<p>Hey all,</p>
<p>So I have been pondering about some words from my advisor, where he said something along the lines of "Before you graduate, you need to find a specific focus so you can get a job" and then went on to ask me what I was focusing on, which I then explained. However, I don't want to be stuck with one single specific job, I want to be able to work on a few types of projects in my industry that I am interested in. I have the opportunity to take many extra courses before I graduate and have kind of wanted to do them in extra areas I am interested in working in while I keep focusing on one topic, but my advisor actually didn't really think I should do that since it would make me look like a jack-of-all-trades. I get why that could happen, but I would think employers see the extensive coursework in various areas and would realize you actually know a quite a bit about a few areas and aren't an infamous jack-of-all-trades.</p>
<p>My dilemma is that I have a few topics in my major that I am passionate about and would enjoy to have a career in AND have the time to take a few courses on each to learn a lot about them, but the words from my advisor haunt me.</p>
<p>So, first, how do most companies see person A who has a few focus areas and takes a few classes for each area when thinking about whether to hire them? How does this person compare to a person B who took just a few extra courses in one focus area instead of a couple areas? Will a company really prefer the single focus over multiple, even if person A earned just as deep a knowledge as person B but in a few topics?</p>
<p>Next, if this really is generally not good, is there any common jobs where going about trying to master a few areas is good/desired? I have only ever seen my professors do this, where they all are masters on various things, some related and some not as much. However, I know professors are more elite typically, but do other research groups like people like this? I just feel like the more knowledge the better. </p>
<p>Thanks for any replies, I just want to be able to make a good plan for my semesters to come.</p>
<p>I think it depends a lot on the company. A lot of companies will hire engineers who specialize in a specific technology or industry, for very specific jobs. However, there are also a lot of companies who look for generalists, and want people who are like you-- willing and able to learn everything and anything. In most cases, the job you do will not be a perfect match for a focus in your major-- you’ll be doing more than just what you studied extensively in school.</p>
<p>From your example, I would think that person A is a much more desirable job candidate than person B. By taking classes in various focus groups, it shows that you’re diverse and more well-rounded in that field/major.</p>
<p>Makes sense for sure. At least this gives some hope, haha. Although I have a main focus, I see ways it can be applied to some other areas I like but I of course need to be well rounded in those other areas to really understand how to do it. I see this maybe being work generally for researchers or something, but it is nice to know there are some normal jobs out there for generalists, haha. </p>
<p>And yeah, I am glad to hear that it can make you stand out. I just don’t want to go risk hurting my chances in the job market by learning more about certain topics.</p>
<p>Most companies would prefer candidate B. When you get hired into a company, you get hired to do a job, and the majority of the jobs out there focus on one area. In industry, each company has a variety of functional units that handle the variety of topics that are required for building their product. Using the example of aerospace, a company like Boeing will have one (or many) group(s) doing structural design, one (or many) group(s) doing aerodynamic design, one (or many) doing aeroacoustics, one or many doing dynamics, one or many doing controls and so on and so forth for every topic that feeds into the production of an airplane (circuit design, software, computer hardware, etc.). They generally will not have any single group doing a bunch of those at once. It just isn’t good business and isn’t efficient.</p>
<p>With that in mind, when it comes time to hire someone, they are going to hire the person who they best feel can do the job for which they are hiring. Who do you think is more likely to be that guy, the one who specialized in that area or the one who lightly delved into a handful of areas?</p>
<p>Hey boneh3ad. I figured most companies operate like Boeing, as you said. And to answer your question, I think the guy who specializes would be the best in the case you proposed. However, I was referring to a slighty different scenario. Let me be more detailed with this.</p>
<p>So I believe you went to UIUC for AE, right? Well I am a student doing the same at UIUC and what I have seen with most students I have been in class with, they won’t graduate with much more than the actual requirements, so all the gen eds, AE required and the couple technical electives. Few others who are ahead tend to get a math or CS minor, but really only take like 2,3 or maybe 4 extra courses in a focus like structures, fluids, etc. </p>
<p>Now, what I propose is, what if someone has gotten ahead enough to be able to take like 3 or 4 extra courses in a few focuses? Like 3 extra aerodynamic/fluid classes and 3 extra structures courses? Technically they would be more well versed in two important areas of aerospace engineering compared to being well versed in only one. So in this case, one did not dabble in a couple but actually more so specialized in two areas. </p>
<p>What would employers think about that? Would they look into the courses you took enough to see that or would they just not be interested if they first heard you focused on two areas vs one?</p>
<p>I did go to UIUC, though my undergrad was mechanical engineering. Still, I am familiar with the program.</p>
<p>In most engineering programs, the students won’t have many (if any) more classes beyond the basic requirements. In practice, even those who specialize on one thing only have two or three extra classes under their belt in their “focus area”. If you somehow had the hours to get 3 classes or so in structures, materials and dynamics/controls, then I guess that wouldn’t really be a disadvantage. Of course, if that is the case, just stay an extra year and get the 5-year BS/MS and you will be even better off.</p>
<p>Oh alright! And okay cool! I am thinking to do a MS right after graduating but I haven’t actually seen the 5-year BS/MS option, unless you just mean to do a non-thesis MS since it takes only a year more. But anyways, I think my questions are essentially answered. Thanks boneh3ad and richan90.</p>
<p>That’s a good question. I don’t know how the BS/MS works in the AE department there. I don’t even remember how it worked in MechSE where I was, mostly because there was a 3.8 GPA requirement for it that I didn’t meet, haha.</p>
<p>Haha that is a tough requirement. I wonder when you would apply to do it too. Oh well, I sure am not doing it haha.</p>