Can a degree limit job opportunities?

[Sneakers]

Get a bachelors in business administration - you could probably work anywhere.
Get a PhD in nuclear power, and there may be only a handful of jobs available.
but if you get that PhD, you are probably pretty certain that you have found the right industry for you.

What if you are still unsure of what the future holds, but are eager to further your education. Could I 'learn' myself into a corner?

I am seriously considering a masters in Plastics Engineering. Have also considered an MBA and also MSE Mechanical engineering. I feel like with the MBA and Mechanical degree i will be opening doors for the type of jobs and industries I could work in. With the plastics degree I feel like I may actually be limiting my options.

I am however much more interested in all of the plastics classes, than I am in the mechanical or business classes.

Not sure what I want to do with the degree but I have some ideas.

Thoughts?

-Matt

 

[Demon3]

When I chose to stufy plastics it was explained to me that there is, or at least was at that time, more demand than supply for polymer scientists. I read that 30% of chemists end up working with polymers but only a small percentage of those have any polymer training.

When I worked at BASF the business unit head liked to joke that whereaver he had MBa people working at the plant he lost money and where there were none, he made a profit. Perhaps that's coincidence but maybe not.

Funny stories aside, here are some of my thoughts.

First, get a degree that's recognized the world over. My wife didn't and now she moved country and she's stuck with a more or less worthless degree. The job market these days means moving in your career. Make sure that degree works wherever you are. PhDs are accepted everwhere for example.

Also, your choice of career comes down to what you want to achieve in life and your priorities. As an MBa you could get a marketing job, you will never really create anything but you could have some influence on the focus of the marketing efforts and directing some of the R&D work. As a polymer scientist, you may create or help create a new of better product. On the other hand you will be at the mercy of the marketing people.

As an MBa you can get a job anywhere but you will perhaps be considered replaceable by any generic MBa. If you have a more specialized degree you may be the one top expert in that area and you will be retained even when others get fired (I have seen this in action). Similarly, if you are a manager you will probably be OK in downsizing as they seem to keep all the expensive manager and fire the people who actually do the work (I have seen this in action too).

Another tip is to make sure you get exposure outside your company. Present at conferences and get yourself known. That makes it far easier to find a job and has hugely boosted my career.

Lastly, and more importantly. Find something you love doing. If you do then work doesn't seem like work and you'll always have an edge over the others who merely show up to be marked as present until retirement.

There is not any memory with less satisfaction than the memory of some temptation we resisted.
- James Branch Cabell

 

[proetools]

there is no reason you cant have two resumes. one showing you as an engineer and the other showing you as a Cad Jockey.

Bart Brejcha Chicago
DESIGN-ENGINE|EDUCATION

http://www.proetools.com

surfacing and Pro/CABLE training