot imagine what you are going to think once you find yourself in the “real world”. Seriously.
That said, put your resume/CV up on dice:
You don’t need to cold call (you will get contacted plenty). Don’t apply to companies directly. If you do, most likely your resume will just end up in a trash can, no matter how good you are.
Also, I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the country, but around here-Silicon Valley0 you should not dress up too well for an interview. It makes other engineers think you are a bullshitter.
[quote]entheogens wrote:
Joe84 wrote:
I know it’s been done before but any engineers here? I’m almost finished my Masters program and would like to get out of the academic world, I find it boring and wish I would have just taken a job out of undergrad.
Any advice for transitioning from one background to another, job applications, cold calling, what recruiters are looking for, applying to positions in different parts of the country, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone wants to talk about their work that would be cool too.
My advice, as an engineer. Stay in the academic world. If you find that boring, I cannot imagine what you are going to think once you find yourself in the “real world”. Seriously.
That said, put your resume/CV up on dice:
You don’t need to cold call (you will get contacted plenty). Don’t apply to companies directly. If you do, most likely your resume will just end up in a trash can, no matter how good you are.
Also, I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the country, but around here-Silicon Valley0 you should not dress up too well for an interview. It makes other engineers think you are a bullshitter.
[/quote]
Huh. I’m looking right now and my old man told me to wear a suit and shave my beard. This not only infuriated me but now seems like bad advice.
[quote]entheogens wrote:
Also, I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the country, but around here-Silicon Valley0 you should not dress up too well for an interview. It makes other engineers think you are a bullshitter.
[/quote]
Microsoft was on campus about two years ago. I put on some decent slacks and a nice shirt. Everyone else was dressed to impress in a suit and tie. I didn’t get the job (though that could be unrelated to the attire).
[quote]entheogens wrote:
Joe84 wrote:
I know it’s been done before but any engineers here? I’m almost finished my Masters program and would like to get out of the academic world, I find it boring and wish I would have just taken a job out of undergrad.
Any advice for transitioning from one background to another, job applications, cold calling, what recruiters are looking for, applying to positions in different parts of the country, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone wants to talk about their work that would be cool too.
My advice, as an engineer. Stay in the academic world. If you find that boring, I cannot imagine what you are going to think once you find yourself in the “real world”. Seriously.
That said, put your resume/CV up on dice:
You don’t need to cold call (you will get contacted plenty). Don’t apply to companies directly. If you do, most likely your resume will just end up in a trash can, no matter how good you are.
Also, I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the country, but around here-Silicon Valley0 you should not dress up too well for an interview. It makes other engineers think you are a bullshitter.
[/quote]
ME undergrad here.
How far into the academic world do you suggest going? As of now I’m positive on a Masters degree, still too early to tell on the PhD. I’m thinking of alternative energy or AI/human body as potential research areas.
You fellas got any tips for a yougin’ like myself?
[quote]entheogens wrote:
Joe84 wrote:
I know it’s been done before but any engineers here? I’m almost finished my Masters program and would like to get out of the academic world, I find it boring and wish I would have just taken a job out of undergrad.
Any advice for transitioning from one background to another, job applications, cold calling, what recruiters are looking for, applying to positions in different parts of the country, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone wants to talk about their work that would be cool too.
My advice, as an engineer. Stay in the academic world. If you find that boring, I cannot imagine what you are going to think once you find yourself in the “real world”. Seriously.
That said, put your resume/CV up on dice:
You don’t need to cold call (you will get contacted plenty). Don’t apply to companies directly. If you do, most likely your resume will just end up in a trash can, no matter how good you are.
Also, I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the country, but around here-Silicon Valley0 you should not dress up too well for an interview. It makes other engineers think you are a bullshitter.
[/quote]
The problem with staying in academics is that you spend a large proportion of your time reading journal articles and being a desk jockey surrounded by a bunch of “book smart” people who have little common sense. Right now I share a lab with 5 other people and they are all dumb as bricks when it comes to anything outside of their research, especially practical hands on stuff.
[quote]DouglasJ16 wrote:
entheogens wrote:
Joe84 wrote:
I know it’s been done before but any engineers here? I’m almost finished my Masters program and would like to get out of the academic world, I find it boring and wish I would have just taken a job out of undergrad.
Any advice for transitioning from one background to another, job applications, cold calling, what recruiters are looking for, applying to positions in different parts of the country, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone wants to talk about their work that would be cool too.
My advice, as an engineer. Stay in the academic world. If you find that boring, I cannot imagine what you are going to think once you find yourself in the “real world”. Seriously.
That said, put your resume/CV up on dice:
You don’t need to cold call (you will get contacted plenty). Don’t apply to companies directly. If you do, most likely your resume will just end up in a trash can, no matter how good you are.
Also, I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the country, but around here-Silicon Valley0 you should not dress up too well for an interview. It makes other engineers think you are a bullshitter.
ME undergrad here.
