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I suspect that you either get paid for your technical skills (the MS) or your management skills (the MBA), but not both.
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<p>Having both technical and management skills are important when working in technically oriented companies.</p>
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Back to my initial post, can someone explain to me much about working in engineering startups, i.e. how to get these positions.
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<p>It's almost always through personal contacts and networking. Startups often times lack the budget or the processes to conduct a formal hiring process. So instead what you see happening is that startup founders generally end up hiring a bunch of their friends. For example, much of the initial team at Microsoft were old school pals of Gates or Allen. Current Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was Gates's old poker-playing buddy at Currier House at Harvard. </p>
<p>The key is then to go to a school that fosters a lot of startup activity, a school like Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, and yes, also Illinois, and be social. </p>
<p>Heck, you don't even have to necessarily go to one of these schools. What you really have to do is be located in one of those regions of the country that are noted for innovation and entrepreneurship. For example, a lot of startups are founded in Silicon Valley, yet only a small minority of the founders and early engineers at those SV startups are Stanford/Berkeley graduates. </p>
<p>Or you can found your own startup, which may actually be the best route to take. Like I've explained in other threads, if you create a startup and it doesn't succeed, so what? If nothing else, at least you will have gained valuable experience. Bill Gates's and Steve Jobs's first startups were not successful, but they learned a lot by starting them. </p>
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Also, what is the best combination of salary, hours, and enjoyment for someone who is highly curious and ambitious: law, investment banking, or engineering + MBA (working at an engineering company).
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<p>From a pure money standpoint, investment banking beats the other 2 choices by a very wide margin. But the hours and the enjoyment factor are a different story. </p>
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if you work for these oil companies do you have to spend months on rigs out at sea?
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<p>Depends on the job. If you want to work in exploration/production, then sometimes you may have to be out there for months at a time (although you will be paid very well to do it). </p>
<p>But most oil engineers don't work offshore.</p>
<p>Investment banking seems like too risky of a job. plus the work hours are insane...or so i hear.
how many work hours do u have to put in for engineers?</p>
<p>^ Normal 40hrs/week for me. </p>
<p>I love my 9/80 schedule...work 9 hours per day and get every other Friday off.</p>
<p>Wow ucbchemegrad. Thats sweet, part of what lures me into engineering: a work to live. Anyways, I am highly ambitious. Are you the same and can an engineer be highly ambitious and still work at a big company like BP. If you could work the 100 hrs a wk with the potential to make 7 figures by 30, would you choose that high risk, high reward lifestyle over what you have now? I know your job is not the most glamorous, but do you dread mondays because its so boring. (I've never had to deal with financial documents before).</p>
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Having both technical and management skills are important when working in technically oriented companies.
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I agree completely, but will you be necessarily paid more with an MBA as well as an MS versus someone with just an MBA, or even at least enough to justify for the cost of the extra degree?</p>
<p>@UCBchemegrad</p>
<p>if u dont mind me asking...how much do u get paid?
im dont want to sound superficial but one of my motivators is money.
i am VERY interested in the subject itself btw</p>
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Anyways, I am highly ambitious. Are you the same and can an engineer be highly ambitious and still work at a big company like BP.
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Of course. All companies like ambitious employees. You will stand out more with ambition.</p>
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If you could work the 100 hrs a wk with the potential to make 7 figures by 30, would you choose that high risk, high reward lifestyle over what you have now?
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Nah. Although well-paid, there are drawbacks.<br>
My philosophy is there needs to be balance in life. Be conservative with your finances and career choices, but don't be so miserly that you never enjoy life. The great unknown is that you never know when you're gonna die, so enjoy it while you got it...and don't work too hard. </p>
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I know your job is not the most glamorous, but do you dread mondays because its so boring. (I've never had to deal with financial documents before).
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I don't dread it. I like the people I work with and it can be a fun, challenging environment. </p>
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I agree completely, but will you be necessarily paid more with an MBA as well as an MS versus someone with just an MBA, enough to justify for the cost of the extra degree?
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In industry, an MBA will open doors to management and higher pay. An MS in engineering is not as necessary, but the additional technical expertise can translate into higher pay in technical consultant roles.</p>
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if u dont mind me asking...how much do u get paid?
