<p>Hi im going into electrical engineering and computer science in university in fall 2009. I have no intention to be an engineer all my life. I want to move up into management. I am unsure if I should go into a 5 year mba-engineering program or work for a few years and then get the degree. My dad (he is a electrical engineer for Yazaki) said to move up into management you need 7-10 years experience at that company. Is this true for most companies. Yazaki also offered to fully pay my dad to get his mba costs. Is this also true for most companies.
Basiclly I am unsure if I should get a mba in university for wait. If I need 7+ years experience and my company pays for my mba it would be best to get it later in career.
What would be the best course of action for me factoring in the $$costs$$, work experience, job security (I dont want an mba is i cant get a secure job) and any other factors I might have missed.
Thank you for you help.</p>
<p>To get an MBA from a good college you have to have a few years' experience working in industry. Also, if you wait a few years and find employment with a company you like (and it likes you) then chances are you will be able to get part or maybe even all your expenses for grad school paid off. So that is probably the best course of action where $$ is concerned.</p>
<p>I would only get a MS right after your BS if 1) you are personally unsatisfied with your BS, or 2) you are aiming towards a research-oriented job right out of college, or 3) you really don't want to put a gap in your education, 4) you have had grades in undergrad and want to get a PhD.</p>
<p>Also, sometimes an MBA isn't even needed to move into management, so you might just end up wasting ~$200k. Job security is probably not affected much by whether you get an MBA first, or later.</p>
<p>top executives at a lot of engineering firms have a PhD or masters in engineering and maybe an exec mba added on. so an mba is definitely not necessary.</p>
<p>if you could get into a 5 year eng+mba program at a good school, go for it. it's too much of a hassle to work for a few years and go BACK TO SCHOOL. and an MBA today has almost become a must if you want to climb to the management level, so it's a great idea to go for the 5yr program.</p>
<p>There is a 5-year BSEE/MSM (M.S. in Management)
Dual-Degree</a> Programs
at my school that I am seriously considering (I'm still a freshman so I can plan things out early). Would that be somewhat the equivalent of an MBA? Is there even any point in getting a business degree so early since you typically need to work as an engineer for several years before you can ascend to an engineering manager? Also, is it possible to count the years of experience at different companies towards the requirements for becoming a manager? I ask this because I heard that engineers frequently get layed off or change companies to make more money.</p>
<p>Sorry for all the questions. I don't mean to hijack the thread lol</p>
<p>thx for all the advice.
I not sure how the management application process works. But if I get a mba in university and apply for management ten years later wouldnt I be outdated? I mean, to be competivie against those who have a recent degree would I not have to get some sort of upgrade?</p>
<p>Here's my take on the 5 year BS/MBA(MEM or MSM) programs;</p>
<p>They are not a substitute for a "real" MBA. Your brick and mortar, stand alone, full time/2-year MBA program offers more than just a series of classes. They offer networking and an ability to apply you learning through interns and within clubs and through the community programs. Once you graduate from these programs you generally have X years of experience in an industry and a new knowledge set to apply to that industry; and this makes you very valuable to companies.</p>
<p>With that said, would I avoid these 5 year programs in lieu of a BS, work 5 years, and go back? Not necessarily. If they stretch out your last two years of engineering courses and suppliment them with business courses than I might consider it. </p>
<p>Generally, it takes you 5 years to get an engineering degree, and this generally because of the increasing body of knowledge being required is getting really big. While I could handle 3 engineering course a quarter for a year I don't think I could successfully handle 4, but I sure could handle 2 engineering classes and 2-3 business courses for 2 years. See what I am saying?</p>
<p>Another advantage is it does give you a competitive edge when you graduate. Not for the engineering jobs mind you, but for "potential management" jobs. If you get out of this program and apply for general engineering jobs chances are they'll give it to someone with just an engineering degree; you dual degree says "I don't want to be an engineer" so they'll give it to some who does. What it will do is make you marketable to other types of jobs; mainly management training or leadership programs.</p>
<p>So, if you know now that you don't want to be an engineer than it might be a good way to go. Get good internships, participate in leadership programs within your school, and then target leadership development programs at specific companies (hopefully the ones you have interned at). Most large companies have such programs, just dig around long enough on their career sections. Most generally have you perform 6 month rotations at various functions before assigning you to a specific job function and career path.</p>
<p>"Another advantage is it does give you a competitive edge when you graduate. Not for the engineering jobs mind you, but for "potential management" jobs. If you get out of this program and apply for general engineering jobs chances are they'll give it to someone with just an engineering degree; you dual degree says "I don't want to be an engineer" so they'll give it to some who does. What it will do is make you marketable to other types of jobs; mainly management training or leadership programs.</p>
<h2>So, if you know now that you don't want to be an engineer than it might be a good way to go."</h2>
<p>The thing is, I really do want to be an engineer (which is part of the reason why I accepted NC State's offer over UNC-CH's). However, I would just like to move up into management one day (of engineers, not running the whole business per se) for a couple reasons (job security, more freedom in the company, and probably higher salary). In order to make that option possible without a big learning curve if/when I decide to transition, I figured that the convenient dual program might give me a little room to make that move since I have the degree (knowledge) behind it. Would I really be at a disadvantage when applying for an engineering job? The two degrees seem like they would complement each other and increase your value as an engineer/future leader to your company but that's just what I figured. Am I wrong?</p>
<p>i want to do the same thing. bs-->ms-->experience-->mba... and punt</p>
<p>WolfpackPride, I have a similar mindset as yourself. I want that option to be there too. But when I thought long and hard about it I decided that I don't REALLY know if I want to be a manager at some point... I'm pretty sure I want to, but its possible that my judgment is clouded by the higher salaries and the supposed advantages of a management position.</p>
<p>Therefore, going by what I really do know right now--that I want to be an engineer--I decided that its best to focus on that for now. I also know that I'd prefer to stay at least somewhat technical, or perhaps even move into research at some point. That last bit could mean that I need to get a masters/phd instead of the MBA. Coupling all of this with the fact that you may not even need to get an MBA to move into management, I decided just getting the BSEE will probably do for atleast the next 10 years or so. Its not like I want to be a CEO or anything... I'd much rather experiment with my own startup(s) and fail than go that route.</p>
<p>"Coupling all of this with the fact that you may not even need to get an MBA to move into management"</p>
<p>What are the chances of that? If I were to work for a large coperation I doubt I would even stand a chance if I didnt have the most basic credentials the work in managment.</p>
<p>I don't know of any engineering managers with MBAs. They may exist in consulting firms, but in industry most of the engineering managers are there based on experience. This doesn't mean they are good, but it might mean that most engineers who get an MBA are lured to a more lucrative profession.</p>
<p>Nothing can be said definitively because it differs so much from company to company and person to person. Getting the MBA will definitely open more doors for you on the management/business ladder. But if you just want to be an engineering manager and not get into senior management (lots and lots of $$$$$ and stress) then you may not need one. </p>
<p>I've also noticed that recently too many people have been getting the MBA, so unless you're sure you can get one from a really good school, it may not do too much for you. Also once you start working you may have a better idea of what type of MBA you need to advance in your company... those can sometimes give you a leg-up over other less applicable MBAs.</p>