I have been pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering for the past year. While I like engineering, I think I want to do something more with management.
I was talking to my Uncle they other day, who is a business development manager and a national account manager for a $100 million company. He travels all of the time and his job seems awesome, he is also extremely wealthy.
My Uncle keeps telling me to get a degree in engineering and I can do what he does. He says he got a degree in civil engineering. I know he works for an engineering company that builds bridges, but I think he actually got a degree in something business related because that’s what his linkedin account says.
Is there any way I can get a job like his with an Engineering degree or should I switch to something business related?
edit: I also want something where I can move up in a company with exceptional accomplishments/achievements.
To answer your first question, yes you can get a job like your uncle’s with an engineering degree.
A lot of people with engineering degrees end up in management consulting. Management consultants in short, analyze, assess, and provide advice to companies. The reason it is a popular career path amongst engineers and why a lot of consulting firms interview engineering candidates is due to the structured thought process that is often required for both industries. Travel is also a large part of the consulting as you often have to travel to company headquarters where you basically work on-site with your team over the course of the project’s length (can vary greatly depending on the scope of the project but anywhere from a few weeks to a few months).
As for your desire to be able to move up in a company based on meritocracy, that isn’t industry specific and will depend on the firms you choose to apply to. You will also definitely learn that meritocracy isn’t the only factor and developing a positive social network around you at work will aid in your promotions.