<p>Hi,
I am currently a graduate student pursuing my masters in mechanical engineering. Currently I am working on a funded project as a research assistant and would like to graduate in a few months. I would like to do my thesis on the project I am currently working on but that means I would have to graduate in about half a year or more because I haven't started writing my thesis yet and I still need to do testing and finish building my test bench. </p>
<p>Should I just pursue a comprehensive exam to graduate sooner and just find a job asap? Would it be a turn off to the employers that I was doing a funded research assistant position and didn't do my thesis on it?</p>
<p>I would like to get a manufacturing engineer or mechanical design engineer position for any large company. Will the employers ask me about my thesis and what if I just told them that I was a research assistant and explain the project I was doing. I don't know what do you guys think? is a thesis really important in this day and age? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think they care more about your work experience. I have a masters in mechanical and it just meant a pay difference. I don’t think you even really need graduate work for engineering. Not for what you say you want to do. When I interviewed, they were far more interested in my internships.</p>
<p>Yeah, given what you state are your career goals, it probably won’t matter for you which route you take. I am a little surprised your advisor gave you a paid research position without a thesis attached to it by default, though.</p>
<p>Also I don’t want to make you upset but for what you want to do, they may not look favorably on a masters. If it means that they have to pay you more than someone who just has a bachelors, you will need to sell it unless you are a woman or ORM. In general, engineering is a very practical field. Performance means more than prestige in most cases.</p>
<p>Also if you wanted to be a professor and planned on continuing with a doctorate. And maybe if it was something very relevant. I once received a job offer just because took a single Design for Manufacture class with Boothroyd and Dewhurst. If you are working with Manufacturing superstars like those two, I might continue with a thesis.</p>