<p>I'm starting an engineering PhD program this fall. I'm pretty sure that the only engineering related job I want is academia, NOT industry. This would be my first choice for a job after I complete my studies. I'm aware that an academic position is rather difficult to attain and I imagine I might be somewhat picky in what options I'll accept. </p>
<p>As a result, I was thinking about other professions. I 100% intend to get my engineering degree b/c I love the academic atmosphere and research. But, I was wondering if anyone has suggestions regarding professions outside of engineering that people normally go to even with an engineering degree.</p>
<p>Also, is this normal? To get an eng PhD and get work in another field?</p>
<p>I'm not too familiar with engineering careers but I know you could go into management (I guess it would be engineering management of some sort) with your PhD. That could possibly help you obtain a career in academia since you would be over-seeing people by having a leadership role. It might help to google "engineering careers" and see what pops up.</p>
<p>There are some private engineering companies/organizations out there who focus on research, getting grants, writing publications, etc. if you're looking in that direction. Somebody on CC mentioned something about it once... I forget who...</p>
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But, I was wondering if anyone has suggestions regarding professions outside of engineering that people normally go to even with an engineering degree
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<p>If you go to a school with a powerful brand name, i.e. MIT, then two highly common paths for new engineering Phd's are consulting and banking. </p>
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Also, is this normal? To get an eng PhD and get work in another field?
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<p>Well, it's not really 'normal' in the sense that that's what most people do. But it is certainly not uncommon. </p>
<p>I bring up MIT because I know where their career data is for PhD's. You can look at it yourself on p. 16 of the following pdf. While certainly most MIT engineering PhD's end up in research jobs, you also see employers like McKinsey and BCG. </p>
<p>I'll tell you a story. The MIT EECS PhD program requires its students to choose an auxiliary field of study in what is effectively a 'minor', which can consist of any quantitative field that is not related to your research. By far the most popular 'minor' field for those students is mathematical finance, because it prepares students for jobs as quants at investment banking firms and hedge funds. In fact, one guy who I talked to a few months ago said precisely what you said: that while his first choice is to get a top-flight academic position, he also knows how difficult that is, even coming out of MIT. Hence, if he can't get what he wants, he's going to work for a hedge fund instead.</p>
<p>how about those who come from lesser engineering programs? Can they land consulting (McKinsey) or Hedge fund jobs.. eg. those who got their PhDs from schools like let's say Dartmouth- decent Ivy reputation but not strong in engineering or UIUC, maybe less prestigious than D as a whole but great engineering program.. Will they land consulting/hedge fund jobs?</p>
<p>I'm just curious.. are these top notch jobs reserved for MIT/Harvard grads only..</p>
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how about those who come from lesser engineering programs? Can they land consulting (McKinsey) or Hedge fund jobs.. eg. those who got their PhDs from schools like let's say Dartmouth- decent Ivy reputation but not strong in engineering or UIUC, maybe less prestigious than D as a whole but great engineering program.. Will they land consulting/hedge fund jobs
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<p>Of course they can. What matters is that you are at a school where consulting and finance recruiters abound, and that is clearly the case at Dartmouth. </p>
<p>In fact, I would surmise that you are actually more likely to get a consulting/finance job if you get your PhD in engineering at Dartmouth than if you went to, say, Purdue. Now, granted, if you wanted an engineering or research job, than the reverse would be true. That's because while Purdue is an excellent engineering school, it is far less prominent of a recruiting ground for consulting/banking. </p>
<p>To be clear, I should say that it's not going to be easy getting a top consulting/banking job out of a Dartmouth Phd program. Most of the recruiting that will happen will be geared towards undergrads and Tuck students. But at least the recruiters will be there, so you have the chance to set up meetings. At other schools, those recruiters won't even be there at all.</p>
<p>I have a few friends who went to engineering school at Dartmouth. They got high powered consulting/ finance jobs. Its not a bad route at all. Its actually an advantage. You'll be far more likely to get a job like this from a place like dartmouth engineering, than a highly ranked engineering school with a weaker overall reputation.</p>
<p>^Does anyone know how competitive is Dartmouth's PhD engineering admission compared to the likes of MIT or Columbia.. or UIUC.. I am just wondering.. because it's an Ivy, but it's engineering PhD is not particularly strong..</p>