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<p>LOL! </p>
<p>Prolly less than you'd like to think.</p>
<p>Lets say... ~ $90k base with annual bonuses up to 25% of base.
401(k) matches dollar for dollar up to 7% + pension plan</p>
<p>where did you get your MBA? I have heard that it is not worth it if you don't go to a top school. In 15 yrs, how much would you expect to make? Enough to cover a family, send kids to college, etc.? What if your kid wants to go to Stanford? Would you ever consider switching to financial consulting? </p>
<p>Another problem I have is trying to find my strengths. I enjoy problem-solving, but, I hate to gloat, but I am good at every subject, except Spanish of course, which I detest. Are most engineers people who excelled particularly in math and science, being less inclined for other fields, or are many engineers well-balanced in terms of abilities? What is a good career choice for someone who is well balanced in abilities?</p>
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Heck, you don't even have to necessarily go to one of these schools. What you really have to do is be located in one of those regions of the country that are noted for innovation and entrepreneurship.
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<p>Sakky, what are these "regions of the country"?</p>
<p>Any specific ones and fields there's a lot of start up activity in?</p>
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where did you get your MBA? I have heard that it is not worth it if you don't go to a top school.
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<p>Not a top school...but, my employer paid for the MBA while I was working.</p>
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In 15 yrs, how much would you expect to make?
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Hard to say...but, a lot more hopefully ;)</p>
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Enough to cover a family, send kids to college, etc.?
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Yes.</p>
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What if your kid wants to go to Stanford?
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And be associated with those nerds?! Never. Just kidding...I'd be very proud.</p>
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Would you ever consider switching to financial consulting?
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Maybe...I have thought about being a financial advisor. I also love economics. I'd like to get a PhD in econ...become an economic advisor for a bank/govt/industry/etc...or become a professor.</p>
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What is a good career choice for someone who is well balanced in abilities?
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Yes, it is hard for young people to make a career choice...and don't worry, because you'll make several different career choices in your life. If you are well-balanced in a lot of things, then that adds job security for you...stay fresh with skills. Choose a career path you enjoy. Talk to a college career counselor for ideas. Have you read the popular book "What Color is My Parachute?"...I recommend it.</p>
<p>I work in oil and gas as well. I make more than virtually all my friends that just graduated (except the ones who also work in Oil & Gas, lol).</p>
<p>Mr payne...you have an MS in petroleum engineering or what...please elaborate! =) thankss</p>
<p>BSME, that's it.</p>
<p>If the ultimate goal is to get an MBA, is there any point in getting the MS prior to that? (Is the MS + MBA any better than the BS + MBS?)</p>
<p>management always needs people who understand the technical background as well as management principles - mba is like the icing on the cake</p>
<p>I would consider eng by itself is a little bit shaky, but with an MBA, you're set</p>
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Any specific ones and fields there's a lot of start up activity in?
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<p>Pretty much any major urban area in California. SF/Pal Alto in Nor Cal obviously. San Diego has a major Biotech Corridor spun off from UCSD. LA has some as well, though I'm not sure you can pin it down to a particular industry. Elsewhere in the country, the Boston area is another biggie, with MIT, Harvard along with all the other universities. New York may have some, though not as big as you would imagine. Other than that, any urban area with a good engineering/sciences population will have some startups. </p>
<p>Atlanta(which is where I'm currently at) is slowly starting to grow some high tech. I would imagine Illinois has some as well.</p>
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Pretty much any major urban area in California. SF/Pal Alto in Nor Cal obviously. San Diego has a major Biotech Corridor spun off from UCSD. LA has some as well, though I'm not sure you can pin it down to a particular industry. Elsewhere in the country, the Boston area is another biggie, with MIT, Harvard along with all the other universities. New York may have some, though not as big as you would imagine. Other than that, any urban area with a good engineering/sciences population will have some startups.</p>
<p>Atlanta(which is where I'm currently at) is slowly starting to grow some high tech. I would imagine Illinois has some as well.
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<p>Anything in the D.C. Area? I'm looking at some colleges there.</p>
<p>I'm looking towards this route as well, although things might change by the time I graduate.</p>