How far into the academic world do you suggest going? As of now I’m positive on a Masters degree, still too early to tell on the PhD. I’m thinking of alternative energy or AI/human body as potential research areas.
You fellas got any tips for a yougin’ like myself? [/quote]
In my opinion a PhD has little value outside of academics, however in academics it is pretty much a necessity if you ever want to be a prof.
Joe,
I am an executive recruiter…I work about 75% of the time on engineering searches, including quite a bit of Medical Device.
If you want to get out of Academia you might need to take a lesser level job with a larger Medical company like BD, CR Bard or GE/OEC.
With your advanced degree you will be promoted faster and will be making very good money within a few years.
I have placed several people with Masters in Bio-Medical that have taken this path.
[quote]UtahLama wrote:
Joe,
I am an executive recruiter…I work about 75% of the time on engineering searches, including quite a bit of Medical Device.
If you want to get out of Academia you might need to take a lesser level job with a larger Medical company like BD, CR Bard or GE/OEC.
With your advanced degree you will be promoted faster and will be making very good money within a few years.
I have placed several people with Masters in Bio-Medical that have taken this path.
[/quote]
Thanks for the info. What sort of positions would you recommend? Tech positions or just anything to get a foot in the door? Thanks.
[quote]Joe84 wrote:
I know it’s been done before but any engineers here? I’m almost finished my Masters program and would like to get out of the academic world, I find it boring and wish I would have just taken a job out of undergrad.
Any advice for transitioning from one background to another, job applications, cold calling, what recruiters are looking for, applying to positions in different parts of the country, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone wants to talk about their work that would be cool too.[/quote]
Biomed is pretty tough. I had a 3.6 after first year and I didn’t get in. 
But thats just me, you on the other hand have a fresh start. Give it all you got.
[quote]ab_power wrote:
Joe84 wrote:
I know it’s been done before but any engineers here? I’m almost finished my Masters program and would like to get out of the academic world, I find it boring and wish I would have just taken a job out of undergrad.
Any advice for transitioning from one background to another, job applications, cold calling, what recruiters are looking for, applying to positions in different parts of the country, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone wants to talk about their work that would be cool too.
Biomed is pretty tough. I had a 3.6 after first year and I didn’t get in. But thats just me, you on the other hand have a fresh start. Give it all you got. [/quote]
Umm, thanks but I was thinking more of transitioning from biomed research (I am finishing my thesis in a month or so) to something else.
3.6 is pretty good, I had 3.63 when I applied, I know guys who had lesser marks who also got in, it’s more about convincing a supervisor to supervise you, then marks don’t really matter.
edit: I guess you’re talking about undergrad, try applying for a biomed program in grad school and then my advice would apply.
I am a chemical engineer BS.
I am a high voltage pulsed power engineer by employment.
[quote]PRCalDude wrote:
entheogens wrote:
Joe84 wrote:
I know it’s been done before but any engineers here? I’m almost finished my Masters program and would like to get out of the academic world, I find it boring and wish I would have just taken a job out of undergrad.
Any advice for transitioning from one background to another, job applications, cold calling, what recruiters are looking for, applying to positions in different parts of the country, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone wants to talk about their work that would be cool too.
My advice, as an engineer. Stay in the academic world. If you find that boring, I cannot imagine what you are going to think once you find yourself in the “real world”. Seriously.
That said, put your resume/CV up on dice:
You don’t need to cold call (you will get contacted plenty). Don’t apply to companies directly. If you do, most likely your resume will just end up in a trash can, no matter how good you are.
Also, I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the country, but around here-Silicon Valley0 you should not dress up too well for an interview. It makes other engineers think you are a bullshitter.
Huh. I’m looking right now and my old man told me to wear a suit and shave my beard. This not only infuriated me but now seems like bad advice. [/quote]
Wear a suit to the interview, it shows you are taking it seriously. If you see everyone else dressed more casually make a comment that you like how comfortable people look in that environment.
In general engineers do see people in suits as bullshitters but interviews are the exception.
In my area in PA a neatly trimmed beard is OK for an interview.
I’m a computer eng. (undergrad) with an MBA. I have been doing general management/project management, mostly in situations that require some technical competence. In my experience, if you want a leadership role in a company, your engineering background will help in that you “think like an engineer”, ie you can understand technical problems, design solutions, troubleshoot, etc. With my Comp. eng. degree, if I didn’t want to be sitting in a cubicle staring at code all day, I had to develop my leadership skills and some good business sense. So, my advice would be to look for positions that give you that type of experience. Your masters in engineering will always be there to make prospective employers think you are smart and technical-minded.
I am a Mechanical Engineer BS from Purdue, I took the advice of a few engineers I knew and stopped at the BS level. Most companies want BS level engineers who are still fresh and young so they can learn the job in the real world, on the job experience is better then another 2-3 years of college.
I did tons of resume handouts, cold calling, networking etc, in the end I got my current job by word of mouth recommendation from one of my teachers.
I work in the petrochemical world designing valving and control systems for refinerys, the job is boring at times but fun at others.